Jason KingCharlie St Cloud (8/10)
September 26th 2010 01:11
:
Marry Me Zefron :)
Category: Reviews
I just love the story of this film - it is very touching and romantic and involves the sea - it is a heartwarming tale starring my hottest actor on the planet Zac Efron. I read this book a few months ago and mum read it last week while recovering after hospital and the evil meningitis.
I know most critics will watch this film with the sole intention of tearing the film apart but this is why I write reviews - I don't agree with most critics and watch films based on what I like. Perhaps I am sometimes biased by my likes or dislikes, but who isn't. I just don't hide it as much behind fancy words
Half a synopsis minus most spoilers:
Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Efron), a sailor, receives a sailing scholarship to Stanford University. Before his departure for college, Charlie promises his younger brother, Sam (Charlie Tahan), that they will play baseball together every day until he leaves. Later that night, Charlie and Sam get into a car accident. Although a paramedic is able to revive Charlie, Sam dies in the accident. At Sam's funeral, Charlie runs away into the woods where he meets with Sam's spirit. Charlie plans to continue his promise to Sam by practicing baseball everyday at sunset.
Five years later, Charlie, who gave up his scholarship, is now caretaker at a cemetery. During a trip into town, Charlie visits the boat docks and meets Tess Carroll (Amanda Crew), a sailor who dreams of one day sailing around the world. The following day, Charlie runs into the paramedic who saved his life. The paramedic questions Charlie if he ever wonders why he was saved and tells him there is a reason for his gift. Charlie returns to the cemetery and finds Tess wounded, with whom he develops a relationship with. Meanwhile, Sam begins to feel that Charlie is forgetting him when Charlie arrives late for their game of catch. However, Tess follows Charlie as he explains to her that the more he is in her world, the less he can be in Sam's.
The book will touch your heart and if you haven't read it then the movie will get damn close. There are quite a few changes to the book - some of them were for the better and some of them were for the worst.
What I loved about the film:
1) Zac Efron - it is his best performance to date and he is slowly creeping forward to being not only uber gorgeous but also a talented actor. He has never looked better than in this film and for the first time he exhibits some good scenes and leading male personality. He has the same effect as Leo on me when he was younger - he is a perfect cryer and will always bring me to tears if he is crying
2) The cinematography is spectacular - I actually travelled into the city to watch this at Hoyts Broadway as they are pretty much screening all their films in DIGITAL now - the digital really captured the cinematography and allowed me to watch it as the director intended. The film is shot by Enrique Chediak, who was DOP on many films including The Boiler Room, 28 Weeks Later, Repo Men and has shot the about to be released 127 Hours. It would be hard for him not to shoot this film so beautifully - firstly he has Zefron in front of his camera and the town the film is shot in is just beautiful. I want to live there.
3) In the book Charlie hardly sails and pretty much only did a bit of sailing when he was young. The book spends more time on baseball, which for me was odd as the film is set in a sailing town. I thought they did a great job changing the sporting focus to sailing to suit the town and the love interest.
4) Amanda Crew is great, she was previously in The Haunting in Connecticut, John Tucker Must Die, Final Destination 3 and a few TV shows. She was a the perfect partner for Zac Efron.
5) Burr Steers, prior to making this film he made the other post HSM Zefron fun film 17 Again and before that he made one of my top 10 films IGBY GOES DOWN - surprisingly a film I intend on reviewing this week as I just repurchased the DVD after finding it missing. This film does not rise to the cleverness of IGBY - this film is more a romantic drama shot beautifully.
What I did not love about the film:
1) In the book Charlie can see dead people, not just his brother. In the film he only speaks to one other person who is dead to get the message across that he can. I think the film failed by not exploring this more - in the book there is so many side stories going on showing how Charlie helps out all the dead people. I really enjoyed this in the book and wanted more of it. It wasn't crucial to the plot but it showed more of Charlie's connection to the dead, the town and its people.
2) Burr Steers must be gay - I have no issue with this as I am too and I can see why he would make the camera make love to Zefron constantly - it is a pure worship shot film. But I feel that at times it went a bit too far and he chose to have more beautiful shots of Zefron as opposed to using the screen time developing the story more. I know Zefron is trying for more serious roles but this film plays at times as though made for teenage girls. This is fine as it will appeal to them and the film has enough charm for it to be taken seriously but Steers could have made the film more universal by making it more adult. It hurts me to say it but we needed more scenes of Zefron showing us he could act as opposed to profiles of his god like face and body Zac can act - but people need to let him do that without gushing over him. What am I thinking - I love you Zac hahahaha.
3) There was one scene that was very odd for me - Tess and Charlie are starting to get hot and steamy when Tess says it should not be as she is only in town for one week before sailing around the world. She says she must leave and goes out the door. Charlie thinks about it and then decides he has to go after her. When he gets outside she is running through mist all giggly saying "come and find me". Why did her mind change when she was outside? Arghhhh - women can be confusing sometimes
To sum up the film I will use the words of David Stratton: "If you buy the concept you might enjoy the film, but if you're a hardened cynic you'd better avoid Charlie St. Cloud, despite the very handsome location photography, which is its greatest asset." - for me this works - it is not everyone - it is a film made from a superb story with brilliant cinematography and utilises Zefron's ability to make females and myself go weak at the knees It is the perfect film for lovers of Zefron to love him more - he loves his brother and sacrifices his life for him, he is a gentleman and he is troubled and to top it off he is to die for - how could you not love that I do disagree that the cinematography is the film's greatest asset - while it looks spectacular - Zefron is the real asset in this film. Out now and worth 8/10.
I know most critics will watch this film with the sole intention of tearing the film apart but this is why I write reviews - I don't agree with most critics and watch films based on what I like. Perhaps I am sometimes biased by my likes or dislikes, but who isn't. I just don't hide it as much behind fancy words
Half a synopsis minus most spoilers:
Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Efron), a sailor, receives a sailing scholarship to Stanford University. Before his departure for college, Charlie promises his younger brother, Sam (Charlie Tahan), that they will play baseball together every day until he leaves. Later that night, Charlie and Sam get into a car accident. Although a paramedic is able to revive Charlie, Sam dies in the accident. At Sam's funeral, Charlie runs away into the woods where he meets with Sam's spirit. Charlie plans to continue his promise to Sam by practicing baseball everyday at sunset.
Five years later, Charlie, who gave up his scholarship, is now caretaker at a cemetery. During a trip into town, Charlie visits the boat docks and meets Tess Carroll (Amanda Crew), a sailor who dreams of one day sailing around the world. The following day, Charlie runs into the paramedic who saved his life. The paramedic questions Charlie if he ever wonders why he was saved and tells him there is a reason for his gift. Charlie returns to the cemetery and finds Tess wounded, with whom he develops a relationship with. Meanwhile, Sam begins to feel that Charlie is forgetting him when Charlie arrives late for their game of catch. However, Tess follows Charlie as he explains to her that the more he is in her world, the less he can be in Sam's.
The book will touch your heart and if you haven't read it then the movie will get damn close. There are quite a few changes to the book - some of them were for the better and some of them were for the worst.
What I loved about the film:
1) Zac Efron - it is his best performance to date and he is slowly creeping forward to being not only uber gorgeous but also a talented actor. He has never looked better than in this film and for the first time he exhibits some good scenes and leading male personality. He has the same effect as Leo on me when he was younger - he is a perfect cryer and will always bring me to tears if he is crying
2) The cinematography is spectacular - I actually travelled into the city to watch this at Hoyts Broadway as they are pretty much screening all their films in DIGITAL now - the digital really captured the cinematography and allowed me to watch it as the director intended. The film is shot by Enrique Chediak, who was DOP on many films including The Boiler Room, 28 Weeks Later, Repo Men and has shot the about to be released 127 Hours. It would be hard for him not to shoot this film so beautifully - firstly he has Zefron in front of his camera and the town the film is shot in is just beautiful. I want to live there.
3) In the book Charlie hardly sails and pretty much only did a bit of sailing when he was young. The book spends more time on baseball, which for me was odd as the film is set in a sailing town. I thought they did a great job changing the sporting focus to sailing to suit the town and the love interest.
4) Amanda Crew is great, she was previously in The Haunting in Connecticut, John Tucker Must Die, Final Destination 3 and a few TV shows. She was a the perfect partner for Zac Efron.
5) Burr Steers, prior to making this film he made the other post HSM Zefron fun film 17 Again and before that he made one of my top 10 films IGBY GOES DOWN - surprisingly a film I intend on reviewing this week as I just repurchased the DVD after finding it missing. This film does not rise to the cleverness of IGBY - this film is more a romantic drama shot beautifully.
What I did not love about the film:
1) In the book Charlie can see dead people, not just his brother. In the film he only speaks to one other person who is dead to get the message across that he can. I think the film failed by not exploring this more - in the book there is so many side stories going on showing how Charlie helps out all the dead people. I really enjoyed this in the book and wanted more of it. It wasn't crucial to the plot but it showed more of Charlie's connection to the dead, the town and its people.
2) Burr Steers must be gay - I have no issue with this as I am too and I can see why he would make the camera make love to Zefron constantly - it is a pure worship shot film. But I feel that at times it went a bit too far and he chose to have more beautiful shots of Zefron as opposed to using the screen time developing the story more. I know Zefron is trying for more serious roles but this film plays at times as though made for teenage girls. This is fine as it will appeal to them and the film has enough charm for it to be taken seriously but Steers could have made the film more universal by making it more adult. It hurts me to say it but we needed more scenes of Zefron showing us he could act as opposed to profiles of his god like face and body
Zac can act - but people need to let him do that without gushing over him. What am I thinking - I love you Zac hahahaha.
3) There was one scene that was very odd for me - Tess and Charlie are starting to get hot and steamy when Tess says it should not be as she is only in town for one week before sailing around the world. She says she must leave and goes out the door. Charlie thinks about it and then decides he has to go after her. When he gets outside she is running through mist all giggly saying "come and find me". Why did her mind change when she was outside? Arghhhh - women can be confusing sometimes
To sum up the film I will use the words of David Stratton: "If you buy the concept you might enjoy the film, but if you're a hardened cynic you'd better avoid Charlie St. Cloud, despite the very handsome location photography, which is its greatest asset." - for me this works - it is not everyone - it is a film made from a superb story with brilliant cinematography and utilises Zefron's ability to make females and myself go weak at the knees
It is the perfect film for lovers of Zefron to love him more - he loves his brother and sacrifices his life for him, he is a gentleman and he is troubled and to top it off he is to die for - how could you not love that I do disagree that the cinematography is the film's greatest asset - while it looks spectacular - Zefron is the real asset in this film. Out now and worth 8/10.| 95 |
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Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
Have you seen him on George Lopez? I'm guessing you wouldn't get GL in Australia?
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Nah - we don't get it but I know who he is
How have u been?
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
No need to download, here's the the full interview on youtube for ya:
Zac on George Lopez
I'm doing okay...I've been a bit under the weather over the last few weeks - thankfully nothing serious. Thanks for asking.
Enjoy!
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Thanks for the Zac interview - I like watching him in interviews - he is so down to earth and genuinely happy to be there.
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Jase face! While this doesnt appeal to me that much Jason, I will admit that I think Effron has more potential than most people give him credit for. I'm opposed to the idea of a critic going into a film specifically to tear it appart based on it's sincerity (kind of like how they did with The Fountain)
I saw '17 again' and it reminded me of those films they used to play on tv during Disney Family Time, like '60 going on 17' or whatever it was called and other such body swap films I saw when I was a kid. I definitely think he has potential. I missed 'Me and Orson Welles' at the cinemas buut look forward to seeing it on DVD
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Amanda Crew is hot though.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I completely agree that Zefron is going to go places. He is smart, he is a genuine nice guy and he has the looks.
I cannot wait for his future roles. Next he is in The Lucky One being directed by Scott Hicks. Synopsis:
A Marine returns to North Carolina after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.
Hmmmm - I am interested to see how he will play a Marine after three tours. But Hicks can make great films - but he has made a few duds also. Time will tell.
LOL - Bryn - I knew you would say something like that. I have always wanted to use the word diabolical to describe a film. For you this film would be diabolical but to me it was enjoyable
Thanks for the comments lady and gents - have a great day
Comment by Anonymous
L I N D Odel mundoenterooo; ♥Your text goes here