Review 254: World War Z
Loosely, based on the novel World War Z by Max Brooks, Retired United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself.
The plot has practically nothing to do with the original novel. The original Max Brooks novel is basically a collection of interviews from survivors of a Zombie apocalypse; a sort of mocumentary version of Contagion with Zombies.
Director Marc Forster's direction is splendid (directing the action scenes with the same amount of intensity and grit he bought to Quantum of Solace). the cinematography is solid, the scenery is beautiful (to see humanity collapse by all these zombies is just mesmerizing). The score by Marco Beltrami is rousing and exiting. The production design is superb, the costumes are terrific, the make up is rich (the zombies look genuinely scary) the special effects are fantastic, the action scenes are intensely shot and well choreographed. It's fast paced, the suspense is gripping, the sound effects are sharp and the ending was beautiful. I also felt that the film did an "excellent job conveying the terrifying terror of the zombies and panic in the streets" and the scenes of the zombies attack were "disturbing, unsettling and completely convincing"
The acting, for the most part, is great, thought the most praise has to go to Brad Pitt who forced to carry this film on his two shoulders in the role of Gerry Lane. He basically an ordinary man (which helps us relate to him) who is in a really sticky situation whose trying to solve the problem but at the same time being very protective of his family.
Director Marc Forster's direction is splendid (directing the action scenes with the same amount of intensity and grit he bought to Quantum of Solace). the cinematography is solid, the scenery is beautiful (to see humanity collapse by all these zombies is just mesmerizing). The score by Marco Beltrami is rousing and exiting. The production design is superb, the costumes are terrific, the make up is rich (the zombies look genuinely scary) the special effects are fantastic, the action scenes are intensely shot and well choreographed. It's fast paced, the suspense is gripping, the sound effects are sharp and the ending was beautiful. I also felt that the film did an "excellent job conveying the terrifying terror of the zombies and panic in the streets" and the scenes of the zombies attack were "disturbing, unsettling and completely convincing"
The acting, for the most part, is great, thought the most praise has to go to Brad Pitt who forced to carry this film on his two shoulders in the role of Gerry Lane. He basically an ordinary man (which helps us relate to him) who is in a really sticky situation whose trying to solve the problem but at the same time being very protective of his family.
Much like Will Smith in I Am Legend, he's fighting to find a cure for
Smith's performance works better as a solo act because he's on his own and has experienced that much loss, to be without people or any kind of social interaction for that long, while Brad Pitt is works better at an emotional, desperate performance. The rest of the supporting cast are fantastic as well but Pitt's the real star of the film and he really carries this film along, although possibly the ones that stand out most are
Mirielle Enos gives it her all in the part of Lane's wife Karin but the script never elevates her beyond the bare bones role of the standard issue, steadfast wife
Apart from Daniella Kertesz as the Israeli soldier "Segen", who accompanies Gerry in his mission. None of the characters rise above purely perfunctory benchwarms
There are some neat little cameos and supporting roles scattered throughout including James Badge Dale as a U.S. Special Forces captain. I read somewhere that Lost's Matthew Fox was cast in major supporting role but due to rewrites and editing, his role was cut down to a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo.
Peter Capaldi, Pierfrancesco Favino, Ruth Negga and Moritz Bleibtreu show up near the end of the film playing WHO doctors
World War Z is uneven in spots but it still makes a great summer movie and I'm interested what they'll do in these "planned sequels", 4/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
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