| Title: |
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow ( ) |
| Release Date: |
2004 |
| Rec. Create date: |
2004 0918 |
| Rec. Rev date: |
2005 0203 |
| Starring: |
Jude Law; Gwyneth Paltrow; Angelina Jolie |
| Summary: |
After flying mechanical men assault New York City,
a report (Paltrow) who suspects a link to a rash of disappearing
scientists, teams up with her former lover, the mercenary airman
Joseph "Sky Captain" Sullivan. Together they chase all over the
globe, uncovering a conspiracy and striving to thwart the nefarious
plans of the mysterious Dr. Totenkopf.
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| Reasons for Recommendation: |
This is by far my favorite of 2004 so far. It has
a comprehensive retro-SF feel, as if the World of Tomorrow from the
1939 World's Fair had come to pass. (Hence the title, of course,
though there is an in-movie explanation as well.) I knew we'd be
in for a treat when the opening scene had the Hindenburg III docking
with the Empire State Building. (NYC factoid: Airship mooring was
actually envisioned in the original design of the building.) From
that moment on the visuals are relentlessly stunning. Gotham looks exactly right,
both during the robot attack and during a subsequent high speed,
low altitude plane chase. |
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The acting was dead-on, too. Despite the challenge
of acting in front of bluescreens (not sets), the main actors pull
it off. Law has just the right quantity of "smug" in his jaw, the
conquering hero who always saves the day and knows it. Jolie's aloof,
almost cynical British air commander is fascinating and, though somewhat
underused, fits right into the feel of the film. But it is Paltrow
who makes this film. Dressed up in sharp, alluring 1930s professional
gear (mostly) -- the almost de rigeur reporter's severe
suit, blouse, and alluringly cokced hat (and a Leica-lookalike camera
that plays a recurring humorous role) -- her Polly Perkins could
have been just some eye candy for Sky Captain. |
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But instead she brings a vitality to the role that
evokes Hepburn and the other early, strong women of Hollywood. Lots
of viewers apparently are disappointed in her, because today a "strong"
woman is just one who throws a punch as well as the male protagonist.
Perkins is no thug. She is sharp-witted and sharp-tongued,
mostly unshakable, and firmly dedicated to getting her story. She
more than holds her own vis a vis Joe Sullivan. |
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Some reviewers have complained of a "lack of chemistry"
between Sullivan and Perkins. Decades of Hollywood have clearly dulled
their senses. Just because the main actors don't immediately fall
into bed, doesn't mean they lack chemistry. Indeed, Law and Paltrow
do a masterful job of fleshing out the previous relationship between
Perkins and Sullivan. Little is said directly about what happened
"three years ago in Nanjing ", but clearly both characters find themselves unable
to leave the events behind. It's almost worth the price of admission
to see Paltrow's fragile expression as Perkins figures out the connection
between Sullivan
and Joline's
"Franky"
Cook. |
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The story itself is an excellent around-the-world
romp of the Raiders of the Lost Ark variety. There is more
than one tip of the hat to the earlier masterpiece. Perhaps most
obviously, the director has produced an updated variant of the map
flyover to show global travel. Sky Captain is as much an
homage to the old serials as Raiders was. This film adds
elements of Golden Age comics as well. |
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Finally, how you can not love a movie that
adores its subject matter so much that it gets even the little "rules"
right? For example, consider the name of our female reporter: Polly
Perkins. Hmmm... In the world of Golden Age comics, is there any other tough-as-nails,
no-nonsense, always-getting-into-jams female reporter whose name
is alliterative? :] |
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