Film Fest: Chris Hemsworth

November 24, 2017 Chopped Onion Comments 0 Comment

Since I enjoyed Thor: Ragnarok starring Chris Hemsworth that came out earlier this month, I wanted to watch more films starring the now 34 year old Australian. The films include Red Dawn (2012 action), Thor: The Dark World (2013 sci-fi adventure), Blackhat (2015 crime mystery), and In the Heart of the Sea (2015 adventure). While Hemsworth has stolen scenes in minor roles (A Perfect Getaway in 2009, Star Treks in 2009 & 2013, Vacation in 2015, and Ghostbusters in 2016), his leading man films have been primarily of the Marvel character Thor (at least 6 films since 2011). With his charm, good looks, and physique, Hemsworth could have to battle a stereotype about not being taken serious as an actor but he has turned in enjoyable characters in a variety of projects such as race car driver James Hunt in Rush (2013), college friend in the woods in The Cabin in the Woods (2012 with director Drew Goddard who is next directing Hemsworth in Bad Times at the El Royale, a thriller set in the 1960s in a hotel in California with Jeff Bridges), and will soon be seen in 12 Strong (2018 action about special forces in Afghanistan) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018 adventure with the Marvel gang).

Red Dawn

2012, PG, 1h 33m

Studio – FilmDistrict

Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $65 / $44

IMDB – 5.4

Red Dawn is an action thriller starring Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, and Adrianne Palicki about a group of American teenagers who fight against North Korean soldiers who invade their home town. The opening credits has a rapid fire rundown of the back story using actual footage of world leaders (well done with the buildup of instrumental) and news headlines that sets up the premise for Call of Duty video game like violence (which the characters themselves reference). A montage shows how the teens trained to beat the foreign army (uh-huh), lots of military/air force CGI populated the small American town (was filmed primarily in Michigan), and while there are a number of explosions and gunfire, the violence is not graphic (the look is similar to but the graphic nature is unlike Olympus Has Fallen, an action movie released the following year starring Gerard Butler). The movie was filmed in 2009 (delayed the release until 2012), the invaders were originally to be Middle Eastern or Chinese (changed to North Korea to not be banned in China, aka box office), and was based on the original film from 1984 starring Patrick Swayze (which saw teens take on Soviet forces). With a quick runtime (1h 33m), the film does not dwell on the losses and casualties (or personalities or broader reaching impact). Instead it opts for a run and gun pace (which is exciting), simple character arcs (one character throws up, then kicks major butt), and relies on the viewer to imagine the internal struggle. Director Dan Bradley (his only directing credit but did stunts for The Bourne Legacy, Spider-Man 3, and Crank). Writers Carl Ellsworth (The Last House on the Left, 2009) and Jeremy Passmore (Special, 2006). Stars Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games, 2012), Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights, 2006-2011), Josh Peck (ATM, 2012), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Possession, 2012). Watched it on Blu-ray, no special features.

Thor: The Dark World

2013, PG, 1h 52m

Studio – Marvel

Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $170 / $644

IMDB – 7.0

Thor: The Dark World is a sci-fi adventure starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston about a villain using a cosmic event against the people of Earth and Asgard (his homeland on another planet) and the heroes attempts to save the day. There are moments of fun in this movie (Thor fighting lesser challengers, Loki playing games), but not enough as they tended to be more dark and heavy. That did help ramp up the evil Malekith (Christopher Eccleston who took 6 hours each time to get makeup ready) who sounds creepy and leads an army of Dark Elves against the heroic Asgardians and human scientists lead by Natalie Portman. Thor was not yet at the Ragnarok level of easy going but still was impressive and helped contrast with the sometimes wickedly natured Loki (Hiddleston) who again lit up the screen (worthy of a stand-alone film? I’d watch it). Loki was actually re-written into the script after his popularity from his performance in The Avengers (2012). Filmed primarily in England and Iceland (including Stonehenge), The Dark World continued exploring the relationships between himself and every other character, allowing for some chemistry to be explored with each other major role (gave Hemsworth plenty to work with). Kenneth Branagh who directed the first Thor turned down the sequel, Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, 2017) was announced as director but left due to creative differences, as was composer Carter Burwell who was replaced by Brian Tyler. A wonderful film to look at (top notch CGI), The Dark World has good action scenes (watch for the unconventional circles), a terrific ensemble cast (Jaimie Alexander who played Sif was injured during filming and was away for a month), and there are a couple of scenes in the credits. Director Alan Taylor (The Wonderful Maladays, 2010), writers Christopher Yost (Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, 2008), Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (who both also co-wrote Pain & Gain, 2013). Stars Natalie Portman (Your Highness, 2011), Tom Hiddleston (Exhibition, 2013), Anthony Hopkins (RED 2, 2013), and Christopher Eccleston (Song for Marion, 2012). Watched it on Blu-ray which includes a short film, a look at Captain America: The Winter Soldier, deleted scenes, a gag reel, a documentary on the brothers Thor and Loki, and more.

Blackhat

2015, 14A, 2h 13m

Studio – Universal

Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $70 / $19

IMDB – 5.4

Blackhat is a crime mystery starring Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, and Wei Tang about a team trying to stop cyber attacks that have included systems at a nuclear facility. This is an international adventure as the team globe hops following the terrorists and is a journey in shaky camera filmmaking (it tends to either make people sick or more invested in the action). For a bit too long we literally journey through wiring in a CGI visual and show off code cracking, the gunfights feel grounded (and dangerous), and the film shines in keeping up with multiple plot lines and view points. Those view points are helped by the diverse cast and shared screen time, and helps emphasize the globe reaching significance of the dangers of cyber hacking. Fitting too that the movie has shots from multiple countries including Indonesia, USA, China, and Malaysia. The composer Harry Gregson-Williams has claimed that he did not create the majority of the soundtrack used in the film, real hackers were hired as consultants, and the term “blackhat” refers to a villain, (typically in western movies, the villains wore black hats). As the film struggled in theatres, the studio decided not to release it in all markets, and released it straight to video (aka DVD/Blu-ray). It does begin to inspire paranoia about surveillance, but then could shift gears into a bureaucracy meeting, which takes away some of the tension it was building up. I accept a degree of shaky camera but sometimes it felt needless and distracting. Director Michael Mann (Public Enemies, 2009) has since made a director’s cut (primarily rearranging the film’s plot), and writer Morgan Davis Foehl’s only other credit is now for an upcoming Enemy of the State series (echoing the original film in 1998 starring Will Smith). Stars Viola Davis (Get on Up, 2014), Wei Tang (The Golden Era, 2014), Leehom Wang (My Lucky Star, 2013), and Holt McCallany (The Ganzfeld Haunting, 2014). Watched it on DVD including a 17 minute making of the film.

In the Heart of the Sea

2015, PG, 2h 2m

Studio – Warner Bros.

Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $100 / $93

IMDB – 6.9

In the Heart of the Sea is an adventure starring Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, and Cillian Murphy about a crew on a ship that encounter a giant whale, and whose true story experience inspired the novel Moby Dick. Most of the movie takes place on a ship in the ocean and has multiple wonderful shots of sailing, especially Hemsworth as the near perfect ship mate Owen Chase. The film uses some poetry, great looking costumes to set the period, lots of CGI (the boats, the water, and the whales oh my), and has some nice fire and storm work as well. It is part drama such as exploring the rivalry and the struggle to survive (checking off all of the perils at sea), and is part interview (telling the tale is Brendan Gleeson). Filmed in the Canary Islands, Spain, and in the UK, the movie takes you through every stage of being part of whaling ship and makes you feel every pain the characters go on their journey when things don’t go their way (including losing weight like most of them did for the role). While emphasizing for the crew’s struggle, the film also highlights the practice of whaling which makes for a split in compassion with the over sized whale (combining both a Jaws like point of view and wide overhead shots that capture scale and take your breath away). Director Ron Howard (Made in America, 2013) again uses a based on a true story premise since he also made Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, Frost/Nixon, and Rush (the first time he directed Hemsworth). Screenplay writer Charles Leavitt previously co-wrote Seventh Son (2014) and adapted the original 2000 novel by Nathaniel Philbrick. Stars Benjamin Walker (Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, 2013), Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders, 2013-2017), Ben Whishaw (Spectre, 2015), and Tom Holland (Wolf Hall, 2015). Watched it on Blu-ray and it includes insightful behind the scenes by the director, stars, and the true story that inspired it, deleted scenes, and more.