The Beatles: Eight Days a Week

There's absolutely no way in denying the cultural impact four lads from Liverpool left on the world. But what was it like when they were still a band? More specifically, how did they cope with the hoards of screaming fans at their concerts?

Ron Howard's The Beatles: Eight Days a Week chronicles those four hectic years the Fab Four spent touring, recording, promoting and very little else. (Certainly no way anyone could've foretold Beatlemania back then.) But it was only a matter of time before it became too much for them.

Through remaining Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, they discuss how bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison slowly began to get exhausted of the non-stop traveling and hysterical teenagers. But the documentary also shows the band's cheeky attitude during the early days, providing a juxtaposition for how fame affected them.

What's also captured in The Beatles: Eight Days a Week are those who grew up listening to the band's music. From fellow musicians to those working in Hollywood, they talk about how welcoming the quartet was to the baby boomers. And as future generations would show, they weren't going to be forgotten anytime soon.

The Beatles: Eight Days a Week is as lively as its subjects and a welcoming entry for their fans. It's also a depiction of the cost of fame and how it can slowly wear someone down. It's practically a cautionary tale for those who want to see their name in lights.

My Rating: *****

BOOK VS MOVIE: In the Heart of the Sea

The sea is a cruel face of nature. It can claim many victims whether from the many creatures living within it or from the violent storms it plays host to. Point being many tales have been told about the perils of the sea.

One of the most famous stories is Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. A tale of adventure and obsession, it's a story that has captivated readers for well over a century. But did you know that the story of Captain Ahab and the Pequod was based on real events?

Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea chronicles the voyage that would inspire Melville's magnum opus. It depicts the various plights the crew of the whaleship Essex endured during its last expedition. The novel also examines other maritime incidents, a condensed history of whaling, and grim details of what the crew endured. (And "grim" is an understatement.)

Ron Howard's adaptation does manage to capture many of the action scenes but it seems more reliant on the events being an inspiration for Melville. Certain details are toned down so as to not to horrify the viewer and others are modified for the sake of drama. (That said, there are some shots from Anthony Dod Mantle's cinematography that would make J.M.W. Turner proud.)

So what's worth checking out more: Philbrick's novel or Howard's film? On the one hand, Philbrick's novel provides great detail on one of history's forgotten maritime tragedies. But on the other hand, Howard's film depicts the horrors the Essex crew faced quite well. Though it's fairly obvious which of the two is more successful.

What's worth checking out?: The book.

Rush

Whenever Ron Howard makes a film based on real life events, the results can vary. Sometimes it's great (Apollo 13, Frost/Nixon), sometimes it's mixed (A Beautiful Mind). So where does his new film Rush rank?

Yes, it is written by Peter Morgan and like the last film he wrote for Howard, it focuses on the lives of its two subjects. But the subjects this time around aren't a disgraced former US President and a British talk show host. No, this time it's about two Formula One drivers: one British (Chris Hemsworth), one Austrian (Daniel Bruhl). And like the leads of Frost/Nixon, they're very different people.

James Hunt (the Brit) is very much a reckless figure. He drinks and sleep around, but he's incredibly fast on the race track. Adopting a British accent for the role, Hemsworth displays an air of charisma throughout the film. It's also an ideal part to prove he's more than just the God of Thunder, don't you think?

Niki Lauda (the Austrian), meanwhile, is very much a determined figure when it comes to racing. (No surprise he makes a few enemies.) In a way reminiscent of Vincent Karthesier's work on Mad Men, Bruhl plays Lauda as someone you can't entirely hate (especially not after a crash that nearly kills him). It's a very distinct piece of acting.

Now where was I? Oh yeah, where Rush ranks among Howard's other "based on a true story" films. Well, the performances from Hemsworth and Bruhl were solid. If only I could say the same for most of Morgan's dialogue, which was flimsy for the most part. This is basically a film that's more "show, don't tell" than anything else though it has its moments.

My Rating: ****

Frost/Nixon

When a scandal emerges, the media often pounces on the unsuspecting parties like what a lion does to its prey. They'll consume as much as they can before leaving the carcass to rot out in the sun. The unfortunate victims never knew what hit them.

Of course the biggest scandals are the ones targeting political figures, especially if the topic in hand (no pun intended) is sex. Let's be honest. Have the political careers of Bill Clinton and Eliot Spitzer really recovered after their little mishaps? (Well, Clinton has, but Spitzer's still got a long way to go.) But no political scandal will ever top the frenzy that was Watergate.

Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon is set in the few years following Watergate and the resignation of Richard Nixon (Frank Langella). British television personality David Frost (Michael Sheen) sees an opportunity to further his career by interviewing the disgraced former President. But will it actually destroy not only his reputation but also Nixon's?

The performances from Langella and Sheen are great. (Smart decision on Howard's part to cast actors who originated their roles on stage.) Langella doesn't resemble Nixon facially or vocally, but he definitely makes up with his performance. Sheen in turn is a great counterpoint to Langella. (How he wasn't equally nominated is beyond me.)

The film itself? Just as great. It's thoroughly compelling in every scene, regardless of what's being shown. I know some people aren't as enamored by this film as I was, but no matter. Everyone's entitled to an opinion.

My Rating: *****

A Beautiful Mind

In my opinion, biopics are shoo-ins for Oscars. I mean, just look at the number of Oscar-nominated performances that are actual people. Anyway, before I get sidetracked, onto the review.

John Nash (Russell Crowe) goes through a myraid of highs and lows from his time as a mathematics student in graduate school at Princeton in the late 1940's to his Nobel Prize win for Economics in 1994. A brilliant but somewhat arrogant and antisocial man, Nash preferred to spend his time with his thoughts than with people. Two people he did make a connection with were Charles Herman (Paul Bettany), his roommate at Princeton, and Alicia Larde (Jennifer Connelly), one of his students when he was teaching at MIT in the early 1950's. He and Alicia eventually marry. As time goes on, Nash lives more and more within himself which causes major problems in his life.

The performances were good, and that's all I have to say. Connelly was good, but not Oscar-worthy good. Crowe was better and more Oscar-worthy. The movie itself I can sum up in one word: modest.

My Rating: ****1/2

Apollo 13

"Houston, we have a problem."

With that line, panic struck Mission Control at NASA on April 13, 1970. Based on actual events, Apollo 13 is engaging from beginning to end.

Less than a year after man walked on the Moon, NASA is sending up another module to the Moon. The astronauts on this mission are Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). Everything looks normal shortly after takeoff, however just days later a technical malfunction has them fighting for their lives. At Mission Control, astronaut Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise), flight director Gene Kranz (Ed Harris) and the ground crew try to bring the astronauts home alive.

Having already seen another Ron Howard movie based on true events (A Beautiful Mind), I kinda already knew what to expect. But compared to A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 is, as previously stated, more engaging.

My Rating: ****1/2