SNL 40.5 Review - Chris Rock, Prince

Original Airdate - 11/1/14

It's catch-up time for SNL reviews!  For the third time in the first five episodes of this season, a former cast member has returned to 30 Rock to host.  Chris Rock had some mild success on the show as a castmember, but his notoriety came more from his stand-up and subsequent movie career.  The first two times former cast members (Sarah Silverman, Bill Hader) had come back this season and had some decent success, with Hader turning in one of the best episodes of the season.  Chris Rock unfortunately did not have the same success.

Cold Opening

It almost has felt at times that the SNL writers have tried a little too hard to make the cold opens topical and current.  It has also felt at times like they forget not everyone that watches the show lives in New York.  The result is a series of sketches that may speak to the times, but have very few laughs and are completely forgettable.  This one is no different.  They talk about the quarantine (or lack thereof) of ebola patients in New York.  The one positive out of this sketch is it allows Bobby Moynihan to reprise his Chris Christie impression, which is just too perfect to not pull out every once in awhile.

Monologue

By far, the highlight of this episode was the monologue where Chris Rock got to do what he does best.  His comedy had the type of current events commentary that you can usually expect out of Cold Open.  He hit topics like the Boston Marathon and 9/11 in a way that you had to laugh at.  Now if only the whole show could have been this...

Weekend Update

Throughout this season, Weekend Update has slowly been gaining momentum again.  Now, you can firmly say it is once again the backbone the show is built on.  It is now better than the late Seth Meyers years as Colin Jost and Michael Che are more willing to be edgy and offensive in their commentary on the week's news.  For the first time in awhile, the jokes by the anchors are outshining the guest spots.  This week, the guests to the Update desk started off with Pete Davidson, who always shines as Weekend Update's "Resident Young Guy."  Next came Katt Williams.  I still have no idea who that is, but I hear Jay Pharaoh is scary in his portrayal of the diminutive comic.

Best Sketch

Do you ever have those moments where you are listening to a song for the first time and are really enjoying it until you hear who is singing it?  Apparently, so have the people at SNL.  They have come up with a solution for this phenomenon revolving around one of the more polarizing musical figures right now, Taylor Swift.  Swiftamine is one of the more clever ideas for these commercials that pop up throughout the episode this season.  However, you know the episode is a little lacking when a commercial takes the best sketch crown.

Worst Sketch

Chris Rock seemed to spend most of this episode in a grey-haired wig playing a stereotypical older black man.  I have no idea why, but none of the sketches where he did this were very funny.  The worst of these was this sketch where he and Leslie Jones play a bickering older couple.  It was more sad than funny as it seemed to either be trying too hard or not trying at all.  I couldn't tell.  Rock obviously wanted to show how grown up he was though.

Dark Horse Sketch

The only sketch that reclaimed the edge found in Chris Rock's monologue was this recreation of the hit show Shark Tank.  I have never watched the show, but you don't need to have seen it to understand the premise.  Average Joes try to get millionaire businessmen to back their business ideas.  The idea before the backers in this sketch is ISIS ... yes, that ISIS.  It was more of a shock-factor sketch than anything, but the fact that they were willing to go there was impressive enough to make this sketch a definite highlight of the episode.

Grade

After a couple of really fun episodes, this one really disappointed.  It seemed as if Chris Rock brought a lot of ideas to the table that just didn't pan out the way he thought (like many of his movies recently).  The main things to see in this episode are Chris Rock's monologue and Prince's extended jam session in the middle.  Other than that, there wasn't much to get excited about.

***C-***

View the full episode here:

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) Reivew

Directed by

Peter Jackson

Over a decade ago, Peter Jackson created The Lord of the Rings, a magical epic trilogy that became an instant classic revered by millions.  This year, Jackson concluded his follow-up prequel trilogy, completing the tales of Middle Earth first imagined by J.R.R. Tolkien.  Although The Hobbit trilogy has not been as heralded and critically-acclaimed as the original, they have succeeded at making three high-quality films that recreate the fantastical world that took Hollywood by storm 11 years ago.

Breaking up the novel into three movies, the first installment, An Unexpected Journey, introduces us to the premise of the trilogy: Bilbo Baggins and a band of dwarfs join the wizard Gandalf in marching on the lost home of the dwarfs that was conquered by the crafty dragon Smaug.  In the second installment, The Desolation of Smaug, the group reaches their destination and awakens the dragon in their attempt to recover a precious family relic from Smaug's hoard of treasure.  This third installment, The Battle of the Five Armies, gives the climactic ending to the saga as Smaug wreaks havoc on a nearby village and several nations join the fight for the strategic home of the dwarfs, now abandoned by the dragon and filled with riches.

This story goes through several phases.  First, there is the struggle to stop Smaug.  Next comes the inner struggle of the dwarf king, Thorin, as he allows the treasures of his reclaimed home corrupt his judgment.  This leads to the final battle of (you guessed it) five different armies fighting for control of the same territory.

As fun as the story is, the cast of mostly no name actors brings it to life wonderfully.  The cast is led by Martin Freeman, playing the titular hobbit.  Richard Armitage's Thorin comes to life in this installment as the tortured leader struggling with the immensity of his regained kingdom and fortune.  He leads the band of no name actors playing the group of dwarfs that fill their roles perfectly.  One of the greatest parts of this new trilogy is how Peter Jackson was able to bring back so many actors from The Lord of the Rings to reprise their roles.  This is led by Ian McKellan returning as Gandalf for one last go-around.  He joins the likes of Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Orlando Bloom, and 92 year old Christopher Lee as those with the honor of appearing in both trilogies.

The best way to describe this film is chaotic, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  There is a lot that happens in this shortest of the 6 films, clocking in at 144 minutes.  For as much that happens and as short as the film is, at no point does it ever feel rushed.  It is a controlled chaos that makes this 144 minute film feel even shorter.

A common complaint I have heard about this film is inaccuracies and minor plot changes when comparing it to the novel.  Not having read the novel, I cannot speak to these criticisms, however I don't believe adaptations of the source material should be automatically counted as flaws because they aren't as they should be.  I think the story and plot of the film, although at times trying a little too hard to be suspenseful and dramatic, works, and any changes that may or may not have been made do not distract from the overall telling of this amazing story.

One problem I have with this movie has less to do with the film itself and more about the philosophy behind this film.  A trend over the last few years when adapting novels to film has been to split novels into multiple installments.  With franchises like Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games, they have split the final installment into two films to allow for a proper telling of the story (and twice the amount of money made at the box office).  This book was split into a trilogy, which appears to me to be a bit of overkill.  The three films created are high quality films, but I would have loved to see what could have happened if they gave this book the same treatment they gave the other three novels in this series.

With all this said, those who appreciate this series of films should definitely catch this final installment of the series.  It is a fun film that does the franchise justice and brings the story full circle.  For this film to make any sense however, you have to watch the first two parts of the story (which is part of the problem with this trend).  The Battle of the Five Armies is a wonderful film though that is a must see for any fans of the books, the films, or the fantasy genre in general.

Rating:

Watch the trailer here:

December Movie Preview!

December Movie Preview!!

    So, it's December and the year is almost up.  I'm a little late, cause where did the time go.  What a year it has been for movies.  I have seen some amazing films and I have seen some stinky movies!!

   Last month, was another good month for films.  Oscar season is here and its getting excited.  So, shall we begin?


December 5, 2014:
The Pyramid, Top Five, Dying of the Light, Wild, Pioneer.

Excitement: 2.5 
Reason: This looks like the movie "Tracks"  from a few months back.  Though Reese Witherspoon looks like she is trying for an Oscar nod.  

December 12, 2014:
Exodus:God's and Kings,  Inherent Vice, After the Fall

Excitement: 3.5
Reason:  I'll be honest with you here, I made bet with my friend that I would not watch a single trailer about this movie.  So far so good anyway.  All I know is that it's based a book (that I have not read)  Also that Joaquin Phoenix looks amazing in the only picture I have seen from this film.  Going in blind.

Excitement: 2.5 
Reason: I'm a little nervous about this movie for the simple fact that I didn't like "Noah".  Also, does anyone think that Christian Bale is playing Moses Batman Connor in this movie.  Though Joel Edgerton looks awesome in this.

December 17, 2014:
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Excitement: 4
Reason: The final Hobbit movie and final journey to Middle Earth.  This has all the makings of having a grand conclusion to this world that has been so gloriously crafted by Peter Jackson.  This has been one of my most anticipated movies of the year.  I'm ready to take my final journey!

December 19, 2014:
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Annie, The Gambler, Mr. Turner

Excitement: 3
Reason:  Mark Wahlberg looks great in this film.  But John Goodman looks even better.  I'm very intrigued about this film.

Excitement: 2

Reason:  The first musical of the month.  It will be interesting to see how this remake will turn out.  I wonder if Jamie Fox will start rapping in this???

Excitement: 1

Reason:  Well, the one high note from this tired franchise is that Rebel Wilson joins the cast.  But there is also a sad note too.  This is one of Robin Williams final films. 

December 24, 2014:

Two Days One Night

December 25, 2014:
Into the Woods, Unbroken, The Interview, Big Eyes, Selma, American Sniper

Excitement: 4
Reason:  When I first watched the trailer, I was stunned.  This will be nominated for sure at the Oscars.  Angelina Jolie is become a pretty dang good director.

Excitement: 3.5 

Reason:  Bradley Cooper looks like he might be in Oscar territory with this role.  This movie looks like it might be a tough movie to watch about the choices we make in war.  We shall see.

Excitement: 3

Reason: I really like this cast.  I know, its the second musical of the month, but it still looks like it has something to offer.  Plus, I'm hoping that the Star Wars trailer gets the wide release for this movie.  Please Disney!!! 

Excitement: 2.5

Reason:  When I first heard that they were making this, I rolled my eyes and said to myself, "I rather see Pineapple Express 2"  But with each trailer, it gets funnier and funnier each time.  "We're going to North Korea!!!"

December 31, 2014:

A Most Violent Year, Leviafan

Excitement: 3.5

Reason:  It has one of my favorite actresses in it, Jessica Chastain!  Based in New York City in the winter of 1981, statistically the most violent year in America.  Oscar Isaac, might be an Oscar candidate too.

My Top Five Most Anticipated Movies of the Month:

1. The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies

2. Unbroken

3. Inherent Vice

4. American Sniper

5. A Most Violent Year

Summary of the Previous Month:

Last Month was really interesting.  It had some epic films and disappointments too.  Here is my rankings for what I witnesses!

1. Whiplash

2. Interstellar

3. The Theory of Everything

4. Big Hero 6

5. Horrible Bosses 2

6. Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

And my favorite performances...

1. J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)

2. Miles Teller (Whiplash)

3. Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)

4. Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything)

5. Jenifer Aniston (Horrible Bosses 2)

Also I watched some movies on DVD

1. Psycho (1960)

2. Red Dragon (2002)

3. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

4. Wreck it Ralph (2012)

5. Dallas Buyers Clubs (2013)

But my movie of the month goes to...

What did you see?  What do you want to see?  Do you agree with my list?

       Thank you again for reading and I hope you have fun at the movies!

Adam

2015 Golden Globes Preview and Predictions

Is it just me, or has December/awards season really snuck up on us? Anyway, the Golden Globes nominations are coming quick, and here are my sarcastic commentary and over-my-head predictions for how the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will vote this year. Read up!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TV MOVIE

1. Julia Roberts – The Normal Heart

2. Allison Janney – Mom

3. Kathy Bates – American Horror Story: Freak Show

4. Uzo Abuda – Orange is the New Black
5. Michelle Monaghan – True Detective

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TV MOVIE

1. Martin Freeman – Sherlock: His Last Vow

 

2. Jon Voight – Ray Donovan

3. Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones

4. Matt Bomer – The Normal Heart

5. Bill Murray – Olive Kitteridge

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE

1. Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Freak Show

2. Frances McDormand – Olive Kitteridge

3. Zoe Saldana – Rosemary’s Baby

4. Cicely Tyson – The Trip to Bountiful
5. Sara Paulson – American Horror Story: Freak Show

BEST ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE

1. Matthew McConaughey – True Detective

 

2. Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock: His Last Vow

3. Mark Ruffalo – The Normal Heart

4. Woody Harrelson – True Detective
5. Adrien Brody – Houdini

BEST MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

1. True Detective

 

2. Fargo

3. American Horror Story: Freak Show

4. The Normal Heart
5. Sherlock: His Last Vow

BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep

 

2. Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback

3. Amy Poehler – Parks and Recreation

4. Gina Rodriguez – Jane the Virgin
5.Taylor Schilling – Orange is the New Black

BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent

 

2. Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory

3. Andy Samberg – Brooklyn Nine-Nine

4. Matt LeBlanc – Episodes
5. Anthony Anderson – Blackish

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Modern Family

 

2. Veep

3. Jane the Virgin

4. Orange is the New Black
5. Silicon Valley

BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. Viola Davis – How to Get Away with Murder

2. Robin Wright – House of Cards

3. Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife

4. Kerry Washington – Scandal
5. Claire Danes - Homeland

BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. Clive Owen – The Knick

 

2. Kevin Spacey – House of Cards

3. Dominic West – The Affair

4. Michael Sheen – Masters of Sex
5. Steve Buscemi – Boardwalk Empire

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. House of Cards

 

2. Game of Thrones

3. The Knick

4. Boardwalk Empire
5. The Affair

BEST ANIMATED FILM

1. Big Hero 6

 

2. The Lego Movie

3. The Tale of Princess Kaguya

4. The Book of Life
5. The Boxtrolls

Explanation: We all know that the HFPA loves big movies, and even though Lego was star-studded and a box office smash, Big Hero 6 just seems like the type of material (Marvel) that is the flavor of the month. How to Train Your Dragon 2 will probably get in, but I just can’t figure out where.

BEST FOREIGN FILM

1. Two Days, One Night (Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne) – Belgium

 

2. Mommy (Xavier Dolan) – Canada

3. Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski) – Poland

4. Cantinflas (Sebastian del Amo) – Mexico
5. The Golden Era (Ann Hui) – Hong Kong

Explanation: They normally vote in favor of the name directors (Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima appeared in this category back in 2006, as was Angelina Jolie’s In the Land of Blood and Honey in 2011), and they love international stars. The Dardennes have Marion Cotillard in their critical hit, which should be enough to take the award. But hey, this is the hardest category to predict for any awards circuit.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

1. “Lost Stars” – Begin Again

2. “Everything is Awesome” – The Lego Movie

3. “Masterpiece” – Beyond the Lights

4. “The Last Goodbye” – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
5. “Glory” – Selma

Explanation: I would try to justify these, but it would be pointless. It is basically random, but I would be shocked if the top two are ignored.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

1. The Theory of Everything­ – Johann Johannsson

 

2. Gone Girl – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

3. Big Eyes – Danny Elfman

4. Interstellar – Hans Zimmer
5. Maleficent – James Newton Howard

Explanation: They love the big names, but there is always a wild card in the mix. Maleficent might be that wildcard, and history shows that they give their wins to movies that sometimes don’t even get nominated anywhere else. It is hard to ignore the beauty of The Theory of Everything’s music, though.

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

1. Birdman – Armando Bo, Alexander Dinelaris, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone

 

2. Unbroken – Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

3. Boyhood – Richard Linklater

4. Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
5. A Most Violent Year – JC Chandor

Explanation: The HFPA loves putting a screwball into this category, but the top movies are just too great of screenplays to not put in there. Plus, there isn’t a legitimate random romantic-comedy or anything.

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

1. Angelina Jolie – Unbroken

 

2. David Fincher – Gone Girl

3. Clint Eastwood – American Sniper

4. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu – Birdman
5. Christopher Nolan – Interstellar

Explanation: This seems pretty standard, and they love Jolie. She won three years in a row in different categories from 1997-1999. Eastwood is the only real shocker, but his movie will be popular and the Globes still can’t get enough of him.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Tim Burton – Big Eyes

Clint Eastwood – American Sniper

Peter Jackson – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Angelina Jolie – Unbroken

Christopher Nolan – Interstellar

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

1. Meryl Streep – Into the Woods

2. Patricia Arquette – Boyhood

3. Emma Stone – Birdman

4. Anna Kendrick – Into the Woods
5. Cameron Diaz – Annie

Explanation: Seemingly, Streep is nominated whether she has a movie being released or not. Diaz is a weird addition, I know, but they do love her. She was nominated 4 times between 1998 and 2002. If Annie is any good, then she might be a no-brainer for the Globes.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Cameron Diaz – Annie

Jane Fonda – This Is Where I Leave You

Kristen Stewart – Still Alice

Meryl Strep – The Giver

Meryl Streep – Into the Woods

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

1. JK Simmons – Whiplash

 

2. Edward Norton – Birdman

3. Johnny Depp – Into the Woods

4. Robert Duvall – The Judge
5. Albert Brooks – A Most Violent Year

Explanation: Usually, this category is pretty similar to the other awards, unless there is something absurd like Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder or John Travolta in Hairspray in the running. Depp is nominated always. Brooks is really just a stab.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Matt Damon – Interstellar

Johnny Depp – Into the Woods

Shia LaBeouf – Fury

Tyler Perry – Gone Girl

Chris Pine – Into the Woods

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Julianne Moore – Maps to the Stars

2. Angelina Jolie – Maleficent

3. Helen Mirren – The Hundred-Foot Journey

4. Keira Knightley – Begin Again
5. Jenny Slate – Obvious Child

Explanation: This category, with the exception of their thirst for stars, has a tendency to put an indie or two in there. Greta Gerwig was nominated for Frances Ha last year, so Jenny Slate takes that potential spot. Moore might be set to win two awards, like Kate Winslet was back in 2008, mainly because of the HFPA’s obsession with David Cronenberg.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Jennifer Aniston – Cake

Tina Fey – This Is Where I Leave You

Angelina Jolie – Maleficent

Melissa McCarthy – St. Vincent

Emma Stone – Magic in the Moonlight

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Michael Keaton – Birdman

2. Joaquin Phoenix – Inherent Vice

3. Chris Rock – Top Five

4. Bill Murray – St. Vincent
5. Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Explanation: This would be a really interesting group. The Comedy/Musical actor category is always strong. It is hard to completely leave out musical contenders Mark Ruffalo, John Lloyd Young, and James Corden, but these stars in strong films are too hard to get by.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Jim Carrey – Dumb and Dumber To

Jamie Foxx – Annie

Bill Murray – St. Vincent

Al Pacino – The Humbling

Chris Pratt – Guardians of the Galaxy

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Into the Woods

 

2. Birdman

3. Inherent Vice

4. Jersey Boys
5. Guardians of the Galaxy

Explanation: The Globes love to even out the musicals and comedies, and the musicals almost always win. This would be a cool list, and Jersey Boys gets in because it is Eastwood. Superhero movies have yet to really been embraced, but none have fully embellished in its comedy like Guardians.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Begin Again

Into the Woods

Jersey Boys

Jimi: All Is By My Side

Magic in the Moonlight

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. Julianne Moore – Still Alice

2. Reese Witherspoon – Wild

3. Shailene Woodley – The Fault in Our Stars

4. Scarlett Johansson – Under the Skin
5. Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night

Explanation: Johansson would be the one real surprise, but like Diaz and Jolie, the HFPA simply loves her. She was nominated 4 times between 2003 and 2005. Moore is really set up for a sweep, and she deserves it. It is a shame that she has never won an Oscar or a Globe in the film categories. Why not give her two?

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Anne Hathaway – Interstellar

Scarlett Johansson – Under the Skin

Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Reese Witherspoon – Wild

Shailene Woodley – The Fault in Our Stars

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. Steve Carell – Foxcatcher

2. Bradley Cooper – American Sniper

3. Brad Pitt – Fury

4. Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
5. David Oyelowo – Selma

Explanation: Carell is a past winner at the Globes, and his transformative performance seems like a safe bet for the Drama category. Pitt is nominated consistently. International actors are also popular here, so leaving off Eddie Redmayne, Timothy Spall, and Jack O’Connell was difficult.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Bradley Cooper – American Sniper

Robert Downey Jr. – The Judge

Matthew McConaughey – Interstellar

Brad Pitt – Fury

Channing Tatum – Foxcatcher

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. Unbroken

2. Gone Girl

3. Boyhood

4. Interstellar
5. A Most Violent Year

Explanation: This is a really loaded category, and once again, the international movies might have to take a back seat. These seem pretty secure, with the exception of newly minted NBR Best Picture A Most Violent Year, which no one has really seen yet. It will be a fight between box office megahit Gone Girl, indie Boyhood, and Jolie’s war epic Unbroken for the top prize.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

American Sniper

Fury

Gone Girl

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Interstellar

There they are! Anyone who has any input or expertise, feel free to speak up. I only do this one for fun. I don’t follow it nearly as closely as the Oscars. Comment below!

Force Majeure (2014) Review

Directed by

 Ruben Östlund

             A Swedish family is on vacation in the Swiss Alps.  The father, mother, and young daughter and son all appear happy and pose for pictures in front of a snow-capped mountain.  They look like an advertisement found in an REI catalog.  On day two, they enjoy lunch atop a restaurant balcony overlooking the slopes.  Suddenly, an avalanche begins to form.  As it grows larger and larger, the patrons gather in front of the ledge to take pictures.  But soon the avalanche appears to grow out of control and everyone begins to scream and embrace for impact.  Dusty white powder covers the balcony.  The mother grabs her children and pulls them under her.  The father grabs his iPhone and flees the scene.

            This is the crucial episode that sets forth in motion the events of Ruben Östlund's Force Majeure, which despite its premise is not a disaster movie, but instead a subtle, introspective study of what happens when the avalanche fiasco turns out to be a false alarm.  The family and all the restaurant patrons emerge from the scene physically unharmed, but for the mother, the emotional damage is irreversible and cannot be easily healed: At the time of crisis, her maternal “fight-or-flight” instincts triggered the immediate reaction of protecting her young children, while her husband’s reaction was self-preservation at all costs.

            The father, named Tomas (played by Johannes Kuhnke) doesn’t appear to be selfish or uncaring.  And the mother, named Ebba (Lisa Loven Kongsli) initially does not appear to be too disturbed by her husband’s actions (or, perhaps more accurately, non-actions). Östlund photographs Force Majeure mostly in series of long, unbroken static shots so when as viewers we first witness the avalanche, the camera does not pan to Tomas’ fleeing or Ebba’s stunned reactions like it would in a Hollywood film (this may be a scene to rewind and pause several times if viewing the film on DVD).  We see the chaos of the event just as the characters do, which proves to be crucial because in order for the emotional complexity of Force Majeure to work, we have to understand both sides of the issue.

            In Tomas’s view, he was simply acting on his natural impulse to run to safety, and since the avalanche ultimately ended up benign and everyone ended up safe and unharmed, why dwell on grave hypotheticals?  For Ebba, the issue is much more complicated – so complicated, in fact, that she doesn’t even broach it until later that night, while having dinner at the lodge with friends.  At first her tone is playful, but perhaps inevitably, it turns to genuine pain and disappointment over his abandonment of her and the children.  Now one of the core aspects of marriage is that we are privy to our significant others at their best times as well as their worst (not unlike the famous maxim attributed to Marilyn Monroe, “If you can’t handle met at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”)  Ebba and Tomas have undoubtedly witnessed each other at their best and worst moments, and Tomas’s actions during the avalanche would undoubtedly qualify as one of his worst moments (his ensuing self-denial and defense of his actions don’t exactly absolve him, either).  But marriage is also about mutual respect and courtesy for one another, and the acknowledgment that no one is perfect and some things are better left withheld from friends and other loved ones.

            That being said – while Tomas’s actions may have been indefensible, is it any better that Ebba confronts and embarrasses him about them in front of their mutual friends?  Yes, Tomas may be in denial about the severity of the situation (similarly, male audience members may grow impatient with the movie’s near-obsessive focus on the event), but Ebba’s decision to share these details with friends not once but on two separate occasions constitutes a major marriage faux pas.  If we are to believe that Tomas truly cares about his wife and children, isn’t it natural to expect that his reaction to her feelings of abandonment would be his own sadness and regret that he couldn’t have acted as a better protector?  Isn’t Ebba’s public shaming of her husband unnecessarily cruel?  Or is it justified on the grounds that it was Tomas’s own selfish and uncaring behavior that led her to have these feelings in the first place, and a public airing of grievances may be just the stern treatment Tomas deserves?

            As you can probably see, Force Majeure is designed to push buttons with viewers (particularly married ones) and make you ask serious questions about your own strengths and inadequacies.  It’s so easy to read a book or watch a film about the Holocaust or the Civil Rights Movement and proclaim that had you been there, you would have sacrificed yourself in the name of justice and Universal Good.  Watching Force Majeure, I thought about the first thing I would reach for in the event of a fire at my house (the answer is not my iPhone.)  But at the same time, as Tomas -- or someone like Steve Bartman -- essentially tells his friends: You weren’t there, you didn’t see what I saw, and regardless of what you want to believe, had you been there you more likely than not would have done what I did.

            Of course, Steve Bartman had the luxury of pulling a Henry Hill and going into hiding, removing himself from the moralistic scowls of casual onlookers and talking heads.  Tomas and Ebba have no such luck, and have to endure the rest of their vacation – hell, the rest of their lives – with the knowledge that Tomas acted less than heroically during time of crisis (in this respect, he joins the likes of one George Costanza).  How can their marriage, which may have already been fragile to begin with, continue to survive?  What’s fascinating about Force Majeure is that Tomas and Ebba both desperately want to forget about the events during the avalanche – this should be Exhibit A in the school of “the less said, the better.”  Put another couple into this scenario and maybe they laugh about it over a couple of drinks, or perhaps it’s so insignificant that it’s never even formally brought up.  But Tomas and particularly Ebba prove incapable of not talking about it and not thinking about it, and this begins what appears to be a path leading down the road of self-destruction.  Like many unhappy married couples, they are the only ones laying the bricks.

            There are other characters in Force Majeure.  There’s the couple Tomas and Ebba dine with, who go back to their hotel room and naturally begin to question their own actions and inclinations if placed in the same circumstances.  There’s a married friend of Ebba’s seeing a much younger man, who informs her that monogamous relationships tend to have the toxic effect of defining an individual’s identity solely in relationship to the man or woman they are attached to.   Then there are Tomas and Ebba’s young children, Vera and Harry, who spend most of the vacation distracted by their iPads and yelling at their parents.  It’s possible to interpret these kids in a few ways: Their bossiness and aggression (at one point they kick Tomas and Ebba out of the hotel room) demonstrate how they are the products of a dysfunctional marriage.  Or maybe it’s just that they’re spoiled.  Or maybe they recognize that their parents may be on the brink of divorce and are trying to keep them together in whatever misguided and naïve ways they can.  Or maybe they don’t understand anything at all.    

            Force Majeure is not a perfect movie.  At times it is too slow-paced, the supporting characters are underdeveloped, and the final ten minutes feel tacked on and heavy-handed.  But Östlund is a masterful provocateur of resuscitating the baggage we want to sweep underneath the rug during a long marriage, and how small, casual moments are capable of revealing deep and profound defects.  Even more broadly, the film dares to ask questions about contemporary masculinity and the Tomas’ contested role as the “man as protector,” a socially conservative ideal now considered anachronistic and even politically incorrect today.  As George Costanza asks prophetically, “What kind of a topsy-turvy world do we live in where heroes are cast as villains?” The answer is a world where there are no heroes or villains, but only vulnerable husbands and wives whose personal insecurities and feelings of guilt need not necessarily require avalanches to be triggered.  

           (Note: Force Majeure is Sweden's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 87th Academy Awards.) 

Rating: 3.5 stars