This week at the movies — Chris Hemsworth does battle with Moby Dick, and Eddie Redmayne does battle with himself.
In the Heart of the Sea
Based on the true story that went on to inspire Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick, In the Heart of the Sea stars the hunky Chris Hemsworth as a crewmember aboard a whaling ship who encounters an unbelievably gargantuan whale. Directed by Ron Howard, the movie follows the surviving crew after the shipwreck as they try to make their way into the wide-open sea, and once again meet the big whale. Also starring Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker and Brendan Gleeson.
Perfect For: You like dramatic Hollywood blockbusters with big men in torn shirts fighting for their lives, or you want to see the inspiration for the tale of Moby Dick. Or both.
What the Critics Say: Middling, unfortunately. Writes the Wrap: “Lovers of spectacle for spectacle's sake will come away from the film with sequences to admire, but there's not enough human element to bridge them together. In terms of lasting power, it roars in like a great tide, but then just as quickly dissipates.” Writes Time Out: “The dramatic scenes are a touch overcooked, and there are moments when it feels like a particularly high-end school play, with everyone shouting ‘Avast!’ and ‘Ahoy!’ like they really mean it. The action, though, is consistently impressive.”
Our Take: Although an uneven telling, if you enjoy a cinematic epic with amazing special effects, this one’s for you.
The Danish Girl
The Danish Girl is based on the true story of Danish artists and married couple Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, whose lives are upturned when one of them undergoes a transformation. Eddie Redmayne (who won this year’s Oscar for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything) plays Elbe, born Einar Wegener, the first person to undergo transgender surgery. His transformation is even more complete in this film than in The Theory of Everything. His wife Gerda, played by Alicia Vikander, is equally powerful.
Perfect For: You like your historical dramas to be topical.
What the Critics Say: A mixed bag: the film is artfully done, but perhaps a tad too tasteful to be evocative. Writes Slate: “In the early days of Einar's transformation, Redmayne conveys the degree to which gender is, for all of us, a skill acquired through observation and imitation.” Writes the New Yorker: “(Tom) Hooper's film is a master class in how to tiptoe through the mines. It swoons from a surfeit of good taste.”
Our Take: It’s a powerful and poignant subject that is very timely and the performances seem to be A+. We’re going.
