THE LION IN WINTER :: DRAMA :: 072

THE LION IN WINTER (1968)

“What family doesn’t have its ups and downs?”

-Eleanor of Aquitaine

Make no mistake, this film is one of the finest pieces of writing in film history, full of snappy remarks that can only be delivered by the legendary Peter O’Toole (who has played Henry II twice) and the always amazing, Katherine Hepburn. So enjoyable are these riffs that I’ll post several of their quotes in this review.  The first thing that you need to know is that this film features a full cast of seasoned and award-winning actors; six of which were alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

 “Well, what shall we hang… the holly, or each other?”

-Henry II

THE PLOT

It’s Christmas of 1183 and Henry II must declare a successor to the Plantagenet throne. He invites his surviving sons Richard, Geoffrey and John (played by Anthony Hopkins, John Castle and Nigel Terry), his exiled wife (Katherine Hepburn) and the King of France Phillip II (Timothy Dalton) to the party. He refuses to make a choice (knowing that each of his sons have glaring “kingly” flaws). They force him to choice in a series of arguments, plots and mental chess that will cause any of today’s Game of Thrones fans to cast a wide smile.

My favorite aspect of this movie was the banter between King Henry and his bride Eleanor.  The writing is so superb that if you flipped to any page of the script you’d find a remarkable and witty line. Equally enjoyable is the knowledge that this back-and-forth continued when the cameras were not rolling between O’Toole and Hepburn. An interesting note is that, despite the mutual respect for one another, Hepburn’s name for O’Toole was “pig” – quite on par with her character. In their own words:

O’Toole: “She is terrifying. It is sheer masochism working with her. She has been sent by some dark fate to nag and torment me.” Her reply: “Don’t be so silly. We are going to get on very well. You are Irish, and you make me laugh. In any case, I am on to you, and you to me.”

But in fact, O’Toole and Hepburn had known each other for years before this production and O’Toole actually named his daughter Kate O’Toole after her.

Another aspect that must be applauded is the wonderful direction by Anthony Harvey. This was only the second film he directed by it won him an Academy Award nomination and a Director’s Guild Award. In addition, the art department, costumes, and music (composer John Barry) truly placed you in the time that was 1183 A.D. Britain. Besides a second consecutive win by Katherine Hepburn, James Goldman (Screenwriter) and John Barry (Composer) won Oscars.

This amazing film, adapted from Goldman’s witty 1966 Broadway play is nothing short of magnificent. It truly is a cinematic masterpiece in this writer’s opinion and is most certainly a film for any avid play or history lover.

If you have a different thought… or just a comment on the film itself, we’d love to hear it! Please comment below and let us know what you thought.

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FAR NORTH Review :: DRAMA :: 067

Far North (2007)

Asif Kapadia’s film Far North (2007) was an interesting watch to say the least. The story is a unique one and (filmed in Norway) provided a setting and culture that many haven’t seen on the silver screen. When you pick up this title you’ll see that it’s a crime drama… therefore you know that something sinister happens on the ice, but what exactly, you’re not likely to guess.

PLOT
The plot of this story involves two women, Saiva (Michelle Yeoh) and Anja (Michelle Krusiec) living, presumably in the Arctic region of the Soviet Union (date unknown). Saiva finds a soldier named Loki (Sean Bean) frozen and near death. Their simple life is altered dramatically after this event.

THE REVIEW
One thing that you are able to recognize right away is that this isn’t your typical Hollywood film. And though this is something I typically enjoy, the pace was a bit slow and the information restrictive. While you learn that a shaman warned Saiva that harm will come to those around her, you learn little else – and nothing about Anja. You also learn next to nothing about Loki, which you think would have come up during long, cold nights.

While the movie was enjoyable, my main gripe is that there could have been more to the story and a lot more that you could have learned from the characters. Even the ending just drops off without a sense of closure. You might be wondering why I’d give this film a seven – relatively high mark for a film I have such a deep gripe about? The answer for this is that while there is a lot more that could have been added, deepening the story, there really isn’t anything else to see fault in.

Well…. one more… but that would be giving away a major spoiler. You’ll just have to see it for yourself!

Let us know what you thought of it in the comments.

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THE HALLOW :: HORROR :: 056

The Hallow (2015)
I enjoy hearing the Irish accent, and am a fan of Michael McElhatton (playing Mr. Donnelly), not to mention that many of us Joyces came from the area of filming, Galway, Ireland. So when I saw the trailer that featured these major checkmarks… I was intrigued to say the least.

Acknowledging that fairy tales ARE basic “OG” horror, you have to wonder why it hasn’t been played up more than it has. You can comb the many books of folklore and mythology and you’ll find many illustrations of fairies, ghosts and banshees… that any creature creator might be able to turn into screen gold. However, what we get is simple grotesque gollums – that are clearly actors in suits. Though I am NOT against actors in suits, I believe that any suit should be made to distort the image of human proportions. The Hallow did not succeed in this arena.

I also don’t mind the many horror clichés if they are well-done and able to scare, shock, or create uneasiness. The Hallow, again, fell short of this mark.

Starting with the main characters, Adam (Joseph Mawle) and Clare (Bojana Novakovic)…[and baby], you get an image of a young couple who move into a rural cottage whereby the neighbor warns them (again) about the fact that they shouldn’t be there. Obviously they don’t heed the warning – even after several strange findings by Adam. When will these guys ever learn?

But again, it’s not the cliché, but the lack of background, the lack of character intelligence and chemistry. Without giving too much away,… if you are hiking with your newborn, would you lean close to a rotting animal carcass? If your significant other gets hurt… let’s say, he or she falls or gets something in their eye, would you show not only concern but major concern (seeing as though your survival might just rely on each other)?

There are a lot of people that say that director Corin Hardy is the up-and-coming horror guy. With this being his first feature film, I’m going to give him a pass. I have no idea what type of budget he had on this film and it certainly wasn’t the worst movie I’ve seen. It just wasn’t for me, nor my wife (who also gave it a 3). IMDB users give it an average currently of 5.7.

If you’ve seen it, what did you think of it?

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THE PROFESSIONAL :: ACTION :: 052

Léon: The Professional (1994)

When a friend requested that I review Luc Besson’s The Professional, I was overjoyed. That meant that I would need to watch it again.

One thing that jumps out at me whenever I hear this writer-director’s name is that he’s a lover of strong women – maybe even moreso than James Cameron. Think about it – La Femme Nikita, young Mathilda in this film, Lucy and the key to the universe, The Fifth Element’s Leeloo.

The Professional is the screen debut of a Natalie Portman, who plays an abused 12 year old kid whose life gets changed forever when she runs into Italian hitman Léon. When her family gets killed, she pleads with Léon to teach her to “clean” – in other words, kill, to get revenge.

Besson gets it right at every turn, especially when setting up the opening! The movie opens with bird’s eye view of NYC, pans over Central Park, then a non-stop street view that finally turns into Tony’s Restaurant in Little Italy where Léon is given a job. Seconds later, we see just how “professional” The Professional really is!

Where this deviates from “perfection” are in several, somewhat trivial places. For one, it makes me question his professionalism when he wears his sunglasses inside (perhaps he doesn’t have to see) and no gloves. You telling me he’s been doing this for years, just killed half a dozen people in the first job alone – leaving fingerprints everywhere (especially on the telephone) and hasn’t been caught yet?

A man cannot live on milk alone.

While it makes the film memorable, Léon, and later, Léon and Mathilda, drink A LOT of milk – which has less to do with looking healthy and more about the strange thought of a gas on the job. I would not propose a full glass of milk before OR after exercise. Just sayin’.

Gary Oldman’s character Stansfield, is one of the creepiest of all-time. But it is a bit of a stretch to have someone like him working for Internal Affairs, popping Librium pills (IMDB), and weakly justifying himself when he “flies off the handles.” But that stretch of the imagination aside, his improvisational scenes were he literally “sniffs out” Mathilda’s father, talks about his love of Beethoven, and exclaims “Everyone!!!!” – just brilliant.

I also have to add that, although I own and watch the International Cut of the film, I prefer the American version where the awkward sexual tension is taken out. At one point in the movie, they get kicked out of an apartment because Mathilda lies to the manager that Léon is not her father, but rather, her lover. As young as Mathilda looks and IS it should be off-pudding everywhere in the world – not just the U.S. Thanks Mathilda, you just made your only guardian a sex offender too… and either he’ll get caught, forced to run or kill an innocent man. Obviously they flee the scene – somehow.

All-in-all, Léon The Professional is an amazing movie, great pacing, tremendous chemistry and well acted. One Easter Egg I’ll leave you with is this… the idea of Léon came to Luc Besson in writing/filming La Femme Nikita. A Cleaner, dressed in a long coat, glasses and a wool cap (played by Jean Reno) fixes a botched job. Besson wanted to expand this character and thus, we have this movie, except that he’s now an Italian with a non-Italian name.

I could be wrong. How popular is Léon as an Italian name?

How did you like the film? What would you rate it? Let me know!

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AVATAR :: SCI-FI :: 033

Alien worlds fascinates me.  They always have.  Pandora is the closest we’ve been able to get to that world cinematically.  Jim Cameron’s vision delighted me on all levels and was perhaps, the most fun that I’ve had in the theaters wearing dorky 3d glasses.

It’s obvious through his films that the mind of Cameron is a colossal wonderland, full of floating islands, 6-legged horses, brightly-colored pterodactyls, and the blue-skinned, golden-eyed Na’vi.  At least this was the latest of Cameron’s dreams to be shared with us…  a dream tucked away for more than a decade.  In 2005, he revisited the script and agreed that it was time.  What emerged? You’ll have to see it to believe it!

THE BEAR BONES

Following the death of his twin brother, a paraplegic marine named Jake Sully (Sam Worthington; Terminator Salvation), steps into a unique position to continue his brother’s project and travel to the amazing world of Pandora.  The mission is for Scully to inhabit a lab-grown-replica body (known as an “Avatar”) of both his twin and of the Pandorian race known as the Na’vi and to infiltrate the tribe and negotiate an exodus, away from an area rich in an Earth-rescuing mineral known as “unobtanium.”  Trigger-happy Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) strikes a deal with Sully to gather intel on the Na’vi in return for post-mission spinal surgery.  Cheif Administrator Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) wants diplomacy (only because it looks better), and scientist Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver, Aliens) wants to truly understand the biology and hidden mysteries of Pandora.  As the Avatar, Jake Sully forms a bond with the Na’vi and must make his choice;  stand with his new family, or help the human race blunder Pandoria’s most precious resource.

As a movie-loving public, we’ve seen literally hundreds of movies.  In my case, (and as so many others film-nuts) we’ve seen thousands.  Themes and scenes, especially the good ones, always stand out.  It was apparent to in this film that connections can be made with the following: Dances with Wolves, Last of the Mohicans, The Last Samurai, and even Braveheart.  The world of Pandora was a cross between the amazon rainforest and a coral reef.  The Na’vi were a cross between native american indians (I don’t mean to lump you all together) and african tribes.  The “horses” a cross between a seahorse, and a regular horse – add a pair of legs.  The flying creatures of Pandora were pterodactyls with the head of a savannah monitor.  But the question we must ask ourselves is “does our knowledge of these traits/similarities take away from the film?”  The answer is “no friggin’ way.”

It was explained to me a long time ago, that there is very little in the world that we would fail to assign complete uniqueness to.  To this theory, I agree.  Many years ago, when phones were the size of a Tom Clancy hardback we watched in awe as Kirk and Spock had what looked to be my first Motorola flip-top cellphone.  That debuted in 1966!  From then on we become desensitized to technology and even of artistic creations (to some point).  Had Cameron and his visual artists created creatures, machines and contraptions without a likeness to images of our time, our minds would be quite likely to reject it.  For Avatar, a thin line had to be threaded in order to lock our collective minds into a state of belief and wonderment.  Cameron performed like a surgical Annie Oakley due to his experience, years in film and the fact that his body is made of 60%water and 40% of awesome!

Do you want to know why there are no more Jim Cameron’s in the world?  I’ll tell you why!  Answer:  Because he’s a nerdy woman in the body of a good-looking man.  He’s a tree-hugging, technology-embracing, liberal – not just for alien rights but for universal equality.  It’s a widely-known fact that most powerful men place other powerful men as heroic characters in their stories.  Cameron simply changes the gender and leaves the balls.  Sigourney became the first of Hollywood’s top heroines by way of her role in Alien, and as if she were acquiring more balls along the way, Aliens (the sequel).  Aliens even had Jenette Goldstein playing the toughest female marine in cinema history as Lt. Vasquez.  (Note the enormous similarity of Goldstein to Avatar’s Michelle Rodriquez)  … Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in both Terminator 1 & 2.  (She was so bad-ass in T2, that Jim married her!) Even Kate Winslet’s role in Titanic can be seen as unsteriotypically masculine… just in the bold, strong, take charge way… not in the “I bust a cap in alien asses”-type way (obviously!).  Now… we have Zoe Saldana (Star Trek), playing Neytiri, the warrior princess of the Omaticaya Clan.  Blue, fierce and dead sexy!  I remember as a kid I had a crush on Betty Rubble of the Flintstones (yes, the cartoon version), but if the 10 year old in me where to react hormonally (after seeing Neytiri) he’d run out into the woods, risking an arrow of neurotoxic death.

Before viewing Avatar, I had (and still have) some reservations on the use of CGI.  Call me old-school (again), but motion capturing, CGI and the lot can never truly portray what an actor or actress can do.  Recreation is not creation.  CGI gives control and is cost effective but can only be a reflection and a refraction of what a performer creates.  E.T. was more-or-less a sock puppet, but was as real to me today as it was when I was a kid.  The creations of Avatar will always stay with me.  Not just because Earth is “played out” and I want to move to Pandora, but because the CGI realism of Avatar finally hit the mark of believability.  What is key is that we put this technology in the hands of skilled samurai (i.e. James Cameron, Peter Jackson) and not in baby, knife-wielding hacks (i.e. Michael Bay).

I agree 95.8% with my fellow critic, Colin (read his Avatar review at: Cineaste John) when he says,

“I felt like I was on the same emotional journey as Jake Sully.  I felt for the Na’vi.  I felt for Hometree and the Omaticaya.  I felt that the true struggle for Jake Sully, a born-and-bread Marine, suddenly feeling like everything he once knew and was trained to be was savage and inhumane.  Avatar was everything I’d hoped it to be and more.”

It wasn’t a far leap for me (being skinny, tall and good-looking in blue)… but Avatar will always be a film that I feel connected to – for its messages of environmental responsibility, diplomacy, and the fact that it’s far less cool to be human.  At least we can dream.  For the less and unimaginative folk, Cameron holds us up to the viewfinder… and what an awe-inspiring view it is.

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CHE :: FOREIGN :: 032

After seeing the film, The Motorcycle Dairies, I knew I had to learn more about the man, the humanitarian, the revolutionary, Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

Steven Soderbergh’s Che (initially split into Che: The Argentine and Che: Guerrilla) is a beautiful, yet somewhat laboring look (pt 1= 134 minutes; pt. 2= 135 minutes) at the asthmatic doctor who fought so hard for the “miserable and alienated” and who becomes not only Latin America’s most legendary revolutionary leader but also one of the most iconic faces for freedom and liberty the world over.

Che is played by Benicio Del Toro with a searing elegance and believability that won him the Best Actor Award at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.  Fidel Castro, played by Demian Bichir, was a revelation to watch, and (I felt) the Chilean sensation, Santiago Cabrera fit the role of loyal Comandante Camilo Cienfuegos most perfecto!

The entire movie was filmed like a window into the past.  The action was gritty, emotional and in-your-face.  The dialogue throughout the entire will was approximately 98% Spanish and besides a few notables (Franka Potente and Matt Damion), nearly the entire cast of the film was hispanic.

A BEAR OF A QUOTE

At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love.  It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality.

If I am to be as honest as my nature compels me to be, I’d have to say that Che is on my list as one of the Top 5 films of 2008-2009.  The only noticeable flaw (if you know history) is that Che was of average height 5’9 (quite perfect for a guerilla soldier) and no where near the 6 foot 3 inch-sasquatch-ness of Del Toro.  So although Benicio could channel the spirit and essence of the ‘Che’, somehow, and quite disappointingly, he couldn’t make himself smaller.

The next blunder comes when Soderbergh gives us over 4 hours of action, history, and brilliant acting.  I mean, who wants to attach their phat fannies to the sofas for that length of time?  Well… I did.  And I’m sure there are lots of history buffs and Leftists out there that would too.  Not-to-mention the godless communist scum* that I’m sure still need someone to look up to (even though all of this took place half a century ago).

Okay, if I had to pick one truly sour point in the film… which was no big deal really… it was that each part (remember, the movie was split into Che’s time in Cuba [part uno] and in Bolivia [part dos]) began with a map of the country – slowly highlighting the different regions and names of the cities and towns.  If they had used a more photographic and stylish image, perhaps overlaying it with old photos each city/town/village/region, your attention might not go towards how heavy your eyelids are (especially at the very onset of such a terrific film).  I was surprised to see there were no opening credits during this time!  I don’t know why that was… but even a flash or brief flicker of an actor’s name might have woken me from the dreary and drab geography lesson.

Had Benicio not taken the role, Che might have been handed to Val Kilmer.  And had we a gringo playing such a legendary figure, we might just have had… I don’t know… Ben Affleck playing Camilo and even though he kinda looks like him if he grew a big, mangy beard, I would have had half a mind to start a revolution of my very own.

Hasta la victoria siempre!

*eventhough ‘Che’ was Marxist-Communist and was in fact ‘godless’ (when asked, Do you believe in God? Che answered, “I believe in mankind”) I don’t mean all godless communists in a bad way.  The whole “scum” at the end was meant to imply “the frothy goodness.”  Wait a minute, that’s “skim.”  Whatever.

FOUR CHRISTMASES :: COMEDY :: 029

It’s Christmas Eve… Santa’s probably airborne (he usually gets an early start) and come Christmas morning, everyone should have something in their stocking.  Now, if I were one of those “snippy” critics, I would reference here that those that worked on this movie shouldn’t expect Santa’s good graces.

Let me say from the start, that I have a fondness for Vince Vaughn.  Truth-be-told, I didn’t like him in the beginning; not because he was a bad actor or anything, but because he seemed like a bit of a wise-guy.  One of those guys that always had a witty come-back and who you’d wish would just be “normal” for once.  But he’s someone that has really grown on me, and has turned into someone I look forward to seeing time and time again.  If it weren’t for him, this movie would barely make a track!  Four Christmas barely comes across with 5.

Here’s the “bear” bones-

Brad (Vince Vaugn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) look to be the modern version of the perfect couple; lovingly self-centered, but getting all that they want from their relationship (for now).  Under the ruse of charity work, Brad and Kate escape the family obligations and the ensuing stress of the holidays by flying to Fiji; only to discover that the flight is cancelled due to heavy fog.  To make matters worse, a tv reporter and camera shows up and exposes their failed getaway.  Four Christmases in one day can be trying for anybody, but with Brad and Kate, the secrets, humiliations and the physical abuse might more than their relationship can handle.

When watching this movie, I kinda wished I had a lower I.Q. just for the fact that it would have boosted my enjoyment of it.  While it certainly had its fun moments (which was inevitably caused by Vaughn’s comic leadership), and gave us the split family dynamic rather than just the one, crazy household, it sank on the basis of character.

Comedy works best when the laughs are allowed to well up from within the material, the situation, and/or the nature of the character.  It isn’t a 10-year old child ,with his boney fist posed at your defenseless face, asking “What’s my name bitch?” that makes the scene funny- it’s the reaction of Vince Vaughn, who undoubtedly channels his emotions from the “near rape” scene from Wedding Crashers, and who’s pitched pleads of mercy are both hilarious and real.  If it weren’t for Vaughn’s brilliance, that scene would have been completely wasted on me.  The supporting cast, however, if not saved by or made funny by Vaughn, falls silent.  Reese Witherspoon did a decent job, even though her wrestle-mania in the “jump jump cage” was a immature and needy.

Screen legends Sissy Spacek, Bobby Duvall and Jon Voight provided a bit more (name) weight to the film, but only propped up it’s status to a movie like,  Meet the Fockers. One line from Duvall (who played Brad’s biological dad), was quite side-ripping though;

Boys, I don’t want to speak ill of your mother on Christmass, but she’s nothing but a common street whore.

I long for a Christmas movie that will take the place of my beloved National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but I’ve yet to find it.  Vaughn could be my next Chevy, if only he had his Eddie… and Jon Favreau, you’re not him.  Owen Wilson is a terrific comedic partner but we’ll just have to see what the future holds.  For me, something like that would surely make my Christmas wish list!

ANGELS AND DEMONS :: DRAMA :: 028

I’ve got a major itch when it comes to films that explore spiritual and religious matters, and the way Dan Brown can mix such mystery, history and drama is like a masterful wizard creating a potion.  The movie, however, is as interesting as watching someone line up colors on a rubix cube.  The thing is this- I’m quite amazed at someone working a rubix cube, especially when the turns happen swiftly and the colors never fail to stack.  To many film-goers, my fellow readers, they’ll undoubtably feel barraged by the relentless pace and the overly-genius clue-finding of symbologist Robert Langdon.  His surprisingly uncharacteristic and non-agnostic parting lines to the last living seed of Christ (played by Audrey Tautau) was “Godspeed”… and boy!… if that wasn’t a clue at how the successor of The DeVinci Code would play out, I don’t know what is.

Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) has returned to Harvard (they have an awesome swimming pool by-the-way) and is met by a Vatican representative explaining they have reason to believe that a secret brotherhood, The Illuminati, has returned and is seeking vengence on the Holy Church.  Four cardinals, papal favorites (known as the “preferitti”), have been kidnapped by someone working for the Illuminati.  The threat is given- one priest killed on the hour (8, 9, 10, and 11) and then Rome will be “purified by light” with stolen anti-matter (yes, let’s amp up our security of nuclear research centers shall we?).  Langdon and physicist, Dr. Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer) traipse quite hurriedly across Rome, clue-by-clue, to save the lives of the abducted priests and the numerous leaders and followers of the Catholic Church whom have traveled to the Vatican for Sede Vacante (time from the death of the pope to the election of the new pope by the College of Cardinals).  No fear – for Robert Langdon’s skills are something of a “Godsend” and he’s on the case!

Symbologist Robert Langdon is no Saint Paul, he’s a firm believer of what is “proven” and this is a mutually interesting character for both religious believers and non-believers.  The more eloquent of the scientist agnostics, the character of Langdon (as well as that of the represented Catholic clergy) maintain a respectful boundary between religion and science.  Galileo would be proud.  The large set pieces and locations provide an exuberant amount of eye candy.  Not scenery that initially impresses and dwindles, but ones that make you thirst for more; like a cherry flavored Jolly Rancher.  Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting, Star Wars I-III), Stellan Skarsgard (Ronin, The Glass House), and Armin Mueller-Stahl (Music Box, Shine) are equally great, although I’d actually give an extra-special nod to Armin whose playing of Cardinal Strauss was exemplary.

Where the movie took a nose-dive, was in the condensed editing and the dialogue stylings.  It felt like you were in a museum filled with beautiful paintings…  but instead of leisurely viewing each masterpiece piece-by-piece, you are whisked, tugged and pulled along by a hyperactive 10 year old, leaving you inept of its full meaning.  Lucky for me, I can take speed (if I know what direction I’m going)… and I’m quite used to “not understanding full meanings.”

What was annoying was the dialogue (mainly of Langdon, Vetra and Camerlengo McKenna).  While momentarily impressed when Langdon asked his escort for help with italian, Langdon delivers countless details, myths/ histories to people that already know them… then he might saying something fancy in Latin, and will then make it a point to re-explain (most likely for the audiences benefit.  damn our feeble minds!).

The most laughable of these “failures to deliver” comes when the Camerlengo (McGregor) breaks into a closed enclave of cardinals and gives the mightiest of pep-rally speeches to a congregation of superiors, virtually all of them 3 decades his senior.  There is also a scene involving him, and a helicopter that kills me – watch for it.

I also found it strange that particle physicist, Vittoria Vetra, off the top of her pretty little head, knew the signs and symptoms of a particular poison that may or may not have killed the Pope – like she was a medical doctor!  Hmm… well… I’ve a couple of moles that need a looking at when she gets a chance.

Well many may say that this a great improvement to The DeVinci Code, I miss the self-flagellating albino, Silas (Paul Bettany), and sexy French Agent, Sophie (Audrey Tautau)- Beauty and the beast  (I’ll let you decide for yourself who I’m talking about).  But that was separate movie and my love for Audrey Tautau is just plain biased and we will have none of that here at The Joyce Review.  With Hans Zimmer’s music, along with Joshua Bell violin solos, fast-paced problem-solving in picturesque Rome, Angels and Demons succeeds, but doesn’t triumph.