Displaying items by tag: Nat Wolff

SEMPER FI/ BROTHERS IN ARMS

US, 2019, 99 minutes, Colour.

Jai Courtney, Nat Wolff, Finn Wittrock, Arturo Castro, Beau Knapp, Leighton Meester, Jared Bankens.

Directed by Henry Alex Rubin.

The title is the motto for the Marines. There is an alternative title focusing on the camaraderie between male friends and in war.

The setting is 2005, an ordinary American town, an introduction to a group of friends at a bowling alley, enjoying themselves, creating a bit of mischief with the owner, but carrying on their lives. Their leader is Callahan played by Australian Jai Courtney. He is older than the others, responsible for his half brother, Oyster, Nat Wolff. We see glimpses of the life of the other friends and their relationships, the visit to a bar, flirting, a fight in the toilets and the unintended death of a young man.

The group is also a reservist group and is called up to go to fight in Iraq – some scenes there, fighting, deaths, and Callahan in a confrontation with an arguing Iraqi and his shooting him – and the impact for the rest of the film in his not being charged in any way, returning home, resuming his way of life.

Oyster is arrested for the death of the young man in the toilet, resentful towards Callahan, going to jail, attacked by the guards in jail, drugs planted in his cell, put in solitary. When Callahan comes to visit he is surly and refuses to communicate with him.

The effect of the war, his rough past, getting his life in order, becoming part of the police force, the impact of the experiences in Iraq have upset Callahan and he determines, after the failed visits to Oyster, to free him from jail and get him across the Canadian border. He draws on the friends to collaborate in the plan, one supplying surveillance machine but reluctant to help because of his wife and child. Callahan also consults a friend who is against the war but is a lawyer, getting information and advice from her.

There is tension on the scene where the bus with the prisons is attacked, confrontation for Callahan, Oyster and his escape. Callahan finally having some satisfaction in doing something for someone else, especially Oyster, in his life.

1. The original title? The motto of the Marines? The alternate title, military fraternity, relationships independence?
2. 2005, setting, the town, streets, bowling alley, homes, the military, the fort? Scenes in Iraq, the desert, military action, dead and wounded? Prison? The musical score?
3. The introduction to the brothers, their friendship, Callahan and his leadership, half-brother to Oyster, legal guardian, age and experience, the other friends, the episode at the bowling alley, competitiveness, friendship, the owner and his reaction, allowing them to play? The competitive running? The homes? At the bar, flirting with the girls? Oyster, wanting to buy the girls a drink, his rival, the fight in the toilets, the fatal injury to the man, his death?
4. Callahan, older than the others, role in the police, the reservists, going to camp, the exercises, Oyster unsettled, the fight, the domestic work? The clashes with his brother? Independence? The girls, the fight, Callahan seeking him out, his plan to escape the country, with the help of Snowball? Callahan confronting him, handing him over?
5. Oyster, his age, wilful, his book and plans to succeed, the arrest, his resentment, in prison, with the apples, the brutality of the guards, planting drugs, solitary? The visit by Callahan, his resistance? The buildup to the escape, Callahan’s speech about being substitute father, Oyster and his final response, crossing into Canada?
6. The friends, bowling alley, competitiveness, girlfriends, military reserve, their going to Iraq, the scenes of action, Callahan and his confronting the man about the bed, the protests of the man, his shooting him? There all returning home? The action taken against Callahan? The effect on him – or not?
7. The visits to Oyster, failure of communication, the decision to get him out, the discussions with the group, Jaeger and the loss of his leg, Milk collaborating, Snowball and his earnestness, Dwyer, his wife and child, opting out, giving the surveillance machine? Callahan, his determination, the discussions with Stacie, the past, her relationship with Jaeger, lawyer, against the war in Iraq, discussions about the penalty for abduction?
8. The abduction, the car, the prisoners in the bus, Jaeger at first missing, the tire, the bus careering, the signals to Callahan, the confrontation of the guard, the guard able to ring through for support, Callahan’s boss and his trying to persuade Callahan to give up, the rescue of Oyster, taking him to the border, his getting through? Callahan, driving, the opposite direction, finally caught?
9. The final moment, Callahan and what he did for Oyster, motivations, the law, responsibility, penalty, the future?

STUCK IN LOVE

US, 2012, 97 minutes, Colour.

Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connolly, Lily Collins, Nat Wolff, Kristin Bell, Logan Lerman, Liana Liberato. Voice of Stephen King.

Directed by Josh Boone.

Not to be confused with Stuck on You, 2003, also starring Greg Kinnear.

This is a first feature film from Josh Boone, later to make The Fault in our Stars and The New Mutants.

The film covers different aspects of love and relationships. At the core of the film is the story of celebrated author, Bill (Greg Kinnear), divorced now for three years from Erica (Jennifer Connolly) who is married again. He has not accepted the break. He lives down the street. He stalks his ex-wife, going at night looking at her window. She is aware of this and tries to dissuade him. She also urges him to develop relationships and he has casual sex with a neighbour on her way to collect her daughter from school, played by Kristin Bell who urges him to remarry.

The title then focuses on Bill’s to children. The older is Samantha (Lily Collins), talented author, 19 years old, bitter against her mother and the divorce, refusing to speak to her. She is hard with young men she picks up at bars and has one night stands. She is cynical in her attitudes which are also incorporated into the book she publishes. However, there is a young student in her college class, creative writing, who is attracted to her, speaks to her, she putting him down, he persevering, Louis (Logan Lerman). She is affected by his devotion, goes to his house to discover that his mother is dying of a brain cancer. Her book is launched by Professor with great aplomb, her father invited to speak to the guests and making a strong speech about creative writing, her mother coming from a book signing and her coldly asking her name, Louis urging her to be kinder.

Rusty (Nat Wolff) is the younger son, also a writer, living at home, his father urging him to get out. He does have a school friend they share marijuana. However, is attracted to a young girl in his class, Kate (Liana Liberato), writes a poem about her, recited in class, and beginning a relationship with her which has some good results, some disastrous results.

There is a climax at the book launch, Kate drinking too much champagne, collapsing, combined family going to rescue her – some violence with repercussions for Rusty.

There is a wishful optimism about the resolution of the film, that all could be well. The family reunite at the Thanksgiving dinner, Erica coming home, Samantha with Louis, how things ought to be (which sometimes irks film critics who want tougher, more difficult endings).

And, there is success for Rusty, Samantha sending Stephen King Rusty’s story, Stephen King phoning to say he had sent to a publisher and encouraging Rusty.

1. Title? The different kinds of love and relationships, freely entered into, broken, trapped?
2. An American story, the setting, the town, the beaches, homes, streets, schools, college, libraries, book signings, book functions? The musical score? Songs?
3. Bill at the centre of the film, age, writer, success and reputation, the marriage to Erica, Samantha and Rusty, the breakup of the marriage, the later revelation of his infidelity and Erica’s waiting for him, his stalking Erica, spying on the house, the sexual relationships with Tricia, his being stuck in love for Erica? Expecting her back, setting the place always at Thanksgiving?
4. The focus on Rusty, age, living at home, encouraged to write by his father, supportive of his sister, reclusive, friends at school, marijuana, the focus on Kate, seeing all her with the boyfriends, writing the poem, reading it in class, her favourable comment? The meeting, the conversation, the poem for her, his father urging him to go out, going to the party, observing Kate and the cocaine, the boyfriend, wanting to save her, punching the boyfriend, taking her home, meeting his father, the friendship, the outings, the developing relationship, her sexual experience, going to the cupboard, her Christmas gift?
5. Samantha, anger with her mother, refusing to speak to her, love for her father, supportive of Rusty, coming home, the publishing of the book, her father upset that it was not the book he worked on to with her, his calming down? Samantha, bitter, the casual relationships, picking up in diners? Louis, attracted to her, the conversations, coming back, her cynicism, putting him down? Gradual change, exchange of ideas and favourite books, listening to the CD in the car? Going to his home, discovering his mother, sick, the brain cancer?
6. Bill and Erica, the meetings, the discussions, the reminiscences, at the shopping mall? Erica and her concession? The fact that she had married again?
7. Samantha, the book launch, the professor and the welcoming, inviting Bill to speak, his quoting Raymond Carver, the response of the audience? Samantha bringing Louis? Rusty bringing Kate? Erica, waiting, coming in, the conversations with ? His urging her to speak to Samantha, Samantha’s coldness, signing of the book, asking her identity, Louis and his reaction?
8. Samantha and Kate, the issue of the champagne, the man at the bar, giving the drinks, Kate and further drinks, collapsing, being taken away? The whole group searching for her, finding her, rusty and the assault? Rescuing Kate? The later consequences, Rusty and his friend, the supermarket, the chase and the violence?
9. Bill and Samantha on the beach, his confessing her about his infidelity? A change of attitude, going to her mother?
10. Samantha sending Rusty’s story to Stephen King, Stephen King’s encouraging phone call and the effect on rusty?
11. The Thanksgiving dinner, Erica arriving, the others present?
12. The sentiment the end of the film, love, unstuck, renewed?