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+