Monday, December 29, 2008

Yes Man - 3 smiles

I’ve never been a fan of Jim Carrey’s slapstick movies (nor anyone else’s slap stick, for that matter). And although “Yes Man” starts off with typical Carrey silliness, it turns into a genuine romantic comedy and, surprise, an enjoyable movie. Carrey has experimented with a lot of different roles (e.g., “The Number 23,” “Lemony Snickett’s A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) with varying degrees of success. And if you think that “Yes Man” is a version of “Liar, Liar,” you’d be wrong. The minute co-star Zooey Deschanel appears, the movie changes. She is a romantic foil to Carrey’s character and that makes all the difference. Carl Allen (Carrey) says no to every opportunity and would not dream of doing anything spontaneous. When an old pal convinces him to attend a seminar presided over by a new-age guru (Terence Stamp), who advocates the power of ‘Yes,’ Carl enters a covenant whereby he will say yes to everything. Things don’t start out well, but when he meets Allison (Deschanel), who is his complete opposite and his perfect match, he finds his life turning around.

The script isn’t great although the concept has a lot going for it. Nonetheless, the success of “Yes Man” is tied to the two leads. Carrey and Deschanel’s chemistry works so when they’re together on screen, we willingly believe that they are two lonely people who meet by accident but are meant to be together. Perhaps the best sequence in the movie is their unplanned trip to Lincoln, Nebraska, where they visit, of all places, a factory that preps chickens for a fast-food restaurant. With all of the Oscar heavy-hitters in theaters now, it’s fun to watch something that’s a little less taxing. “Yes Man” is light, fluffy and undemanding.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Gran Torino - 3 1/2 smiles

“Gran Torino,” directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, is about overcoming prejudice and although Nick Schenk’s script piles everything on with a heavy hand, watching Eastwood play a grumpy old man who’s quick to grab his gun in difficult situations harkens back to the Dirty Harry movies and it’s like visiting an old friend. Walt Kowalski (Eastwood), a disagreeable old curmudgeon, lives alone with his dog after the death of his wife. He is barely on speaking terms with his sons and grandchildren and his neighborhood is changing, becoming more diverse and troubled by gangs. He only just tolerates the Hmong family living next door, but when the son, Thao (Bee Vang) tries to steal Walt’s 1972 Gran Torino as part of a gang initiation, Walt chases him away with a shotgun. Later, when the gang members arrive to give Thao a second chance and a fight breaks out, Walt (and his shotgun) drive off the gang. Walt becomes a reluctant hero to the neighborhood and Thao’s smart older sister Sue (Ahney Her), takes it upon herself to make friends with Walt. As penance for his attempted theft, Thao is forced to work for Walt, which leads to some bonding and Walt’s realization that as long as the gang is around, Thao and his family are not safe.

“Gran Torino” is a cross-generational buddy movie as Walt imparts important life lessons to Thao (including how to interact with others in a ‘manly’ way) and Thao opens the heart of this bigoted grouch. However, Walt’s transformation, although effective, occurs a little to easily. While Eastwood is a strong, reliable presence in this movie, kudos goes to his two Asian co-stars. As Thao, Bee Vang shows character growth and there’s good chemistry between him and Eastwood. Ahney Her is bright and energetic and she lights up the screen whenever she’s on. As Walt discovers, he can lament change all he wants, but what’s really important is what we leave behind. Eastwood has said this will be the last movie where he appears in front of the camera. We can appreciate what he leaves behind with “Grand Torino” and can only hope that he continues to work behind the camera. 12/18/08

Monday, December 22, 2008

Seven Pounds - 1 smile

Seven Pounds – 1 smile

“Seven Pounds,” an overly long manipulative tearjerker, is a depressing drama about a suicidal widower wracked with guilt over killing his wife in a car accident in which he was focused on his cell phone instead of the road. To redeem himself, Ben Thomas (Will Smith), posing as an IRS agent, decides to perform random acts of kindness by helping seven strangers. And it is important to Ben that these people be worthy of his largess. To make a long story longer, an unexpected romance develops between him and Emily (Rosario Dawson), a beautiful, terminal heart patient. Among other charity cases are Ezra (Woody Harrelson), a blind telemarketer; Connie (Elphidia Camillo), a battered woman too afraid of her violent boyfriend to leave him; Nicholas, a young child in need of a bone marrow transplant; and Holly, a social worker with cirrhosis of the liver.

A major problem is director Gabriele Muccino’s tediously slow pacing; it takes forever to get to the point of the whole movie. And it doesn’t take a lot of brainpower to figure out what’s happening after the first 30 minutes. None of Ben’s actions seem believable once you’ve figured out what he’s going to do although Will Smith has a lot of on screen charisma. No one really wants to spend two hours watching him brood and be depressed. In addition, most of the supporting actors are wasted except Dawson. She is able to hold her own with Smith, but you have to wonder if her character really would risk making love given the extreme weakness of her heart. And what’s with the title, ‘seven pounds’? Seven pounds of what? “Seven Pounds” is trying to be profound, but it’s one of the most awful movies I’ve seen this year. 12/19/08

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

How About You - 2 smiles

“How About You” is a trivial and predictable tale about four crotchety senior citizens stuck in a residential home over the holidays. The one thing going for this adaptation of a Maeve Binchy short story is the cast of ‘experienced’ actors who chew their lines with gusto. Set in Ireland, the movie takes its title from a 1941 tune sung by Bobby Darin that begins, ‘I like New York in June.’ This is the favorite song of Georgia Platts (Vanessa Redgrave), a former showgirl who wears a turban and gives meticulous directions on how to fix the martinis she loves. The song eventually becomes a sing-along in an Irish pub and helps thaw the angry souls of Donald Vanston (Joss Ackland), a retired judge who demands his breakfast be served at 5:30 rather than the scheduled 8 am; and Heather and Hazel Nightingale (Brenda Fricker and Imelda Staunton), bickering spinster sisters who continually recycle family grievances. These four are the only residents of Woodlands, a residential home, who have not left for the Christmas holidays. While Kate (Orla Brady), the owner, is away, it is up to her younger sister Ellie (Hayley Atwell) to keep order. The four are spiteful and selfish and their bad behavior has driven away so many lodgers and staff that Woodlands’ existence is threatened. Of course, Ellie has the solution. If only it were that easy.

There’s little subtlety displayed in the predictably warming of curmudgeonly hearts. And seasons seem to change from scene to scene and other scenes probably ended up on the cutting room floor, resulting in haphazard storytelling. Still, if a feel-good pic is what you’re looking for, “How About You” should be high on your list. 12/14/08

The Wrestler - 3 1/2 smiles

Writer/director Darren Aronofsky’s meticulous and thoughtful character study, “The Wrestler,” is about Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke), a rather sad man whose entire identity and self-worth are defined by the sport that ruined his health and then forgot about him. He lives in a trailer park in Northern New Jersey and can’t pay the rent. His daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) despises him and he’s unable to connect with anyone, even an exotic dancer (Marisa Tomei), who has made overtures of friendship. Instead, Randy lives for the adulation of those few fans that remember him. When a heart attack fells Randy after a bout, his doctor’s advice is clear: quit wrestling or risk death. This forces Randy to re-assess his life and he gets a job at the deli counter of a local supermarket. But is this really living?

“The Wrestler” explores compelling issues: What is a satisfying life? What makes us happy? How far are we willing to go to be happy? While providing answers for some of these issues, Aronofsky has also created an actor’s show piece and Mickey Rourke rises to the occasion. His Randy is a three-dimensional character, an athlete beyond his prime struggling to cope with what he has become and the delusions that prod him to keep going. We see his despair and his courage. His attempts to regain a place in his daughter’s life are heartbreaking. He has hurt her in ways he can’t even begin to understand. And even though Randy is hard to like, we can understand him. Marisa Tomei, too, gives a memorable performance as a single mother whose professional life parallels Randy’s: she too is beyond her prime and her services are in ever decreasing demand. However, she solves this dilemma differently. “The Wrestler” is getting a lot of Oscar buzz and if there’s a dark horse, this could be it. 12/10/08

Milk - 4 smiles

It’s a tribute to director Gus Van Sant (and Ron Howard with “Frost/Nixon,”) that he can take material where the outcome in pretty well known and create a story that is funny, dramatic, sad, and inspiring. “Milk” sticks closely to the facts and Van Sant uses plenty of genuine 70s stock footage to enhance the milieu of the story. Not only does “Milk” contribute to the understanding of the world 30 years ago, but in light of California’s recent passage of Proposition 8, it also reflects how the fight for which Milk died still rages. Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his lover, Scott Smith (James Franco) move from New York in 1972 to San Francisco’s Castro Street. They open a camera store in an area fast becoming a gay hangout. The flamboyant Milk soon becomes an activist and attracts a small group of followers, including Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), who would become one of Milk’s closest confidants. After several unsuccessful attempts to run for office, Milk wins an election for Supervisor in 1977, becoming the first openly gay man on an already liberal board. Milk then becomes involved in a struggle against Proposition 6, a referendum designed to allow school boards to fire gay teachers. Milk’s contention is that most people who know a homosexual will not vote to have his/her rights taken away. He wins this fight, but is gunned down shortly thereafter at the age of 48. (Van Sant shows a news clip of Diane Feinstein announcing the assassination early in the film.)

“Milk” further illustrates Sean Penn’s skill as an actor as we see only Harvey Milk and it is an exceptional performance, indeed. And Josh Brolin’s transformation as Milk’s political opponent and fellow supervisor, Dan White, is equally remarkable. White is a tortured individual and Brolin shows this more through expressions than by reciting dialogue. “Milk” is clearly an Oscar contender for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. And for those not dissuaded by the homosexual content, “Milk” represents a thoughtful tale of politics and courage. 12/5/08

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Day the Earth Stood Still - 1 1/2 smiles

It’s surprising that a film about ecological disaster would turn out to be such an example of mediocrity. But that’s the case with “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” an example of Hollywood remaking a classic into something that’s loud, explosive and uninteresting. The film starts promisingly with Helen Benson ((Jennifer Connolly), a working mom and astrobiologist, being whisked from her home under mysterious circumstances. It’s all part of a massive mobilization response to the news that something is coming. What lands in Central Park is a large, gaseous orb (one of many that eventually arrive to collect animals), Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) wrapped in a placenta-like covering, and a huge robot standing maybe 40 feet tall. The United States’ knee-jerk reaction is to shoot first and ask questions later. When the shooting proves futile, the follow-up questions and answers prove shocking. Klaatu has come to save earth from the stupid humans destroying it and there's nothing anyone can do. That is, unless Helen can use what little time is left to prove to Klaatu that we deserve a second chance.

Like many previous movies, including Pixar’s hit “Wall*E,” the crisis of the future is ecological, not world domination and that one change is not enough to merit a remake. Reeve’s typically wooden acting is more appropriate here given his character’s presumed awkwardness with human form. However, director Scott Kerrickson does not use this to his advantage. Instead he fills the screen with CGI effects in an attempt to add dynamism to the narrative. And then the movie just ends. Hard-core science fiction fans might enjoy the latest iteration of “The Day the Earth Stood Still;” however, most of you will want to find something else to see. 12/12/08

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Transporter 3 – 2 ½ smiles; Punisher: War Zone - 1 1/2 smiles

If you’re an action aficionado, you’ll probably see both of these films. However, if you have to see only one, see “Transporter 3.” Not only does it have a more charismatic star, but it actually has action. The only thing “Punisher: War Zone” has going for it is the huge body count although neither movie can boast much of a plot. Frank Martin (Jason Statham), who can drive a car like no other and is good in hand-to-hand combat, is a highly paid transporter of ‘packages.’ This time around, circumstances force him to accept a job he doesn’t want and to top it off, both he and his package, Valentina (Natalya Rudankova), wear bracelets that will explode if they get more than 75 feet from the car. In the process of trying to catch the bad guy (Robert Knepper), Frank drives his car on two wheels between two semis and lands this same car atop a moving train. There’s also a creative fight scene where Frank undresses and uses his clothing (jacket, tie, shirt) to disarm his opponents. The best scene occurs when someone steals the car and Frank has to race to catch up or … explode.

“Punisher: War Zone,” about a Marvel Comics character, is a gloomy and unpleasant movie. The other two Punisher movies were about vigilante justice and this one is no different. Frank Castle (another Frank played by Ray Stevenson) makes the mistake of killing an undercover agent while cleaning out a mansion full of mobsters. Guilt-ridden, he vows to protect the man’s widow (Julie Benz) and her daughter from a couple of bad guys who are after them. Stevenson has got what’s needed to play the Punisher – a steely gaze, a no-nonsense demeanor and no sense of humor. Dominic West as the badly scarred Jigsaw and Doug Hutchinson as the cannibalistic Loony Bin Jim are so campy and over the top that it’s a relief when they get their just desserts from the Punisher. Director Lexi Alexander doesn’t skimp on the blood and gore as bad guys are decapitated, blown to bits and eviscerated as the body count grows and grows. Skip this one.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Cadillac Records - 2 smiles

“Cadillac Records,” starring Adrien Brody and Jeffrey Wright, could have been a better movie if the focus had been less ambitious. But by trying to tell a story about many of the famous blues and early rock and roll stars that signed with Chess Records, director Darnell Martin bites off more than he can chew. The movie opens in early 1950s Chicago with the establishment of the Chess Record company and ends two decades later when Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) sells. The movie gets its title from the cars Chess gave his top artists (taken from their royalties, unbeknownst to them). The film provides highlights of some of Chess’ most memorable performers: Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Howlin’ Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles). None of these individuals has enough screen time to develop much personality and there are too many plot points that leave the audience with unanswered questions. However, the music might be enough to keep most people entertained.

The songs include Jeffrey Wright doing Waters’ “I’m a Man” and “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man,” Beyoncé Knowles doing James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind,” “Once in a Lifetime” and “At Last.” Mos Def’s Chuck Berry lights the screen with “Maybelline,” “Nadine” and “No Particular Place to Go.” Cedric the Entertainer (Willie Dixon) provides the voiceover that gives the movie some coherence. Wright and Beyoncé prove capable at both the music and the acting. However, if you’re looking for complex drama or a meaningful analysis of the music of the 50s and 60s, you’re not going to find it with “Cadillac Records.” 12/7/08

Frost/Nixon - 4 smiles

“Frost/Nixon” is a powerful and compelling duel, a showcase for subtle yet mesmerizing dramatic performances that create suspense even though the end is never in question. Peter Morgan adapts his play into a chess match between two men with colossal egos constantly maneuvering for the upper hand. And director Ron Howard offers an excellent example of how to turn a successful Broadway play into a successful movie. Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) resigned in August 1974, two years after the Watergate break-in that doomed his presidency. For the next three years, he remained in exile in California, avoiding the media and not granting interviews until a British talk-show host, David Frost (Michael Sheen), offered him $600,000 to sit down for a series of interviews covering four subjects: domestic policy, foreign policy, ‘Nixon the man,’ and Watergate. Nixon accepted, seeing this as an opportunity to rehabilitate his reputation and believing that Frost would offer soft questions. This represented a huge gamble for Frost because not only did he not have a buyer for the interviews but also the idea of a talk-show host entering the field of serious journalism was universally dismissed. Even Frost’s allies – John Burt (Matthew McFadyen), James Reston Jr. (Sam Rockwell), and Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt) were skeptical.

Both Langella and Sheen played Nixon and Frost in the Broadway play and it’s to Howard’s credit that he cast both men for the movie. Langella doesn’t impersonate Nixon; he becomes Nixon, the shrewd and manipulative statesman, the man who needs to control and wants desperately to be liked. Langella won a Tony for his performance and is also likely to win an Oscar. Sheen, brilliant as Tony Blair in “The Queen,” develops his character from a bright-eyed social butterfly to a grim-eyed interrogator, who finds his focus and the courage to ask the hard questions. “Frost/Nixon” is one of the best movies of 2008. 12/5/08

A Christmas Tale - 1 1/2 smiles

“A Christmas Tale,” starring Catherine Deneuve, is a French tale about a dysfunctional family at Christmas. Running at an interminable two-and-a-half hours, the intricate (and often confusing) family relationships and endless emotional baggage are exhausting even if you enjoy French films. Junon (Deneuve), the matriarch of the gloomy Vuillard family, has been recently diagnosed with leukemia and is looking for a bone marrow donor for an experimental treatment. Her illness evokes memories of the death of her eldest son, Joseph, more than 40 years ago, a tragedy that still haunts the family. Daughter Elizabeth (Anne Consigny), a successful playwright, is currently undergoing treatment for depression. Henri (Mathiew Amalric, the villain in “Quantum of Solace”), the black sheep of the family, has been banished by his sister in exchange for settling his monetary debts. And the youngest son is Ivan (Melvil Poupaud), who seems nonchalant when he discovers that his wife has slept with his cousin Christmas night.

The script has a lot of side stories going on, which only serve to add confusion, not create memorable moments or emotional engagement. The most agreeable character is Junon’s unlikely husband, Abel (Jean-Paul Roussillon), who is short and overweight but the only one who consistently displays any common sense. And as much as I like foreign films, it’s a tedious chore reading subtitles for 150 minutes in “A Christmas Tale.”

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Australia - 3 smiles

“Australia,” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, is essentially a romance although director Baz Luhrmann freely mixes genres, making “Australia” also a western, a war movie and social commentary. In newspaper interviews, Luhrmann admits that an early influence on his career is “Lawrence of Arabia.” And from the swooping camera shots to the swelling music to the wide panoramic vistas, “Australia” certainly has an epic feel. For the most part, Luhrmann succeeds in keeping his audience engaged in his 2-hour-and-35-minute adventure. Needless to say, the plot is fairly complicated. “Australia” is narrated by a young boy of mixed race, Nullah (newcomer Brandon Walters), the illegitimate son of an Aboriginal mother and white father. And while it opens in 1939, shortly before World War II and the Japanese bombing of Darwin, Australia, it immediately jumps to an earlier time period. Drover (Jackman) has been hired to escort Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) to her husband’s cattle ranch. When they discover he has been murdered, Sarah is intent on selling the property, including the 1,500 head of cattle. However, a couple of things change Sarah’s mind: First, she meets Nullah; second she’s seduced by the beauty of the land; and third, she discovers King Carney (Bryan Brown) is trying to corner the local beef market and his condescending manner goads her into digging in her heels.

“Australia” seeks to address the ‘stolen generations’ issue of half-white/half-Aboriginal children who were taken from their families and re-located by the government. Nullah’s precarious situation and the way Sarah fights for him is one of the films most successful aspects. Also effective is the incorporation of Nullah’s magic man grandfather, King George (David Gulpilil), adding a dimension of magic realism. Nicole Kidman is wonderfully expressive, from the rather comic start to the heartbreaking finish and Hugh Jackman is appropriately dashing and macho as romantic lead and hero. Especially captivating is Brandon Walters whose character holds the movie together. If Luhrmann intended to rouse you to laughter and tears with magnificent visions and jolts of emotion, he succeeds. “Australia” is certainly worth seeing. 11/28/08

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Bolt - 3 smiles

“Bolt,” with strong supporting characters and appealing narrative, makes for an enjoyable movie-going experience, especially if you are a dog lover. Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) is the unwitting star of a hit TV show built around a variety of Hollywood-created powers, including heat vision, super strength and speed, and a ‘super bark’ that can stop a speeding car. When he is accidentally shipped to New York, Bolt sets off on a cross-country journey back to Penny (Miley Cyrus), his human. Bolt eventually learns that he is not a super dog, but he misses Penny, the only person he feels has loved him. So with the help of two unlikely traveling companions – a cynical housecat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a TV-obsessed hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton), he heads west, discovering a lot about himself in the process.

The movie opens with a portion of the television show, giving co-directors Chris Williams and Byron Howard opportunity to stage some wild action scenes. However, the heart of the movie lies in the contrasting personalities of Mittens and Rhino that serve as humorous foils for Bolt and their growing friendship. Susie Essman hits just the right notes as a cat angry and bewildered that she has been abandoned. But it’s Mark Walton, Disney’s own in-house story artist and part-time voice actor who really steals the show. “I’ll snap his neck,” Rhino gleefully says as he and Bolt decide how to rescue Mittens from the guard at the animal shelter. You can’t go wrong with a Disney canine movie and “Bolt” has solid animation and plenty of heart. 11/21/08

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - 1 1/2 smiles

“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” is the uninspired sequel to “Madagascar.” That it made so much money its opening weekend only goes to show how starved people are for family entertainment. Children will love the cute animals and eye-popping colors, but adults will be bored with the plot. And any good movie must start with an engaging narrative. Unfortunately, “Madagascar 2” is a rehash of the first film. This time around, Alex the performing lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the acerbic zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the gloomy giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the happy hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) are hoping to return to New York. Their makeshift plane crashes after takeoff and they find themselves stranded in Africa. This detour reunites Alex with his father, Zuba (the late Bernie Mac), strains Melman’s hopes of winning Gloria’s affections and introduces Marty to others who look just like him. Eventually it’s up to the quartet to discover why the watering hole on the animal preserve has dried up.

The voice work of Chris Rock and especially Jada Pinkett Smith is outstanding. As with the first movie, the wisecracking penguins steal the show. It’s hard to generate much enthusiasm for “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.” Children will love it, but it doesn’t offer much for adults. 11/20/08

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Role Models - 2 1/2 smiles

“Role Models,” for all its profanity and nudity, is, surprisingly, a heart-warming story. You have to wonder why the director felt the need to add such raunchiness. Does he have so little faith in his audience or is he mainly appealing to an age group that might ignore a movie that doesn’t boast vulgar language and topless women? If so, he’s limiting the range and underestimating the intelligence of his audience. On paper, the story appears derivative: a story of adults bonding with children and learning important life lessons in the process. What makes “Role Models” more is the quality of the cast. Wheeler (Seann William Scott) and Danny (Paul Rudd) are representatives for a company that manufactures a high-energy drink. They travel from school to school promoting the drink as a ‘healthy’ alternative to drugs. One a day when everything falls apart, they find themselves on the wrong side of the law. To avoid going to jail, they agree to serve 150 hours of community service by acting as big brothers to troubled kids. Danny is assigned to Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), a teen addicted to medieval role playing and Wheeler gets Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson), a youngster as fond of swearing as he is of staring at women’s breasts.

The top-notch cast elevates the material in “Role Models.” Rudd, who brings his own brand of dry wit, adds depth to a man who has become disappointed with his life. Scott plays the immature Wheeler with undisguised glee and Jane Lynch is entertaining as the no nonsense, reformed coke addict head of the child-mentoring group, Sturdy Wings. Mintz-Plasse brings an authenticity to his role as an outsider who gradually understands the importance of friends. And Bobb’e is heart breaking as a young boy who craves attention, even if it’s the negative variety. And one note about ‘the Kiss Factor’: there’s a wonderful connection between the rock band and Kiss-My-Anthia. You have to see it to appreciate it. So if you can overlook the profanity and nudity, you’re sure to enjoy “Role Models.” 11/16/08

The Duchess - 2 1/2 smiles

If you like period pieces, you’ll like “The Duchess,” starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. Set in 18th century England, “The Duchess” plays like a Masterpiece Theater production, boasting superior acting, sets and costumes. If only it had a superior story to tell as well. Anyone familiar with historical romances knows that men make the rules and women, who have no rights, are obliged to follow them. So as the story unfolds, it has a been-there-seen-that feel. Georgiana Spencer (Knightley), the Duchess of Devonshire, is married to the Duke (Ralph Fiennes) before the age of 18. She becomes a favorite of London high society (dubbed ‘The Empress of Fashion’) and uses her celebrity status to advance the political programs of the Whig party. Unfortunately, Georgiana’s personal life is not as bright. She has presented the Duke with two daughters, not the son he wants. He rarely speaks to her and he has turned her best friend (Hayley Atwell) into his mistress. When Georgiana takes Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper) as her lover, she learns that in the male world of the 1780s, her options are much more limited than her husband's.

Even though the story is derivative, the acting is above reproach. Keira Knightley, comfortable in historical dramas, imbues Georgiana with spirit and charm. Ralph Fiennes brings a depth of feeling to a man so tightly repressed that he is unable to talk. Hayley Atwell has the most difficult role as her character balances between betrayal of a friend and staunch ally to that same friend. The sets are lavish and authentic looking and the costumes beautiful. This is the kind of movie that the Academy likes to recognize as Best Picture. And they might if they’re willing to ignore a story that lacks originality. 11/15/08

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - 2 smiles

“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” should be heartbreaking, but it’s not. It’s a story that takes place in the middle of Nazi Germany, in Auschwitz, to be specific. It’s about man’s inhumanity to man. It’s about people who feel superior to other people. It’s about one of the most tragic events in history. And it’s about a little boy who really doesn’t understand what’s happening. So why isn’t “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” more distressing? Based on the young adult novel by John Boyne, director Mark Herman’s script tells its story through the eyes of eight-year old Bruno. And it is this perspective that gives the movie an artificial, storybook quality that undermines the seriousness of the subject matter. The conclusion shocks, to be sure, but more because of the story, not because of the horrors of Auschwitz.

Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is living a charmed life in Berlin as the son of a high-ranking Nazi soldier, when his father (David Thewlis) is suddenly transferred to a job in the country. Bruno and his sister and mother (Vera Farmiga) must join him at this new post. Bruno doesn’t understand why he can’t wander the grounds or play at a nearby farm. When Bruno sneaks away, he meets Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), who is also eight. Troubling to Bruno is why Shmuel can’t play with him and why he’s wearing striped pajamas. Worse, Bruno has begun to question his beliefs about his father being a hero. When he learns that Shmuel’s father is missing, the two concoct an outrageous plan that culminates in a devastating conclusion. The acting is strong - Farmiga and Thewlis are effective as are Butterfield and Scanlon. The perspective of the film requires that the images not be too startling and this results in the film’s biggest weakness. The oversimplification and muted quality make “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” no more than a minor tale set in a major historical event. 11/13/08

Captain Abu Raed - 4 smiles

Touted as the first Jordanian independent film to show in the West, “Captain Abu Raed” is a beguiling story of dreams, friendship, forgiveness, and sacrifice. Its strength is its simple story and well-developed protagonist. Abu Raed is a janitor at Amman’s International Airport, who one day finds an old pilot’s hat in the trash. The neighborhood children immediately assume that he’s a world-traveling pilot when they see him wearing the hat. Enjoying the children’s awe, Abu Raed begins to tell them stories of places he’s only read about. However, one boy, Murad (Houssein Al-Sous), who resents the sense of hope Abu Raed instills in the children, soon exposes the Captain as a fraud. Meanwhile, Abu Raed’s friendship with Nour (Rana Sultan), a real pilot, begins to grow as she deals with her own set of pressures.

The details of Abu Raed’s life are noteworthy. We follow him as he performs his daily tasks at work, takes the bus home, talks with his deceased wife, and reads before going to bed. We also observe his solitary rooftop tea sessions, and his humorous interactions with his peers at the airport. We become fully immersed in Abu Raed’s life and the movie is richer for it. Sawalha invests dignity and humor in his simple character, a man who cannot resist trying to help others in need. And Jordanian TV host Rana Sultan is effective in her film debut. “Captain Abu Raed” is a touching movie, with a compelling story and powerful performances. It ran one week for Academy consideration and I hope it will be in theaters in January or February. If not, I highly recommend a DVD rental. Subtitles 11/13/08

Quantum of Solace - 2 smiles

To say I was disappointed with “Quantum of Solace” is putting it mildly. I didn’t like anything about this latest James Bond effort and that’s sad because, as a fan, I was looking forward to this one. With Daniel Craig as the new James Bond in “Casino Royale,” the word went out that Bond was going back to his roots, going back to Ian Fleming’s conception of 007. No verbal quips, no gadgets, no indestructible super spy and while it worked in “Casino Royale,” it doesn’t here.

“Quantum of Solace,” for all its chases, escapes, fights, explosions, has a plot that’s nothing more than an angry spy out to get revenge. And this version of 007 is definitely one-dimensional – he’s a killing machine, quietly believable in his anger, but where’s the charm, the charisma, the fun? And without any of the creative Bond gadgets, director Marc Forster relies on his action sequences, which, unfortunately, are delivered in such a familiar fashion that it feels like you’ve stumbled into a Bourne movie, especially the chase across rooftops. (Although you do get one of each: a car chase, a boat chase, and an airplane chase with requisite explosions.) As the film’s chief villain Dominic Greene, Mathieu Amalric is unimpressive. Despite a creepy sneer, Greene is neither frightening nor intimidating. Model-turned-actress Olga Kurylenko is a perfect Bond girl – sexy and capable. She is a forceful screen presence and holds her own with Craig. Judi Dench returns as M. Ultimately, “Quantum of Solace” is the least satisfying Bond movie with the worst opening song of all time. 11/14/08

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Passengers - 2 smiles

“Passengers” is a movie that relies on a twist ending and how well the narrative supports that conclusion is questionable. The movie’s saving grace is its cast. After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire (Anne Hathaway), is assigned to counsel the flight’s five survivors. As they share their recollections of the crash, some include an explosion that the airline claims never happened. Claire becomes involved with Eric (Patrick Wilson), the most secretive of the passengers. And when the passengers start disappearing, Claire is determined to find out what’s going on.

Now, I agree the plot summary sounds intriguing, but it hinges on a twist at the end that creates more disappointment than pleasure. Hathaway is an accomplished actress and she effectively conveys Claire’s fear and determination and she and Wilson have believable chemistry. David Morse, as an employee of the airline who wants Claire to stop meddling, is menacing and Diane Wiest as Claire’s neighbor is downright creepy. “Passengers” would make a good DVD rental, but I wouldn’t rush out to the theaters to see it. 11/2/08

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Slumdog Millionaire - 4 smiles

With “Slumdog Millionaire,” Director Danny Boyle has created a movie that is both engaging and highly original, producing a sense of time and place that is so fluid that you don’t notice when he shifts from one time period to another. And at its heart, this movie is a love story, but it’s also a mystery and a thriller. It’s hard to believe that a film that begins with such violence can end up being as enriching and enjoyable as this one. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a poor boy from the slums of Mumbai who becomes a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Surprisingly, Jamal is able to answer question after question correctly, earning 10 million rupees just as time for the episode runs out. The next day he will return with a chance at the biggest prize. However, right after the show ends, the police take Jamal in for questioning, certain that he cheated. After being tortured, he explains how he knew the answer to every question. The result is a flashback-tour of Jamal’s life and we meet the two most important people in Jamal’s life: his violent brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) and the girl he loves, Latkia (Freida Pinto). As the story progresses, it becomes clear that “Slumdog Millionaire” is not about Jamal’s success on the quiz show, but whether there will be a happy ending.

“Slumdog Millionaire” has all of the elements that make it a dark horse Oscar contender. It has a wonderful story that vibrates with life, it’s superbly acted, and it’s full of the sights and sounds of exotic India. It pulls you into a fast-moving, engaging narrative that has its moments of heartbreak and tragedy, but is ultimately uplifiting and joyous. And the movie ends with a grand Bollywood song-and-dance number dares you to leave the theater in anything but a good mood. 11/5/08

Thursday, November 6, 2008

The Changeling – 3 1/2 smiles

According to writer J. Michael Straczynski, the more he researched into the life of Christine Collins, the more he came to admire her courage, strength and perseverance. However, researching her story also led to “The Wineville Chicken Coop Murders.” And although he ended up with close to 6,000 pages of information, he wrote the script in 11 days.

Director Clint Eastwood delivers a revelatory drama and taut thriller with “The Changeling,” which chronicles Christine Collins’ (Angelina Jolie) search for her missing 9-year-old son, Walter. After five agonizing months, the police deliver a boy they claim is Walter. And they continue to ignore Christine’s pleas to continue looking for her son because the one they delivered is not Walter. You see, her son is not circumcised and is three inches taller. In addition, dental records and Walter’s teacher prove that the boy residing in Christine’s home is an imposter. When Christine tries to press her cause by questioning the police with the help of a powerful Presbyterian minister, Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich), she is scooped up and sent to a mental asylum. The intent is to shut her up, but this backfires, especially when the story expands to include an investigation into Gordon Northcott (Jason Butler Harner), a serial killer linked to the deaths of 20 children.

The acting is superb, especially Jolie who grabs our attention and holds it throughout the film. As the detective who cracks the Northcott case, Michael Kelly is outstanding as is Jeffrey Donovan, who plays the corrupt LAPD captain who does everything he can to make Christine go away. Christine Collins’ story is remarkable, not just because of her brave fight for justice but because it reveals a blatant abuse of public trust. Much of what happens to Christine could not happen today; we’ve become much more cynical. Nonetheless, “The Changeling” is riveting. 10/23/08

Monday, November 3, 2008

RocknRolla – 3 smiles

Director Guy Ritchie’s movies are always about the inhabitants of London’s underworld and “RocknRolla” is no exception. However, “RocknRolla” is also a ridiculously fun movie, beginning with its energetic story, a crazily complicated tale of double and triplecrosses that involves Lenny, a mob boss (Tom Wilkinson), his drug-addict rock star stepson (Toby Kebbell), a Russian mobster (Karel Roden), his fruadulent accountant (Thandie Newton) and an assortment of low-ranking foot soldiers (including Gerard Butler and Idris Elba). Ritchie does not allow his plot to devolve into incomprehensibility although it could have. There’s a pair of American record executives, a valuable painting, some Russian thugs who are hard to kill, and a hilarious chase sequence where the participants eventually end up walking. And although the characters are not well developed, Ritchie invests them with enough humanity that they are real people and we care what happens to them. One note of interest is actor Mark Strong, who has a prominent role in “Body of Lies.” In “RocknRolla,” he plays Archie, second in command to Lenny and the film’s clever narrator. “RocknRolla” is a pleasurable way to spend a rainy afternoon – or a sunny one, for that matter. 11/1/08

What Just Happened – 2 smiles

“What Just Happened?” directed by Barry Levinson and written by Art Linson and based on his memoir, is a satirical jab at Hollywood. Unfortunately, it’s also one long in-joke and if you’re not on the inside, you don’t really find the events in this movie all that interesting or entertaining. Nor do you really care what happens to Ben (Robert De Niro), an A-list producer. You see, Ben is riding a tide of bad luck. Not only is his film ‘Fiercely’ in trouble – it shows a dog being shot in the head – the director doesn’t want to change it and studio head Lou Tarnow (Katherine Keener) is threatening to pull it from Cannes and cut it herself. His next picture might not get off the ground because star Bruce Willis has shown up overweight and sporting a beard and Willis has made it clear that he is not about to lose weight or shave. In addition, Ben is having trouble letting go of his ex-wife Kelly (Robin Wright Penn).

While much of what happens in this film – egos, backstabbing, box office vs. art – seems to be what happens behind the scenes of making a movie, the narrative is a series of vignettes and not interesting ones either. The cast, though, is top notch with De Niro playing not a tough guy, but a stressed out producer who is intimidated by an aggressive Willis. Sean Penn and Willis play exaggerated versions of their tabloid personas while Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, and Catherine Keener are effective in their small roles. Unfortunately, solid acting is not enough to make “What Just Happened?” an engaging movie. In fact, I’m betting you’ll be bored. 10/30/08

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

W - 2 smiles

Because we have just lived through eight years of the George W. Bush presidency, you have to wonder why make a film about him now. “W” does not really add to our understanding or knowledge about the man or the events that have transpired other than to repeatedly demonstrate that W is motivated by his desire to earn his father’s love and respect. The non-linear structure allows Stone to visit Bush at various times during his life. The time frame for the movie is 2002-2004, but there are flashbacks to his freshman year at Yale, his first encounter with his future wife, Laura (Elizabeth Banks), his love of baseball, his working for his father’s election campaign, his decision to run for governor of Texas, and his revelation that God has called him to be President.

Josh Brolin deserves high marks for his portrayal of Bush. He has his mannerisms, speech patterns, and cadence down pat. If you close your eyes, you’d think you were listening to W himself. Some of the other key White House personages, especially Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice, Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld, and Toby Jones as Karl Rove are portrayed as people in a SNL skit. However, Jeffrey Wright's Colin Powell is presented as the one sane voice amidst chaos. And there’s nothing in Richard Dreyfuss' performance as Dick Cheney that hints at parody. If you expect compelling drama from “W,” you’ll be disappointed. 10/18/08

Happy-Go-Lucky - 3 1/2 smiles

“Happy-Go-Lucky” is a character study about the irrepressible Poppy (Sally Hawkins), a woman whose optimistic view of life is so refreshing and so enjoyable that you’ll leave the theater feeling, well, happy. Writer/director Mike Leigh provides us with a slice of Poppy’s life: she teaches elementary school and obviously loves her job. She’s the eldest of three sisters, has no boyfriend, and has lived with her flat-mate for 10 years. Ever willing to experience new things, Poppy takes Flamenco dance lessons and learns how to drive. Scott (Eddie Marsan), Poppy’s driving instructor, is angry with life and, therefore, a challenge to Poppy, who tries to bring a little laughter to his bruised soul. And these scenes with Scott provide most of the laugh-out-loud humor in the film.

For some, Poppy’s boundless optimism might be irritating, but as the movie progresses, you see very clearly that Poppy has a generous heart and her exuberance is symptomatic of her caring about others. Sally Hawkins is wonderful as Poppy. She is the spark that brings “Happy-Go-Lucky” to life and the reason to see this movie. I can only hope that the Academy will recognize her performance with a nomination for Best Actress. 10/24/08

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Ballast - 1 frown

Director/writer Lance Hammer has been getting a lot of critical acclaim for “Ballast,” a story about a broken black family in Mississippi. Obviously I’m missing something because this movie was torture to sit through and at 96 minutes, it shouldn’t be. To say that the pace is leisurely is giving the director way too much credit; it’s down right lethargic. And Hammer may know what’s happening during the first 30 minutes, but I didn’t. To top it off, the conversation young James has with his gang-banger friends is incomprehensible. Subtitles would have helped, but then, maybe those conversations weren’t really relevant anyway. Hammer’s story does have a meaningful message: that family members, practically strangers to each other, will eventually help each other to learn to live and love again. However, getting there should be the struggle the characters in the movie go through, not the audience. 10/15/08

The Secret Life of Bees - 3 1/2 smiles

“The Secret Life of Bees” is a genuine, heartfelt movie about 14-year old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning), who is burdened with the belief that she is responsible for the tragic death of her mother. Her angry father, T. Ray (Paul Bettany) refuses to tell her anything about her mother and the only mementos she has are a single glove, a picture of a black Madonna and the name Tiberon. When she can no longer take her father’s abuse, Lily runs away with her housekeeper Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson). Once in Tiberon, Lily is taken in by the Boatwright sisters and she begins a quest to learn about herself.

“The Secret Life of Bees” is worth seeing because of the extraordinary chemistry of its ensemble cast. Fanning, so exceptional at 6 in “I Am Sam,” proves that she is equally adept with adolescent roles and is the heart of the movie. She is touching as a young white girl coming of age under the guidance of loving African-American women in the turbulent 1960s. Hudson holds her own as a woman who has suffered under the Jim Crow South and meets each new challenge with a wry sense of humor. Queen Latifah’s August radiates wisdom and confidence and Alicia Keyes proves that she can act. British actress Sophie Okonedo elevates May from simple-minded to a generous soul that feels too much. Of all the strong performances, Okonedo’s will most likely generate Oscar attention. Director Gina Prince-Blythewood, who adapted the Sue Monk Kidd novel, goes for the sentimental aspects of the story, but she doesn’t over do it. And best of all, she nurtures wonderful performances from her cast. “The Secret Life of Bees” elicits tears and laughter and should not be missed. 10/17/08

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Rachel Getting Married - 3 1/2 smiles

“Rachel Getting Married” is about pain, love, hatred, laughter, anger and, ultimately, hope. It is an examination of family relationships, warts and all, that pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the end credits roll. Jonathan Demme’s tale is about Kym (Anne Hathaway), a junkie who leaves nine months of rehab to attend the wedding of her older sister, Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt). A junkie since her teens, Kym has been clean for months, but sobriety has not changed her basic personality. She’s a narcissist whose father (Bill Irwin) encourages her belief that the world revolves around her. So it’s no surprise that she throws a temper tantrum when she discovers that Rachel has chosen her best friend to be her maid of honor instead of Kym. And later at the rehearsal dinner, Kym can’t stand not being in the spotlight, even if it’s a negative one. Although she is self-centered, Kym also harbors deep pain and guilt that she has not been able to allay. And this comes to the forefront when Kym has a violent confrontation with her mother (Debra Winger).

Anne Hathaway gives a complete, adult performance. Kym isn’t likeable; she’s mean, spiteful and self-absorbed, but we also see her pain. She effectively capture’s Kym’s highs and lows, her desperate need for forgiveness and to forgive herself. Hopefully, Rosemarie DeWitt’s performance as the resentful Rachel won’t be lost in the attention Hathaway is getting. Demme obviously challenged her to hold her own against the acerbic Kym and she does. “Rachel Getting Married is a must see movie. However, I have one criticism. In an effort to give the film an intimate, home-movie feel, Demme uses a jittery hand-held camera. This may not bother some, but for others, it’s hard to watch. 10/5/08

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

City of Ember - 2 1/2 smiles

Set 200 years in the future in an underground city in danger of falling apart, “City of Ember’s” 95-minute running time does not allow for story or character development. Ember was developed to provide sanctuary for the human race after an unnamed catastrophe destroys habitability of the earth’s surface. Now after 200 years, the infrastructure of the city is beginning to fail. What has been lost over the decades is the information informing the people that the city was designed to only last 200 years and how to return to the surface. Fourteen-year-old Lina (Saorise Ronan, from “Atonement”) enlists the aid of her friend Doon (Harry Treadaway) to help her solve the puzzling information she has discovered in a metal case. The closer they get to the truth, however, the more dangerous they become to the city’s corrupt mayor (Bill Murray), who has his own reasons for wanting their embarrassing questions silenced.

Director Gil Kenan and his production team create a realistic portrait of an underground city held together with patches and duct tape. But visuals alone do not make up for huge plot holes. In fact, the way the script addresses these flaws is coincidence: Lina just happens to find and open the metal case and she becomes curious about its contents. (By the way, why would this case, with its important contents, get lost in the first place?) As she and Doon wend their way through the dark corridors of the city, they stumble upon symbols that match the design found in the case. And later they just happen to pull the right levers and push the right buttons. Plus there’s no time for character development. All we know is that Lena and Doon are two concerned teens who want to save their city. The cast also includes Tim Robbins as Doon’s inventor father, Martin Landau as Doon’s job mentor and Toby Jones as the mayor’s assistant. Older children will probably enjoy this movie, but the CGI mole chasing Lena and Doon will scare younger ones. 10/12/08

The Express – 3 smiles

The problem with sports movies like “The Express” is the been there, done that feeling. Overcoming racial prejudice? There’s “Glory Road” and “Pride.” A gruff coach who has an impact on his players? You’ve got “Remember the Titans” and “Hoosiers.” A football player whose career is tragically cut short by cancer? Who can forget “Brian’s Song”? So it’s to the credit of director Gary Fleder and Charles Leavitt's screenplay, based on the book Ernie Davis; The Elmira Express by Robert Gallagher, that “The Express” manages to be such an engaging story. The movie opens during the 1960 Cotton Bowl in Texas with the #1 ranked Syracuse Orange Men taking on the Texas Longhorns. The game’s standout is halfback Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the Elmira Express, one of three black players from New York. Ernie is playing in front of a crowd who is openly hostile with referees who refuse to make fair calls, and Texas players who punch and kick him when he’s down. At this point, the movie flashes back to Ernie’s early life in Pittsburgh and the events that led to his being recruited by the Syracuse head coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) and finishes with him leading his team to an undefeated season in 1959.

Much of “The Express” illustrates struggles on and off the field and Ernie discovers that he has a lot to learn about the game of football as he endures one rugged practice after another. And New York might be more enlightened than the South, but Ernie still faces a subtle racism – stares, silence – as he starts his four years at Syracuse. Rob Brown is a charismatic Ernie but with a flash of his eyes you understand Ernie’s volcanic fury at the prejudice around him. Under Dennis Quaid ‘s skill, you see Schwartwalder gradually overcome his inherent bigotry to become one of Ernie’s biggest defenders. Charles S. Dutton has a small but important role as Ernie’s grandfather. Although Ernie’s accomplishments on the field were amazing, it was the environment in which he struggled to achieve that makes it worth your time to see his story. 10/11/08

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Body of Lies - 2 1/2 smiles

“Body of Lies,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott, is such a disappointing movie that it makes you wonder why such a topnotch cast and well-known director are involved. Movies about the Middle East have not done well at the box office, but “Body of Lies” will flop because of its flaws, not because of its subject matter. The plot is overly convoluted and improbable although Scott throws in a lot of action sequences. The script is based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius’ 2007 novel about CIA agent Roger Ferris (DiCaprio), who is undercover to track an elusive Al Qaeda terrorist leader Al-Saleem (Israeli actor Alon Aboutboul). Al-Saleem is responsible for suicide bombings in Europe and Roger’s boss, Ed Hoffman (Crowe) believes that his next move will be terrorist attacks in the US. Hoffman, head of the CIA’s Near East division and a cold pragmatist, directs Ferris’s movements via cell phone from his Langley office or wherever he happens to be, even driving his children to school. Meanwhile, on the ground in Aman, Ferris agrees to work with Hani Salaam (Mark Strong), the brilliant and brutal head of Jordanian intelligence. The plan to capture Al-Saleem? Make him jealous by creating another terrorist cell that grabs bigger headlines than his.

The acting is convincing. DiCaprio makes the most of a weak script as a CIA operative who has become disillusioned with the war in Iraq and its burgeoning consequences. Crowe, who gained 50 pounds, portrays Hoffman as callously logical, one who believes that the ends justify the means. However, the most interesting character is Hani Salaam and Mark Strong creates a man who is polished and urbane and just as manipulative as Crowe’s Hoffman. The script by William Monahan is just too implausible to believe; no one can withstand the physical abuse that Ferris undergoes in this film. And did I mention that he is also bitten by rabid dogs? See “Body of Lies” if you don’t mind investing 2 hours and 35 minutes on a so-so movie. 10/10/08

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Flash of Genius - 2 1/2 smiles

If “Flash of Genius,” the story of Bob Kearns’ 16-year battle with Ford Motor Company for recognition that he invented the intermittent windshield wiper, sounds a little dull, you’d be right. This is, after all, about a windshield wiper, not life and death. And while this movie effectively tells a David vs. Goliath story, it’s hard to make it very interesting. The movie’s saving grace is the performance by Greg Kinnear. Bob Kearns (Kinnear), a mechanical engineer, invents the intermittent windshield wiper in his basement in 1967 and with the help of his friend Gil Previck (Dermot Mulroney), builds a prototype and obtains patents. Bob takes his invention to Ford, a company that had also been working on the intermittent windshield wiper but with less success. The president at Ford agrees to work with Bob, but sends him a rejection letter a few months later. Two years later, Bob discovers his invention in Ford’s latest models and he has received no money and no credit. Years of lawsuits ensue, with Ford being big enough to wait out the little guy. However, Ford underestimates Bob’s determination and moral outrage as he continues his battle.

Greg Kinnear, often underrated as an actor, brings heartbreak and a poignant understanding to his role as a man who suffers a nervous breakdown and sees his marriage fall apart and his children alienated, who hires lawyers and routinely ignores their advice, who ultimately perseveres to get is day in court. Kinnear infuses Kearns with steely determination while also revealing Kearns’ fragile mental state. He makes you a believer when he says, ‘It’s not about money; it’s about right and wrong.’ It’s hard to get excited about patents and ownership of intellectual property and the tone of the movie tends to be overly somber. Nonetheless, if you must see this movie, see it for Greg Kinnear’s performance. 10/2/08

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Miracle at St. Anna - 2 smiles

Spike Lee’s goal of making “Miracle at St. Anna” the first Hollywood feature film to tell the story of the African-American soldiers who fought in World War II is an admirable one. Too bad the resulting movie is not admirable as well. Instead, it’s muddled and confusing and overly long. The screenplay, written by James McBride and based on his novel, does not tell the story from the perspective of one character, but from multiple viewpoints, resulting in the movie being a series of episodes. And by threading so many story lines together without a common focus, “Miracle at St. Anna” becomes a tangle of competing conflicts, underlying themes and distracting events.

The story is essentially one long flashback with an opening and closing sequence set in the 1980s. A postal worker, Hector Negron (Laz Alonso) shoots and kills a man who comes to his window to buy stamps. After his arrest, Hector won’t talk, but a reporter finds a clue hidden in Hector’s closet, a head of a statue that once adorned a bridge in Florence that was destroyed by bombs in World War II. From here, Lee takes us back to the Tuscan countryside where the all-black 92nd Infantry Division is trying to cross the Serchio River. In a sequence that rivals the opening of “Saving Private Ryan,” the men are ambushed and bodies and body parts go flying. Four members of the division end up stranded behind enemy lines, all but abandoned by their racist commander. Along with Negron, there’s Staff Sgt. Aubrey Stamps (Derek Luke), a college-educated man devoted to military service; Sgt. Bishop Cummings (Michael Ealy), the stereotypical angry black man; Pvt. Sam Train (Omar Benson Miller), a gentle giant of a man who rescues an Italian boy (Matteo Sciabordi). The men arrive at a picturesque village, where they mingle with the locals and a lovely married woman, Renata (Valentina Cervi) flirts with both Stamps and Cummings. The story then dissolves into murky subplots involving the Italian resistance and conflicted Germans.

The film jumps from brutal combat sequences to a man saving a boy, from erotic flirtations to comic interludes with the townspeople, from arguments between good and bad Germans to those of partisans fighting among themselves, from scenes of hope to scenes of bloody massacres. To these, Lee throws in occasional speeches about bigotry and a flashback within a flashback to prove how badly these men were treated stateside during their basic training. If Lee had more control of his material, the movie wouldn’t have been so confusing. Unfortunately, elements in "Miracle at St. Anna" never combine into an effective whole. And at the end of 160 minutes, all you feel is disappointment. 10/4/08

Beverly Hills Chihuahua - 3 barks

"Beverly Hills Chihuahua," a film for anyone who loves animals and loves to laugh, has more to the plot than just cute dogs. It also has some meaningful messages beneath all of that doggie fur: be loyal to your friends and true to yourself. And it's a credit to the filmmakers that we willingly enter the zany world of pampered Beverly Hills pooches, especially that of Chloe, whose signature fragrance is Channel No. 5 and who wears a diamond collar created by Harry Winston. Chloe loves her luxurious life style and is not about to notice the amorous Papi, a stray who has been adopted by Sam, the landscape gardener. When Chloe's devoted owner Vivian goes away on business, Chloe is left in the care of Vi's niece Rachel. Things get complicated when Rachel takes a trip to Mexico and Chloe becomes lost and then dognapped.

"Beverly Hills Chihuahua" is essentially a romance along the lines of "Lady and the Tramp" although it's also a buddy movie that involves adventure, suspense and humor. Jamie Lee Curtis is effective as Chloe's adoring owner and Piper Perabo engaging as her niece who teams up with Colombian-born actor Manolo Cardona to rescue Chloe. However, the dogs are the real stars of this movie and the great voice cast is headed by Drew Barrymore as Chloe, Andy Garcia as Delgado, the German shepherd who takes the lost Chloe under his paw, George Lopez as the amorous Papi, who is determined to rescue his love, and Placido Domingo as Montezuma, a Chihuahua who educates Chloe on her lineage. The doggie stars do their trainers proud and the special effects team does a spectacular job of making the dogs look natural as they talk, laugh and cry. "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" is pure light-hearted escapism, and if you love dogs, you'll enjoy this movie even more. 10/3/08

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Burn After Reading – 3 smiles

“Burn After Reading” is a comedy of errors or, as the movie has been tagged, ‘a smart movie about stupid people.’ A plot this convoluted and peculiar can only come from the twisted minds of the Coen Brothers. Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), a couple of dim-witted characters who work in a health club, stumble on a disk containing notes ex-CIA agent Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) has made for his memoirs. Because Linda is in dire need of funds for some cosmetic surgery, she convinces Chad that the disk provides a prime opportunity to blackmail Cox out of some money. Meanwhile, Cox’s wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) is having an affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney), a federal marshal who trolls Internet dating sites for other women. Harry, who is also married, coincidentally meets Linda and starts an affair with her. Also in the mix is Ted Treffon (Richard Jenkins), who manages the health club and is in love with Linda although he is reluctant to say anything to her. Observing all of the goings-on are CIA honchos played by David Rasche and J.K. Simmons, who provide some of the funniest lines in the movie.

The Coens enhance this complicated plot by tossing in shock after shock, effective because they are so matter-of-fact. Whether it’s Linda trying to strike a deal with the Russians or Chad attempting to be another James Bond, they just keep piling things on. And their cast is top notch. Clooney has sleaze down to an art form as Harry and Pitt is hilarious. Frances McDormand gets to play a truly screwball character although for Malkovich, wacky is familiar territory. Rounding out this truly stellar cast are Richard Jenkins and Tilda Swinton. “Burn After Reading,” a comedy with dramatic elements or a drama with comedic elements is certainly worth seeing. 9/29/08

Nights in Rodanthe - 2 smiles

Since I’m a romantic at heart, I prefer happy endings to my movies, especially if they’re romances. However, I also dislike manipulated sentimentality and that’s pretty much what you get with “Nights in Rodanthe.” Fans of Nicholas Sparks’ novels will probably like this movie although, typically, novels always prove to be better than a movie adaptation. Adrienne Willis (Diane Lane), a stressed out mother of two, discovers that her estranged husband who had been cheating on her, wants to get back together. To have some space and time to think, she agrees to operate her friend’s bed and breakfast inn on North Carolina’s Outer Banks for a few days. The inn’s only guest is Paul Flanner (Richard Gere), a divorced workaholic doctor, who has come to meet with the family of a patient whose surgery went horribly wrong. Adrienne and Paul are two wounded people who warily become friends and then lovers…….all in the span of two days.

Despite the chemistry between two gorgeous actors and the lush North Carolina coastline, you don’t really get to know Adrienne and Paul very well. So the reality of their meaningful relationship, their ‘grand love,’ seems forced as does the emotion of the tragedy at the end. Lane and Gere share such terrific on-screen rapport that it’s hard to understand why they spend the last third of the movie apart. In fact, Gere is not on-screen; we hear his voice as he narrates Paul’s letters to Adrienne. Although “Nights in Rodanthe” deals with forgiveness and loss, you can wait to rent it on Netflix. 9/28/08

Appaloosa - 2 smiles

I was disappointed with “Appaloosa.” I wanted it to be a deeply engaging narrative that probes the relationship between good and evil, much like “Eastern Promises.” Instead, “Appaloosa” focuses on the relationship between Virgil (Ed Harris), Everett (Viggo Mortensen) and Allison (Renee Zellweger), with bad guy Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons) on the periphery. Partners Virgil and Everett, freelance law enforcers, are hired by the city council of Appaloosa to rid the town of Randall Bragg and his henchmen. A few days later, Allison steps off the train and although both men are smitten, Allison makes it clear that its Virgil she prefers. Unfortunately for Virgil, the thoroughly amoral Allison is attracted to whomever is around if Virgil is elsewhere.

Harris, who also directs, is effective as the steely-eyed protector – that is, until he beats up a man in a bar with more violence than is necessary. Suddenly, we glimpse a darker side to our protagonist, which could point to interesting events to come. Regrettably, Harris the director pulls back on this aspect of Virgil’s personality. In fact, he drops it altogether and Virgil is never as interesting. Mortensen, one of the most underrated actors around, steals the movie with a look, a gesture, a smile. However, Renee Zellweger is totally miscast as a femme fatale. “Appaloosa” may be pleasing in appearance, but it is, ultimately, empty. 9/28/08

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Death Race - 2 1/2 smiles

“Death Race,” starring Jason Statham and based on Roger Corman’s 1975 cult classic “Death Race 2000”, is slick, simple and satisfying (although very violent). In 2012, shady corporations have taken over the prison system and reap huge profits by conducting pay-per-view gladiator-type contests among the prisoners. On Terminal Island, where the worst of the worst prisoners participate in the popular Death Race, Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen) has a problem. Her driver, a mask-wearing psychopath named Frankenstein, has been killed. In an effort to keep the ratings high, Hennessey wants to replace Frankenstein with Jensen Ames (Statham), a professional racecar driver. Framed for the murder of his wife, Ames is sent to Terminal Island where he is offered Frankenstein’s place. The prize? Win the race and go free. However, Ames discovers that Hennessey is responsible for his wife’s death and revenge becomes more important than freedom. Of course, Ames has a few allies to help him in his quest.

“Death Race” is total action, vehicular mayhem at its best, so plot and character development are not high priorities for director Paul W. S. Anderson. The plot consists mainly of the three races that comprise the Death Race and gives Anderson an opportunity to ‘do away’ with the other drivers in creatively violent ways before focusing on the prime conflict between Ames and Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson). This movie is pure Jason Statham and Joan Allen’s ice queen warden adds a touch of class. "Death Race" offers a tough guy you can root for and a villain whose demise you can cheer. 8/21/08

The Longshots - 2 1/2 smiles

“The Longshots” is based on the true story of Jasmine Plummer, who, at age eleven, became the first female to play in Pop Warner football in its 56-year history. Yes, it’s another underdog sports story. Yes, it follows a predictable plot. Yes, it manipulates your emotions. Yes, I liked it anyway. Studious Jasmine (Keke Palmer), who is picked on by the popular crowd at school, is unhappy when her mother asks her Uncle Curtis (Ice Cube) to watch her after school while her mother works. Curtis, a former high school football star, has lost his job at the local factory and spends his days drinking beer and watching the local Pop Warner football team practice. When he gets Jasmine to play catch with him, the rest is history.

“The Longshots” is a genuinely affecting Cinderella story in spite of the predictability of the story. And Ice Cube and Keke Palmer have enough skill to make their characters interesting. Curtis’s grouchy exterior hides a warm heart and Jasmine’s shyness conceals a need to be accepted by her peers. 8/22/08

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Tropic Thunder - 3 smiles

One of the best things about “Tropic Thunder,” a spoof about movie making, is Robert Downey, Jr. He plays Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus who has been cast in a big budget Vietnam flick opposite action star Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), obese comedian Jeff "Fats" Portnoy (Jack Black) and rapper-turned-actor Alpha Chino (Brandon T. Jackson). The four are dropped into Southeast Asia for some guerrilla filming and become involved with a vicious drug lord before they are rescued.

One of the interesting twists in “Tropic Thunder” is that Downey plays a white actor who has been cast to play an African American character. And because Lazarus is a true method actor, he has undergone a radical medical procedure to darken his skin. Stiller’s script makes it clear that the joke isn’t on African Americans but on Lazarus who believes that darkening his skin and reciting lines from “The Jeffersons” will make him authentic enough for a role he shouldn’t have in the first place. Another topic ripe for satire is the way top Hollywood actors view playing a disabled character as a direct route to an Oscar. Lazarus’s analysis of why Tugg’s movie “Simple Jack” was a flop is hilarious. And again, Tugg Speedman is the butt of the joke, not the mentally disabled. And finally, Tom Cruise’s appearance as a foul-mouthed studio head, who has more hair on his chest and arms than on his head, is amazing, offering a perfect opportunity to satirize those who revere the bottom line.

There are times when “Tropic Thunder” seems to drag during the second half, but director Stiller provides enough pyrotechnics to waken any who may have fallen asleep. This is, after all, a war movie. “Tropic Thunder” deserves to be seen for Downey’s performance alone, another high mark in his resurging career. 8/17/08

Vicky, Cristina Barcelona - 3 smiles

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is Woody Allen’s latest and although it’s been advertised as a comedy, it’s a comedy in the Shakespearean sense, not ha-ha slapstick. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is Allen musing about various kinds of love and is sure to generate a lot of conversation. Allen also pays tribute to the beauty of his stars and the Spanish setting. Allen’s voice-over narrator streamlines some of the narrative, thereby eliminating some dialogue, but it is also intrusive. Two young women spend some time in Barcelona, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) to work on her graduate thesis and her best friend Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) to experience life. At an art show they meet handsome Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), an artist who has recently divorced fellow artist Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz). Juan Antonio invites Vicky and Cristina to spend the weekend with him in Oviedo to see the sights, drink wine and make love. Vicky is all caution and disapproval and Cristina is ready to go. Needless to say both fall for him.

When compared to the fiery performances of Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson seems bland, but she certainly is beautiful. Rebecca Hall gives a strong performance as the guarded Vicky. And Javier Bardem……Anyone who can be the scariest villain on the screen (“No Country for Old Men”) and a charismatic lover is certainly versatile. One of the more engaging aspects of this movie is the way the characters interact with each other, with each seeming to represent a kind of love. And this is where your after viewing conversations can become quite interesting. What kind of love does Allen seem to say is important? Which character has learned something about the nature of love? Which character is happy at the end of the movie? “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is certainly worth seeing. 8/15/08

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - 1 1/2 smiles

As a fan of the original Star Wars trilogy with so-so interest in the next three prequel films, I was thoroughly disappointed with “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” The story was miniscule, the characters uninvolving, and the action repetitious. “The Clone Wars” takes place between “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” and is a pilot for an animated television series, which explains why it is not live action. The basic plot involves Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) recovering the kidnapped son of Jabba the Hut. To assist him, Anakin has a padwan (apprentice), Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), eager to prove her worth as a Jedi. C3PO and R2D2 make brief appearances as do Yoda and Obi-Wan. We learn nothing new about Anakin; we do not see any aspects of his personality that even hint that he will become the ruthless Darth Vader. (Cartoons are pretty superficial, after all.) There is, however, plenty of action: droids and clone troopers blast each other again and again and again. Nonetheless, children will probably like “The Clone Wars” and after you’ve taken them to see this movie, you can stop at McDonald’s and buy them a Happy Meal, which includes a ‘Clone Wars’ toy. Adults should skip this movie. 8/17/08

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Swing Vote - 2 1/2 smiles

“Swing Vote” is a gentle (perhaps too gentle) political satire and heartwarming family drama. However, these two elements don’t always mesh and I wanted Kevin Costner’s slacker dad character to grow up sooner than he does. Costner plays beer-swilling single dad Bud and it’s clear from the beginning that his daughter Molly (Madeline Carroll) is the adult in this family. When Bud fails to show up to vote, Molly sneaks in to vote in his place. However, the voting machine malfunctions and Bud’s vote is not counted. The presidential election results in a tie and the single vote yet to be cast, the swing vote, is, you guessed it, Bud’s. The situation is now ripe for satire from political ads to the candidates themselves doing whatever they must to win Bud’s vote. Suddenly the Republicans favor gay marriage and the Democrats reject abortion. And at the heart of the movie is Bud’s relationship with Molly, who wants her father to act like a responsible adult. When Molly’s embarrassment and distress finally registers with Bud, he decides to change. The supporting cast, which includes Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, Paula Patton, is solid, but it’s 12-year old Madeline Carroll who shines. “Swing Vote” is likable enough with a good message (every vote counts), some meaningful family drama, and occasional political barb. 8/3/08

Man on Wire - 3 smiles

“Man on Wire,” an intriguing documentary that combines interviews, still photos and recreations, tells the story of Philippe Petit's 1974 high wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. At the time this event transpires, the World Trade Center was a relatively new complex, but Petit had been obsessed with them for years because, as a teen, he had seen an artist’s rendering. His ultimate goal became to stretch a wire across the two towers and traverse it. For practice, Petit performed his high wire act at Notre Dame Cathedral and on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A great deal of preparation was needed to achieve Petit’s dream, which involved getting all of his equipment, including a 450-pound cable, into a heavily secured building. Petit also had to consider the weather at the top of the towers. There had to be enough visibility for people below to see him and not too windy that he would be blown off the wire.

A charismatic Petit, who speaks fluent English, narrates this tale of daring do and although there is no actual footage of the central event, only still photos, there is plenty of film of Petit’s preparation. In addition, there are interviews with his accomplices, including his girlfriend, and a few Americans who became involved. They provide additional insight into an amazing event connected to the Twin Towers that is not about death and destruction. For whatever reason, director James Marsh does not include Petit’s reaction to the demise of the site of his greatest triumph. Nonetheless, “Man on Wire” recounts one of the most audacious stunts of the 20th century in dramatic detail. 8/2/08

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - 1 smile

You have to wonder why this movie was made….other than the obvious reason, to make money. “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” is tedious and silly and I can’t imagine why anyone would enjoy this movie. At least, with “The Mummy” and “The Mummy Returns,” you had an interesting villain, Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), a strong balance for hero Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) and their interaction provided movie-going fun. Jet Li isn’t imposing enough.

This time around the story takes place in China and the mummy in question is not really a mummy. Emperor Han (Jet Li) has been cursed by the witch Zi Juan (Michelle Yeoh) and, with his men, turned to stone. They wait, entombed, until Alex (Luke Ford) discovers their resting place and releases a scourge upon the world. Luckily Alex’s parents are nearby to assist. With Rick’s son grown up and part of the action, Rick has to share the hero credit, which detracts from some of the enjoyment of the Mummy experience. And Rachel Weisz is definitely missed as Evelyn. Part of the pleasure of the first two Mummy movies is the chemistry between Fraser and Weisz. Sometimes re-casting can work (Maggie Gyllenhaal in “The Dark Knight”) and sometimes it doesn’t. Maria Bello isn’t believable as Evie. Although “Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” is full of CGI action, the film itself is boring. 8/2/08

Batman: The Dark Knight - 4 smiles

“Batman: The Dark Knight,” co-written and directed by Christopher Nolan and arguably the best superhero movie to date (if not ever), is a prime example of a film with a remarkable script paired with fully realized characters. At the heart of this exceptional story is the conflict between equally matched characters representing good and evil. Although you know that good will ultimately triumph, you’re not sure how and at what cost. And a troubled Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) ponders: What steps is he willing to take? Must he become evil to fight evil? And once he crosses over to the dark side of his nature, once he realizes what he is capable of doing, who will he be then?

Much praise has already been directed at Heath Ledger’s quality performance as the Joker. I can only add additional applause. His interpretation of the Joker is one of subtle menace and unhinged bravado and he easily disappears into his role. Look beyond his white clown makeup, his lopsided red scar of a mouth and that crazed whinny laugh of his and you’ll find the heart of a terrorist, one whose single goal is to spread fear and corruption as far as he can. Ledger nails this performance.

“The Dark Knight’s” continued box office success clearly reveals that audiences are making repeat visits to see this movie. With outrageous action sequences, strong acting, and powerful story, “The Dark Knight” is one of the year’s best films. Don’t miss it. 7/20/08

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Mamma Mia! - 3 1/2 smiles

How can you watch a film with 2 dozen or so ABBA songs and not tap your toe and sing along? “Mamma Mia!” is pure fun. If you’ve seen the play, you know the story: Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is about to marry Sky (Dominic Cooper). Raised by single mother Donna (Meryl Streep) on a Greek Island, Sophie has never known her father. After reading her mother’s diary, she has discovered three possible candidates: Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth), and Bill (Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd). Sophie invites all three to her wedding and the fun begins after they arrive.

Much of the pleasure of “Mamma Mia!” is listening to the impressive cast sing, especially Meryl Streep. Is there anything this actress can’t do? Christine Baranski has fun with “Does Your Mother Know” and Julie Walters entertains with “Take a Chance on Me.” Even Pierce Brosnan does a credible job with “SOS.” An especially lively number is “Dancing Queen,” where all the women in the village join in. And a highlight comes with the end credits as Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd, dressed in 70s ABBA costumes, sing another song. “Mamma Mia! Is bright, happy, and crackling with energy. You’ll have as much fun watching this movie as the cast seems to have making it. Of course, if you’re not an ABBA fan, stay away. 7/18/08

Live and Become - 3 1/2 smiles

“Live and Become,” based on the exodus of Ethiopian Jews to Israel, is a powerful investigation of the struggles of cultural and personal identity. In 1985 Israel secretly launched Operation Moses, airlifting thousands of persecuted Ethiopian Jews (known as Falashas) from Sudan to Israel. A Falasha widow takes a Christian boy with her after her son dies. The boy, renamed Schlomo, is soon orphaned when his second ‘mother’ dies. A confused Schlomo (played at various ages by Moshe Agazai, Mosche Abebe, and Sirak M. Sabahat), guilt-ridden and angry at leaving his real mother behind, finds a stable home with an adoptive French-Israeli couple. Of course, Schlomo faces prejudice at school and the world at large as he struggles to learn the language and customs that are supposed to be a part of his heritage. His deception deepens when he falls in love with Sarah (Roni Hader), a white Jew and must contend with her racist father. Years later when they marry, Schlomo must reveal the truth behind his identity and find his place in the world if he is to fulfill his mother’s wish: Live and become.

“Live and Become,” an intimate look into a little known chapter in Israel’s history, also reveals the prejudices that exist among black and white Jews. It is both a love story and an inspirational tale of an individual’s search for peace within an unfamiliar and frightening environment. 7/24/08)

Tell No One - 3 1/2 smiles

“Tell No One,” adapted by French director Guillaume Canet from Harlan Coben’s best seller, is a complicated, intelligent and engaging thriller. Eight years after the murder of his wife, doctor Alex Beck (Francois Cluzet) receives an email from an unknown source. The message contains a real time video image of a woman that Alex is convinced is his wife. In the meantime, the police have circumstantial evidence implicating Alex in another murder. Because the events eight years ago still haunt Alex, he investigates the mysterious woman in the video and in doing so, uncovers a string of secrets that endanger his life.


An American film adaptation of Coben’s novel would have added more action and simplified the story. For whatever reason, US film studios underestimate audience intelligence. [Or maybe not. After all, consider “Step Brothers.”] To be sure, “Tell No One” demands that you pay attention. Much of what happened to Alex eight years ago is told in several flashbacks and the director counts on his audience being able to put all of the puzzle pieces together. Francois Cluzet, resembling a young Dustin Hoffman, has an intensity that pulls you into his character and holds the film together. “Tell No One” is about one man’s search for the truth. And it is a journey you will enjoy taking. (7/18/08)

Step Brothers - 1 frown

Nothing is worse to sit through than a comedy that doesn’t work; “Step Brothers” is such a movie. To call this rude, crude, and silly film a comedy is doing a disservice to the genre. And although Will Farrell and John C. Reilly seem to be putting a lot of effort into their roles, “Step Brothers” is an unpleasant mess. Skip it. 7/27/08

Monday, July 28, 2008

Journey to the Center of the Earth - 2 smiles

“Journey to the Center of the Earth” has one gimmick – digital 3-D technology, generating what amounts to a 90-minute E-ticket ride. Of course, there’s plenty of special effects eye candy, but there’s not much plot or character development. This version is not really based on Jules Verne’s novel. Instead, the characters in this movie - Professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser); his nephew, Sean (Josh Hutcherson); and their mountain guide, Hannah (Anita Briem) – use Vern’s novel as a guide as they travel to the top of a mountain in Iceland that reveals tunnels leading deep beneath the Earth's surface. Below, they discover a prehistoric world where dinosaurs and man-eating plants exist. But the trio must find a way to escape before the lava at the earth’s core explodes.

Ultimately, “Journey to the Center of the Earth” is about visuals so plot and characters are secondary. This is all about making the world at the center of the earth come alive and jump out of the screen at the audience. The 3-D work is effective, but after 30 minutes it becomes redundant. Director Eric Brevig seems to have forgotten that at the heart of every good movie is an intriguing narrative and engaging characters. Special effects alone aren't enough. 7/14/08

Hellboy II: The Golden Army - 3 smiles

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” is not for everyone; however, if you liked director Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth,” you might want to give this movie a try. The first half of the movie focuses on the “family” of misfits working for the US government in a secret FBI installation. There’s Red (Ron Perlman), a demon who keeps his horns filed down to flat nubs. His love Liz (Selma Blair) can transform herself into a human torch. Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) is a smart amphibian and newcomer Johann Kraus (James Donn) is a creature consisting of smoke and gas. The villain is the elf Prince Nuada (Luke Gross), who seeks to recover the three pieces of a crown that, when assembled, will give him control of the Golden Army, hundreds of unstoppable, indestructible warriors. Nuada will then vanquish humanity and regain control of earth. His twin sister, Nuala (Anna Walton), who opposes his quest, and her piece of the crown fall under the protection of Hellboy and his friends and they find themselves involved in a battle to save mankind.

“Hellboy II” is more fantasy adventure than superhero tale. One of the film’s more interesting sequences is a visit to the “Troll’s Market,” where trolls, goblins, elves, and elementals come to life. It’s not hard to see why Peter Jackson selected del Toro to helm “The Hobbit.” However, there are a few plot holes that damage the integrity of the film, but these come to light in conversations that happen afterward. Nonetheless, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” is solid entertainment. 7/17/08

Hancock - 2 1/2 smiles

If you like Will Smith, you’ll like “Hancock.” And although the premise is interesting, the story becomes so muddled about half way through that all you’re left with is an engaging performance by Smith. Hancock (Smith) is an alcoholic, antisocial superhero who stopped caring about humanity long ago. His heroic deeds, such as catching bad guys, result in such horrific collateral damage that the DA wants him behind bars and he’s being sued by just about everyone in the city. When Hancock saves Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) from a train, Ray decides that all Hancock needs is an image makeover, which includes a prison stint, rehab, a shave and a superhero costume. Meanwhile, there seems to be a connection between Ray's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron) and Hancock.

The first half of the film is more engaging – the tale of a superhero, who needs an attitude adjustment, learning to be, well, a superhero, a defender of truth, justice, and the American way. The second half, however, is a disjointed story about Hancock’s origins that seems to be part of a different movie. The villain isn’t even an integral part of the plot; he’s tossed in at the last minute because the director realized that he needed a bad guy for Hancock to fight. And the twist that concerns Charlize Theron’s character isn’t really a surprise. Will Smith’s charisma is the strongest element in “Hancock” and results in a moderately enjoyable movie-going experience. 7/3/08

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The Wackness - 1 1/2 smiles

At one point in “The Wackness,” Stephanie (Olivia Thrilby) tells Luke (Josh Peck), "It doesn't matter." That’s what I felt about the whole movie. And when you don’t care about the characters or the situation they find themselves in, how can you care about the movie? Written and directed by Jonathan Levine, “The Wackness” boasts an eclectic cast: Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, and Mary-Kate Olsen along with Thrilby and Peck. That’s about the only positive comment I can make. Set during the summer of 1994, “The Wackness” is about a young drug dealer, Luke Shapiro (Peck), who has just graduated from high school. Dr. Squires (Kingsley) is a low-life psychiatrist who gives Josh advice in exchange for the grass that Josh peddles. To complicate matters, Josh has a crush on Squire’s stepdaughter, Stephanie. Bottom line, “The Wackness” is about Josh and Stephanie’s summer fling. This movie tries way too hard to be hip, but does anyone care? (6/6/08)

Wall-E - 4 smiles

“Wall-E” is an amazing movie, full of life, love, wonder, and meaning, an animated film that adults can see alone or with children. Written and directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo”), “Wall-E” has a solid story, strong characters, and subtle messages. Set 700 years in the future, the movie opens with a hazy view of an abandoned city and a solitary figure moving around. A closer look reveals a robot, Wall-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth Class), a little worse for wear, completing his prime directive: scoop up trash, compact it into cubes, and stack the cubes. Towering trash skyscrapers loom in the background, evidence of Wall-E’s dedication. During this 700 year period, Wall-E has developed a consciousness and as he scoops up the trash, he saves items that catch his fancy: a Rubik’s cube, a spork, a Zippo lighter, an egg beater, a plant. He also has a pet cockroach and a VHS copy of “Hello, Dolly” that he watches over and over. One day a huge space ship lands, depositing Eve (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator), a robot whose job is to find signs of life on Earth. For Wall-E, it’s love at first sight, but Eve is no pushover. Wall-E tries to win her with his various treasures and only when he shows her the plant does she react. She takes the plant and shuts down. Alarmed, Wall-E does everything he can to revive her and when that fails, sets out to watch over her. When the space ship returns for her, Wall-E hitches a ride and we discover what has happened to the humans who abandoned Earth.

Central to “Wall-E” is the romance between these two robots. Neither has a real face nor do they speak anything more than a metallic approximation of their names. However, we grow to care about Wall-E and Eve as much as any flesh and blood couple. To watch these two interact is part of the pleasure of this movie and full credit goes to the creative genius of Andrew Stanton in collaboration with Ben Burtt’s inspired sounds. Even though there is no dialogue for the first 45 minutes, we understand that Wall-E is curious, that he is lonely, that he is first afraid of Eve and then enamored of her. We see Eve as initially focused on her job, but she’s also exasperated with him when she discovers that he has stowed away and is creating havoc. And finally, she fears for his safety as the situation aboard the ship suddenly turns ominous. And “Wall-E” also manages to convey a few cautionary warnings. It’s not going to be global warming that creates an apocalyptic event, but a consumption-based society where pollution runs unchecked. And the human race must never become so lazy that robots do everything for them. “Wall-E” is a most compelling film, full of fun and magic and at its heart, a robot that falls in love. It’s a definite must see. (6/27/08)

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Wanted - 2 1/2 smiles

The protagonist in “Wanted,” Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), is so unlikable it’s hard to care what happens to him. And in a movie that focuses not on characterization but on adrenalin-pumping action, that’s a puzzle. As we learn in an introductory voice-over, Wesley’s life is stuck: a dead-end job with a bullying boss and a girlfriend who is cheating on him with his best friend. It can’t get any worse and we’re supposed to feel sorry for him. Worse, we’re supposed to identify with him. (If this works, you’ll like the movie; if it doesn’t, you won’t.) Enter Fox (Angelina Jolie) who tells Wesley that his father, a member of a guild of assassins called The Fraternity, has been killed and Wesley is needed to go after the killer. After a series of sadistic training sessions, Wesley has been transformed from dweeb to kick-butt assassin. He can slow down time enough to shoot the wings off flies and curve the trajectory of a bullet (presumably to shoot around corners). Hotshot Wesley performs his training assassinations with aplomb, not seeming to care if there is collateral damage in the form of innocent bystanders. When Sloan (Morgan Freeman), the leader of The Fraternity, directs Wesley to go after his father’s killer, he is ready. And woe be to those who get in his way.

The slender McAvoy is an unusual choice to play this smug gun-toting assassin. It’s like casting Dustin Hoffman to play Neo in “The Matrix.” He just doesn’t fit. Jolie, beautiful as ever, plays Fox with a sly smile and lots of sex appeal. And, as it turns out, Fox is the only character who believes in the moral code of the guild – murder for the benefit of mankind, not for personal gain. Morgan Freeman, as usual, is effective. The action is outrageous, loud, and almost nonstop and there is enough blood, exploding heads, and flailing bodies to satisfy the most voyeuristic fan. “Wanted” is like cotton candy – fluffy, perhaps enjoyable at the time, but, ultimately, empty calories. (6/28/08)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Get Smart - 3 smiles

Those who thought the original television series “Get Smart,” starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon, was just a little too silly can rest more easily. The movie “Get Smart” wisely doesn’t try to duplicate its source material although there’s enough ‘stupid’ stuff if that tickles your funny bone. Unlike the TV Max, the movie Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is smart. In fact, he’s so smart that Control Chief (Alan Arkin) doesn’t want to promote him from data analyst to field agent. However, when an attack on Control headquarters by Kaos operative Sigfried (Terrence Stamp) eliminates many of Control's agents, Max is promoted. He and Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) are sent after Sigfried with Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson) providing tactical office support.

Steve Carell is perfect as Maxwell Smart because he doesn’t try to imitate Adams. Instead Carell has created a character that feels like Adams and when you add Adams’ signature lines ("Would you believe…?", "Missed it by THIS much"), there’s a flavor of the original without trying too hard. Hathaway’s Agent 99 has been modernized, and she plays well opposite Carell. Control nerds (Masi Oka and Nate Torrence) provide Max with gadget support (and some pretty funny lines). Cameos include James Caan (the president), Bill Murray (man in a tree), and Bernie Koppell (the original Sigfried as a taxi driver). Plus, one of Sigfried’s men (Dalip Singh) seems to have been modeled after Jaws, a James Bond character. There isn’t much of a plot, but there is a lot of action and half of the fun of this movie is spending some time with familiar characters because you know that Control will best Kaos in the end. “Get Smart” is a blend of humor and slapstick that works. It’s not the best comedy for 2008, but, then, it’s way better than “The Love Guru.” (6/20/08)

The Love Guru - 1 frown

Anyone who goes to see “The Love Guru” deserves an apology for having to sit through this lackluster mess of a movie. Full of crotch humor, toilet jokes, sexual innuendo and midget gags, “The Love Guru” is such an awful movie that it even insults the intellect of its target audience of 13-year-old boys. Well, maybe not 13-year-old boys, but definitely anyone else. Mike Myers’ Guru Pitka, a Deepak Chopra wannabe, goes from one unfunny joke to another and just when you think Myers can’t go any lower, he does. Think male elephant and female elephant in a hockey rink and you’ve got an image you probably could have lived without. At 90 minutes, “The Love Guru” is roughly 80 minutes too long. (6/23/08)

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Incredible Hulk - 2 1/2 smiles

If “Iron Man” has been described as a comic book movie that you don’t have to be a comic book fan to like, “The Incredible Hulk” is a comic book movie that you have to be a comic book fan to like. That’s because this movie is mainly about action – lots of action. And with so much action, there’s not a lot of room for plot. So the storyline revolves around three confrontations between the Hulk and his arch-rival. The first encounter happens in a soft drink factory in Brazil, where Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is working and trying to keep a low profile. A tactical assault team, led by Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), is sent in to capture Banner, but they meet the Hulk instead. After the Hulk smashes out of the factory and escapes into the jungle, Banner heads back to the US, where he reunites with his love, Dr. Betty Ross (Liv Tyler). Meanwhile, General Ross (William Hurt) decides to inject Blonsky with a serum that makes him superhuman and send him after Banner again. The next skirmish occurs at a university where Blonsky is a better adversary, but still no match for the Hulk. The third and final knock-down-drag-out fight happens in downtown New York. Blonsky has become the Abomination and in fitting comic book fashion, this is a battle between two computer graphics.

Edward Norton is effective as the anguished doctor with a Jekyll and Hyde personality disorder. Like Robert Downey, Jr., he brings a wealth of talent to his character. Too bad the script is so weak. Tyler doesn’t have much to do, but there is chemistry between Betty and Banner. As Blonsky, Tim Roth gets to sneer a lot and overact, which, for a movie about a comic book character, may not be a bad thing. Lou Ferrigno and Robert Downey, Jr. have cameos. “Hulk smash!” That pretty much sums up the movie. (6/13/08)

Roman de Gare - 3 smiles

Movies with subtitles are often a hard sell to U.S. audiences. Nonetheless, some of the better movies in theaters now come from other countries. “Roman de Gare,” a delightful blend of comedy, romance, and mystery, is such a film. Here, people are not what they seem to be – you have Judith Ralitzer, a popular French novelist (Fanny Ardant) who may or may not be responsible for killing her ghost writer, and Pierre (Dominique Pinon), with his pushed in face and blue eyes, who may or may not be a serial killer or a run-away husband. One evening, Pierre, who is on his way to Cannes, offers to give Huguette (Audrey Dana) a ride. Huguette, who has been abandoned at a gas station after a fight with her fiancé, is on her way to visit her family. She asks Pierre to pretend to be her doctor boyfriend and he agrees. Some of the fun begins as the two of them try to maneuver around an awkward situation and a tentative love grows out of their arrangement. However, director Claude Lelouch is also making a mystery. When Pierre eventually gets to Cannes, he tells Judith he wants his name on her next book because, after all, he’s writing it. Forced into a corner, Judith is ready to take drastic measures to salvage her reputation and her livelihood.

Not only is the plot of “Roman de Gare” top notch, but so is the acting. Pinon, not movie-star handsome, is an interesting choice for a leading man. Initially creepy and then endearing, he’s a joy to watch as we gradually begin to care what happens to him. And Dana’s Huguette, at first so abrasive, slowly softens as she interacts with her family and Pierre. Veteran Fanny Ardant brings elegance to the role of a novelists who can blithely rationalize cheating as acceptable behavior. “Roman de gare" translates as a best-seller, the type of novel one might find for sale at an airport or train station. And like a best-seller, “Roman de Gare” is engaging from beginning to end. (6/12/08)