Tag Archives: alexander skarsgard

The East

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the east

Director: Zal Batmanglij

Writer: Zal Batmanglij, Brit Marling

Starring: Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Toby Kebbell, Patricia Clarkson

Tomatometer: 74/65/76 (all critics, top critics, audience)

Spoiler-free Summary: A former FBI agent, now working for a private investigation firm, attempts to infiltrate a reclusive group of eco-friendly terrorists.

Two Cents: I see a lot of movies.  I also watch a boatload of trailers.  Still, every once in a while, I am pleasantly surprised with a new release of which I had never heard.  This past weekend, I was devastated to find that critics were none too thrilled about Now You See Me, to which I was looking forward.  My backup choice, After Earth (the preview for which looked horrendous), was also getting ripped to shreds by critics.  (Note to millionaires, studios, and corporations: Do not give your money to M. Night Shyamalan.  You’ll get better returns from investing in a dating site for pet owners.)  So, I searched showtimes around the city for something I may have missed.  Sure enough, I stumbled on The East.  Lucky me.

One theme behind which any moviegoer can get is the classic David vs. Goliath struggle.  Mix in a bit of cancer, and you’ve got a winning plot.  The East takes movies like Edge of Darkness and The Rainmaker a step further.  As the movie unfolds, director Batmanglij puts the viewer inside the minds of terrorists, and actually makes the viewer agree with the terrorists.  (It’s an impressive achievement, but I doubt anything is particularly difficult for someone who has “Batman” in his name.)  All of the main characters are deep, and they are continually developed throughout the movie.  Each serves his own purpose in clarifying some of the mentalities and motivations behind terrorism and counterculture.  It’s not Homeland, but it’s got plenty of insight to offer.

Brit Marling is a rising star.  She seems to feel more comfortable in the indie world, so we might not see her in many blockbusters, but she’s definitely got skills.  Skarsgård, who will be returning as Eric Northman in True Blood in two weeks, continues to build up a noteworthy résumé.  Between Disconnect and The East, he’s already appeared in two of the better movies of the year.  Plus, he’s rumored to be playing Tarzan in an upcoming adaptation of the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs tale.  Toby Kebbell did a decent job as one of the terrorists, and I’m surprised we haven’t seen more of him.  Ellen Page is a mystery to me.  She’s such a talented actress, but she seems to be stuck in type-casting hell.  She doesn’t do many movies (whether by choice or lack thereof) and, therefore, hasn’t done much in the way of branching out.  I’m looking forward to seeing how well she performs in next year’s X-Men: Days of Future Past.  

Should I/Shouldn’t I: Summer is a busy movie season, so no one can blame you for passing up small-budget indies for big-budget blockbusters. However, if you’re only heading to the theater for superhero movies this summer, you’re cheating yourself out of some quality films.  The East is not a must-see, but it is certainly a should-see.  If you’re passionate about environmental conservation (I know one of my loyal reader’s makes his living off it), this film will force you to reevaluate (though, not necessarily change) your opinion about the line between necessary evil and plain old evil.

Sundae Rating: Two scoops with whipped cream

Disconnect

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disconnect

Director: Henry Alex Rubin

Writer: Andrew Stern

Starring: Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Frank Grillo, Paula Patton, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgård, Max Thieriot, Colin Ford, Jonah Bobo

Tomatometer: 71/71/83 (all critics, top critics, audience)

Spoiler-free Summary: People of all ages reach out to strangers over the Internet, as they struggle to connect with the people in their lives.  In one story arc, a couple of douchebag teenagers bully a third over Facebook.  In another, an estranged couple, dealing with the loss of a child, has their identity stolen.  In the final arc, a webcam model contemplates the possible ramifications for participating in a televised interview about his profession.

Two Cents: The most important lesson you can possibly learn during your time on this planet: If you receive a friend request on Facebook from a person whose profile picture shows a sexy, half-nude girl, do not confirm the friendship.  That person is neither sexy, nor a girl.  And, your organs will be sold on Craigslist.  Or, even worse, Angie’s List.

The second-most important lesson you can possibly learn during your time on this planet: Never divulge your credit card information over the Internet, unless you are purchasing goods and/or services from a merchant with who you have previously done business.  Or, in some situations, a very tempting pornography website.  Your credit card statement will be littered with payments for yachts, jewelry, ferrets, and other exotic toys.  Sadly, no, Visa doesn’t care.  In fact, you deserve to be punished for not purchasing two ferrets!  You think you’re the only one who craves companionship?!

And, finally, the third-most important lesson you can possibly learn during your time on this planet: Do not, under any circumstances, take, save, or share pictures of yourself in the nude.  You will regret it, your parents will find out, and you do not look as good as you think you do. No matter your race, creed, nationality, age, gender, socioeconomic status, or sexual preference, always – ALWAYS – send a picture of Brad Pitt, instead.

Disconnect is a timely warning about the dangers of partaking in the social media revolution without taking necessary precautions.  There are two dangers that exist online.  The first, of course, is the risk of sharing too much information, and subsequently, the inability to limit the extent to which that information is shared with other parties.  Sharing information digitally can ruin your credit, your reputation, and your future.  The second danger that lurks along ethernet cables and WiFi routers is loss of reality.  Every second you spend online is a second you are not spending with a real person (or a real cat!).  Everyone needs an escape, once in a while, but it is important to remember that there are people around you who appreciate your presence and attention more than SexxxQween69 appreciates your desperate compliments.

The script is not great (I read it about five years ago), but the cast does a great job with it.  Alexander Skarsgård continues to climb up the ranks, Frank Grillo is inching closer to becoming a household name, and Jonah Bobo makes it clear he’ll be around for a while (he barely speaks, but he turns in the film’s most impressive performance).  Rubin does an impressive job of weaving the various story arcs together, without forcing them to overlap too much.  You might find yourself blaming the characters for their carelessness and brazenness, but you’ll be rooting for them, because you’ll recognize that they’re only making your mistakes.

Should I/Shouldn’t I: Disconnect is not the universe-altering wakeup call it hopes to be, but it’s a fair representation of the dangers that exist in our social-centric world.  It’s the kind of movie that is enjoyable, but will also make you think for a few seconds, once the credits start rolling.  Don’t tear an ACL running to the theater for this one, but make sure to earmark it for VOD, especially if you’re a parent of teens or tweens.  It will help cement that “All people are horrible! Never trust your friends, or anyone else!  Eat your vegetables!” speech you’ve been giving, but it won’t be as depressing as those texting-while-driving commercials.

Sundae Rating: Two scoops