BOOK VS MOVIE: The Lost City of Z

The thrill of adventure. We've read numerous books and watched countless movies over the years that capitalize such a feeling. And some of those fictional adventures were inspired by real-life ones.

Take for instance Percy Fawcett, During the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th century, he had a burning desire to discover new lands and the treasures they contain, But such an expedition he led into the Amazon in 1925 resulted in Fawcett and his companions -- his son Jack and Jack's friend Raleigh Rimell -- disappearing from the face of the earth, never to be seen or heard from again. What has the Amazon been hiding for over ninety years?

David Grann's novel The Lost City of Z chronicles both Fawcett's feats of exploring and his own attempt to uncover what happened to the famed adventurer. (Grann was far from the only person to undertake such an endeavor; he's just one of the few to come back from it.) And he also writes about the obsession that followed Fawcett throughout both his life and in the decades following his disappearance.

Altering a few details aside (omitting Rimell from the narrative entirely, for instance), James Gray's adaptation follows what happened during Fawcett's many expeditions truthfully. But what Gray shows with his film is more than just a standard biopic or adventure flick; instead, it's a portrait on the depths of Fawcett's being. (And can someone cast Charlie Hunnam in more roles like this?)

So what's better: Grann's novel or Gray's film? Both works show the highs and lows of Fawcett's excursions, how his constant traveling began to affect his home life. But they also show that he was very much a human being, warts and all. (Not a very common aspect on stories about real people.)

What's worth checking out?: Both.

The Immigrant

In past years, James Gray was noted for his contemporary films such as The Yards, We Own the Night and Two Lovers. His most recent film The Immigrant is his first to be set in a bygone era, one where those living in it struggled to survive.

Much like Gray's previous films, The Immigrant focuses on the behavior of people. Everyone behaves in different ways in certain situations, and Gray shows that to the fullest. (Sometimes the devil is in the details.)

Speaking of which, much like how The Yards had elements similar to those in The Godfather, The Immigrant has elements that heavily parallel the story of Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II. Specifically Darius Khondji's cinematography deeply resembles Gordon Willis' work, how each shots likens to an aged photograph from the era. It also adds to the film's overall mood.

Starring in The Immigrant are Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner, all of whom have thankfully been recognized by AMPAS several times over the last decade or so. Here, the trio (especially Cotillard) prove that they're some of the best actors working today. It won't be long before they win an Academy Award. (Or in Cotillard's case, another one.)

The Immigrant is a quiet film but also a stunning one. The many details of the film make for an amazing combination. And much has been said about the final shot. It doesn't take much to see why.

My Rating: ****1/2

The Yards

When we first see Leo Handler (Mark Wahlberg) at the beginning of James Gray's The Yards, he's glaring at a police officer on the subway. (We later find out he just got released from prison.) In scenes afterwards, it's clear that he's struggling to re-adjust to everyday life.

His friend Willie Gutierrez (Joaquin Phoenix) suggests he work for Frank Olchin (James Caan), the owner of a railway car repair company (and Leo's uncle). It doesn't take Leo long to discover that the business is a very dirty one, filled with bribery, backstabbing and even murder.

The transformation of Leo throughout the duration of The Yards is something that must be seen to be believed. He goes from a baby-faced kid to a man hardened by the brutality of life. Willie in turn goes from a confident smooth talker to someone who fearfully looks over his shoulder constantly. And Wahlberg and Phoenix are the ideal actors for these roles.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Gray made The Yards with The Godfather in mind. (The most telling suggestion is that Caan is part of the cast.) The work of the recently departed Harris Savides is reminiscent of what Gordon Willis did for Francis Ford Coppola's film. Whether Gray did or not, I still like that little touch.

The Yards essentially confirmed that Gray is now a director I'm keeping an eye on. I didn't love it as much as Two Lovers and We Own the Night, but I did deeply admire it. The cast, which also includes Charlize Theron, Ellen Burstyn and Faye Dunaway, is fantastic. You just don't find films like this nowadays, do you?

My Rating: ****1/2

We Own the Night

There are actors that usually deliver their best work when in the hands of a certain director. Would the career of Robert De Niro (or Leonardo DiCaprio) gone anywhere had he not worked with Martin Scorsese? Jack Lemmon without Billy Wilder? Marlon Brando without Elia Kazan? (The answer to all of them: probably not.)

A recent, more understated collaboration is James Gray and Joaquin Phoenix. Gray is still trying to make a name for himself while Phoenix has been a noted actor for years. I first noted their work together in the form of Two Lovers, Gray's most recent film. It was the quiet but deep performance from Phoenix that made the film get ranked as a personal favorite of mine. But it wasn't until much later that I realized I should see another film of theirs.

I opted for their 2007 collaboration We Own the Night, which several bloggers I know call one of the best films of that year. It's clear as to why. This is the kind of film that Scorsese or even Coppola would have made back in the 70s because man, you can feel elements of Mean Streets and The Godfather in certain scenes.

The film isn't just about Phoenix. The cast also includes Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall, all of whom are great in their roles. It's a great cast but this is Phoenix's show. This is more proof that he's one of the finest actors working today.

We Own the Night is a really great film. You can tell Gray is providing a nice homage to the crime films of the 70s just from watching this. Every element works in every scene, nothing feeling out of place at any point. Here's hoping Gray gets the recognition he deserves because damn. He really knows what he's doing.

My Rating: *****

Two Lovers

I consider Joaquin Phoenix an underrated actor. I'm saying this because a) his late brother River overshadows him from time to time, and b) his off-screen antics get more publicity than his movies. Remember when he appeared on Letterman?

Leonard Kraditor (Phoenix) has recently broken up with his fiancee and is now living with his parents. The breakup has left Leonard a suicidal man. He meets two women: Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the daughter of his father's business associate, and Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), his self-destructive neighbor. Sandra wants to take care of Leonard, while Leonard wants to take care of Michelle.

Phoenix is known for acting in dark movies and this is no exception. He gives an emotionally devastating performance in Two Lovers. Paltrow, who has recently been doing a number of "whiny female" roles, gives an impressive performance. It may have been ignored upon its release, but it's not one you should miss.

My Rating: ****1/2