The Paperboy (2012) dir. Lee Daniels

The Paperboy centres around the character of Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack) who is in prison, accused of committing murder. Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman) who has a ‘thing’ for prison men, exchanges letters with him, and believing he is innocent seeks help from the paperboys (newspaper journalists): Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) and Yardley (David Oyelowo), with Ward’s little brother Jack Jansen (Zac Efron) watching through naïve goggles and often taking part in the search for the truth. It’s narrated by Anita (Macy Gray) the Jansen family maid, in the form of her recalling the events to another reporter, so it’s kind of meta-journalistic. It’s not really a free-the-guilty-man story though; it’s much more than that, with each character having their own effed up issues. The portrayals of these issues (sex, violence, bizarreness) have been criticised (with people saying it’s too much, too graphic, unnecessary etc), as has the fact that the film is such a big mess with things going all over the place.

I agree it’s a mess, both content-wise and structure-wise, but I disagree with all the criticism. I don’t think anything has been portrayed just for the hell of it or to purposely gross us out. The common thread to their issues is the subject of ‘repression’. Sex-obsessed (misunderstanding it for love?) Charlotte gets a kick out of the repressed sexual desires of prison men who express their yearnings in letters. I don’t want to give anything about Ward’s character away but he also faces a repression, by the time and setting (1969 Florida), and this affects the way he views himself. Jack has an Oedipal passion for Charlotte, and his unfulfillment despite being at a sexually ripening young age is unbearable. All of this has been brilliantly transmitted in the form of the unbearable heat and oozing sweat, constantly on the surface. Once things start to get unleashed, both literally and metaphorically, drama results and truths are discovered. If finding the true killer was the primary goal, indeed they find him, in his truest form.

The film is extremely engaging and memorable. It’s one hell of a feast, so if you’re a light eater don’t see it. I like feasts as long as there’s both quantity and quality, and this film has both. It’s not superficial, it’s a montage of human desires, repressed and liberated. It's meta-journalistic (recollection of a recollection) so structure-wise it would be a bit 'messy'. The cinematography is good, and the performances are absolutely fantastic with all the actors very far out of their comfort zones. Had I seen this last year (it only recently opened in UK cinemas) it would certainly have been in my top 10 of 2012.

Wes Anderson Films Ranked

Ranked from worst to best. Diving straight in:

7) The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

After finding his feet with ‘Bottle Rocket’ and achieving his unique and would-go-on-to-become-iconic style with ‘Rushmore’, Anderson went overboard. I’m generally a fan of Anderson’s films and will usually back them when people say they’re pretentious, but not on this occasion. It actually is a pretentious and over-stylised mess of a film, as he seems to have spent far too much time making the caricature characters as quirky as possible and hiring a line up of stars to portray them. I was able to feel a slight, *slight* bit of sympathy for the character of Richie, but elsewhere there was no emotional connection and believability whatsoever. Ultimately at the end of the film I felt hollow. It’s baffling because a lot of people seem to like this film, some calling it his best work.

6) Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

I’m not the most well watched person when it comes to animation so I can’t really comment on how original I felt it to be in that respect, but it was certainly fun to see Wes Anderson auteurism in the form of an animation, and spot the voicing actors as they were introduced (the voices were perfect by the way). However, there wasn’t very much of the original Roald Dahl story left, both in terms of content and style. There was not really any genuine warmth which the original story offered, there was just dark humour, sarcastic wit… things which I like, but wish he hadn’t stuffed into this adaptation. I'm assuming the film's also marketed for kids - not sure they'd react well to some of the stuff. Pulling myself away from that issue, there were moments of excellent dialogue, I enjoyed the characters and their developments (except for ‘Rat’ who I wanted to see more of), the production design was gorgeous and mise-en-scene incredibly detailed, and the overall experience was somewhat enjoyable.

5) Bottle Rocket (1996)

A great starting point for Wes Anderson. Either because he was still finding his feet or because of the low budget, we see the plot and characters stripped-down in its bareness. Without the fancy stuff (though we do get a glimpse of his trademark shots). The dialogue is awesome (really awesome) and the intentions of these characters are very much out there for their ages but there is warmth, there is connection, there is a sweetness. As a wannabe screenwriter this film is a delight to watch - it’s like a step by step guide to making a perfectly structured film with perfect character arcs. Incredibly good writing. Overall a very enjoyable experience with great performances by the Wilson brothers.

4) The Darjeeling Limited (+ Hotel Chevalier) (2007)

A lot of people seem to think this is his most pretentious film, and while it's true that at the end we don’t really feel any completion and may think well what was the point in that?, this film actually is a guilty pleasure of mine. I admire Anderson’s attempt to cram the world into this train, as opposed to take the train out into the world which is what one would normally assume. The outside isn’t really important, that’s why there wasn’t much effort to really show you enough of India, let alone an accurate India. Pretentious or not, I really enjoyed this film, personally I loved the dialogue (as always), especially that long scene in the train restaurant (?) towards the beginning, the three of them and the two German women. By the end of that scene I had so much hope for the film, was engaged, and I wasn’t let down.

3) Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

I felt detached from the non-protagonist characters (all of them except for the 2 kids) so it lessens the ensemble feel which Anderson’s films tend to have, but as I took it as sort of nostalgic, melancholic, child’s POV film, there was no harm done. You accept that they are in control, and the adults are portrayed as powerless and stupid. And it’s charming to have so many stars play the adult characters as that itself gives the characters a sense of presence and meaning. I felt transported to another world, both geographically and POV wise. There’s no tediousness, no pretentiousness at all (I think), and if I watched all of Anderson’s films back to back this would feel the most like a breath of fresh air. Act 3 is a bit weak, but that was the only disappointment. He uses the camera very well, and the actors very well. Thoroughly enjoyable and engaging.

2) The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Contrary to the many people saying the film started off well but declined, for me the film got better and better. During the first half I thought it was incredibly pretentious, and the protagonist isn’t likeable at all so difficult to connect to, but slowly I began to like how unlikeable he was, as weird as that sounds. A bit like Jane, the reporter played by Cate Blanchett (very interesting to see her in a Wes Anderson film), who was always going to write an absolutely terrible report but by the end, in that excellent scene, squashed together with the rest of the crew, kind of accepting it all, I did that too. I was genuinely moved by the father-son dynamic, and by the end I felt incredibly satisfied. Hats off to Bill Murray who did a fantastic job with that character. He not only spoke his lines but spoke with his expressions and mannerisms, perfectly done. And I loved Klaus! Everything scene with Klaus was hilarious.

1) Rushmore (1998)

THE best Wes Anderson film. Just as the wonderfully written, fabulously acted, unlikeable but loveable at the same time, incredibly charismatic Max Fischer struggles with the real world, Wes Anderson flings himself at the real world. You’re taken for an entertaining and hilarious ride, but he never crosses the line into being pretentious or overly stylish like his later films may or may not do. You’re pulled into it because the characters aren’t just absurd, they’re believable. And it’s consistent throughout. One of my to-go films when I just can't be asked.

Side Effects (2013) dir. Steven Soderbergh

“It's like this poisonous fog bank rolling in on my mind."

In a nutshell, ‘Side Effects’ is about 28 year old Emily (Rooney Mara) dealing with her depression. Her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) is released from prison having been in there for 4 years, but this added responsibility on her shoulders does no good for her mental health and she drives her car into a wall. She starts to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Banks (Jude Law), who prescribes her a number of anti-depressants which all seem ineffective. Seeking advice from Emily’s previous psychiatrist Dr. Siebert (Catherine Zeta-Jones) he prescribes a new experimental anti-depressant called Ablixa. Instantly it begins to work; however there are some odd side effects, and the rest I should probably not say.

Having read and listened to a bunch of reviews and interviews before seeing it, I knew that there were going to be a lot of twists and turns. Despite my determination to spot things beforehand, of course I was still taken back by surprise. It not so much ‘tricks’ you but demonstrates the power and control of the mighty camera. It picks out the important things for you but also presents falsities and red herrings right into our faces, ‘locking’ us in. So trying to spot things really does you no good. The music by Thomas Newman illustrates just how sinister the situation is and what’s lying underneath, still to come. The idea of the story may not be entirely new and original, but it’s certainly a very well made film with excellent cinematography and great performances. Rooney Mara very convincingly plays a woman burdened by depression; Jude Law equally as an overworked man who starts to crumble to pieces. None of the characters are played particularly likeably – this moral ambiguity and lack of someone to ‘root for’ is another aspect of the film which adds to the overall eeriness and brilliance of the film. Steven Soderbergh’s final film – it’s good to see him end his directorial career on a high note with such technical excellence and confidence. 

Top 10 Leonardo DiCaprio films

10) Shutter Island (2010) dir. Martin Scorsese

A patient has disappeared from Shutter Island Hospital for the insane and is thought to be hiding nearby. US marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) is called in to investigate… and it becomes a hell of an investigation, a trip into his own sanity and memories. I don’t want to give away too much, and don’t think I could anyway even if I wanted to as it’s extremely complicated, but the confusion you’re made to sit through as a viewer is exactly what the film wants you to feel. I love watching DiCaprio play crazy, and this is the craziest he has ever played. He is absolutely superb in this film.

9) The Aviator (2004) dir. Martin Scorsese

A biopic of Howard Hughes, like his many endeavours from film directing/producing to aviation, his OCD and his womanising ways, the film feels like a jumbled up montage. This is both what makes the film enjoyable (personally) and what fails to make it a masterpiece as it doesn’t feel like there is any clear route or direction it’s headed in. I don’t necessarily think that a film must have a well structured story, but in this case I understand that some people may have felt they were up in the air, wanting to put their feet onto the ground. But regardless of whether it’s perfectly structured or not, the direction is brilliant and the acting is amazing (even Kate Beckinsale). It’s perfectly enjoyable and is great cinema!

8) This Boy’s Life (1993) dir. Michael Caton-Jones

Based on the memoirs of writer Tobias Wolff, this is about a mother, Caroline Wolff (Ellen Barkin) and son Tobias ‘Jack’ Wolff (DiCaprio) who escape from Caroline’s abusive boyfriend and search for a place of comfort, in the 1950s. Caroline meets Dwight (Robert De Niro), who seems a nice guy, and they marry and move to his hometown. Dwight then turns out to be a selfish and abusive douche. They live under his ‘control’ in this small and caged town, until one day Tobias learns that that may not have to be the case. It’s a sad story because many people do live this way and may not be able to find an escape route. The acting is great, the dialogue is great, very witty at times, and the story is told incredibly well. The film is, like I said, quite sad, but also gives you hope at the same time.

7) Marvin’s Room (1996) dir. Jerry Zaks

Lee (Meryl Streep) and Bessie (Diane Keaton) are sisters but they haven’t spoken in 17 years. Through Bessie’s Leukemia and her need for a marrow transplant, Lee and her sons Hank (DiCaprio) and Charlie (Hal Scardino) travel to see Bessie and reignite the sisterly relationship. Hank is a troubled youngster, put into a mental institute after trying to set their house on fire, and we watch him soften and learn to care for others. It’s a sweet little film with a pretty amazing cast (Robert De Niro is also in the film, playing Bessie’s doctor), and DiCaprio doesn’t falter at all. He adds depth to his character, and is very entertaining to watch.

6) Titanic (1997) dir. James Cameron

I’ve watched Titanic many many times, but the more I watch it, the less the terrible sadness becomes about Jack and Rose, but I am reminded and I see that every single passenger on that boat had a family, or a lover, that they were torn away from each other. Humanity is shown in its truest form, both in good ways and bad ways. DiCaprio plays Jack, the poor guy, and Kate Winslet, Rose, the rich girl. DiCaprio and Winslet have great chemistry; though their story is the narrative that you follow, ultimately this is a film about humanity, and the film succeeds in carrying that weight and depth forward to the audience.

5) The Basketball Diaries (1995) dir. Scott Kalvert

Based on the real life published journals of Jim Carroll, the film essentially is about the effects of heroin on Carroll, played by DiCaprio, and his dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. We also watch Carroll confront the realisation of mortality and explore his sexual angst. The reoccurring voiceover narration reminds us that this isn’t just a druggie film, it’s a true story. I enjoy this so much because of DiCaprio’s performance. He is completely convincing as a mischievous youth who’s life spirals out of control. We’d seen him play all sorts of characters before but it was the first time seeing such a dark and desperate side of him. He makes the film an engaging experience, and I think this is one of his best performances ever. 

4) Blood Diamond (2006) Edward Zwick

DiCaprio (Danny Archer) and Djimon Hounsou (Solomon Vandy) give incredible performances in this film set in Sierra Leone (though not filmed there) about the diamond trade. Now I hardly know anything about the history or the politics or the diamond trade in Africa, but I don’t feel that there was any unnecessary violence, and I sensed the characters inside the film to be as horrified by the violence as we the audience are. I’ve also read praising reviews by people who are knowledgeable about the issue, so there you go. As a film it’s perfect. A solid script, brought to life by great directing, characters which draw us in, incredible acting, and I also love the beautiful music by James Newton Howard.

3) The Departed (2006) dir. Martin Scorsese

A remake of the Hong Kong film ‘Internal Affairs’, Billy (DiCaprio) works for Boston mafia chief Costello (Jack Nicholson) but is secretly on the side of the Massachusetts Police. Likewise, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) who works for the police, is secretly on the side of Costello. I’m sure that could’ve been worded better but anyway. They discover that there is a ‘rat’ among them, and it becomes a thrilling cat & mouse chase x2 to find out who the ‘rat’ is. The storytelling is superb and performances are excellent. Mark Wahlberg’s Sergeant Dignam almost steals the show with his awesomely witty dialogue and final scene of the film. Great entertainment!

2) What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) dir. Lasse Hallström

This is a beautiful, tender and warm film, at times heartbreaking, about the Grape family. DiCaprio plays Arnie, the retarded younger brother of Gilbert (Johnny Depp). With so many things on his plate, including their extremely obese mother who can’t/won’t leave the house, Gilbert becomes a bit of an empty vessel, putting other people before him, not really finding any pleasures in life besides the occasional sexual encounters with the married Betty Carver who shops at his grocery store. He meets Becky (Juliette Lewis), who makes his life more interesting and opens him up a bit. Gilbert could easily have become a one dimensional character, but Johnny Depp does a great job by bringing him to life and making him lovable. DiCaprio does a phenomenal job playing Arnie, to the extent that some people who didn’t know DiCaprio thought he was a retarded actor playing the role. 

1) Catch Me If You Can (2002) dir. Steven Spielberg

This is based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., the famous conman who passed himself off as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer mainly by forging cheques and being charming. Played by DiCaprio with such cheek and charm, you’re pulled into the story and root for him. Tom Hanks plays Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent who humorously chases and tries to catch him. It’s a fun, engaging and funny ride, but there is depth too. We see how his relationship with his parents, especially his father, played by the wonderful Christopher Walken, affected his character and actions, and we also take a peek into his lonely soul through the conversation we see between Frank and Carl Hanratty over the phone on Christmas Eve. It’s a film that I watch once every now and then and never get bored by, and I can just back, relax and enjoy!

Leo plays Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, directed by Baz Luhrmann, set to come out in theaters this May. He will also be in The Wolf of Wall Street, based on the memoir by Jordan Belfort, directed by Martin Scorsese. No release date set but probably late this year. Though he's currently taking a break from acting to focus on environmental work, at least we'll be seeing him on screen this year. Then I hope it won't be toooo long till he returns!