Category: Directed by Roger Michell

Tom & Issy (2013, Roger Michell)

Tom & Issy is a particular brand of hideous.

Now, it’s really just a music video for star Ellie Goulding–and having a successful director like Michell do a music video isn’t a big deal, it’s how they’ve concocted this “short film” slash music video.

Oh, and it’s also an advertisement for Nokia phones and whatever version of Windows Phone runs on it. The short is entirely shot on one of these omnipresent phones; even though there’s a credited director of photography, I don’t know exactly what Gerry Vasbenter really did. The lighting is cheap HD natural lighting and the focus is awful.

At least editor Charles Jenkins ripped of some Pi style editing for an inane, obnoxious romantic comedy short.

It’s a truly unpleasant experience. Goulding’s just not a good actor, but Dylan Edwards (as her admirer) is really bad too.

Worse, the short’s not even bad in interesting ways.

1/3Not Recommended

CREDITS

Directed by Roger Michell; written by Stefan Georgiou and Sam Bern; director of photography, Gerry Vasbenter; edited by Charles Jenkins; production designer, Alice Normington; produced by Glynis Murray and Barnaby Spurrier.

Starring Dylan Edwards (Tom), Ellie Goulding (Issy), Ben Lloyd-Hughes (Eric) and Mark Bagnall (Stephen).

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Morning Glory (2010, Roger Michell)

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a good “Hollywood” New York comedy, even longer since I’ve seen a great one.

Morning Glory is a good one. Though, at times, it reminds of a great one—I’m not sure if David Arnold’s score, which is lovely on its own, is supposed to remind of Sabrina, but with Harrison Ford walking around Manhattan… it’s hard not to think of it.

Since he’s lost the luster of superstardom, Ford has actually become an exceptionally interesting actor. His performance in Morning Glory is easily his funniest (he plays an egotistical news anchor) and it’s unlikely anyone but Ford could have made the role work.

But for Ford to work, Rachel McAdams has to work too, because all of Ford’s scenes are with her. McAdams does a fine job here—it helps the film is incredibly well-cast. From John Pankow as her sidekick (the two are fantastic together… McAdams works well with other actors), Diane Keaton (it’s a shock how little she has to do here, but she’s great), Jeff Goldblum (similar to Keaton, but he’s not third-billed), and Patrick Wilson (who’s excellent as the love interest).

Reading over that paragraph, it seems like I’m not giving McAdams enough credit—she really is good. The film couldn’t work without her.

Michell shoots Morning Glory in Panavision; he and cinematographer Alwin H. Kuchler know how to use it. It looks fantastic.

The only problem is the soundtrack—modern pop songs are weak.

3/4★★★

CREDITS

Directed by Roger Michell; written by Aline Brosh McKenna; director of photography, Alwin H. Kuchler; edited by Daniel Farrell, Nick Moore and Steven Weisberg; music by David Arnold; production designer, Mark Friedberg; produced by J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk; released by Paramount Pictures.

Starring Rachel McAdams (Becky Fuller), Harrison Ford (Mike Pomeroy), Diane Keaton (Colleen Peck), Patrick Wilson (Adam Bennett), John Pankow (Lenny Bergman), Jeff Goldblum (Jerry Barnes) and Ty Burrell (Paul McVee).

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