Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 2011.
Directed by Rupert Wyatt.
Starring James Franco, John Lithgow, Andy Serkis, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, Tyler Labine and Freida Pinto.
SYNOPSIS:
A cure for Alzheimer’s Disease is tested on a chimpanzee, who develops advanced mental abilities and leads a revolution against his human masters.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes positions itself as the origin story for the entire Apes franchise. Set in present day San Francisco; Scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) leads a medical laboratory attempting to cure Alzheimer’s disease, which leads to primate experimentation. In the process it leads to increased intelligence in the primate test subjects and triggers a series of events that leads to a confrontation between humans and apes for the rule of the Planet.
I’ll go out of my way to say that I’m a big fan of the original Schaffner Planet of the Apes (1968) but I’ll also say that the sequels never really captured my imagination like the original film. So the prospect of Rise for me initially felt like an attempt to cash in on an iconic franchise. However, from the moment I saw the snippets of Weta-manufactured footage of Serkis mo-cap (motion capture) performing the lead ape role of Caesar I was utterly transfixed.
Franco’s Will is desperate to find a cure for Alzheimer’s because his father Charles (John Lithgow) is suffering and rapidly deteriorating before his eyes. Will discovers that an experimental strain may be ready to proceed when a lab accident causes most of the apes to be put down – all but one, Caesar (Andy Serkis). Will discovers that the increased intelligence that was demonstrated by his primate mother has genetically passed to Caesar and he keeps him in secret, to see the limits of his compound in advancing the primate’s intelligence and begins illegally trialling the drug on his father. I can’t really give too much more away without ruining the entire film – so I’ll keep quiet from here. Suffice to say there are a hell of a lot of references to the original series in this one – some overt and some subtle; fans will enjoy those little titbits.
There is a natural impulse or uncontrollable impulse to pick any CGI ‘fakery’ in a film. It is one of the biggest roadblocks in suspending our disbelief long enough to enjoy a film with a lot of CGI. I really want to commend WETA for affording me (and look you may be different so sorry if you could not) the opportunity, by way of awesome digital effects, to enjoy the CGI and really get lost in another amazing performance by Serkis. The work they did to make really rich expressive eyes for Caesar and the greater primate population is sensational. Every element of Caesar’s journey is perfectly physically portrayed. This film really rides on the audience being attached to an Ape protagonist; although Will (Franco) leads us into the story, as the film progresses he moves to the sideline. Franco is really excellent in parts of this film, but in other parts he seems to lose the motivation to be invested in the delivery. This could be directorial or script factors, but his performance doesn’t stand among Milk, 127 Hours or Pineapple Express. Lithgow is an actor that I think is good in anything that he does (see Dexter Series 4 to be truly blown away). He performs solidly throughout the rollercoaster of his disease and Will’s experimental treatment. Tyler Labine is a name that you’re going to hear more of; he’s a rising star of sorts. His role is small but absolutely integral as the ape handler Franklin. Dodge Landon (Tom Felton) is in ‘Malfoy’ mode here but in an unforgiving environment. He get’s some of the key scenes and lines in the flick – and does them justice. Pinto’s Caroline is really just a passenger – that increases the female quota in the film.
I’ll do have to give special mention to Wyatt’s direction – because all of the actors are interacting with CGI apes but in tangible physical spaces, which seems to assist their performances. Wyatt also uses some really great classical trickery – which you can see in the trailer as the apes make their way through the treetops.
In any film that you see, you hope that there is at least one moment that makes it worth the price of your ticket. In Rise, there is a moment that nearly blew me out of my seat. It made total sense, but also surprised the hell out of me – it emphasised that sonic reception of the movie is essential to really enjoy a film and for that one moment I’m going to watch it again and again. This is one of the last of the summer films and has rocketed up the charts to be in my top five blockbuster flicks this year. It does justice to the franchise and had me rushing home to watch the original series in its entirety.
If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll love it; if you’re not a fan it may make you one.
Blake Howard is a writer/site director/podcaster at the castleco-op.com.
Movie Review Archive
Originally published August 4, 2011. Updated April 10, 2018.
