Please excuse the lack of Bloggery in the past month or so, i've been doing some other shizzle and i've not been to the cinema much recently :(
So, me and the S-Man ventured out to the flicks last night so i could finally lay my peepers on Iron Man. I've been waiting for absolutely shitting ages to see this film. It looked amazing from the trailers and Robert Downey Jnr (in my opinion) looked like a great choice to play the title role. He reminded me of Michael Keaton's portrayal of Batman (easily the best Batman in my opinion, though Christian Bale may sneak it if Dark Knight is good) i.e that really uncomfortable type who looks at odds with the responsibility of defending the people.
The opening 30 minutes of the film are pretty typical franchise opening Superhero movie back story but it's still engaging and helps give you an insight into the main character Tony Stark (Downey Jnr). I would like to point out that you certainly don't need to know anything about the comic book series to enjoy this film as you learn all you need to know about it in the opening 30 minutes. The director (Jon Favreau. Note to self Mr Favreau: Don't appear in your own movie, you aren't Kevin Smith, even a Cameo is trite) doesn't treat those with prior knowledge of the comics like idiots by glossing over the improtant points but he also doesn't alienate newcomers with a ridiculously in-depth prologue within the film itself. It projects a good balance leaving it open for both casual cinema goer and genre geeks.
Downey Jnr is instantly likable in his role and his awkward demeanor coupled with his arrogance and aloof attitude creates an impression of a man at odds with himself (very much like Downey Jnr himself) which makes him a perfect choice for Tony Stark. The dialogue is fairly pedestrian but something about Downey Jnr's delivery reels it back in and adds a bit more life to it. That breath of life is desperately needed at times as the dialogue really does drag and without the dry sarcasm and interjected comedy asides it would stutter away uninterestingly throughout the film. Thankfully they didn't go overboard physically with Downey Jnr's training prior to the film and whilst he doesn't exactly look out of shape he's not exactly a rippling mass of muscle, owing more to the physicality of what you would expect from a fit middle aged man. This element of the character allows you to see that the man under the suit is after all just a man which really humanizes him rather than elevating him to a superior level. It acts as a rather good metaphor for the old adage: "It's what's on the inside that counts".
The supporting cast is really where the films inconsistencies lie. Jeff Bridges looks very imposing with a shaved head and a big bushy beard as Obadiah Stane but he just doesn't come across well as a villain. The whole time i was watching him on screen i was constantly reminded of "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski. It just didn't help in convincing me that he was the main villain in the film. I think it may be his voice that contributes most to that as he always sounds too laid back regardless of what role he is adopting, his physical presence was certainly adequate for his role in this film though. The role really would have benefited from having someone with an air of menace vocally.
On the other hand Gwyneth Paltrow fairs a lot better in her role as the rather ludicrously (but totally comic book) named Pepper Potts (i know her first name is actually Virginia before any comic book geeks have a go). She carries off the lovestruck secretary role very well. She looks the part and boy has she got better looking with age, there is something rather appealing about the way she walks and talks in her scenes. Her voice carries undertones of a certain fragility but her movements suggest otherwise, evoking more of an air of confidence and sexual power. As does the way she's been dressed. She looks amazing in that backless number during the charity ball scene but she really shines in the pencil skirt/suit jacket combos that her character looks more comfortable in. It's nice to see that they opted for a more realistic "look" rather than the whole sassy, busty heroine type that usually gets thrust into the token eye candy role. She certainly comes across as charming and demure. Plaudits must go to the make-up department for making her look realistically shattered and as if she'd been crying for days upon Tony's return from captivity (either that or someone had told Gwyneth that Chris Martin had named the new Coldplay album "Viva La Vida" and she'd spent days crying with laughter).
The other cast members are fairly low key and don't really add anything to the story as such. Terence Howard manages fine as James Rhodes though his role in this film is rather understated presumably as he plays a much bigger part in the next film (if they continue the story arc as it is within the comics). He's a bit bland in truth but isn't as out of sorts as Bridges and i don't know whether he'll be as good a choice in hindsight for the casting team when it comes to him donning the Iron Man suit further down the line. He really lacks depth and character as an actor in my opinion and i'm sure there would have been better choices out there for that particular role. I will stand corrected if he comes out of his shell in the future though. Shaun Toub (who? yeah, i've never heard of him either) is passable yet underwhelming as Dr Yinsen. The dialogue between him and Downey Jnr during the escape sequence in particular is laughably bad and a total cheese-fest. Interestingly, the only other supporting cast member of note, Paul Bettany, only lends his voice as Stark's personal A.I butler "Jarvis". But as far as voice acting goes it wasn't exactly laced with material to make it outstanding, which is a shame because Bettany is quite a charismatic actor.
Visually the film is stunning and the CGI is nearly faultless though judging from ILM's recent work (Pirates of The Caribbean: At Worlds End and Transformers) that is no real surprise. The visual effects were in your face enough to give that "wow" factor but still realistic enough to not leave you asking too many questions. They managed to maintain a gritty realism with the machines and suits of armour that help make it a little more believable. Directors should take note of ILM's treatment of this film as very often the CGI in modern films can look a little too processed, see the Spiderman series and the fight sequences in the Blade films for reference.
Sound-wise, the film score was great with the music underpinning scenes rather well. However, the overall effects dynamics were a little drab compared to some of the more pulsating sound effects used in other recent films (Transformers being one that springs to mind instantly). The explosions, for example, go off a little like a damp squib, lacking the punch and force that they really needed. That may well have been Favreau's intention so as to not make the film seem like it was just a run of the mill action romp and that it had a bit more depth to it than just gut churning rumbles and overly theatrical sonics, but i really feel that it needed a little more oomph just to make it a little more of an audio spectacle as well.
Overall where this film lacked in areas, it more than made up in others and while i'm still left searching for that quintessential Superhero film Iron Man has really raised the bar. I only hope that they can push the boundaries a little more with the sequel so that we can really be talking about something genre defining.
Stay Epic
Buddy
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