Monday, August 4, 2008

The Guardian Angel

Author(s): Dpac
Location: Appleton

“The Guardian Angel"

Directed by Gary Ross
Produced by Frank Marshall and Gary Ross
Screenplay by Billy Bob Thornton and Gary Ross
Music by Randy Newman

Principal Cast:

Bob Shane – Sean Penn
Janet Shane – Robin Wright Penn
Young Laura Shane - Dakota Fanning
Older Laura Shane – Natalie Portman
Thelma Ackerson – Camilla Belle
Ruth Ackerson – Katie Cassidy
Chris Packard – Liam Aiken
Daniel Packard – Hugh Jackman
Stefan Krieger – Freddy Rodriguez
Willy Sheener – Billy Bob Thornton
Kokoschka – Gael García Bernal
Dr. Paul Markwell – Liam Neeson

Tagline: “A Guardian Angel that risked both his and the lives of the people he was guarding"

Synopsis: On the night of Laura Shane's birth, a stranger appears from nowhere to prevent her from dying while being delivered by a drunken doctor. All through Laura's childhood the stranger shows up when she is in danger. Laura marries and has a son. The mysterious stranger shows up on a deserted highway, warning Laura and her family that they are in danger. Laura’s husband is killed; her hero is unable to prevent his death. Warning Laura that she is in danger and that he will return, he vanishes again. Laura begins to learn to protect herself and her son. The stranger appears once again during a thunderstorm, this time he is badly injured and needs her help.

What the press would say:

This movie made my year….And I doubt any movie to be released this year will be better. Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) whose movies are know to be innovative and enticing, brings this movie adapted from the Dean Koontz’s novel Lightning) which doesn’t fail to impress you and leave a mark in your heart. The Guardian Angel, adapted from Dean Koontz’s novel Lightning by Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade) and Gary Ross, is movie everyone should watch, child or adult. It has the correct balance of drama and action. The Guardian Angel is about a woman who is protected by a guardian angel from her childhood who eventually seeks protection from her. The movie has all the elements of a thriller, fight scenes, time travel, World War II and a bit of sentiment. The performances in the movie are heart-breaking and are unbelievable. Below are the summaries of all the Oscar-worthy performances.

Dakota Fanning (I Am Sam) plays the protagonist Laura in her childhood and does well at that but her screen time is very less and that hurts her chance to be nominated for an Oscar, but she does give a performance far superior than her SAG-nominated performance in I Am Sam. But since screen time is not very important these days (remembering Judi Dench), I’m predicting her to be nominated for a wonderful performance.

Oscar nominee Natalie Portman (Closer) plays the older Laura and I have to say, she is AMAZING!! Her role is so complex and she does it so well. She had to play an orphan, a girl who a rapist seeks to rape, a girl whose best friend and father die, a girl who keeps getting visits from this man who says he’s her guardian angel, etc in this movie. She sinks her teeth so much into her character. She shines in every scene of hers. Her best moment is when she is left alone in the orphanage with the molester. That scene alone will win her the Oscar. Hers is one of the best performances in the movie and of this year. Wow, I think history might repeat itself for the third time this year and we will see two actresses nominated for playing the same character in the same movie but the only difference is the ages of the character (see Gloria Stuart and Kate Winslet in Titanic and Judi Dench and Kate Winslet in Iris.) But I hope anyone of them win this time….

Liam Aiken (Lemony Snickets’ A Series of Unfortunate Events), one of the best child actors of today, gives a wonderful supporting performance as Chris, son of Laura and Daniel, who believes Stefan (Laura’s guardian angel) and helps his mom in saving Stefan. He has a pivotal role in the film and shows his talent in this role.

Camilla Belle (The Quiet) has a quirky role as one half of the Ackerson twins. She plays a very enthusiastic Thelma Ackerson who later turns depressed as she is faced to deal with the death of her sister in a fire. She goes on to become Laura’s best friend in the orphanage. Her best moment in the movie is when she comes face to face and has a painful chat with the molester. Her performance also proves to be Oscar worthy. But if nominated she is not likely to win.

Freddy Rodriguez (Bobby) plays Stefan, the strange man who turns out to be Laura’s guardian angel, who risks his life for the welfare of Laura. He is a time traveler and fell in love with Laura in the future who was destined to be crippled he didn’t come back and alter the past. Freddy is flat out amazing and even better than he was in Bobby. His role is well written and Freddy acts it out well. Freddy shines whenever he is on screen but the scene of his breakdown and rage after when he meets Kokoschka -- a person from his organization and who wants to kill Stefan for treason and also want to kill Laura -- and Laura, Danny and Chris in the mountain and saves Laura and Chris but couldn’t save Danny, is heart touching and shows his awe worthy talent of his.

Billy Bob Thornton. Sigh. I am speechless when I think of the performance the Oscar winner gave. Wow. He plays Willy Sheener, the child molester, who is the cause of the haunting memories that Laura has. His performance is creepy and will surely haunt you at night. He was perfect for that role and surpasses Jackie E‘s performance as the child molesting neighbor in Little Children. The casting directors should be given an Oscar for casting Billy as Willy. From the looks of it, I think Billy might be on track to win two Oscars, for writing and acting.

Hugh Jackman, Gael Garcia Bernal, Katie Cassidy, Liam Neeson, Sean and Robin Wright Penn round up the cast. What a cast. What a movie. This movie will prove to be irresistible to the Academy. The film is a wonderful experience to sit through. And for a second it isn’t boring. Once it hooks you, it never lets you go. I have not a doubt that this movie will win loads of Oscars and precursor awards especially Billy Bob and Natalie. Sigh. What performances.

Possible Nominations-

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Actor – Freddy Rodriguez
Best Actress – Natalie Portman
Best Supporting Actor – Billy Bob Thornton or Liam Aiken.
Best Supporting Actress – Dakota Fanning and Camilla Belle
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Editing
Best Song – ‘Life Me’ by U2
Best Editing
Best Original Score

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