Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Director: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
Story: Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio
Cast: Steve Carell, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig
Music: Heitor Pereira, Pharrell Williams
Time: 98 minutes
Bottom-line: Double the fun! 

This is one of the few films, according to me, that are better their prequel. Despicable Me 2 comes with more laughs, more action, and importantly, more minions than the first installment of the series. Steve Carell reprises his role as the super-villain Gru, as does Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario. Kristen Wiig and Benjamin Bratt co-star. This film was nominated for two Oscars at the 86th Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (losing both to Frozen).

Gru (left) and Dr. Nefario (right)

When the world needed a hero, they called a villain. Super-villain Gru has now become a father of three: Margo, Agnes and Edith. He is now using his minions to produce jelly on a large scale, and Dr. Nefario, saying that he has “missed being evil”, leaves Gru for new employment. Gru however, is recruited by the Anti-Villain League, to locate and bring back PX-41, a powerful mutagen. Though reluctant, he is paired with Lucy Wilde (Wiig), and they search the local mall, where the mutagen is supposedly located. They meet Eduardo Pérez (Bratt), a restaurant owner, whom Gru suspects to be El Macho, a legendary super-villain. The adventures Gru and Lucy have together, in the course of which they develop a liking for each other is what the film is about.

Lucy

No matter how old you get, you will always picture the minions as “cute”! And that is perhaps one of the main reasons I loved this film more than its prequel – more minions! The story is interesting – here we see Gru as a family man more than a villain. We see his transition from a good guy to a bad guy now. He starts to have romantic feelings as well (look out for the way his mood changes before and after the song “Happy”). The thing is, I like the way the same character is used, but he has completely new attributes this time. The twist of events in the story is quite unexpected... here’s something for you to think about: what would happen if the minions became evil vicious monsters??

My favourites !!

Even if the overall plot is not that innovative or interesting, it is the animation that makes it worth watching. Illumination Mac Guff has done a terrific job. In nearly every scene the dialogues are funny, or the mere sight of what is happening makes you want to laugh! Watch out for the scene where the minions are on the beach, the scene when Dr. Nefario is given a 21-gun fart gun salute (!!) and the one where the minions are sucked in by the ice cream truck... and yes, these are just few of the many interesting scenes from the film.

Once again, Steve Carell is excellent in voicing Gru, and Kristen Wiig, in the end did a good job too. Despicable Me 2 manages to combine slapstick comedy, drama, romance and action into a 100 minute package, that also comes with brilliant animation. Don’t expect a great story, but you can expect a visual treat!

My Rating: 4/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 74%

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Director: Ben Affleck
Screenplay: Ben Affleck, Aaron Stockard (based on the book by Dennis Lehane)
Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman
Music: Harry Gregson-Williams
Time: 114 minutes
Bottom-line: A well-made film, with a climax that may not please everyone

Ben Affleck, as an actor, needs improvement, but as a director, all three of his films have been critical and commercial successes. His feature film debut, Gone Baby Gone is a mystery thriller starring his brother Casey Affleck, and Michelle Monaghan in the lead roles, with Amy Ryan, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris in the pivotal roles. The film deals with several themes, the main one being the abduction of a four-year-old girl.

Casey Affleck as Patrick, and Michelle Monaghan
as Angie

Dorchester: A four-year-old girl, Amanda McCready is kidnapped. Private investigators Patrick Kenzie (Affleck) and his girlfriend Angie Gennaro (Monaghan) are requested by Amanda’s aunt to find her. The mother, Helene (Ryan), is a coke addict. Helene and her boyfriend Ray had stolen money from a Haitian drug lord, and suspicion arises that he may have Amanda. Patrick and Angie join police detectives Remy Bressant (Harris) and Nick Poole, who are assigned to the same case by Captain Jack Doyle (Freeman). Soon a plan is devised for exchanging Amanda for the money Helene and Ray stole. Is Amanda dead already? Does their plan work? Watch Ben Affleck’s film to find out!

Ed Harris as
Remy Bressant

The film begins with this monologue from Patrick: I always believed it was the things you don't choose that makes you who you are. Your city, your neighbourhood, your family. When your job is to find people who were missing, it helps to know where they started. The film does not deal with the urban “high-class” part of Boston, but the sub-urban part of the city. It makes sense that when someone is kidnapped, the neighbours play a big role. The film talks about the attitude of the neighbours and family members of Helene – how they are desperate to find the girl but still hate the mother for being a coke addict.

The story kicks off immediately. The dialogue-driven thriller contains a fair amount of violence, and a lot of swear words! The film can be classified as a mystery thriller, but towards the end of the second half, the theme shifts to something completely different. The climax is a debatable one, and in fact, the reason for it is a debate between Patrick and Doyle. (Spoiler) What is more important: a child being with her mother even if she does not take care of her, or a child being with any family that cares of her? Patrick feels the former is right, while most of the viewers would choose the second option. There is no right or wrong here... it all depends on the scenario. Maybe the mother could change, maybe she will not. In last scene, we understand that Helene did not even know the name of Amanda’s doll... does that does not necessarily mean Patrick’s decision is wrong.

Amy Ryan as Helene

In all the other aspects, Gone Baby Gone does not disappoint. The cinematography is excellent, and the acting is simple superb. Casey Affleck plays the lead role with a lot of style, and few of his dialogues were impressive and catchy. Next is Ed Harris with another powerful performance. Michelle Monaghan and Morgan Freeman have given good performances as well. Credit also goes to Amy Ryan, who plays Helene McCready, who won an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. I liked the way the characters were sketched. You don’t realise who is the “good guy” or who is not till the end (and maybe not even then!) – it depends on how you want the story to go. If you feel the ending is justified, then you view the characters in one way. If not, then you view them the opposite way.

And Morgan Freeman as
Captain Jack Doyle

Perhaps the way to “describe” the film’s idea would be this tagline: Everyone wants the truth... until they find it. The film is a gripping thriller in the first half, but the second half is full of unexpected events. Whether or not you like the story, the film will certainly impress you, thanks to the brilliant acting, screenplay and presentation.

My Rating: 4/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%