Travis Simpkins: Colin Farrell

Saturday, February 24, 2018

The New World (2005): John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell and Q'orianka Kilcher

Written and directed by Terrence Malick, The New World (2005) is a wonderful drama with some questionable history mixed in the storyline. The plot chronicles the founding of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia in the early 1600's, and follows the relations between the English settlers and the native Powatan tribe. The film portrays Captain John Smith and Pocahontas having a romantic relationship, but historians have called this into question, as Pocahontas would have been only 10 years old when the two first met. Otherwise, 17th Century details mix with tense action and moody cinematography to create a wonderful historic atmosphere. The scenes in which young Pocahontas is presented to the Royal court in England are particularly elegant. The cast does a great job, including Colin Farrell as John Smith, the beautiful Q'orianka Kilcher as Pocahontas, Christian Bale as John Rolfe and Christopher Plummer in a supporting role.

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell and Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell and Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Colin Farrell and Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Christian Bale and Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Christian Bale

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Christian Bale and Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Christian Bale

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Q'orianka Kilcher

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Christian Bale

The New World. 2005: John Smith and Pocahontas. Q'orianka Kilcher

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Alexander (2004): Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie and Rosario Dawson. Alexander the Great

Co-written and directed by Oliver Stone, Alexander (2004) is a much better film than some would lead you to believe. Although the theatrical release was a bore and tanked at the box office, Oliver Stone made amends in his revisions, and subsequent cuts of the film are much more cohesive and entertaining. Epic in length and scale, the battle scenes and CGI work are amazing. Alexander the Great and his far-reaching ancient conquests are brought to life in style… battles, pillaging and all. The costumes and sets are well-designed, even down to the golden leaf crown worn by Philip of Macedonia that has caused so much provenance, restitution and looting debate in recent years. Angelina Jolie is ravishing as Queen Olympias. Rosario Dawson is sultry as Roxana. The rest of the cast is good as well, including Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great, Jared Leto, Val Kilmer, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Plummer and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.