Artistic Integrity is a study of one particular artist's contribution to the world of entertainment. Are they worthy of the accolades or should they be sent down...
Isaac is an actor whose 'star is on the rise' to use a Hollywood term. He is what you would call a late bloomer considering he has only really started to hit the headlines in the last three or four years and is now into his late 30's.
I think it's pretty safe to say that it was his performance in Inside Llewyn Davis that thrust him into the mainstream. This role saw him nominated for a Golden Globe. Personally I blow hot and cold when it comes to the Coen brothers and this is one of the films that I consider a bit chilly. In saying that I do think that Isaac's performance is near perfect for the role.
The first time I really started to take notice of him was after seeing him in Inside Llewyn Davis. All of a sudden I would see a preview or watch a film and stop and think "That's the guy with the cat in that Coen movie!"
Looking at his back catalogue I then realised that he also appeared in both Sucker Punch and Drive as well. He plays it rather menacing in Sucker Punch as Blue Jones the sadistic orderly. I will admit that this is one of my guilty pleasures. Having re-watched Sucker Punch just recently I can admire how Isaac plays this character after becoming more aware of whom he is now.
His role in Drive is not a huge one but he does grab your attention when on screen and the testosterone flows when he and Ryan Gosling share the screen. He gives his character just enough depth for you to feel sorry for the position he has gotten into; but also enough for you to not fully trust his motives.
One of his most recent movies which proved to be a bit of a fizzer at the box office (although admittedly with only a small release) was The Two Faces of January alongside Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst. This is one that deserves more attention as it is a solid crime thriller with a few twists and turns and again Isaac gives a very enjoyable performance.
Now we come to a bit of a controversial one next. A Most Violent Year got rave reviews but I found it so slow and boring. The film title comes from the fact that 1981 (the year the movie is set in) was the most violent on record in New York City. This is another film loved by critics but ignored by the cinema goers. I don't find it much of a surprise though because of two reasons: the film is not violent for one and secondly it does not take place over a twelve month period. It might have a clever title that makes it sound hard core but it is too misleading.
Regardless of that Isaac is terrific as Abel Morales a struggling businessman who is trying his hardest to do the right thing and stay on the straight and narrow despite his wife trying to convince him otherwise. She is played by the always excellent Jessica Chastain. It doesn't help Morales' situation that she is a mob boss's daughter so committing violent acts to get what you want comes naturally to her.
My personal favourite performance of Isaac's has to be his appearance in Ex Machina; one of the best movies to come out in 2015. He plays what is basically a mad scientist opposite Domhnall Gleeson's sceptical programmer who is there to judge if Isaac's robotic creation can pass the Turing test. That robot is played by Alicia Vikander with some extremely impressive CGI. All three actors are on form in this one. Isaac has one of the best on screen dance scenes since John Travolta hit the floor with Uma Thurman.
The latest screen appearance was in a little film called The Force Awakens as star pilot Poe Dameron. Isaac gives Poe a sense of swagger but I will cover this movie in more depth in my next article.
It might have taken Isaac a bit of time to start getting some seriously meaty roles but he is certainly making the most of each one. The wonderful thing about him is that he seems equally comfortable in the big budget films as well as the smaller more independent roles.
He is able to adapt his appearance enough to suit each character too. Not to Christian Bale lengths but enough to feel that it isn't just another person being played by Oscar Isaac. There are a few actors that if I hear they are in a film then I will generally try and catch it. Isaac has become one of those actors. I might not always think that the movie he appears in is the next best thing; but I will generally agree that Isaac's performance is often one of the highlights. Up to now I haven't hated anything he has appeared in which is a rare feat indeed.
Moving forward we have the next instalment of Star Wars to look forward to seeing him in; but the one that grabs my attention more will be Isaac's next collaboration with Alex Garland, who directed him in Ex Machina. He will also appear later this year as Apocalypse in the latest X-Men entry which is one I feel could go either way.
Verdict:
Oscar Isaac is definitely an actor on the straight and narrow. We will keep a close eye on this rising star to see if he begins to stray.
Splitting a portion of this persons back catalogue into what I would "go to" and what I would choose to "avoid"; given the choices I would categorise this entertainers output as thus... The Scorcher's:
The Witch Trial: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released their second album on the back of a very popular first single.
Does the rest of the album follow suit?
Who:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis What:
Hip Hop/Rap Why:
Second album When:
Released February 2016 Where:
American
For (and Against) The Record:This Unruly Mess I've Made
Length: 57:39 "Light Tunnels"
This opening track is a commentary on the Grammy's and other musical award ceremonies. It has a really addictive chorus and beat going for it. "Downtown"
The big hit single released before the album and it's easy to see why with the clever inclusion of the Downtown tune forming the chorus. The subject matter proves to be entertaining too. "Brad Pitt's Cousin"
In the vein of Bloodhound Gang we get what is probably the most comical song here. Again, this one is questioning the emphasis put on achieving fame and the price you pay for your privacy. "Buckshot"
This is as close to old school rap as we get on the record. It has that classic hip hop feel. "Growing Up"
The album drops a notch in tempo to give us a little gem about taking on the responsibility of becoming a parent. This song is another instance where the chorus has you singing along in no time thanks to the appearance of Ed Sheeran. "Kevin"
Continuing the slower tempo, this tune tackles the subject of pharmaceutical companies and addiction. There is a hint of gospel when it comes to the hook that fits well with the theme. "St. Ides"
This is mainly a song of verses with a nice little guitar riff breaking up each verse. It shows that they don't need catchy choruses in all their songs for them to be a highlight. "Dance Off"
This will get people bouncing around and doing all sorts of silly dances as the title suggests - Dance Off! A guest appearance from Idris Elba of all people certainly adds to the intrigue. "Need to Know" Need to Know is another song continuing the theme that is most common on the album: fame and fortune and how it can change you if you aren't careful. It also tackles how fame affects your relationship with your loved one. "Let's Eat"
We have another song not taking itself too seriously with its funny spin on everyone's fascination with healthy living and asking what all the fuss is about. The lyric about carbs is worth its weight in gold. "Bolo Tie"
After Buckshot this is the next song that comes closest to paying tribute to old school rapping. "The Train"
This has a haunting guest vocal appearance from Carla Morrison as we go into wind down mode as the album draws to a close. "White Privilege II"
The record closes out with a commentary on how America still doesn't acknowledge the contributions black people give to the country at large. The spoken word content help the message hit home along with Jamila Woods verse at the end. Although the track does waver in tempo quite a bit.
Overall this album continues where The Heist left off. We have the quirky songs much like Thrift Shop before it; in the form of Downtown; Brad Pitt's Cousin and Dance Off. Whilst I compare them to Bloodhound Gang, they aren't lyrically played just for laughs. They do have amusing lyrics but not to the extent of becoming parody songs. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis tackle the trappings of fame and fortune in a number of tracks too. They address how they have felt being thrust in the spotlight. The result of this are more than a couple of tunes being very self referential. They perform a fine balancing act on these songs where they are happy to talk about their experience but not come across as if it has gone to their head.
Fame has found them not just because of having some hit singles; the subjects they cover in their music have often garnered headlines. They aren't afraid to rap about potentially controversial topics such as Black Lives Matter or drug addiction as a result of prescription medication. These issues mix surprising well with their more light-hearted output.
At nearly an hour in length this album does go on a bit too long. Generally I like a record to come in around the forty to forty five minute mark and if you took out the opening and closing tracks then this would go pretty close to that.
Still that isn't enough for me to condemn This Unruly Mess I've Made at all. There is enough variety for most hip hop fans to enjoy as well as a couple of radio friendly hits. The guest appearances are a definite highlight of the album. There are also some neat instrumentation additions to some of the tracks, ranging from horn sections to what appears to be middle eastern elements.
Verdict:
A decent follow up keeps Macklemore & Ryan Lewis from going to the gallows.
Where we look at one Scorching piece of artwork that generates excitement for what it is advertising.
Then on the flipside we also have a Torturous piece that makes you wonder how it ever got approval to promote the product...
Following on from my review of Beth Ditto's biography I thought we would take a look at which album covers from Gossip get our seal of approval and which one needs to go in the fire
The Scorcher
The simple cover art of Music For Men I find is the strongest one from the five album catalogue of Gossip. Instead of placing Beth Ditto front and centre we have a photo of newest band member Hannah Blilie. The pinkish hue to the black and white picture creates a nice juxtaposition with the album title: also adorning the cover in pink writing. It is such a straight forward design but one that works so well.
The Torture
On the other hand we have the home made style of art for Standing in the Way of Control. It comes as no surprise that the artwork for Music For Men is much sleeker than their previous output; coming as it does on the major label Columbia. Standing in the Way of Control though was their last record as a small indie group and the sleeve looks like an indie release. I have to admit that I nearly didn't buy the album because of how much I disliked this cover, but the music was just too good not too.
The Witch Trial: Gossip achieved global success with the release of their third album. Is the lead singer's life interesting enough to read about considering her still relative young age? Who:
Beth Ditto with Michelle Tea What:
Biography Why:
The story of Beth Ditto from childhood to fame When:
Published 2012 Where:
American singer/songwriter from Arkansas
The Case For: Coal to Diamonds is a biography about Beth Ditto, front woman for the band Gossip. She charts her early childhood growing up in Arkansas; through to the break out success of Gossip and closing her story some time just after the release of the album Music for Men. Even though it was published in 2012 there is no mention of A Joyful Noise which was also released that year, which would suggest that this was written before, or sometime during, the recording of that record.
The writing style feels like you are sitting down listening to Ditto tell her story as she thinks of things to mention. There are many stories she talks about but in a very anecdotal kind of way.
When she discusses her early childhood and upbringing in Arkansas as part of a large family; you really get a sense of what it was like for her growing up in what can only be described as squalid conditions. She leaves you in no doubt that her whole family and the surrounding community were really nothing more than trailer trash.
It is a bit of a harrowing tale of a girl and her siblings being left to fend for themselves because their mother simply leaves them to it. This is not your normal family unit as her mother goes from one partner to another leaving the kids to basically raise one another. Ditto constantly moves from her home to stay with relatives; to try and get some sense of normality in a family that is anything but normal. Although the message comes across that for her and many in the neighbourhood this is exactly what normal is to them.
You also get the feeling that this sort of lifestyle is a vicious circle that will just keep on repeating itself for generations to come as there is next to no prospects for breaking the cycle. They are given very little support from the local authorities as she points out at times. For example she discusses the sex education classes given at school where there are single mothers attending the classes; it seems a case of too little too late.
These insights into an upbringing that is completely foreign to a good many were for me the highlight of the book. The fact that she had the courage to leave her hometown and try to make something of her life, even if her initial ambition at the time was not to become a rock star, was quite inspiring. It would have been so easy to stick with what she knew and get pregnant and continue in the same vein as many others around her.
Ditto is very honest and forthright when discussing her family and the way she was raised. Writing about the neglect that she and her siblings had from their mother must not have been an easy thing to do when you consider that her mother is still alive and would probably read this book. It must have felt very therapeutic to be able to air her thoughts in this manner.
You would think that being a larger lady and one in the spotlight; Ditto would be very conscious of her size as most people who are overweight are. However her positive outlook shines through and her "Take me as I am" attitude comes as a nice surprise when you consider some of the serious issues she has had to deal with throughout her life.
She is definitely a positive role model in some respects for having such strong feelings and opinion about her shape. Ditto's message is be comfortable with the person you are and not what people expect you to be. This is especially relevant to young girls who have so much pressure placed upon them by society to conform to a certain body image. For people who tip the wrong end of the scales; they can look at her and know that they can achieve their goals if they want too and that is definitely a good thing. There is a bit of a fault in the way she gets this message across but I will come to that in the case against.
Ditto talking about giving back to the community through rock workshops is also something that creates good feelings towards her. This is a girl who realises how hard it is to break away from the hardships of life and is trying to help other girls coming from similar situations as her own.
What also comes across is how bemused and a little overawed Ditto feels from gaining fame and popularity across the world. There is also a bit of anger coming through in the text; at the ignorance towards Gossip displayed from the American public. As the band explodes in many countries the indifference shown at home definitely is something that irks her.
Considering she has really only turned thirty at the time this book was written you can't expect her to finish with an anecdote of life's lessons. Instead she ends with a heartfelt appeal to people to go out in the world and do what they enjoy best, if that leaves a mark on the world then great, if not then you should be proud of whatever you achieve anyway because you have given it a shot. It is another sign of showing her positive happy nature.
Verdict:
Beth Ditto deserves a far better book than this one to tell her life story. I am afraid she needs to serve twenty years and come back again in the future with a much better writer if anyone is still interested by then.
There aren't as many diamonds on offer as you would like; it is mainly filled with lumps of coal.
The Witch Trial:
Season one of Daredevil was a massive hit for Netflix. Season two introduces us to new characters and new mysterious enemies. Does it continue the success or suffer from character overload? Who:
Starring: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Jon Bernthal, Elodie Yung, Rosario Dawson, Vincent D'Onofrio What:
Science Fiction Why:
Season 2 When:
Released 2016 Where:
Hell's Kitchen, New York as part of the Marvel Universe
The Case For:
Season one of Daredevil went down the tried and trusted path of establishing the origin story for Matt Murdock's alter ego Daredevil, whilst pitting him against Wilson Fisk and his machinations taking place in Hell's Kitchen.
This second season begins with Fisk safely behind bars and life in Hell's Kitchen all seeming quite rosy for Murdock and his friends and associates: Karen Page and Franklin "Foggy" Nelson. Their law firm, although not thriving, is certainly generating clientele. Foggy is starting to reluctantly agree that Murdock's nightly forays as Daredevil is something that he is going to have to accept.
Entering this scene is Frank Castle aka the Punisher as played by Jon Bernthal. Castle is trying to find out who is responsible for the personal tragedy he has suffered; that has driven him to extremes and is going to stop at nothing until everyone involved is dead and buried.
For Murdock it is about catching the criminals and getting them put behind bars where they belong. If he can't do it as part of his day job, then he will achieve this goal as Daredevil. For Castle it is about making sure that these scumbags won't live to commit any further atrocities by putting them six feet underground. There are no second chances or attempts at redemption as far as he is concerned.
Adding to this mix is Elektra Natchios; an old flame of Murdock's from their college days together. Now Elektra appears to also be a crime fighter but one who follows her own set of rules. Her motivations are more of a grey area and her relationship with Murdock looks like it will only complicate matters further.
This concept of a person's set of values and set of rules that they live by is something explored throughout the thirteen episodes. We now have three characters all with their own agenda's and coda that they follow and which one is right or wrong seems to change from episode to episode.
One minute you will be thinking Matt Murdock is right with what he is doing and then the next you will be agreeing with Frank Castle's methods after he takes out a particularly vile strain of human being. Similarly Elektra appears to be in the right frame of mind when dealing out death if it means her own and Daredevil's identities will be safe.
The main premise for season two is exploring these particular character traits and what exactly it means to be a vigilante. Who gets to decide what is right or wrong? Why is one person more entitled to do what they are doing than another? Should the criminal element be incarcerated or is death are more suitable option?
These are all valid questions and it is left to Matt Murdock to ponder each issue and really delve into his own choices to decide if what he is doing is the right way to go about it. While this theme is not nearly as engrossing as watching the mental and psychological issues covered in Marvel's Jessica Jones; it still makes for interesting viewing.
The inclusion of both the Punisher and Elektra prove to be great additions. Jon Bernthal and Elodie Yung give their characters depth and feeling, neither one settles for comic book caricatures. Bernthal in particular is excellent; you really do feel sympathy for what could be an unsympathetic person who has no compassion whatsoever towards the people he executes. He provides pathos to a chaotic role and it's the moments when he gets to put forward his reasoning that this strength really comes to the fore.
At first Elektra appears to do what she is doing just for the thrill of it. You get the sense that she is nothing more than a spoilt rich girl out for a good time with no regard for anyone who gets caught up in the whirlwind she leaves behind. As the show carries on though her personality becomes more layered and Yung's performance starts to stand out as she allows us to step that little bit closer into understanding her psyche.
The returning co-stars from season one are also given their moments to shine. Elden Henson's Foggy Nelson could be considered the comic relief. It was certainly the impression I got from the first couple of episodes in the first series, however as that developed so too did Nelson to the point where he wasn't anywhere near as annoying as what I was expecting his character to be.
In this season Foggy really steps out from Murdock's shadow. We saw glimpses of his expertise in the last season but here, he is front and centre in dishing out his Law know how and really gets to put people in their place; particularly District Attorney Reyes. Foggy's coming of age if you will, was definitely a highlight of this run of episodes and I can't wait to see where he goes from here.
We get to finally see a good portion of an actual court case taking place as part of the story arc of the Punisher and Foggy gets to put his full range of skills to the test. It is a nice change of pace to the relentless fight scenes of Daredevil as he patrols his territory during the night time hours. Instead what we have here is normal courtroom drama unfolding which gives us more of an insight into the everyday lives of Murdock's cohorts.
Karen Page ably supports Nelson in this enterprise. She proves to have exceptional investigative skills which she puts to good use in building the court case. Page is given far more of a central role, instead of appearing in more of a supporting role this time around. She is heavily involved in the Punisher's storyline throughout. Deborah Ann Woll goes on a roller coaster ride of emotions when dealing with Castle and his back story.
We are also treated to the blossoming romance developing between Murdock and Page. It's a relationship that feels organic as well, it doesn't come across as forced at all which is refreshing in itself. Personally I would have liked Page to go for Foggy but I have to admit I like where they are taking this arc.
But from all the returning cast it is Wilson Fisk's brief appearances that leave the most indelible mark. Vincent D'Onofrio embodies this role so well; his mere presence on screen draws your attention. The vulnerability he is able to give to this person while also showing you the raging menace that is simmering just below the surface is quite intense.
When Matt Murdock decides to visit Fisk in prison we are treated to one of the best scenes from the show so far. The whole exchange between the two balances on a knife's edge just waiting to explode. By the conclusion of this confrontation you are left begging for the return of the Kingpin to the streets of Hell's Kitchen.
Of course we wouldn't be watching this show if it skimped on the action and was just about court cases and the morality issues associated with being a vigilante. Season two definitely delivers when it comes to the fights. Where as in the first season a lot of the action revolved around hand to hand combat, here we have the Punisher using all manner of heavy weaponry to get his particular brand of justice across.
That is not to say that there isn't a fair share of fisticuffs though. When you have two martial art experts in Daredevil and Elektra as well as the brute force of Frank Castle then hand to hand fighting is going to feature prominently.
Towards the end of the second episode in the first series there is a much vaunted fight sequence all filmed in one take between Daredevil and a group of thugs set in the confines of a hallway. It is an amazing sequence; superbly choreographed and executed that reminds me of a similar one take scene in the movie Oldboy which would definitely have been an influence.
It is one of those scenes where you wonder if they can match it again, let alone top it. Well in season two we have not one, but two contenders that come very close to surpassing this terrific fight sequence. Episode three features Daredevil descending a buildings stairwell while fighting off Dogs of Hell bikie members. Later on in episode nine, the Punisher takes on a group of hardened criminals in one of the bloodiest sequences of the show to date.
Neither of these fights is filmed in one take the same as the one mentioned above but the choreography that has been arranged by fight coordinator Philip J Silvera and his crew has to be applauded. Fist fights can become very monotonous but it is scenes such as these that really help to keep things feeling fresh and exciting.
There is definitely an emphasis on more bloodier conflicts than the first season. Whether that's a reflection of the methods employed by the antagonists or a decision by the writers I am not too sure. You do find yourself squirming in your seat at some of the more graphic moments. Again though, it is another example of freshening things up a bit and shows these confrontations in a more naturalistic light; after all if someone is hit, stabbed or shot there will be blood and they are not afraid to show the after effects of these injuries.
Lastly because I didn't review season one; I just have to mention that the main title sequence and theme music that opens each episode are some of the best titles in recent memory. They both really push all the right buttons in getting you in the mood for what is to come.
The Case Against:
There is often a bit of a misstep after the origin story has been told when it comes to the second outing for superheroes. I am mainly talking about films here but the same thing equally applies to small screen versions too. Daredevil is no exception as while this second run has its strengths it also has a few issues too.
This season suffers from the same problem that affected Iron Man 2 in that it wants to introduce a few different elements that will pay off in future instalments; whether that is in further outings of Daredevil or the expanded universe of Jessica Jones, Luke Cage et al.
We have not only the Punisher and Elektra but the ninja cult of The Hand as well as the bikie group Dogs of Hell introduced. Whether the Dogs of Hell will feature heavily in the future it is hard to tell but it is strikingly obvious that The Hand certainly will.
With the introduction of The Hand we also have the Chaste who are the sworn enemies of The Hand. Add to this the already established Yakuza enemies as well as Irish mafia and the reintroduction of an old drug dealing adversary and Matt Murdock certainly has his hands full.
While Murdock had to deal with a variety of criminal elements in the first season, they were all working for a common cause under the overall leadership of Wilson Fisk. Each faction had their own leaders but all were unified under Fisk. This created a more streamlined story and gave the show far more focus as to who the enemy were.
Having so many different elements to deal with this time around creates a lot of sub plots to keep track of. Also the focus isn't solely on Matt Murdock but also Frank Castle and to a lesser extent Elektra. That isn't forgetting the extra emphasis the storylines place on Nelson and Page who also have greater roles to play.
This certainly feels more like an episodic season as opposed to one where a main theme is playing out over the course of the show. As each instalment ends you feel you are getting closer to a major resolution come the conclusion of the season. Whereas here it does feel more like the writers came up with three or four different shorter stories that they could play out over a number of episodes before moving on to the next tale.
There are also plot points that don't seem to go anywhere or have much resolution. I am sure that is because they will be cropping up in the future somewhere but it is very frustrating in relation to this season. We literally have a gaping hole in one story which never gets mentioned again for the rest of the show and leaves you wondering what on earth that was all about!
It is to the detriment of the show as it does feel more disjointed and just as you find yourself immersed in what is unfolding it is either put on pause to be picked up later; or concludes and we are on to a new set up. Now don't get me wrong, the actual storylines themselves are entertaining and the characters created are also interesting; it just would have been better if one theme had more emphasis placed on it which would have provided a bigger impact overall.
One of the huge strengths of season one was D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk and this season is sorely lacking having a major villain for Daredevil to face off against. His running battles with Castle and various thugs and ninja's are all well and good, but he doesn't really have one particular person to pit his wits against like he did with Fisk.
It is telling that Fisk's brief appearances are some of the biggest highlights. I have already stated how enjoyable his exchange with Murdock is and it would have been so much better if an equally strong bad guy was present for Murdock to tussle with throughout the other episodes.
I did think we had already covered Foggy's disapproval of Matt Murdock's alter ego towards the close of the previous season. I was obviously wrong as the same issues come to a head between the two of them again. This time it is affecting their work to a greater extent and you do feel sympathy for Nelson but at the same time I couldn't help wondering haven't we done this already?
The attitude that Murdock displays aligns his sentiments a lot closer to Castle's than he would probably like. It does paint him as a selfish person who is out to serve his own agenda and to hell with how that affects his friends and co-workers. The characteristic is not something that makes him very appealing and you do find yourself siding against some of his actions.
Out of all the characters in the show I had a difficult time with Karen Page. While I did enjoy the developing romance between her and Murdock, I did not enjoy her transition from a legal aide to become a researcher at the Bulletin because of the whim of the paper's editor. This was just far too convenient for the sake of moving the story along.
I am pretty sure it takes a few years to get a degree in journalism and you can't just come along and get a job by flicking through some old back issues and stumbling across an interesting Lead. I know anyone can type out a few words on a computer and claim to be a writer but it takes years of study to have the certificate to prove it (and before you say "those in glass houses" remember I'm an Inquisitor not a writer!).
With all the bureaucracy involved with being part of a union I am sure there would have been uproar in the offices of the New York Bulletin at Page's appointment! But hey, this is a series based on a comic book and it does need to move the narrative along so maybe I am being too harsh.
Deborah Ann Woll does get on my nerves a little bit too so I could be a bit biased in my opinion of where they are taking her character. I had trouble with her in True Blood and the same issues have carried over to her portrayal of Page. I find she is often teetering on the brink of a meltdown and relies far too heavily on the same mannerisms as part of her acting.
Despite this seasons problems there is still a lot to enjoy and they have definitely laid the groundwork to take this show in some exciting new directions. I only hope that Wilson Fisk is reintroduced sooner rather than later come season three.
Verdict:
Daredevil might not be quite as successful here in cleaning up the streets as he was last time around; but he is still performing his crime fighting duties. Therefore I am willing to give him a chance to prove he can still be entrusted with this unenviable task and let him go free into the night.
