It's not Classic Romantic Tragedy like BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, nor nearly as slickly photographed and scored and directed or acted, but the new film KEEP THE LIGHTS ON about a decades long gay love affair between two New Yorkers is quite auspicious, affecting and moving in it's own way. It certainly beats BROKEBACK for realism and gritty truth telling, and therefore splits the audience due to some very grim and serious scenes which include drug addiction and sex. Both men are successful in business, but one has a persistent drug problem that constantly nags at their relationship. There is no happy, pat ending here, but the filmmaker has captured the truth of urban lovers struggling to stay together when uncontrollable forces pry them apart. It's a clear eyed look at queer love and life, not romanticized or presented as a sit-com, and for that, I've very grateful. GRADE------B+
At last, a futuristic science fiction action film that stays consistent to the boundaries and parameters it sets up initially. There's also some great suspense scenes and a style that keeps you intrigued. Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt play the same character, and they do that convincingly. Gordon-Levitt is a LOOPER, a man who kills criminals who are sent back in time for him to murder and dispose of, since in the future, it is impossible to dispose of bodies. (!!!????) One day his own more mature self (Willis) is sent back to be murdered, setting into motion a plot that twists your mind at the possibilities. It's a clever, complicated premise, but entertaining to watch. GRADE------B+
The definition of ARBITRAGE says "the possibility of a risk free profit at zero cost." It's a term used in financial dealings, and the outline of the plot in this Richard Gere film has you believing that this is a financial thriller about hedge fund bankers at their worst. Fortunately, the film includes moral issues other than financial, and the main protagonist must deal with themes of infidelity, deception, corruption, cheating and murder. It is a smart, nifty dramatic thriller, and as the screws tighten around Gere, we root for him in spite of the character flaws that would normally have us seething. The definition begins to take on a great deal of moral irony. GRADE-------B
Based on a true story, WON'T BACK DOWN has it's heart in the right place---an inner city school in Pittsburgh is rated F for it's ability to teach students, and a small group of teachers and parents want to take over the school to shake up the teachers and students with new and creative teaching methods, which would mean a non-union school. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis give it their all as a disgruntled parent and teacher, respectively, but unfortunately, the script has their characterizations and motivations very hazy and confused. The film seems most unfocused with what point of view is being presented (the teachers? or the parents? or the administrators ? or the union ?---and what about the students, who are given short shrift?) In trying to give everyone equal time, the film loses power and at times makes no dramatic sense. There are actually a couple scenes that don't make any sense at all. One scenes towards the end has Davis rushing up stairs to WAKE UP her 10 year old son and tearily confesses that when he was an infant she didn't do something about his fever like she should have, or something, and that's why he might be "slow" at school. This scene comes out of left field, with no reference to anything that's happened before or after. Cut it out! A big disappointment. GRADE------C-
DVD FILMS viewed this week.............
Watched THE HELP (2011) for the third time in a year, and fortunately, the plot and characters continue to amuse and entertain. Jessica Chastain is quite funny as the rich white trash wife who just doesn't get why the other women in town won't associate with her, and her scenes with Oscar winner (for supporting Actress) Octavia Spencer as her stubborn maid are winning and quite moving. Sissy Spacek makes the most of a small role, and Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard and Emma Stone hit all the right notes. It's a classic in many ways. GRADE------B+
A couple of fine performances by Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and others, and some very stylish sets, clothes and direction from director/fashion designer Tom Ford, evelate the moving day-in-the-life of A SINGLE MAN (2009) to near classic status. Firth plays a closeted gay professor in 1962 who is overcome with grief from the death of his long time partner several months before, and sets out to end his life and pain by nightfall, but finds that small, seemingly unimportant moments in the day carry great significance that may have lasting consequences. It's a beautifully sustained film. GRADE------A-
Hitchcock's SUSPICION (1941) is not my favorite from the master, but as I've said before, even lessor Hitchcock is better thrills than 95% of other films out there. This one stars Cary Grant as a cad of a husband to Joan Fontaine (Best Actress Oscar winner for this role), a rather naive maiden who jumps at the chance to marry and leave her parents---only to discover that not only is Grant NOT rich (penniless, actually), but he has many debts, and he is unemployed, and a big fat liar as well. As if that wasn't enough, he may be trying to kill her off for her dowry money (and the insurance that he is trying to sign her up for.) He is a hard character to like--obnoxious, conceited and a liar. His best friend seems too simple minded to notice that he too may be the brunt of his schemes and murderous attempts. Of course, Cary Grant is the perfect actor to play this part, but I still don't care for him much. According to supplemental material on the DVD, the book upon with SUSPICION is based, has a decidedly different ending, where the wife is indeed killed, but not without the last word---a letter delivered to her mother explaining everything, and therefore submitting the killer to the police. The movie ending is "happier" but I think it is not believable. GRADE-------B
This film version of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel ANNA KARENINA (1948) features Vivian Leigh with Ralph Richardson as her husband, and the handsome Irish actor Keiron Moore as her lover Count Vronsky. I've never read the book, but it felt that it is greatly trimmed, as many characters are introduced, but not many have much to do. Still the production was lavish and the leads have the dramatic chops to get the work done. There have been 4 other versions of ANNA KARENINA over the years--1935 with Greta Garbo and Fredrick March, a Russian version in 1967, a made for TV version in 1985 with Jacqueline Bisset and Christopher Reeve, a 1997 version with Sophie Marceau and Sean Bean (before he hit it big with LOTR series) and coming next month is the 5th version with Kiera Knightly and Jude Law, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Vronsky. The previews look lush and arresting, and I believe much of the film is set on (the whole world's a) theatre stage. Looking forward to it. GRADE-------B
A rarely seen film starring Barbara Streisand, Gene Hackman and Dennis Quaid called ALL NIGHT LONG (1981) that did very low box office business (about 4 million) and then dropped out of sight, popped up at my little, closing DVD store last month. It is not bad, although Streisand is remarkably restrained and speaks with a little, quiet oddly accented voice. Those wanting a typical Streisand film with be very disappointed. However, the good news is that Gene Hackman is very very good. It's his movie anyway. He plays an executive who is demoted to become the night manager of a drugstore, where he meets a cousin (Streisand) who has been having an affair with his 18 year old son (Quaid). He trys to talk her out of the relationship, but she tries to take up with him instead. His wife (Diane Ladd) is demanding, and the cousin's husband works as a fireman and is gone much of the time. The laughs are restrained but come on naturally, and the film feels like a French fluff comedy/drama, with it's sophisticated take on infidelity and relationships, both sexual and platonic. It may not be a hidden gem, but it is an interesting little project that had some fine moments. GRADE------B-
Another little comedy that works well in a low key way is THE BAXTER (2005) with a great cast--Michael Showalter, Elizabeth Banks, Justin Theroux, Michelle Williams and Paul Rudd. A BAXTER is defined (in the film) as a bachelor with lots of exes, who's kind of a loser, and Michael Showalter plays him perfectly. The laughs are consistant and character driven. A charmer. GRADE-------B-
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From what I can tell Won't Back Down is another attack on me as a teacher and unions in particular. ALL the reviews I've read were terrible. The problem we are having in American schools is the result of immoral social inequity, not nasty teachers. But here's another film demonizing my profession. I refuse to see this film.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably the best response for you--not because the film attacks (some)teachers or (parts of)unions necessarily (indeed, the film is so mixed up it tries to give everyone a fair shake) but because it is just a shoddy, confused film. I agree with your comments, although I'd love to see if there is any part of the film that may stimulate concerns about complacent/shoddy education, but that would require a viewing. Did you ever see Waiting for Superman? Part of this film is part of that scenario, as I remember.
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