17th of March

Dark Waters is directed by Todd Haynes and stars Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway. The story is based on real life events, based on the NY Times Article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare”

Mark plays Rob Bilott, a Corporate Lawyer who is dragged into this environmental lawsuit against the chemical company DuPont, which has been polluting Bilott’s home town. The movie is full of intrigue and drama, as we watch the little guy take on a billion dollar company and how the lawsuit begins to affect his family and career.

As the story unfolds, the realization that this is based on real life events only further shows how crazy these events are. The chemical’s DuPont pollutes basically poisons the people of Parkersburg, West Virginia, to the point where many develop cancer. It shows the greed and corruption that company’s thrive off of, abusing and rigging the system for their own gain.

Mark Ruffalo, is an amazing actor and as a verbal environmental activist, Dark Waters feels like his love child. Mark Ruffalo has put in so much effort in not only acting but producing this film, and bringing to light the struggle and events of DuPont and their polluting.

Anna Hathaway was brilliant, an almost Oscar worthy performance as she plays the wife to Rob. Not only is the fight hard for Rob Bilott but Anna Hathaway shows how it affects Rob’s family. Anna Hathaway was brilliant and in a few scenes out shined Mark Ruffalo.

As someone without any prior knowledge going in, the mystery and the pacing of the film was great. I was always waiting for more information and curious how this lawyer was going to compete against a huge company.

The story does skip over the years, which was actually done rather smoothly and really added to the story.

I didn’t have any gripes with Dark Waters, it was an intriguing slow burning drama that kept me wanting more. I love how investigatory it was, shining the light on these acts. It felt so personal, and truly a battle similar to David vs Goliath. Dark Waters resembles the movie Spotlight quite a bit and that won best picture at the Oscars a few years ago. Dark Waters was not only entertaining but informative and truly is a must see.

Dark Waters is a 9/10 easily.

28th of February 2020

The Invisible man is directed and written by Leigh Whannel. It’s loosely based on the HG Wells story of the same name. It follows Elisabeth Moss as Cecile who in the first act of the movie escapes her abusive relationship with an optic scientist Adrian played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen. For the first five to ten minutes of the movie we follow Cecile as she quietly tries to tiptoe her way around the house gathering her things and escaping to the road where her sister Emily is waiting. Immediately as a viewer you are thrown into the deep end about how the movie will play out. You sit on the edge of your seat, holding your breath as Cecile avoids making noise trying to escape. I loved this as it basically involves you into how desperately Cecile wants to escape and foretells how daunting Adrian actually is.

Adrian then apparently commits suicide and makes Cecile his heir. However, Cecile then suspects she is still being stalked and eventually comes to the conclusion that Adrian with his knowledge of optics has turned himself invisible for the sole purpose of stalking her and driving her mad. The first acts of the movie are eerie and filled with thrills as Cecile literally seen as insane when suspicious things start occurring, like doors opening and floors creaking with no one around. The idea of being stalked by someone or something you can’t see becomes apparent that it is incredibly creepy.

The score of the movie fits so well. It’s quiet at times when the suspense is high, then explodes into a crescendo when the action is on. Such an amazing score really makes or breaks a movie and this really makes the movie. It makes the thrills more nail biting and it makes your knuckles go white when the action goes down.

The cinematography in the film is used by Whannel to only enhance the story and the creepiness of an invisible stalker. I would recommend it for a watch based on the camera shots alone. What I’m talking about is that in the story we have this invisible stalker whom literally seems to be in the room at all times following Cecile, watching her. The cinematography plays to this effect by using a wide shot of a location, such as the kitchen. Off to the side is Cecile cooking breakfast, while the other side of the shot is empty…or not entirely. It creates this illusion that we as the viewer know that Adrian is watching in this big obvious empty space. It creates this creepy and eeriness that the movie thrives on. Sometimes the camera will pan down corridors or hallways into rooms all by itself giving into the illusion once again that we are following invisible Adrian.

Elisabeth Moss is a phenomenal actress and her talents are on display in this movie as she is basically a tormented and abused soul. Your heart wrenches for her as you see the her wrought with emotion and fear. She is truly the stand out of the movie and adds to the atmosphere of it.

I didn’t find much wrong with the movie. There were plenty of twists and turns and thrills that made me love it more and more. The final few acts of the movie turns from a creepy thriller to a bit more of an action flick. Whannel is amazing with his action sequences, as seen in his movie Upgrade, however i felt this movie didn’t require it. The ending I felt was a tad too long and could have ended a bit more suddenly which would have been more of a fit.

In all, The Invisible Man is a modern revitalized movie from the HG Wells story that hits all the right notes when it comes to an intense thriller. Elisabeth Moss is great. Leigh Whannel continues to show how great of a director and screenplay writer he is.

This movie is a must watch as I for one am hooked as a Leigh Whannel fan.

I love stories. From comic books, to novels, to movies, I love stories.

I tend to watch almost every movie that comes out. I find myself criticizing and reviewing every aspect of recent films.

So why not write down my thoughts?

That’s basically what this blog is going to be about. Me rambling on about movies that i loved and even hated. I’m here for fun so I hope you enjoy and have fun reading.

A little about me: My name is Elijah, I’m in my twenties and am a huge nerd. My dad is an English teacher so his love of stories basically lead to my love of stories.

I love to write and I love movies so put two and two together.

Plus i love a good pun so Getting Reel with Movies isn’t just a typo.

Enjoy and thanks for viewing!