I felt like I needed to shake the dust out of my shoes, after watching The Book of Eli. The latest movie from The Hughes Brothers really transports you to another time, a time after some kind of apocalyptic event turns the United States into a dustbowl.
Denzel Washington plays the main character, we can only assume he is Eli. He's been on the road for a long time, and he knows how to take care of himself. Part of his strength comes from his faith, his faith and a book he carries. The book of the title is powerful, and other people want it, namely Gary Oldman, as Carnegie. He runs a town where Eli stops to charge his battery. Carnegie is intrigued by Eli and lures him in with his women, played by Jennifer Beals and Mila Kunis. I don't want to give too much away, because part of the enjoyment you get from watching The Book of Eli is having its secrets revealed. It's interesting that it comes out at about the same time as The Road, because the landscapes of the two movies are similar. I didn't see The Road, because I couldn't read the book, because it was just too upsetting for me. The Book of Eli does not have that "child in constant peril" aspect, so I was eager to check out the story. I haven't seen a Denzel Washington movie in a while. I'd forgotten how commanding his presence is. He is a powerful man, and Eli knows how to handle weapons, when he's threatened. There is some violence, here. As you'd expect, it's a rough life in a rough landscape. But, Eli appears to be a righteous man. And, you want to join him to see where his path leads. There's something so noble about a person who perseveres. Some parts of the movie reminded me of Deadwood, from TV. Speaking of HBO, it was nice to see Ray Stevenson, my Titus Pullo from Rome, here as Carnegie's right hand man. The themes of westerns can be hokey, and I thought the ending of the film was a bit of a groaner. But, it didn't keep me from liking it, and Eli stayed with me for a long while after I saw the movie. I liked it more, the more I thought about it, and I definitely want to see it again. The Book of Eli gets 8 out of 10.
THE LOVELY BONES
I will say this for The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold's story stirs up emotions. People who've managed to read the book are passionate about it, to the point that they will probably sink Peter Jackson's movie, financially. But, he did not help himself, with some of the choices he made in making the film. Some critics, mostly people who've read the book, hate the movie. So, let's preface my review by letting you know I have not read the book. My experience was marred, somewhat, by my having to hold my left hand up to the side of my face during some of the most important scenes, because the woman next to me (in the press section of the theater) was texting, and I was shielding my eyes from the light. She asked me, right after the movie, if I liked it. I guess that's what you normally ask someone after a movie. But, how can you say you like a two hour story about a horrific crime committed against a sweet young girl and the torment it causes the people who love her? Nope, I didn't like it. But, I thought it was a good movie. Peter Jackson really captured 1970's middle America. There's a line in the movie about how, at that time, people were not aware of bad things that happened to kids. I remember some sadistic teachers showing a horrible movie about a child molestor to raise awareness, when I was a young girl. But, Stranger Danger was this far off concept. Captured time or not, if you read the book, you probably won't like the movie. If you didn't, see it for the performance of Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon. She's luminous, capturing the sweetness and energy of a young girl on the brink of maturity. And, Stanley Tucci plays Mr. Harvey. He did not want to take the role, but eventually felt that there were aspects of the story that were important, and he wanted to be a part of it. His character is creepy and chilling and scary in his cunning. Much of the criticism heaped on the film stems from the in-between place that Susie exists, after the unthinkable. This is where the special effect budget was blown. Roger Ebert even went as far as to suggest that teenage girls would think that getting raped and killed by a serial killer would seem attractive, if they'd end up in a place like that. Uhhhh... not very likely. In my mind, Susie deserved to be in such a place after experience such evil on earth. For me, where the movie fails is in the aftermath. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz play Susie's parents. Susan Sarandon is "comic relief" as a boozy Grandma. But, they're all kind of wallpaper. I'd like to see more interplay and emotion, as they all deal with their grief in their own ways. I didn't feel any resolution, as folks moved on. It just felt very sad and shallow to me. Maybe that's how it's supposed to be, but I wanted to feel something hopeful or healed at the end. I just felt empty. There's nothing to be gained from a young girl losing her life in that way, even if she gets to go to heaven. It's just not right. The Lovely Bones is sad and suspenseful, but for subject matter and some shallowness, it gets a 7 out of 10.
SHERLOCK HOLMES
The trailers were everywhere, it seemed, starting in August. And, I was excited to see it. My husband, the scientist, says, "That looks stupid." He is prone to making these pronouncements on occasion. When pressed, he says that the Guy Ritchie directed film, starring Robert Downey, Junior (and ladies, doesn't he get more attractive with each passing year?), disrespected the character of Sherlock Holmes and is far away from what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle intended. Sir ACD was Scottish, so even though I have never read a Sherlock Holmes mystery, I feel I have some insight into his intent, moreso than my husband to be sure, and since I want to see the movie, I'm offended. I don't think it's fair to judge a film on a trailer the studio put together!
Having seen Sherlock Holmes, I can say that purists might take issue with the rough and tumble tactics of Robert Downey Junior's Holmes. But, I think the essence of the character's scientific method is intact. This Holmes is smarter than everyone in the room, elitist and bored... that is, unless there's a mystery afoot! This caper comes about the time his dear friend, Watson, played perfectly by Jude Law, is trying to break from the dangerous bachelor and detective life and move into medical practice and marriage. There's some tension between the boys. And, that's good. The banter and bromance between Holmes and Watson is, by far, the best thing about the movie. They're electric together.
I found the forensics and the mystery a bit pedestrian. Truly, CSI and police procedurals have ruined us all for this kind of film. But, I liked the process, with Holmes and Watson and their disapproving housekeeper. I thought Rachel McAdams was beautiful and alluring as Holmes' female counterpart. I liked the way they set things up for a future film, which is elementary. Guy Ritchie's London has never looked grimier or more authentic. I didn't need all the action, myself. But, Sherlock Holmes is fun and perfect fare for the holidays. 8 out of 10.
A SERIOUS MAN
If you were pulled in by the Oscar talk and then infuriated by the ending of No Country for Old Men, DO NOT see this film. The Coen Brothers have benchmarks in their films. As I reminded my friend Lynn, during the movie, when things were starting to reach a fever pitch for Larry Gopnik (above), "You know the Brothers, it's going to get excruciatingly painful before it gets better." I'm not even going to get into the parallels between that and the sebaceous cyst that Larry's brother Arthur keeps draining in the family bathroom. Other benchmarks: you will laugh out loud at at least one person's death. You will feel that it's wrong, but you won't be able to help yourself. And, there's the infuriating ending, with lots of loose ends still dangling, the credits appear. At least one person in the theater will yell, "What the...!!!" But, if you can enjoy the ride, with the Coen Brothers immersing you in a tight Jewish community in 1967 Minnesota, you will marvel at the performances, especially Michael Stuhlbarg as our man, Larry. You will wonder, with a performance of this authenticity and caliber, where he's been hiding! It wasn't until about half way through the movie that I realized I was having a totally Jewish experience on Christmas Eve day. The irony was not lost on Hashem, and we had a good laugh about it during Mass that night. I am a fan of the Coen Brothers. And, while it does not top The Big Lebowski, in my book, A Serious Man is a solid contender for top three of their films, all time. I can't wait to see the next one. 8 out of 10.
AVATAR
It's the movie of the moment, to be sure. James Cameron's Avatar is in theaters. And, you have to say "James Cameron's" before Avatar, because his fingerprints are all over it. He wrote and directed and produced this project, and it seemingly took something this big to get him out of the water. He's been obsessed with Titanic, Expedition: Bismarck, Ghosts of the Abyss and such for over a decade.
Avatar is the story of a people, the Na'vi, who live on a moon named Pandora. There are some human settlers, but they don't mingle. Pandora is rich with a mineral humans want, called unobtanium. A paralyzed marine is called upon to infiltrate a research team and gain the Na'vi's trust to pave the way for mining. There is an avatar that looks like a Na'vi but contains his DNA, so he can live in that virtual body while his real body is asleep. The Na'vi are very tied to their environment. Can you guess what's going to happen? Yes, I thought so. But, you know what? It does not matter at all.
First things first, if you go to see Avatar, take extra pains to see it in 3-D. Movie industry types have been talking about how 3-D is the future for years, and I never believed it would come to anything, until now. The world that James Cameron takes us to is so visually stimulating, so original, it's breathtaking. Young and old who've seen Avatar in 3-D say they were not disturbed by the 3-D glasses, in fact, they forgot they were wearing them. I wasn't THAT absorbed, but I was quite taken by the imagery. This is not 3-D technology for its own sake, with arrows flying at you and a feeling of vertigo on the mountains in the movie. This is 3-D that takes you virtually into another world. And, since the main character, played wonderfully by Sam Worthington, is also experiencing Pandora virtually, there is a symbiance. No, I don't think that is really a word, but you know what I mean.
Okay. If you've seen his work, you know, James Cameron is NOT a subtle filmmaker. You will be assaulted by the message of the movie. There is a chance you will want those bulldozers to come in and knock down the rainforest, just to rebel. Resist that urge. If you are white, there is a chance you will feel self loathing. That's okay. I admire James Cameron for making an amazing action/scifi/romance/drama with an original script, instead of re-treading some comic book or TV story we already know. But, there is heavy handed plotting here. Think Native Americans combined with the Vietnam conflict combined with the Gulf War over oil. Just under the surface of this beautiful visual feast are political and ethical machinations! Still, I was able to immerse myself in the curiosity of these new beings, this new culture. Love the voice work by Zoe Saldana. You've heard the story before, but you've never seen it presented like this. The experience of Avatar rates a 9 out of 10.
2012
I'm not in love with special effects. I think they should be there to enhance the story and movie experience, not be the main focus. But, John Cusack is in it, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, so I expected to at least like it. I came away from the film a little depressed. I mean, what is Roland Emmerich's problem? He's written and directed so many end of days scenarios. Does he have a death wish for the Earth? John Cusack plays the sort of sad sack every man, and you have to like him. He still loves his ex-wife, and he loves his kids, he's just a writer and distracted, until he starts piecing together that these wack jobs who are proclaiming end times are putting together some serious evidence. We also find out that some not-so-wack-jobs are gathering evidence too. Geologists and politicians have access to the information, and you know what? They're kind of keeping it to themselves. In fact, the government is putting together a program to save only the people who can afford to buy their way on board, when the lava hits the fan. And that, to me, is a pretty grim possibility, so forgive me if my cynicism keeps me from enjoying this movie, as John Cusack and his family fight to stay alive, as the world crumbles around them. The effects are spectacular. I audibly oohed and ahhhhed. But, it's the Poseidon and Titanic type moments that stay with you, the person who's willing to risk their life to fix a mechanical wrong and save others, the Mother who lies down with her children and soothes them knowing none of them will ever wake up from the tragedy. 2012 is what it is, an action/adventure picture, with nothing, really, to raise it out of the molten earth and make it great. 6.5 out of 10. THE BOX
Whether it's the point of view of the trailer or what you've heard about a film, you can get caught up in your idea of what it's going to be about. I thought The Box was a morality play about greed. It was, but there was a LOT more to the story.
I really can't get into it, because the unveiling of the mystery is one of the few things that keeps you watching The Box. I was definitely interested to see where it was going, because I had no idea. And, I had some theories about why strange things were happening, but I don't think any of them were accurate. In the end, they present you with an X-Files or old time Night Gallery type ending. They don't leave you guessing or anything up in the air, unless you really want to read more into the conclusion. Maybe because I'm older, it's hard to picture Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as 30-something parents in Virginia suburbia. They have a comfortable life, with some hiccups, when a box arrives with a button inside and a formal note. Frank Langella arrives the following day with a proposal for the couple. Push the button, someone you do not know will die, and you can have one million dollars. Simple enough start, but things get very weird and very Fringe-like complicated. I'm thinking, wow, they went a long way to tell us humankind is selfish and greedy! They make a point in the beginning of setting the drama in 1976. I'm not sure why that's relevant. But, right after that, they're eating breakfast, and Cameron's character pops the top on the plastic milk jug. For the next ten minutes, I am totally irritated by this, in my eyes, glaring error in continuity. It would have been one of those cartons you had to fold, or at least a screw on cap! It's the holidays, and there is a lot of interplay with their families, which makes their relationship more concrete. All the actors are fine. The other thing that I found distracting was the soundtrack. It's like a 1970s melodrama, very intrusive and over the top! Not necessary. So, if you saw, say, Jacob's Ladder or Mulholland Drive, and you didn't mind that feeling of "Huh?" after, maybe you'd like to see The Box with someone you can discuss it with, after. I give The Box a 6 out of 10. It lost one full point, because of the soundtrack. It's THAT bad.
MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT
The documentary has become my favorite genre of film. And, I've always said the true test of a good doc, or even a movie based on a true story, is whether I am compelled to action, after I see it, whether it's researching the story, to get more information, or donating to a cause, whatever. After Michael Jackson died, I looked through my CDs and was dismayed to learn I had nothing from him, not even any Jackson 5 stuff! Of course, at that time, my two main sources for downloads, itunes and amazon, jacked up the prices on all the MJ tunes, so I told myself to wait.
After I saw Michael Jackson's This Is It, I could wait no longer. I spent the next morning, and about ten bucks, downloading my favorites and listening to them every day. In fact, Smooth Criminal is circulating in my head, right now! I was not sure what to expect, but I was enough of a fan of Michael Jackson to be interested in seeing this documentary on the making of what was to be Michael Jackson's triumphant return to the live stage. And, the pop culture freak in me wanted to see what Michael was like, working, in those weeks before his death, at the age of 50. The only thing I can compare it to is A Chorus Line, or even Every Little Step, the documentary about how they put together the revival of A Chorus Line. With This Is It, the film is as advertised, a glimpse into the rehearsals and staging for the concerts Michael was preparing to do. It's almost like the skeleton of the actual show, with Michael, Kenny Ortega, the musicians and dancers working out the routines, song by song. You get a feel for what the show would have been like. To break it up, there are some scenes of dancer auditions, set design, costumers. There is no at-home-with-Michael. This is Michael at work. And, the disarming thing is, he appears to be focused and driven and methodical and "with it." He's not some drug addled loony being wheeled to the stage to work it out. He has very definite ideas about what he wants, and he relates those ideas to the director of the show, to the director of the band, and others. And, sometimes, Michael is forceful, but it's beautiful. When he knows he's being demanding, he punctuates his directions with: "And I say that with all the love in the world, all the L-O-V-E." It's adorable. He's still Michael. But, he's a 50 year old superstar who obviously still had so much talent and desire to give to his fans. So, you can either take that, as some in our audience did, in the most upsetting way, that his death was such a waste, and he really did go on the brink of an amazing comeback, and be sad about it. Or, you can go and get caught up in the magic captured in these behind the curtain moments and celebrate the amazing moves, the amazing songs and the amazing and misunderstood man that was... Michael Jackson. Either way, it's a damn shame we'll never get to see that show, as it was envisioned and intended to be. It looked... amazing. 8 out of 10.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
When I first heard that Spike Jonze was doing an adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak, I was skeptical. Was it going to be animated? No, live action. Uhhhh, oooookay. Then, I'm picturing some Henson-y cheese, like The Dark Crystal, which had its merits. I am a big kid. And, the book was read to me, and I've read it to my boys, and I get what it's about. It's a kids book, so I realized there needed to be some fleshing out of the story to sustain a film. That's where I had my problems with Where the Wild Things Are.
Let me say that I appreciate it, as a piece of filmmaking, but I did not enjoy my time watching the movie. The "wild things" are not cheesy. It's quite cool how you almost forget they're big Barneys with famous people voicing them. Max Records is excellent as Max, a kid with a chip on his shoulder and anger management issues. He has a beautiful and emotive face. And, it's hard not to feel for the kid, especially if you, yourself, have been a kid whose parents have split up. It's confusing, and when the parent you're with decides to start having a life as an adult person, it can be a very volatile time. The movie starts with Max acting out, because he feels alone, and the other members of his family are growing up and moving on. It made me sad and uncomfortable, because while I understood what he was going through, it was also like watching a child acting up in public, and the parent in me wanted to enforce a little discipline for more appropriate behavior. He runs away, to get to where the wild things are, and while the fantasy starts out sort of fun and surreal, for me, the situation on the island was even more sad and uncomfortable than his real life. These wild things were trying to live in a community, but they had that child-like lack of self control and empathy, they were mean to each other, physically and psychologically, and they were looking to this kid to give them some solid footing, but he was a mess too, and in no fashion up to setting a good example. So, I watched, hating the way the wild things treated each other, and that is really supposed to be the magic part of the film. The reason it's a success is that it's really divided people. Many critics will put this on their ten best of 2009 lists. I've heard some of the proponents of the film complaining that anyone who doesn't like it must have had a bad childhood. I don't think that's fair. For me, Where the Wild Things Are was depressing and slow. I was not entertained or inspired, I was sad. So, again, while I respect the film, I didn't really like it. 7 out of 10.
THE HURT LOCKER
I hope I wasn't expecting too much. There was great buzz about The Hurt Locker.
There's no question Kathryn Bigelow is a talented filmmaker. And, where's she been, anyway? Big stuff in the 80s and early 90s, Blue Steel, Point Break, Strange Days, then just maybe one thing since '95. But, here she is with a taut and tight look at the soldiers in Iraq who are assigned to the elite bomb squad. Some are precise and deliberate in their tasks, others are a little more devil may care. But, they have to work together, understand each other and try to understand their enemy. I felt like I did have a little better grasp on some of the issues of the Iraq conflict, after seeing the film. Even though it's still a serious problem, I didn't feel it was "too soon" to see The Hurt Locker. We're all still trying to figure out what these men and women are dealing with, you know? The cinematography is all desert and sandy and yellow. The performances are intense, from Jeremy Renner's loose cannon James to Anthony Mackie's serious Sanborn. David Morse, Evangelina Lilly, Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes add unexpected cameos. A lot of star power behind a little movie, and it gives everything an extra weight and credibility. I was tense, when I left the theater. And, I appreciate what kind of person who will go out and sacrifice themselves to defuse a bomb. The Hurt Locker shows there are lots of reasons they're there. And, I had a hard time connecting. Maybe, that's because they have to turn off a part of themselves to get through it. I give The Hurt Locker an 8 out of 10.
JULIE & JULIA
One of the movies I was most looking forward to this summer did not disappoint me. I loved Julie & Julia. I was very frustrated by the critics who only liked the Meryl Streep portion of the movie. Meryl and Stanley Tucci, as Julia and Paul Child, are fantastic. And, their life is so interesting! He was in diplomatic circles, they lived all over the world. Meryl is beyond brilliant as Julia, whose enthusiasm and lively spirit won over nearly everyone she encountered. The tougher job belongs to Amy Adams. She's a contemporary woman, working in post 9/11 New York for a bureaucratic office, where they handle claims from victims' families. She is obviously bright and going through that phase in early adulthood where many of us wonder if we've made the right choices, while life seems to just carry us along. She wants more, so she endeavors on a project to cook all of Julia's recipes and do this new thing called "blog" about it. Her personal experiences, a little too personal, in the opinion of her husband, played by the adorable Chris Messina, and documenting her triumphs and failures, make Julie an internet sensation. Still the story of Julie is rather pedestrian, compared to the bigger than life life of Julia Child. Nora Ephron write and directs. And while some thought she wasn't as captivating on the Julie story, I like the juxtaposition. If Julia is Julie's idol, shouldn't that be the way the film sets up their combined narratives? When I got home, my husband told me Roger (Ebert) didn't like the Julie part, and we got into a conversation about my take on the film, vs. others. I do think it's a movie women will "get," more than men. And, I love Amy Adams. I didn't always like Julie, but I wasn't supposed to. And, I told my husband, the scary thing was, with her self centeredness and at times juvenile behavior, I'm ashamed to say she reminded me of myself at that age... a lot. He smiled. A knowing smile. He's a very patient man. The true test of the film? I pulled out our Julia Child, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and made the Baked Cucumber Julie mentions in the movie. It was delicious! Next up, finally since it's fall, Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon!! Bon Appetit!!!! I give Julie & Julia a 9 out of 10.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE
How can you possibly please a fan base as passionate about source books as the Harry Potter fans, when you produce the movies? I have loved the books, myself. And, I have had some problems with the film adaptations. What I've found is that I do better if I put some distance between the book and the movie. But, I know a lot of fans have re-read the sixth book, even all six of the books, in preparation for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It's been a long while since we spent time with Harry, Ron and Hermione. And, all the readers know how it ends, but it's hard to remember, exactly, how things transpired to get us there. The sixth book seemed a blur.
It all comes roaring back in scary shades of gray, in the skilled hands of director, David Yates. He did the last movie, Order of the Phoeniz, and he'll do a two part Deathly Hallows, as well. You Know Who is back, the Deatheaters are running amok. Even muggles are not safe. Our Gryffindor friends head back to school with a big cloud over all proceedings and tasks from Dumbledore that are much more significant than anything learned in Herbology. And yet, they're kids. And, if you've ever dealt with teenagers, you know that adult problems do not always supercede the importance of a break out or a break up or a quidditch match. I think the film finds a nice balance between the day to day dealings of Harry, Ron and Hermione and the forward movement of the threat of Voldemort. And, the actors who play our beloved trio have grown more comfortable in their roles, in their jobs, so that conversations on the Hogwarts Express seem like real chats between "mates," and not just cute scripted scenes. Jim Broadbent is a nice addition to the family, as Professor Slughorn. Young Tom Riddle is played by the nephew of Ralph Fiennes and the son of Stephen Dillane. Both boys are strong and scary. I was wondering if Tom Felton would be up to the task of Draco Malfoy's increased role. He was. And, I just can't say enough about Alan Rickman. He gives Severus Snape a depth and humanity I'd never have dreamed possible from reading the books. I am a fan. Overall, while it doesn't have the stylized beauty of Prisoner of Azkaban, I'd have to say Half Blood Prince is one of the top two adaptations of the books. I give Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince a 10 out of 10.
PUBLIC ENEMIES
There are a few directors working today that I admire, and when their names are on films, I feel confident that I will appreciate the movies. Such is the case with Michael Mann. He's solid. And, I was excited to see him team up with Johnny Depp for Public Enemies. If I'm not mistaken, the book that the movie is based on is really more of an overview of the Chicago crime scene in the 1930s, and Mann chooses to focus all of his energy on John Dillinger, reducing Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd to cameos. On the side of the law, Christian Bale is Melvin Purvis, the FBI pioneer who makes it his life's mission to take down the gangsters. Bale gives him a lot of depth, you can see some of the inner turmoil that Purvis must have felt, but we don't get to know much about him at all, just his methods. It's Depp's show. We get to know and, perhaps, care about John Dillinger. You could say that a lot of kids grew up, especially during that time, with a lack of love at home, taking beatings and living hard. They didn't all resort to a life of bank robbery and, yes, murder. But, Johnny Depp gives Dillinger a soul and a spirit and a vulnerable side, and Michael Mann makes him the hero. The teen Depp fan with us said, at the end, something about how even somebody like Dillinger deserves love. Yep, even the real Dillinger had that allure. Hey, it's why we're still talking about him today. Go to enjoy the performances and a different time in American history that has some eerie similarities to today, but don't expect any frills. Mann's Public Enemies is solid, straightforward, biopic storytelling. I found myself a little confused about all the secondary characters, all those bad 30s haircuts and square white faces. I could not keep the gangsters straight, nor all the G-men. And, I really did want to find out more about some of the actors! Billy Crudup is a stand out as J Edgar Hoover. Marion Cotillard is beautiful Billie. Public Enemies is an 8 out of 10.
STAR TREK
Gang, I don't want to oversell Star Trek. I went in excited, but with middling expectations. I am a JJ Abrams fan (director). I love Damon Lindeloff's work (producer). Do you love Lost? You will see their fingerprints all over this movie. Similar types of action shots, hilarious throw away lines, crazy cameos, Greg Grunberg. I looked for the numbers, people, but I didn't see them. I know they were there! All I've seen in the promos, and I didn't look too much, because I didn't want to be too informed like many fanboys and girls, were scenes with young Kirk and young Spock. I was delighted to find that, over the course of the movie, we were going to encounter other young versions of our friends from Star Trek, the Original. How Trek am I? I loved the original, watched every episode, multiple times. I watched Next Generation and loved it. I watched some Deep Space Nine and some Voyager, but the franchise had started to lose me. I never watched Enterprise. It's the campiness and joviality of the original series that made me happy. And that's exactly what JJ Abrams plumbs for this latest Star Trek film. There are so many nods to the original, you will lose count. I was shocked to find that some of the cheesiness was too much for even me, and it took me out of the film. But, I remember why I loved Bones, why I loved Mr. Scott and why James T. Kirk is the baddest (shut your mouth) in the universe. This is fun, fun, fun. The casting is perfect for every character. Great action. Some messages, sure, but they're covered with swagger. Romulans? Hmmm... I do not remember them being charismatic. I definitely do not remember them all having perfect white and straight Hollywood veneers. But, their space craft is scary! And, they're kind of charismatic. You don't need to know Star Trek to enjoy it. Vic Gideon's kids behind us couldn't figure out why everyone clapped with Leonard Nimoy showed up! But, if you love the original series, and aren't a Big Bang Theory type purist, you will have a great time at Star Trek. I give it a 9 out of 10.
THE SOLOIST
In just a few days, everyone is going to know this man's story. He's Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a gifted musician with mental illness, from Cleveland. Serendipity brought an LA Times columnist named Steve Lopez into his life. Steve has been able to help Nathaniel, wrote a book about their relationship, and now it's a movie, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Junior. You've probably seen the commercials for The Soloist. Did you know they shot some scenes from the movie in Cleveland? It's open in theaters this weekend. And, Nathaniel's sister, Jennifer Ayers-Moore is in town for a special premiere of the film. She's started The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation for the Artistically Gifted Mentally Ill to help people like her brother. I had a chance to talk with Jennifer on the phone. She was visiting some of her old neighborhoods and talking to family and friends, also trying to spread the word about naayers.org. She was a consultant on the film. And, you can hear our conversation here, Daune on Demand.
The Cleveland International Festival is going on all week at Tower City. I've lived here many years and have always wanted to go, said I'm going to go, never have, until now. What a waste! It's so well organized and such a great event for the city. Everyone at Tower City that I dealt with, because I was a Noob, was fantastic. I should have been going every year! But, that's water under the bridge. I will never let another year go by without seeing something there and showing my support. I think their main message this year is, despite record breaking crowds, nearly everyone is getting in to see the movies they want to see. Many film showings are on Stand By, but most, if not all of those lines are getting into the seats. Here are some reviews. And, their run at the CIFF is done, some will be playing locally soon, almost all already have a listing on Netflix.
I will always remember Terribly Happy at the first film I saw at the Festival ever. It's from Denmark, a kind of mystery suspense. City cop does something wrong, gets sent to the boonies, where people are weird and the town has secrets. He gets involved in a volatile situation. It was okay, screenplay a bit clunky. It reminded me a lot of the original Wicker Man. I was interested the whole time, I just kept thinking of things I thought were going to happen, and I thought the screenplay in my mind was better and more plausible than what happened on screen. 6.5/10
Jay from Phillippines explores the pervasive exploitation of reality TV. After a school teacher is murdered in Manila, a reporter insinuates himself into the family of the deceased for a segment on a TV show. The disgusting part is the way they gradually give in to the manufactured drama, instead of mourning their son. Interesting idea, very topical, especially with the televised funeral of Jade Goody this week. There were audible groans and gasps at the audacity of the reporter, and the way people just go along with anything to be on TV. But, the film takes a crazy turn at the end, and for me the whole experience was ruined. I probably just didn't get it. 6/10
They Killed Sister Dorothy is a wonderful and balanced documentary about the murder of a Dayton woman, nun and missionary, who was working in the rainforest of Brazil and made ranchers/loggers angry. It picks up the story after her murder, when her brother goes to Brazil to help with the trial. The first half, background of the case, is very interesting. I found the trial, itself, dragged, but I'm sure that was very representative of how everyone involved felt about it. I was worried I'd be so bummed after the movie, but I felt inspired, sad and inspired. More people should give themselves over to a cause like Dorothy did, but the world is a dangerous place. 8/10 (I liked filmmaker Daniel Junge's work so much, I watched his first doc, Chiefs, on Netflix Instant yesterday. It's very interesting, about the basketball program on a Native American Reservation in Wyoming.)
It's Not Me, I Swear from Canada, the Canada where they speak french. I couldn't really tell when it takes place, I'm thinking 70s and suburbia. Antoine L'Ecuyer is terrific as Leon, a kid who is destructive and self destructive as the result of a volatile family situation. The CIFF director keeps saying it's his favorite narrative film at the festival, and the crowd seemed to be really titllated by the kid's humor and antics, but I was pretty horrified and thought he was a sociopath, potentially psychopathic. I mean, hey, my parents fought and split up when I was a kid in 70s suburbia too, I didn't break into peoples' homes and pee on their couture. But, that's just me. The kids in the film are totally victims of their families, and it's really, really sad to me. 7/10
Gomorra is a film that exposes the lower levels of the real italian mafia. You see how kids are recruited, how the families of dead former members are taken care of, how they have infiltrated nearly every industry in the country and are systematically cutting down everyone and everything in their path. It's more education than entertainment. Gomorra is produced by Martin Scorsese, and I think some people were expecting a slick mafia movie, but this is not it. It's dark, and people get popped as an after thought, tossed out like the trash. We don't even get to see any of the big bosses. They're so far removed from the trenches. 7/10
Daune Robinson gets a quick question in for Will Smith at his premiere of "Seven Pounds" at Valley View.
The Ghost Writer
When a successful British ghost writer, The Ghost, agrees to complete the memoirs of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang, his agent assures... More
Bass Ackwards
"Bass Ackwards" is a captivating and consummately human film that reminds us that whatever we think the road is about; the trip is probably about... More
The Flyboys
Jason and Kyle become embroiled in the adventure of their lives when they discover a mysterious airplane at the local small-town airport. The... More
Blood Into Wine
"Blood Into Wine" is the widely anticipated documentary that shares the story of Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer front man Maynard James Keenan... More
One of the DVDs I've had in my recommendations is District 9. It's fun to get taken aback watching a movie, because it's just... different. I was mad at the studio, when this came into theaters, because I felt they misrepresented the film as a Peter Jackson movie. PJ just produced it. He made workfriends with Neill Blomkamp, and they were supposed to do the movie based on the Halo video game. The story goes, when that fell through, Peter offered Neill a lot of money to do whatever movie he wanted, and he decided to expand a movie short he'd done that reflected his feelings about apartheid, depicting humans and aliens living as haves and have-nots in South Africa. District 9 is the result.
The beginning is a little disarming, in that it's done in a very flat documentary style, with Sharlto Copley as Wikus Van De Merwe, a government employee in charge of controlling the alien population. He's getting ready to head up a relocation program for these creatures who flew their spaceship into the earth's atmosphere. They were sick and overcrowded, and humans didn't take to their cat food eating criminal ways, so they were contained in a slum area called, District 9. The footage from the camera crew following Wikus is interspersed with family members and former co-workers waxing nostalgic about "poor Wikus." So, we know something is going to go awry. The people I know who didn't care for the film are all not fans of science fiction stories, in general. There's some violence, but it's very cartoony. I became quite taken with an alien guy and his son who help Wikus out. It took me back to my deep love for a movie called Enemy Mine. District 9 works, I think, as an allegory for racial separation. It only works, because Wikus' transformation is so compelling. Again, it's told in a very unadorned way, but I think we're all kind of used to the faux documentary, like they use in The Office. I thought it was interesting, I didn't know what was going to happen, and I liked how they leave things, at the end. I give District 9 an 8 out of 10.
G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA
I did not have great expectations, going into the screening of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. My friends who were with me are very big action fans, so they were excited. I have been disappointed in many of the action flicks this summer, citing lack of story and character development, which are things that old broads like me like to see in our movies. Color me surprised when I walked out of the theater smiling and exhuberant!
All I knew about the G.I. Joe mythology is that the doll was developed to be the male toy equivalent of Barbie. Accessories followed. The doll had a manly beard. I missed the entire animated series and the comic book craze. So, I was a complete newbie to The Rise of Cobra. The film starts with a mission, there's action, shooting, violence, and then a hatch door opens, and there's Sienna Miller looking smoking hot in a skintight black leather outfit and sunglasses. I laughed hysterically. That's the mood set from the start. Ridiculous action and fun. It's not one hero against one villain. It's a team of G.I. Joes against the developing Cobra group. And, in this first film, we get to know some of the back story of all the characters, and some of these stories are pretty compelling. You might not ever get to see the face of Snake Eyes, even though I knew it was Ray Park from Star Wars fame, but you care about the guy. I actually wanted Scarlett to end up with him! There are some tough chicks, funny lines, nice toys and a bad guy behind the bad guy. If you saw Starship Troopers, I felt it was a lot like that. The violence is comic book and ridiculous and fun. Put another way, if you saw The Dark Knight, the violence was dark and menacing and negative and scary. In Spiderman, the chase scenes are usually fun and make me say "Wow!" G.I. Joe is more like a Spiderman, especially in a crazy sequence when the Joes are chasing down an armored truck, I think that was some of the stuff they showed in the Super Bowl commercial. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is a perfect summer popcorn movie. I give it 8 out of 10.
AWAY WE GO
Here's the thing about movie reviews, they're really just someone's opinion. The key is finding the reviewer who you agree with most and following their advice. For me, that was Gene Siskel. After Gene died, I searched out and read many other reviewers. I realized I'm on my own. After I see a film, I sit through the credits and give it a 1-10 in my mind. I'm always relieved to hear from the people I'm with that they're in the ballpark of my rating. But sometimes, like after an M Night Shyamalan film or something like Stardust, I realize my tastes are not the norm.
That disclosed, my favorite film of the year so far is Away We Go. He's always good, but here, he's back to his American Beauty brilliance. And yet, he's taking us someplace new, for him, a place where a couple of people are together, and they know each other, and they're totally, totally in love. It's a wondrous place, where you're with your partner, and you're in sync, and every one else and their lives and opinions seem foreign. John Krasinski is an even more serious and loving Jim from The Office. And, Maya Rudolph is warm and luminous and very pregnant. Together, they embark on a road trip to try and find the place where they want to settle and raise their child together. They visit friends and family. And, the thing that reminds me of American Beauty is that you're along for the ride, and it's hysterically funny and real and then, suddenly, painfully poignant. All of the supporting cast is fantastic, from crazy earth mother Maggie Gyllenhaal, to wacked out suburbanite Allison Janney. Away We Go is out in limited release. If you want to wait and see blockbusters in the theaters now, I understand, but please promise you'll seek it out on DVD. It gets a 10 out of 10.
THE HANGOVER
The hubs took the boys to see his family, 4th of July weekend. I was still recovering from my surgery and not interested in two long car rides, there and back, so I declined. For whatever reason, hubs took 3 hours out of his family visit time to dump the baby on his parents and take the boy to a movie. This is VERY unusual, and I was a little peeved, as I see movies all the time and would like to go with him, but he will never go with me. Anyhoo, they loved it. I thought it looked funny, but I was concerned that all the good parts were in the trailer (and AGAIN, WHY do they do that???). He said I should see it, that there was a lot more to it than the funny parts. Soooooo... I'm at the movie theater, I've just seen something sublime (review forthcoming), and my son texts me and says, pleeeeeeeaaase see The Hangover, so we can "talk about it." ??? Uh, okay. I duck in. I still laugh in many of the scenes I've already seen in the trailer, but I lament their lack of freshness. I marvel at the substance in the story, hmmm... "there's actually something going on here," I think. The buddies are in Vegas on a bachelor party binge. They begin their night of celebration. Fast forward to the next morning. Mayhem has ensued. And, they spend the rest of the movie trying to piece together what has happened. Adding to my enjoyment of The Hangover, two middle aged white dudes on a man-date talking to the screen. Their reaction to the things that are going on is as funny as anything on the screen. When Stu's girlfriend turns her head away when he tries to kiss her goodbye, they scream, "Ohhhhhh!" and "Get rid of her!!!" She is pretty horrible. But, the movie is good, a fun and funny adult comedy. I give The Hangover 8 out of 10.
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it like the first one with Shia and Megan and the gang. This review does contain some spoilery material, so if you don't want to know, skip over this paragraph. For me, Transformers visual effects are better than in any other movie I've seen this summer. The mythology is just as interesting as Star Trek and Terminator and Wolverine. That said, I would gladly have sacrificed 15-20 minutes of the non-stop action in Transformers for some actual conversations leading to the slightest amount of character development. When you make a sequel, you don't get to just reap the benefits of having a built in audience, there is an inevitable comparison. In the first one, we got to know and care about these characters. But here, they were too far in the background. I don't even know why they paid Josh Duhamel to be there. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like to see him standing around in his fatigues, but I also like to hear him talk and relate to others and emote. We got none of that. We don't know, really, how a decepticon was able to, all of a sudden, take on a human form or why she wanted to seduce Sam, instead of just take him out. There were other huge gaps in story. How did they get the suit on the military plane? Why not just do their mission, why did they have to bring him and parachute him out? Yep, it was funny, but without the set up, pointless. I didn't think the governmental policy was consistent with the current administration. Set it in the Bush administration, I buy his hardball tactics. I can only hope my son sees all the hot girls at Sam's college and gets more motivated in his studies. Were they shooting American's Next Top Model in Rainn Wilson's Astronomy class? Michael Bay can be ridiculous. And, what happened to the little decepticon pet Mikaela had? They spent a lot of time setting up their bond, then he disappeared when they got to the desert. A quick 10 second shot of him digging himself out of the sand or showing up when they're kissing would have sufficed. What happened to Glen Whitmann, from the first movie? I'm not even sure which Transformer Anthony Anderson got to voice instead of having a real part, but that was a waste. He was a highlight in the first film. And the Ying Yang twins (that is what I call them, because I never got their names) were a little offensive. Since writing this review, I've seen some critics say they're downright racist. Those are my nitpicks. I gave the first one a 9. Revenge of the Fallen gets a 7 out of 10. It's fun, but I wanted more of a cohesive movie.
TERMINATOR SALVATION
Terminator Salvation opens in theaters tonight at midnight. I got to see a preview screening. It's the next big blockbuster of the season, and I'm sure it will do well against the slipping Wolverine, although Star Trek and Angels and Demons are going to have legs. Interestingly, this screening was much more full than the screening for Star Trek, so I don't know if that's telling. I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of the Terminator franchise, and I should have refreshed on some of the mythology. Terminator, of course, was the first, with Arnold and James Cameron writing and directing. That was 1984. T2 was Judgment Day in 1991, with everybody back. Then, they decided to go another decade before The Rise of the Machines. John Connor's a kid, the bad Terminator is a hot chick, the director is someone I've never heard of, Cameron still gets a writing credit. I think I saw it, but I can't even remember for sure. That was 2003. Now, in T4, John Connor is a grown up, played by Christian Bale, and that's the main draw for me. What would possess Christian to take up the Terminator mantel? That's what I wanted to find out. McG directs, and he's in full Charlie's Angels action mode, except much bigger and MUCH darker. Action fans, you will like this film. For me, the action is a bit overwhelming, I'm thinking, wait, what happened to all the underground people? How did he get out of there? How did little Anton Yelchin get to be such a good shot that he can hit a moving target from the back of a swerving construction vehicle? Were the batcycles part of the Christian Bale contract? So, I find all that stuff distracting, and I want more story. I get that Christian is showing that his life has made him as robotic as the machines he hates. But, as in Batman, that makes him the least interesting part of the film. Thank goodness all the other actors are fantastic and engaging. Bryce Dallas Howard doesn't get much to do, but she's gorgeous doing it. Anton Yelchin is very smart and charismatic as young Kyle Reese. Moon Bloodgood is serene and sexy, as always, as a resistance fighter. And, Sam Worthington steals the movie, even though he doesn't quite mask his Aussie accent, as Marcus Wright, the enigmatic rebel. He gives the film the weight and emotion. And, all of a sudden, I have a new man at the top of the Daune's Eye Candy cadre!! If you're into Terminator, you've already watched all the trailers, so you probably already know some of the big reveal. But, my advice, if you've missed a lot of that, is to go into the movie with a fresh eye, and let the surprises come. That might help you through the monotony of the roaring and shooting and crashing. Action fans, you'll love it. Me? I give it a 7 out of 10.
CORALINE
The baby is in that phase, where he loves to watch scary stuff, but then he won't go to the kitchen to get himself water, because he's too scared. And, I'm not talking about Scream or Saw, here. I'm talking about Scooby Doo Movies.
When I rented Coraline for the weekend, I got it for my husband. The story was written by Neil Gaiman, one of his favorite authors. And, the animation was suitably creepy. I, personally, don't like the angular, jerky visuals. And, the whole mood was a little Roald Dahl for me, like James and the Giant Peach, where kids get treated rather badly by mean grown ups. I don't like that. But, there are some good messages in Coraline. Some of the side characters, like Ian McShane's Mr. Bobinsky, were especially fun. Coraline is a little girl who lives in an old house with her activity and internet obsessed parents. She feels bored and neglected, until she finds a secret door that leads to an alternate universe, where she appears to be valued and appreciated by her "other mother." As we all know though, things are not always what they seem on the other side of secret doors! Teri Hatcher's Other Mother (above) is what captured the attention of the baby (Reece is three now, but we still call him The Baby). He became entranced by the "Mommy with the Button Eyes!!!" And, even though we got the DVD for an adult in the house, he's the one who insisted we watch it 7 or 8 times!! When I brought it back to the Blockbuster, I was talking to the girl about it. And, she made a face and said, "How old is your son? Your three year old liked it? That movie creeped me out!" The film is crafted beautifully, it's an interesting and unique story. I have to add a point to my rating, just because the baby liked it so much. So, I give Coraline an 8 out of 10.
GOODBYE SOLO
Goodbye Solo is the latest film from Ramin Bahradi, who was featured Sunday in the New York Times as one of the leaders of realist filmmaking. You've probably noticed more of this lately, where you don't know any of the actors, and you feel like you're eavesdropping on real people, but they are, and you're not. It's realist cinema. Done well, it's sublime, as in the case of Ramin Bahradi's films. He received the Cleveland International Film Festival's Someone to Watch award at the screening I attended and stayed after for questions. Goodbye Solo is his third film. His first, Man Push Cart was one of Roger Ebert's Ten Best from that year. This one will open at Cedar Lee, and possibly wider, in May. I think it's wonderful. Solo is a cab driver in North Carolina who is happy and carefree and has a regular passenger who is surly and is starting to shut down everything in his life, ending his apartment lease, closing his bank account, and asking Solo to take him, one way, to a mountain in the Great Smokeys. Solo sets out to show him good things in life before their agreed to date of the trip and... well, we all learn some things. My rating might go up on repeat viewing. I can't really think of a reason that I am not giving it a ten, except that Ramin would not answer any questions I had about the movie during the Q and A, he is very much the leave it up to the viewer's imagination, but there were a few specifics, and I just wanted to know what he thought. He would not reveal those to me. Hmph. 9/10
Last week, the boy and I saw I Love You, Man. We were hoping for something cute and fun, we got hilarious. Paul Rudd is a sweet guy, engaged to the adorable Rashida Jones (Karen, from The Office). And, once their engagement excitement wears off, they realize he doesn't have any guy friends to be in the wedding party. He's always been friends with girls. So, his brother, Andy Samberg in a sweet turn as his gay brother, gives him tips on how to hang with dudes, and he meets Jason Segel (Marshall from How I Met Your Mother). They strike up a bromance. And, Segel is hilarious as the slightly off-center man-child. Rudd is even more hilarious, as he stutters and fumbles through conversations, trying to be hip and hetero. We laughed a LOT. And, it wasn't all rude and crude like some of the R rated adult comedies, it was just funny. There's rough language and talk about sex, but no raunch. We loved it. I give I Love You, Man a 9 out of 10.
THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD
One of my favorite movies of all time, one of those films that I have to stop and watch, if I see it's on when I'm clicking through the channels, is That Thing You Do. I think Tom Hanks' Playtone Production company has found this certain niche that I love. You can kind of feel it's one of their movies, when you see it.
And, in The Great Buck Howard, you are transported to a time, it could be the present, but it definitely exists in a unique space of time, and it feels nostalgic. John Malkovich is brilliant as Buck Howard, a mentalist, ala Kreskin, who is on the downside of his career. He may or may not know this, in his heart of hearts. Colin Hanks is adorable as a lost young man who finds himself while serving as Buck's manager and assistant. I just found myself smiling most of the time I watched it. And, that's a good movie for me. 9 out of 10.
I'm thinking, if you just can't swing a trip to the theaters with the kids to see Up or Ice Age 3, yet what would be good to rent? BOLT!
If you haven't seen Bolt yet, you should check out this feel good cartoon with the family. Heck, I didn't even need my three year old snuggled next to me to enjoy it, but it sure was more fun when the two of us looked at each other and laughed out loud at Rhino, the crazy hamster. He was hilarious! In Bolt, the dog, voiced by John Travolta, is an "actor." But, he doesn't know it. The director of the television series he's on feels the dog acts more real, believing that everything that is happening is true. So, he fiercely defends the girl, voiced by Miley Cyrus, who plays his owner. One day, he escapes his trailer, and ends up in NY. He ends up, in a The Sure Thing or It Happened One Night kind of a twist, tethered to a cat. They dislike each other, but make the cross country trip back to Hollywood for their own reasons. Rhino provides much needed comic relief. It's a great story, and the thing that I love about it most, for the kids, is that it tries to explain that line between what's on TV and reality. It's a deep concept, but it's there. The sooner they learn that, the better! 8 out of 10.
I am so happy I was able to see Gran Torino before it left theaters. Clint Eastwood is easily one of my Top Three Directors, currently working, maybe even top three of all time. His movies are clean and clear. And, if you look at his body of work, it's staggering. Just consider that he directed and produced Changeling AND Gran Torino last year. Plus, many times, he'll star and do the soundtrack. I don't know if he's just too cheap to hire someone else or if he just has such a clear vision, he doesn't trust anyone else to do it the way he feels it should be done. I suspect it's the latter. Anyway, Gran Torino. Brilliant. Clint plays Walter, an older man who's just lost his wife. We don't ever see her, but I suspect she was a peach. He's a crusty crotchety veteran, and he's a bigger bigot than Archie Bunker ever imagined. Somehow Clint makes him likeable, although at one point, later in the film, I felt they'd gone overboard with that message, just a bit. Or maybe I was just mad at the people he was with for not taking him to task more about it. Anyway, he's alone, save his adorable old dog, daisy. And, he has time to sit on his porch and watch the neighborhood, that seems to be deteriorating. He gets involved with the family next door. I'm not going to say Walter evolves, he's still pretty much the same, but we get to see why the peach stayed with him all those years. He's like a lot of seemingly mean old guys, you just have to get to know them. I don't know that the acting of some of the other principles, namely his neighbors, Thao and Sue, and his priest, is that great, but that didn't affect how much I cared about what happened to them all. I cared a lot. Gran Torino is highly recommended. I give it a 9 out of 10.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Review
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the movie where I've finally decided that David Fincher is one of my favorite directors, ever, and one of the most interesting filmmakers of our time. In Curious, he manages to show Brad Pitt's character age backward from maybe 90 to infanthood, and the effects are fascinating. I didn't really need to see the "baby," I felt it was too weird and distracting, but that's just the beginning of the film. There are a lot of parallels with Forrest Gump, in that Benjamin is an unusual person who experiences extraordinary things, and the film takes place over the course of his lifetime. All the acting is wonderful. When Cate Blanchett is playing a younger Daisy, she is just breathtakingly beautiful, as is Brad, when he returns as a 20 year old himself. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is long, nearly 3 hours, but I could not pick a part to cut. I give The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 9 out of 10.
SEVEN POUNDS REVIEW
What I want to tell you about Seven Pounds, starring Will Smith, is that you shouldn't read too much about it or talk to anyone who's seen it, because I don't want certain elements of the storyline spoiled for you.
While there are no Sixth Sense level twists, I think it's just one of those films that reveals little pieces of the main character slowly, and that learning process is what makes the viewing very enjoyable.
Will Smith teams up again with Gabriele Muccino, who directed him to an Oscar nomination in Pursuit of Happyness. Smith says he will continue this professional relationship with Muccino because he "doesn't let me get away with all my Will Smith stuff."
In Seven Pounds, Smith plays a man who is investigating people who are behind on their taxes, because they are overwhelmed with medical bills. His methods are questionable and interesting. He ends up falling for a girl who has congenital heart failure, played by Rosario Dawson. And, he is haunted by a traumatic experience in his life. He seems to be consumed by the desire to help people he deems are "good." But he, himself, has not done much to repair damage to his relationships with his brother, played by the striking Michael Ealy, or his best friend, played by the equally striking Barry Pepper. Lots of eye candy here, ladies. And, lots of kleenex suggested.
I heard a mixed reaction of murmers from folks leaving the theater. Seven Pounds is very sad, it brings up some ethical and moral questions, and I think it's going to be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of movie experience. I give Seven Pounds an 8 out of 10.
Slumdog Millionaire Review I was deeply moved by a movie this weekend. Slumdog Millionaire is a masterpiece.
I'm not sure what happened to Danny Boyle, but the director who brought us Shallow Grave, Trainspotting and the zombie flick, 28 Days Later, all fine films, has delivered a full, rich, beautiful and heartbreaking story of Jamal Malik. He's a kid who grew up an impoverished orphan in India. He and his brother have adventures, told in flashback, as Jamal competes on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. His life experience has given him many of the answers. I am haunted by some of the things he shows us.
The soundtrack and cinematography are fantastic. The actor playing Jamal is just 18, but he conveys a life fully lived in his eyes and facial expressions, while he's simply pondering questions. And, it's kind of cool to see the whole country rallying around this character. Do you remember the first summer of Millionaire here? Everyone was watching it and talking about it the next day.
It's not a perfect film, and I don't like what they do at the very end, I think it's distracting, but it's so absorbing, fascinating and original, I give Slumdog Millionaire a 10 out of 10.
One of the happy results of going to the Cleveland Film Festival is that you're exposed to filmmakers you've not seen before. In some cases, you are inspired to seek out some of their earlier works, as I was with Daniel Junge. His documentary, They Killed Sister Dorothy, is playing the Film Festival circuit. As HBO Films funds his projects, it will also be on HBO this month. I believe Chiefs to be his first major film. It's from 2002, and it's about a Native American Reservation in Wyoming where the basketball team reigns supreme. I definitely saw, in watching Junge's first film and his latest, that he's grown a lot, in terms of story cohesion. It's hard to explain, without giving things away, but you'll see, if you check it out, that it appears he started out to tell one story, and should have just dropped all that to tell another. Both stories are compelling, I think. I would like to spend a bit more time on the Res with these kids to see how they're doing. 7/10
All the terrific voice actors are back. Ben Stiller and Chris Rock are best friends, the lion and the zebra.
When the movie opens, they're ready to leave Madagascar and go home to New York City on Penguin Airlines. The penguins really steal the show. I think they're completely hilarious. I don't think I'm giving away too much when I tell you the action takes place, not in Madagascar, not in New York, but in Africa. So, it's even more wild than before. And, the movie is touching in the way it handles topics like being a true friend, accepting your child's strengths, even if they're not the things you hoped they would do, even being open to unconventional relationships. Between the main characters, the penguins and the lemurs, Madagascars have more stars than an Oceans movie. Sacha Baron Cohen is so funny again as King Julian. 8/10
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
And in another case of misleading marketing and ridiculous ratings, we have The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. I thought the first movie was okay. You can't deny the fabulous production values or how scary Tilda Swinton is as the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. And, whatever happened to weird little James McAvoy as Tumnus? But, I found that I didn't really care about any of the Pevensie children, nor did I buy their relationship to anyone else on screen, except maybe little Georgie Henley. Her Lucy is pretty cute. In this latest installment, they are called back to Narnia, but it's hundreds of years later, and the land is ruled by Telmarines, they're like Spain or Italy. This story is darker, more political, less spiritual and fantasy. Again, there are no real emotional connections, although Caspian and Susan share some longing glances. The production values are high. The creatures are fantastic, and the sets and costumes are beautiful. But, here's my main problem. This film is marketed as a kids movie, as a Christian themed film. Within minutes of the Pevensies hitting Narnia, they're shooting human adults through the heart with arrows, eventually engaging in war with swords and duels to the death. These are kids, killing people. Animals and creatures dying in horrible and violent ways, most on screen. The film is rated PG-13, because no one shows their nethers or curses, but it is truly one of the most violent movies I've seen this year. I give Prince Caspian 7 out of 10, and if I included my irritation over the rating, it would get a 6. Parental guidance strongly suggested.
TROPIC THUNDER I happen to think Ben Stiller is a genius. Jack Black almost always makes me guffaw. And, I have mad love for Robert Downey, Junior. So, how did I miss this movie in the theaters last summer? Some critics hated it, some were offended by it. Maybe that's what kept me away. So, we rented it last week. I have to say, I thought it was pretty hilarious. Yes, it was gross and offensive and completely over the top, but that's Stiller. And, I loved the way they totally lampooned the Hollywood system and actors, in general. Loved it! Cameos by Tom Cruise, Jason Bateman, Tobey Maguire, and others, were hilarious. And, Jay Baruchel is slowly building an incredible resume. He's terrific. Tropic Thunder gets an 8 out of 10. Pure R-rated satire. "Man, I don't drop character 'till I done the DVD commentary."
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
I've wanted to see it for a long time, because I talked to actress Kristen Bell when she was shooting it, years ago, in Hawaii. You can hear our conversation in Daune on Demand. I think Jason Segel is hilarious in everything he does. He wrote this movie. And, there is a lot to like about Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but I also find a lot of it irritating, in the same way that I didn't like Superbad. It seems crude just to shock and be crude. Whereas, I really liked the romantic comedy portion of the story. I thought Russell Brand was okay, and I liked that they didn't make him a total tool, his character was a likeable guy, which was cool. And, what geeky girl would not love the idea of a Muppet musical Dracula?? That's Jason Segel's dream, and it's fantastic. Interesting that my husband and the boy both would pick Mila Kunis over Kristen Bell. So, maybe I'm just too old to like some of these gross out sex comedies any more. For me, it's a 6 out of 10. The uncomfortable parts are just too painful.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Review
What I want to tell you about Seven Pounds, starring Will Smith, is that you shouldn't read too much about it or talk to anyone who's seen it, because I don't want certain elements of the storyline spoiled for you. 
Slumdog Millionaire Review
All the terrific voice actors are back. Ben Stiller and Chris Rock are best friends, the lion and the zebra.
© 2010
