Displaying items by tag: Peter Facinelli

HOLLOW MAN II

US, 2006, 91 minutes, Colour.

Christian Slater, Peter Facinelli, Laura Regan, David McIlwraith, William MacDonald, Sarah Deakins.

Directed by Claudio Fah.

In 2000, Hollow Man was a popular drama, technological and scientific development of the popular Hollow Man/Invisible Man theme. It was directed by Paul Verhoeven who is an executive producer of this sequel.

The critical responses and the popular response to the sequel was mild. It is a variation on the theme, scientific experiments, illegal, allegedly military motivation, secret political motivations, destruction of enemies. And the use of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, in danger from court-martial, agreeing to be subject of the experiments.

The action of this film takes place over two days, the murder of a scientist at a social, some drama as the victim, isolated by the camera, subject to violence, his assailant unseen. The authorities are presented as secretive and sinister, especially the scientist doctor, using his assistant as bait to track the invisible man.

The main hero of the film is, in fact, not a super hero but a Seattle detective, played by Peter Facinlli, and with the death of his partner, not particularly warming to his surveillance of the science researcher, Laura Regan. But, with the attack of the hollow man, the role of the authorities, the two go on the escape route, building up to the final confrontation with the hollow man, the researcher using her wits, the ordinary police detective becoming something of a hero.

1. The popularity of the original film, themes, drama, invisibility? The problem with sequels, measuring up to the original?
2. The Seattle setting, city vistas at night, social events, police headquarters, the FBI, military? The streets, homes, warehouses…?
3. The opening, the social, the behaviour of the scientist, erratic, victim of the invisible man, his murder? The authorities?
4. The situation, Dr Reisner, his ambitions, creating the drugs, Maggie Dalton assisting, the choice of Michael Griffin, his military career, beyond the bounds, saved from court-martial, subject of the experiment, his personality, the injection, the effect? His being the third in the experiments?
5. Griffin, invisible, the promise of the buffer to restore him, the authorities withholding it? The first murder, the clue to Maggie Dalton, following her, to the house, the killing of the female detective? The consequences, the chases?
6. The authorities, secrecy, wanting to retrieve Griffin, destroy him?
7. Frank, his partner, the initial investigation, the authorities taking over, friends clash with his boss, go on surveillance guard, interactions with his partner, her death, the effect, the interactions with Maggie Dalton, her manner, the home, the laboratories, her work, the visit from her sister?
8. The house, the invasion of all the authorities, the escape, vehicles, pursuit, the dangers, Frank and his motivation, intense, Maggie and her mood and motivation, telling the truth? The buildup to the drama, the confrontation, the fight with Griffin, his taking Maggie’s sister, the meeting at the station, the injection, Maggie injected, Griffin injected, Frank injecting himself?
9. Frank, the attack, the fights between the two invisible men, Michael becoming visible? Maggie’s sister, Maggie’s collapse? The truth about the rat poison? Frank killing Griffin?
10. The aftermath, making hospital, her sister, Frank, keeping vigil – and a possible sequel?

THE UNBREAKABLE BOY  

US, 2025, 109 minutes, Colour.

Zachary Levi, Meghann Fahey, Jacob Laval, Drew Powell, Gavin Warren, Patricia Heaton, Todd Terry, Kurt Yue, Peter Facinelli.

Directed by John Gunn.

This film is based on a non-fictional book, The Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love," by Scott Michael LeRette and Susy Flory. And those are the themes.

With the title, this seems to be an emphasis on the boy himself, Austin, autistic, and with a rare brittle bone disease. However, he is a very cheerful child, happy with all those he comes into contact with. He is played with zest by Jacob Laval.

With the title of the book, there is an emphasis on the son’s courage. However, the focus of the film then goes to the parents, as indicated, the father’s fear, love for the boy, and the issue of the stress put on unconditional love within the context of the family. The mother and the brother also have two deal with the boy, the challenge to them. Zachary Levi is the father.

This is obviously a film with the message, a plea for some kind of empathy with the boy and his conditions, some kind of sympathy for the parents, the challenges, the difficulties, their own limitations in dealing with stressful situations.

1. Based on a true story? The photos and information at the end, decades after the story of the film?
2. The Oklahoma setting, Middle America, ordinary citizens, homes, work, debts? Family life? The breakable bones condition of mother and son? Injuries, burdens, hospitalisation, costs? And autism?
3. The narration by Austin, his nickname of Auzman? Age 13, the setting of the New Year’s Eve party, the behaviour of his father, drinking, driving home? The film going into flashback and eventually returning to this sequence?
4. Austin, the tone in verve of his narration, his explanation of his parents, their meeting, characters, the three dates, her pregnancy, her response, Scott’s response, his parents’ response, the upset and harangues by his mother? The birth and the broken ribs? Austin in pain, crying, the parents not knowing? Later discovering the truth? His bones, inherited, and is listing the number of breakages and their situations?
5. Scott and his character, with the character of Joe, his alter ego, always with him, sense of presence, the conversations, his reflection, conscience, and the final joke about his being God? The fact that Scott, despite everything, could have a challenging conscience?
6. Teresa, serving, Scott and the attraction, the talking, the dating, her pregnancy? The gradual revelation of her past, the two marriages and divorces, her alcoholic father, help from her sister? Her breakable bones condition? Love for Scott, the birth, the raising of Austin, discovery about his bones? The tensions between the two, the issue of marriage, the officiating, in a church?
7. Second pregnancy, the birth of Logan, no bone problems, not autistic?
8. Audience appreciation of autism? Austin’s particular type of autism, extroverted and enthusiastic, everything the best? OCD, obsessions, cataloguing his DVDs, his caps, his knowledge, accuracy? His mindset, the way he saw things? The response of his mother, care? The response of his father, not seeing him, the issue of medications, going to the institution for four days after his violent aggressive outburst, his assessment of the four days, his family adapting to him, Logan caring for him?
9. Austin at school, his nickname, exuberance, the issues with Tyler, the bully, friendship? Tyler later bullying Logan, the skateboard, Logan hitting him, the school principal, Logan and his wrapping the gift of the skateboard, the gift, the reconciliation? Austin’s explanation that Tyler was lonely, his hard life and family?
10. The response of the school, cheerful and Austin’s exuberance? His being the mascot of the games, change of moods, his father donning the Tiger’s head, his going out in joining in? The issue of his staying at the school, as help to his learning or not? The discussions with the principal? His returning to the school, the student signing the petition for his return? Returning to be the mascot?
11. The portrait of the married couple, Teresa, the obsession with video games, exasperation with Scott, the episodes, finding it too much, his drinking, ordering him out? The support from the preacher and the church congregation? Her religious motivations? Scott and his leaving, his absence, memories of her marriages and divorces?
12. Scott, his ambitions and hopes, his experience of marriage, fatherhood, his aspirations, drinking, absences? The presence of joke? His going to the AA meetings? The encounter with the preacher, his antipathy towards God, the preacher at the AA meetings? The change in attitude, Teresa pouring out all the alcohol? AA, his becoming sober, his return, the experience of the camp and Austin’s enthusiasm, all the activities with his father? Austin’s vision, flying in the clouds, the kite turning into a creature…?
13. An opportunity for ordinary audiences to reflect on marriage, parenting, problems and challenges, coping with issues? In the background of some faith dimensions?