Film Round-Up #28

Amy Adams is considered by many one of the highest-profile actresses working today but when I actually stopped to think about it, as great as she is, I couldn't really think of too many big-name films of hers. I supposed therefore she also made her name with various smaller roles in lesser-known films, so I decided to use this as an excuse to gaze upon her loveliness while investigating. Here are the titles I went for:

Standing Still (2005)

Probably one of Ms. Adams' lesser known films is this rom-com in which she heads an ensemble cast also including Adam Garcia, her soon-to-be husband, Lauren German, her lesbian (and secret) ex-lover, as well as Aaron Stanford, Melissa Sagemiller, Jon Abrahams, Mena Suvari, James Van Der Beek, and Colin Hanks as various friends of the couple. The film follows the ladies and gents' respective parties the night before the wedding, and then the big day itself. There is of course the odd bit of strife here in there in the shape of an amorous ex-lover, a secret pregnancy, an unwelcome guest, and various other things to keep things interesting. Films like this, though, succeed or fail on the strength of their characters, and not many of the ones here are too appealing, unfortunately. They have their moments, sure, but few of their woes have the making of an emotionally-engaging film, and the laughs are few and far between too. Amy Adams is solid (if unspectacular) though... 5/10

The Fighter (2010)

I didn't realise until I had finished watching it, but this film is actually based on a true story, namely that of up-and-coming boxer, Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), and his older half-brother, Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), a retired boxer and now Micky's trainer (and crack addict). It's set in Massachusetts and follows Micky's career which is stuttering thanks to his meddling family and Dicky's drug use, while Dicky has a film crew following him around who are, according to him, making a film about his comeback. Ms. Adams is Micky's love interest, Charlene, a hottie barmaid he meets near the beginning of the film and whose influence is not welcomed by aforementioned meddling (ghastly) family. All of the main actors (including Melissa Leo as Micky/Dicky's mother) are excellent here, and while Bale earned most of the plaudits, it's a noteworthy film for Adams fans too. The film itself is also superb. It's a little predictable, even if you don't know the real story, but the performances, drama, and realistic boxing action will keep you engaged regardless... 8/10

Leap Year (2010)

This one pretty much looked like a generic rom-com from the title and cover, and it didn't take long to realise that's exactly what it is. Ms. Adams plays Anna, an uptight American real-estate agent who's grown frustrated with her long-term boyfriend's failure to propose. When he travels to Dublin on business, she secretly follows him, with the intention of proposing on February 29th which apparently means he has to accept. Naturally though, her trip is beset with problems, starting with bad weather forcing her plane to land in Wales. She then finds her way to a small Irish village called Dingle where she meets Declan (Matthew Goode), an innkeeper who she pays to drive her to Dublin. He is of course a surly fellow, less than sympathetic to her plight, and just looking to make some cash. I'm sure you can guess where the story goes though, what with them spending all that time together as they take in all manner of Irish stereotypes. It's not a terrible film - Adams and Goode are both charming enough - but it's predictable and forgettable too... 5/10

Trouble With the Curve (2012)

I didn't even realise when starting this film that Clint Eastwood was in it, but indeed, he is Gus, a highly-respected but ageing baseball scout whose failing eyesight has begun to affect his work. His friend Pete (John Goodman) asks Gus's daughter Mickey (Adams), an ambitious lawyer, to join her pop on his latest scouting trip to look at a top college prospect. Gus is of course a cantankerous old oaf and resents anyone trying to help him but the trip is just as much about he and Mickey reconnecting after the death of their wife/mother than it is about baseball. This means knowledge of or interest in baseball is not necessary for enjoyment of the film (which is lucky since I don't give a crap about it), and enjoyable it is too. Eastwood is basically the same as he is in many of his films of the last couple of decades (grumpy, old-fashioned, stuck in his ways, etc) while Adams is typically appealing, and they have good chemistry. Timberlake is also good as Johnny, another scout and Mickey's eventual love interest. It's a predictable enough film and certainly doesn't break any new ground, but its charming cast and feel-good-factor won me over... 8/10

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

This was only the second film from writer/producer/director Tom Ford and he hasn't made any since, but it's definitely an interesting one. It's a neo-noir psychological thriller based on a 1993 novel called 'Tony and Susan' and stars Adams as the latter, a fancy art gallery owner in a passionless, deteriorating marriage to Hutton (Armie Hammer). One day, Susan is sent a manuscript for a novel by her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal) - Edward in real life but who also plays Tony, the main character of the novel which we see played out as Susan reads it. She is shocked by the dark content of the book and its bleak story, but it prompts her to recall her time with Edward. Appropriately, given the events it portrays, it's a dark, violent and unyielding film to watch and is as such not exactly good fun, but Adams and Gyllenhaal both put in outstanding performances, as does Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a shady character in the book. I'd say it's the kind of film most viewers will either love or hate, but it will likely stay with you for some time after the credits have rolled either way... 7/10