Recently previewed at SIFF, the powerful fictionalized story of the real life astronomer and philosopher Hypatia (played with passion by Rachel Weisz), who in 4th century Alexandria, Egypt finds herself caught in a religious conflict and struggles to save the great library of antiquity, opened this weekend around the country---AGORA is a very dynamic film. The story portrayed pits Jews and Christians and pagans against each other as each faction tries to control the destiny of Alexandria, and the intellectual Hypatia attempts to stay above the fray by concentrating on knowledge and truth. It's now a centuries old struggle, still going on today as the film so vividly and creatively demonstrates. The sets and costumes and cinematography and special effects are grand and authentic looking--epic in feel, yet the film also feels intimate and personal. An early scene when Hypatia rejects a potential suitor feels raw and profound. It is so rare that we get an intelligent and entertaining film, that I urge you to seek this one out amid the clutter of popcorn movies. GRADE------ A-
Since I didn't want to pay an extra $4 to see a 3-D screening of DESPICABLE ME for a noon matinee (for a grand total of $12.50), I ended up at another theatre seeing a film I knew very little about, despite the fact that Angelina Jolie (Mrs Brad Pitt, and mother of numerous adopted and biological children) was the star. So perhaps my expectations were low, but I have to say that SALT (directed by Australian Philip Noyce) impressed me from the start, and kept building in action and tension throughout the screening. It starts rather carefully and slowly, as we learn that she is a CIA operative who specializes in Russian intelligence, and she is quickly outed as a double agent and goes on the run from CIA to preform deeds of treason and terrorism against the USA....or does she? The film cleverly stays one step ahead of the audience and keeps us guessing to the end---including the most blatant open ("sequel coming soon") ending I've ever seen. I look forward to the sequel if it can maintain the energy level of the first film. Think BOURNE films crossed with some recent James Bond, with a dash of DAY OF THE JACKAL. Preposterous at times, sure, but a lot of serious fun. GRADE------- B+
A serious contemporary drama starring Benjamin Bratt and written and directed by his brother, THE MISSION is set in the macho Latino, power-car, Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, and it is a fascinating set up, as Bratt portrays an ex-con struggling to stay on the right side of the law and control his temper--especially when he discovers that his son is gay. The milieu keeps the somewhat modest playing out of the drama a bit edgy. A good DVD pick if you miss the limited runs. GRADE---- B
PERRIER'S BOUNTY is an entertaining little Irish film, which has a young man unable to pay off his (modest) debt to a local gangster, so he must go on the run trying to hook up with the people who might help him out, and ends up hanging out with....his dad...who is convinced he will die if he falls asleep....so he chugs espresso, dry instant coffee and--- cocaine! Fortunately, this amusing character is played to the hilarious hilt by the great character actor Jim Broadbent, and along with the other quirky characters, helps this modest film become a pleasure to watch, even as the film becomes more and more violent and twisted. GRADE---- B
It was slim pickings at the local library this week, but I did pick up a Swedish film from 2006 called KEILLOR'S PARK, a well made film about a young man about to be married and take over his ailing father's business. He becomes attracted to a free spirited gay man and infatuated by his newly discovered sexuality. This is one of the few serious films made about questioning one's sexuality (ie BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, GET REAL and a few others) that doesn't feel exploitative, and gets to the heart of the matter with frank and honest sexual scenes. The director, in a statement made after the film, claims that this is the first of a planned trilogy on sexuality, and her next film will be about a Lesbian relationship, with the third about a heterosexual couple. Here's hoping the other two get made. GRADE----- B+
Had never seen IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR (1963) filmed in Seattle with Elvis Presley. It starts out very slow, but after 20 boring minutes, he and a pal get to Seattle and the scenes of the Seattle Center are quite fun, especially for local Seattle-ites. I recently went up the Space Needle, and yup, it looks the same, except that the skyline has changed dramatically. Lightweight to be sure, but the songs were listenable and it was fun seeing a very young Kurt Russell in his first role (as the leg kicker.) GRADE----- C+
Just saw RIDE EM COWBOY (1942) on TCM, which featured a couple of snazzy songs by a very young Ella Fitzgerald (A Tisket A Tasket) and others, and the comedy of Abbott and Costello. Easy to watch, but no classic. GRADE----- C+
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Kids Are Alright, Restrepo, Predators, My Man Godfrey
Top pick of the weekend is THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, a comedy/drama about a family undergoing some changes and challenges. It's a smart and lively story of a middle class gay couple (Annette Benning and Julianne Moore) who discover that their teenagers have, behind their backs, gone and looked up their sperm donor father (Mark Ruffalo)from 18 years ago, and his arrival into their world throws everyone for a loop, since he is somewhat of a laid back Lothario who normally avoids lasting relationships and commitment. Ruffalo's role is key, since he is a wild card, and whatever "normalcy" the Moms have tried to instill in their kids seems threatened by his laissez faire attitude. Especially vulnerable is the oldest daughter (Mia Wasikowska ,, who recently played the title role in ALICE IN WONDERLAND) and is about to leave the nest to go off to college. The entire cast is really fine, with many excellent scenes of drama, comedy, tension and tenderness illuminating the characters, and we discover that this (perhaps unconventional by some standards ) family has as many flaws and issues as any other family today. GRADE----- A-
Shown recently at SIFF, the new documentary film RESTREPO has a camera crew literally living with soldiers in an Afghanistan military outpost, showing the suspense and danger of a troop living within rifle range of "the enemy" who they can't quite see, and they are not allowed to fully attack them due to the possibility that civilians might be killed. Of course, the only difference between the Taliban and civilians is that the insurgents carry guns. (Not an original joke.) The film made me tense and nervous and reminded me of last year's Oscar winner THE HURT LOCKER--lot's of frustration and tension, but little resolution. GRADE------ B
I've never seen any of the 4 or 5 PREDATOR movies before--not even the (supposed) classic with Arnold Schwarzeneggar from 1987, but a friend was trying hard to convince me that they were all pretty interesting in their own sci-fi-action way. I tried to go in with an open mind, but it quickly became apparent that having half a dozen random strangers dropped in a jungle-like setting being hunted by unknown PREDATORS who also happen to be invisible, is a sorry rehash of a lot of films I've seen and heard of before, especially THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME---"where humans are the hunted....." and none of the characters were very interesting, and the "game" seemed to be rather arbitrary and made up as it went along. It was also predictable, and quite dull when it should have action and suspense. And people are paying $11.50 for a ticket for this????? Even my friend was disappointed. GRADE------ D
I had never seen the screw-ball classic MY MAN GODFREY before, either, so it was a surprise to me how the 1936 film really moved along with a thoughtful plot and a lot of wacky humor that really worked. William Powell plays a "forgotten man"--down on his luck and living in a city dump, when he is picked up by a wacky, rich woman, Carole Lombard during a society scavenger hunt and ends up being her family's butler. The family is quite eccentric, and Godfrey is not who they think he is, but the dialogue is witty and well paced, the characters amusing, and the moral is touching. Lombard has the toughest role--rather mindless and has to play at being dopey in love with the butler, but she carries it off. Too bad she only made films for 19 years--everything I've seen her in is choice (my favorites being MADE FOR EACH OTHER, MR & MRS SMITH and TO BE OR NOT TO BE.) She was married for a short time to Clark Gable before being killed in an a airplane crash at age 33. The comedy is similar in tone to the many Preston Sturges directed films shortly after that time (like SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS and MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK and CHRISTMAS IN JULY) which all have strong progressive points of view (like helping the homeless, sympathy for the unwed mothers and fighting corporate greediness, etc.) GRADE------- A-
A curious "B" film shown on TCM was called MY NAME IS JULIA ROSS (1945) and featured Nina Foch, who became a reliable character actor in later years. She was placed in many film-noir and westerns, and later had featured roles in SPARTACUS, THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and EXECUTIVE SUITE. In this film she plays a young woman who is kidnapped by an older woman (Dame May Whitty) and her murderous son, who try to convince her she is the son's wife...it's an interesting set-up with some clever tension, but the TWILIGHT ZONE type mystery seemed stretched rather thin, even at a brief 65 minutes. GRADE----- C+
Shown recently at SIFF, the new documentary film RESTREPO has a camera crew literally living with soldiers in an Afghanistan military outpost, showing the suspense and danger of a troop living within rifle range of "the enemy" who they can't quite see, and they are not allowed to fully attack them due to the possibility that civilians might be killed. Of course, the only difference between the Taliban and civilians is that the insurgents carry guns. (Not an original joke.) The film made me tense and nervous and reminded me of last year's Oscar winner THE HURT LOCKER--lot's of frustration and tension, but little resolution. GRADE------ B
I've never seen any of the 4 or 5 PREDATOR movies before--not even the (supposed) classic with Arnold Schwarzeneggar from 1987, but a friend was trying hard to convince me that they were all pretty interesting in their own sci-fi-action way. I tried to go in with an open mind, but it quickly became apparent that having half a dozen random strangers dropped in a jungle-like setting being hunted by unknown PREDATORS who also happen to be invisible, is a sorry rehash of a lot of films I've seen and heard of before, especially THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME---"where humans are the hunted....." and none of the characters were very interesting, and the "game" seemed to be rather arbitrary and made up as it went along. It was also predictable, and quite dull when it should have action and suspense. And people are paying $11.50 for a ticket for this????? Even my friend was disappointed. GRADE------ D
I had never seen the screw-ball classic MY MAN GODFREY before, either, so it was a surprise to me how the 1936 film really moved along with a thoughtful plot and a lot of wacky humor that really worked. William Powell plays a "forgotten man"--down on his luck and living in a city dump, when he is picked up by a wacky, rich woman, Carole Lombard during a society scavenger hunt and ends up being her family's butler. The family is quite eccentric, and Godfrey is not who they think he is, but the dialogue is witty and well paced, the characters amusing, and the moral is touching. Lombard has the toughest role--rather mindless and has to play at being dopey in love with the butler, but she carries it off. Too bad she only made films for 19 years--everything I've seen her in is choice (my favorites being MADE FOR EACH OTHER, MR & MRS SMITH and TO BE OR NOT TO BE.) She was married for a short time to Clark Gable before being killed in an a airplane crash at age 33. The comedy is similar in tone to the many Preston Sturges directed films shortly after that time (like SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS and MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK and CHRISTMAS IN JULY) which all have strong progressive points of view (like helping the homeless, sympathy for the unwed mothers and fighting corporate greediness, etc.) GRADE------- A-
A curious "B" film shown on TCM was called MY NAME IS JULIA ROSS (1945) and featured Nina Foch, who became a reliable character actor in later years. She was placed in many film-noir and westerns, and later had featured roles in SPARTACUS, THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and EXECUTIVE SUITE. In this film she plays a young woman who is kidnapped by an older woman (Dame May Whitty) and her murderous son, who try to convince her she is the son's wife...it's an interesting set-up with some clever tension, but the TWILIGHT ZONE type mystery seemed stretched rather thin, even at a brief 65 minutes. GRADE----- C+
Monday, July 5, 2010
5 A's in 3 Days:Please Give, Toy Story 3, City of Your Final Destination, Topp Twins, Daisy Kenyon
Celebrated the Fourth of July with a mini-movie marathon--and all were corkers.
First up is the Pixar sequel to the TOY STORY films, TOY STORY 3, which in spite of the fact that it is showing in 3-D, it was not necessary to see it that way. In fact, I'm coming to the conclusion that the only reason for 3-D in most cases is to bilk an extra $3 from the film-going public. 3-D for me is hard to watch--most of the theatres are not projecting the film in strong enough light, so you end up squinting and getting a headache or strained eyes. And the glasses don't fit over regular glasses very well, so it is uncomfortable to wear them. In this case, the story and script are strong enough that the few swooping 3-D effects weren't that necessary or interesting anyway. The film made us all (four adults) cry at the end, and when was the last time an animated feature made you do that? (CHARLOTTE'S WEB 1973 and RATATOUILLE 2007 spring to mind.) A simple, logical story carries all of life's emotions (joy, laughter, sadness, hatred, love, friendship) and in a most unusual and potentially frightening scene, the acceptance of death by fire (hell?) is explored with graphic and powerful imagery. This is another smart, thoughtful masterpiece of animation. GRADE----- A
Director Nicole Holofcener has directed four very definitive films featuring strong women
and intelligent dialogue and wry contemporary story lines, and all of them have featured Catherine Keener. Interestingly enough, she looks a lot like Keener, too.
Her first film is the cult favorite WALKING AND TALKING (1996) with Anne Heche, followed by LOVELY AND AMAZING (2001) with the memorable Brenda Blythen, FRIENDS WITH MONEY (2006) with the amazing Frances McDormand and Jennifer Aniston, and now her new film called PLEASE GIVE which also features a strong cast including Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall, and Amanda Peet. But it is Catherine Keener's film, and she gives the most un-neurotic performance of her career. She's a bleeding heart liberal embarrassed by her successful chic furniture store--the film is character driven, so we see her interact with her neighbors and clients and daughter and husband. See also her Oscar nominated performances BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (1999) and CAPOTE (2005). PLEASE GIVE is a smart, intelligent comedy drama with strong uses of the streets and attitudes of New York City (Holofcener also directed some episodes of TV's SEX IN THE CITY.) GRADE------- A-
THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION is the latest from James Ivory, and it is a low-key, subtle story set mostly in Uruguay of a young professor who visits the family of a dead author to get permission to write his biography, but meets some resistance from the widow (a tightly clenched Laura Linney) and the gay brother (Anthony Hopkins) and the mistress with whom the author had had a child. The plot is secondary to the leisurely mood, the flavor of the characters, the boredom of living in so much seclusion, and the pleasure of watching the relationships between the characters change and develop. For serious film-goers it is a thoughtful, unique treat. GRADE------- A-
The surprise winner of this year's Best Foreign Language film, THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES is still playing a long (but limited) run. I can see what was so attractive for Academy voters. This Spanish film plays like a murder mystery (think TV's COLD CASE). A now retired law clerk investigator is troubled by a 25 year old murder and does some research to settle his mind about the ambiguities of the case, and in so doing reopens his love interest in his old boss with whom he almost had a relationship, but she got married when they had a miscommunication long ago. There are a couple of surprise twists, although the final shocker I guessed correctly about 10 minutes before it is revealed. Well made and engrossing thriller. GRADE------ B+
It plays exactly like you think it will play, but that is enough, because the cast is so likable in the new comedy CYRUS. John C. Riley is in check, and a very charming actor this go-around. As he states early on, he's a SHREK, so when he meets and clicks with the lovely Marisa Tomei (MY COUSIN VINNY, THE WRESTLER) he can't believe it. Then he meets her son Jonah Hill (who is so funny in GET HIM TO THE GREEK) who has a possessive thing for mama, and the conflict leads to ---well, it leads to exactly where you think it will lead. GRADE------B
Watched a DVD of one of the top SIFF documentaries TOPP TWINS : UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS that I purchased at SIFF and it is still a funny and informative story of their lives up to now. What struck me this time is the humor each has towards their career and lives, and how their personal story is so involved in the history of New Zealand and Kiwi politics. U.S. politics seems like a shadow when it comes to be compared with New Zealand's social politics--dealing with indigenous land rights, gay rights, women rights, nuclear proliferation and other issues, New Zealand is much more progressive. Hopefully this will have a theatrical run--or watch for this on DVD soon. GRADE------ A-
I'd never heard of DAISY KENYON (1947) but my wife caught part of it on TV and ordered it through Net Flix. This is a very smart and adult love triangle story, directed by the notoriously fine Otto Preminger just before he started to explore his big themes in the late 50's like drug addiction, homosexuality, interracial love, etc. , and the cast is top notch. Independent Joan Crawford, who may have been a bit old for this part but still engages our sympathies, is mistress to an arrogant married lawyer (Dana Andrews, who of course promises to divorce his wife Ruth Warrick when the time is right...) but then she becomes attracted to Henry Fonda, just back from the war and an odd, emotional wreck. The film really plays with our sympathies and keeps us guessing which guy she will end up with, but also includes subplots of child abuse, Japanese internment during WW2, and infidelity. And I kept wondering--these are the only choices Joan has?!? This is filmed like a moody film noir, with characters going into and out of shadows, and music and direction suggesting suspense and tension, but it really keeps you on your toes, and has some great lines. This could be the lost classic of the year, so definitely look for it. GRADE----- A-
Bottom of the barrel this week was the recent version of THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (2009) which takes the sly, cynical, humorous mood and plot of the original 1974 film with Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw and turns up the volume 100%, but to diminishing results. The camera work is herky jerky, the sound is deafening, and the subtlety is gone. In an effort to update the plot, they make Washington's character a suspected white collar criminal (!?!) and Travolta's character a cruel revenge seeking psychopath. In today's world I don't think they could do the things the 1974 version got away with. I did enjoy the efforts of Denzel Washington to bring some depth to an awkwardly written role, but mostly I was just glad when it was finally over. I plan on watching the original classic again soon so make sure to order the original from 1974 when you request it on DVD. GRADE------ C-
First up is the Pixar sequel to the TOY STORY films, TOY STORY 3, which in spite of the fact that it is showing in 3-D, it was not necessary to see it that way. In fact, I'm coming to the conclusion that the only reason for 3-D in most cases is to bilk an extra $3 from the film-going public. 3-D for me is hard to watch--most of the theatres are not projecting the film in strong enough light, so you end up squinting and getting a headache or strained eyes. And the glasses don't fit over regular glasses very well, so it is uncomfortable to wear them. In this case, the story and script are strong enough that the few swooping 3-D effects weren't that necessary or interesting anyway. The film made us all (four adults) cry at the end, and when was the last time an animated feature made you do that? (CHARLOTTE'S WEB 1973 and RATATOUILLE 2007 spring to mind.) A simple, logical story carries all of life's emotions (joy, laughter, sadness, hatred, love, friendship) and in a most unusual and potentially frightening scene, the acceptance of death by fire (hell?) is explored with graphic and powerful imagery. This is another smart, thoughtful masterpiece of animation. GRADE----- A
Director Nicole Holofcener has directed four very definitive films featuring strong women
and intelligent dialogue and wry contemporary story lines, and all of them have featured Catherine Keener. Interestingly enough, she looks a lot like Keener, too.
Her first film is the cult favorite WALKING AND TALKING (1996) with Anne Heche, followed by LOVELY AND AMAZING (2001) with the memorable Brenda Blythen, FRIENDS WITH MONEY (2006) with the amazing Frances McDormand and Jennifer Aniston, and now her new film called PLEASE GIVE which also features a strong cast including Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall, and Amanda Peet. But it is Catherine Keener's film, and she gives the most un-neurotic performance of her career. She's a bleeding heart liberal embarrassed by her successful chic furniture store--the film is character driven, so we see her interact with her neighbors and clients and daughter and husband. See also her Oscar nominated performances BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (1999) and CAPOTE (2005). PLEASE GIVE is a smart, intelligent comedy drama with strong uses of the streets and attitudes of New York City (Holofcener also directed some episodes of TV's SEX IN THE CITY.) GRADE------- A-
THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION is the latest from James Ivory, and it is a low-key, subtle story set mostly in Uruguay of a young professor who visits the family of a dead author to get permission to write his biography, but meets some resistance from the widow (a tightly clenched Laura Linney) and the gay brother (Anthony Hopkins) and the mistress with whom the author had had a child. The plot is secondary to the leisurely mood, the flavor of the characters, the boredom of living in so much seclusion, and the pleasure of watching the relationships between the characters change and develop. For serious film-goers it is a thoughtful, unique treat. GRADE------- A-
The surprise winner of this year's Best Foreign Language film, THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES is still playing a long (but limited) run. I can see what was so attractive for Academy voters. This Spanish film plays like a murder mystery (think TV's COLD CASE). A now retired law clerk investigator is troubled by a 25 year old murder and does some research to settle his mind about the ambiguities of the case, and in so doing reopens his love interest in his old boss with whom he almost had a relationship, but she got married when they had a miscommunication long ago. There are a couple of surprise twists, although the final shocker I guessed correctly about 10 minutes before it is revealed. Well made and engrossing thriller. GRADE------ B+
It plays exactly like you think it will play, but that is enough, because the cast is so likable in the new comedy CYRUS. John C. Riley is in check, and a very charming actor this go-around. As he states early on, he's a SHREK, so when he meets and clicks with the lovely Marisa Tomei (MY COUSIN VINNY, THE WRESTLER) he can't believe it. Then he meets her son Jonah Hill (who is so funny in GET HIM TO THE GREEK) who has a possessive thing for mama, and the conflict leads to ---well, it leads to exactly where you think it will lead. GRADE------B
Watched a DVD of one of the top SIFF documentaries TOPP TWINS : UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS that I purchased at SIFF and it is still a funny and informative story of their lives up to now. What struck me this time is the humor each has towards their career and lives, and how their personal story is so involved in the history of New Zealand and Kiwi politics. U.S. politics seems like a shadow when it comes to be compared with New Zealand's social politics--dealing with indigenous land rights, gay rights, women rights, nuclear proliferation and other issues, New Zealand is much more progressive. Hopefully this will have a theatrical run--or watch for this on DVD soon. GRADE------ A-
I'd never heard of DAISY KENYON (1947) but my wife caught part of it on TV and ordered it through Net Flix. This is a very smart and adult love triangle story, directed by the notoriously fine Otto Preminger just before he started to explore his big themes in the late 50's like drug addiction, homosexuality, interracial love, etc. , and the cast is top notch. Independent Joan Crawford, who may have been a bit old for this part but still engages our sympathies, is mistress to an arrogant married lawyer (Dana Andrews, who of course promises to divorce his wife Ruth Warrick when the time is right...) but then she becomes attracted to Henry Fonda, just back from the war and an odd, emotional wreck. The film really plays with our sympathies and keeps us guessing which guy she will end up with, but also includes subplots of child abuse, Japanese internment during WW2, and infidelity. And I kept wondering--these are the only choices Joan has?!? This is filmed like a moody film noir, with characters going into and out of shadows, and music and direction suggesting suspense and tension, but it really keeps you on your toes, and has some great lines. This could be the lost classic of the year, so definitely look for it. GRADE----- A-
Bottom of the barrel this week was the recent version of THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (2009) which takes the sly, cynical, humorous mood and plot of the original 1974 film with Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw and turns up the volume 100%, but to diminishing results. The camera work is herky jerky, the sound is deafening, and the subtlety is gone. In an effort to update the plot, they make Washington's character a suspected white collar criminal (!?!) and Travolta's character a cruel revenge seeking psychopath. In today's world I don't think they could do the things the 1974 version got away with. I did enjoy the efforts of Denzel Washington to bring some depth to an awkwardly written role, but mostly I was just glad when it was finally over. I plan on watching the original classic again soon so make sure to order the original from 1974 when you request it on DVD. GRADE------ C-
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