Skip to main content

A Review of 'Endgame' - The Russo Brothers Do Not Disappoint

In all my years of movie-watching, I had only seen one Marvel film and it was because I was writing a story about one of the cast members. But that changed when last year, I was a recipient of a grant from the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum to finish my documentary film, Return to Lucania. When I realized how much Joe and Anthony Russo give back to the Italian American community, I thought the least I could do is support their films. I went out right away and saw The Avengers and was blown away by the combination of a beautiful, dramatic story and mind-blowing CGI. So when Endgame was released, I waited until the weekend had passed and caught a weekday matinee. Having just read an insightful review that my friend Curt Markham posted on Facebook, I was very eager to see the film. After seeing it, I can say that I agree with just about everything he wrote in his review and as I have been encouraging him to get his work published beyond Facebook, I thought I'd take the liberty and do it right here. I would just like to add that the last scene and song, as the Russo brothers and I are the same age, gave me the chills and felt like a nostalgic tribute to our grandparents' generation. It was the perfect sentimental ending to a strong powerful film.

So with this review of Endgame, I am officially designating Curt Markham our guest blogger.

As someone who's only been a casual (and sometimes skeptical) follower of the Marvel films, I have to say - if there is not serious Oscar buzz over this one next year then there ain't no justice.

Let's start with the acting. For a crowd-pleasing special effects action epic, this film's early scenes are a very restrained depiction of a CHILDREN OF MEN-like world of people struggling to cope with grief and loss. This is actually one of the most adult films I've seen in a good long while. All of the main actors would be guaranteed Academy Award (or at least Independent Spirit) nominations if they gave these exact performances in a more realistic drama.

But of course the gloom eventually starts to lift, as the heroes who survived the infamous climax of the previous film hatch a daring plan. That's when the film switches to the STAR TREK IV "We'll divide into teams" multiple-storyline structure that I'm an absolute sucker for.

And of course it goes without saying that there is an epic battle at the end. People who appreciate tastefully acted explorations of loss and mortality may not also be the audience for mind-bogglingly vast fight sequences featuring 22 films' worth of heroes and villains. But if you *are* in both camps, then boy has your ship come in.

Obviously this film has been in theaters for a little while, and I saw it at a neighborhood theater with a not particularly large audience. But that modest crowd went 1970s-Times-Square-grindhouse / seeing-Yoda-draw-a-lightsaber-for-the-first-time berserk once the climactic battle went into full gear. And I'm pretty sure I heard real crying at the end too.

I hope to God this film finally drives a stake through the heart of "I hate CGI" attitudes. Not only is there image after image that would have been impossible (or prohibitively expensive) without it, but Thanos and the Hulk are the two most soulful performances I've ever seen from computer-generated characters.

After a certain point I thought "Who the f*** directed this? Because this is some next-level artistry." It turns out the maestros behind this are Joe and Anthony Russo, aka the Russo Brothers, whose previous credits include some of the previous Marvel films as well as a lot of TV including ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and COMMUNITY. Whenever there is a flashback sequence to one of the previous Marvel films, the contrast makes immediately clear how far the Russos have raised the bar.

It's also impressive just how very many big-name actors have parts both large and small in this movie. It's a tribute to the affection and loyalty that this film series has inspired in its cast, that so many of them have stayed in the fold after all this time.

I'm actually somewhat shell-shocked at what a great movie this was. The other Marvel films that stood apart from the pack for me were the outrageously wacky comedic ones: THOR RAGNAROK and the two ANT-MANs. By contrast, this one blew me away with its dramatic seriousness, while still delivering epic spectacle and the occasional good joke.

The irony is that this is the superhero film to show to people who don't believe the genre can be art, and yet they wouldn't understand a word of it because they wouldn't have seen any of the setup in the previous films. But maybe they don't need to - there were some references that I didn't completely get, to previous films that I have already somewhat forgotten, and I still thought this was one hell of a movie.

Check out the 5-minute extended trailer....



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Conversation with Sergio Castellitto

Sergio Castellitto has made a profound impact on world cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. Born in Rome in 1953, Castellitto graduated from film school in 1978 and credits American cinema with pushing him toward a career in acting. His work has garnered numerous accolades, largely due to his immersive, original approach to projects in film, television and theatre. Castellitto is fluent in French and English, which has contributed mightily to his international stardom. But it's the actor's trademark brown eyes and charming everyman qualities that have lent his various characters -- even the ones that are rough around the edges -- an air of dignity that other actors might not have achieved. Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini, 2005 Films such as "Paura e Amore," "L'uomo delle stelle," "Caterina va in città," and "Bella Martha" heralded Castellitto as a versatile artist with far-reaching abilities. But it ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Interview: Cristina Scabbia of Italian Heavy Metal Band- Lacuna Coil

Photo by Jeremy Saffer ( http://store.jeremysaffer.com/collections/tenthirtyoneinc ) Lacuna Coil is a heavy metal band whose unique sound and creative music videos have catapulted them to international stardom. The band consists of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro on vocals, Marco Coti Zelati on bass, Cristiano Migliore and Marco 'Maus' Biazzi on guitars and Cristiano 'CriZ' Mozzati on drums.      All members hail from Milan and bring to the table their own signature talent. A few years ago, the internet buzz about Lacuna Coil's music videos prompted me to check them out on YouTube. I've been hooked ever since. Their videos are creative vignettes shot all over the world, directed by cutting edge filmmakers in Europe and the United States.   Although Lacuna coil is considered a heavy metal band, the unique melodies in their songs are rarely found in traditional heavy metal.   The range of the band is also something you rarely see in this genre of mus...
Post a Comment
Read more

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait  “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann.  Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ettore Scola explores enduring friendships and lost ideals in 'C’eravamo tanto amati'

A scene from "C'eravamo tanti amati" Mixing both tragedy and humor, Ettore Scola ’s 1974 film “C’eravamo tanto amati” (“We All Loved Each Other So Much”) follows 30 years in the lives of three men and the woman they each adore. By examining how his generation changed after the war, Scola makes a film that reflects its era. Scola explores the moral, political and emotional evolution of Italy’s postwar generation and, in doing so, creates a film that is a chronicle of its time and a love letter to cinema. The story begins in the aftermath of World War II. Three friends — Antonio ( Nino Manfredi ), Gianni (Vittorio Gassman) and Nicola (Stefano Satta Flores) — emerge from the Italian Resistance with a shared dream of justice, equality and social renewal. They are united by their hope that the sacrifices of war will lead to a better world. But the decades that follow prove to be challenging as Italy undergoes massive social changes, from the postwar economic boom to the politi...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Life and Work of Monica Bellucci

Monica Bellucci as Malèna Born in Umbria in 1964, Monica Bellucci is one of the most recognizable faces of international cinema. But she didn't always have her sights set on the spotlight. She went to college to study law and modeled to pay her tuition. Her success in the fashion world coupled with the offers that were pouring in to appear on the big screen eventually took over, changing her fate. Bellucci made her on-screen debut in the 1990 television movie, " Vita coi figli." Just two years later, she scored her first American role in Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula."   In addition to her native language, she speaks fluent English and French, which has made for a smooth transition from Italian to international cinema. Stateside, she has acted in blockbusters such as "The Matrix-Reloaded,"     " The Passion of the Christ" and " The Sorcerer's Apprentice." She has also appeared in several French films, a...
Post a Comment
Read more