Every Little Step - 4 smiles

Four years ago the casting for 19 parts for the revival of “A Chorus Line” was announced. The pool of applicants, in the thousands, snaked down Broadway. The documentary “Every Little Step” shows how this hopeful multitude of singers and dancers was winnowed down to a final few and gives us a rare peek into the audition process. There are stories here and it is fitting because “A Chorus Line” is about the real people behind those performers on stage. And these new stories are no less gripping than the original ones. One hopeful from Parsippany, NJ gamely takes the bus to New York, her dreams firmly in place. Another, a veteran, tries desperately to recreate whatever it was the judges liked in one of her earlier auditions. A third finds herself competing against her best friend. You clearly see how each really means it when he/she sings “I Really Need This Job.”

Interspersed throughout this drama are archival audiotapes and video footage of legendary choreographer-director Michael Bennett, composer Marvin Hamlisch and original cast members that clearly reveals how “A Chorus Line” came to be. The original co-choreographer Bob Avian, who directed the Broadway revival and is a central figure in “Every Little Step,” provides the cohesive element that bridges the past and the present. “A Chorus Line” ran on Broadway for 15 years and remains the longest-running American musical. “Every Little Step” taps into that ‘singular sensation’ and it’s impossible not to get caught up in the performers’ struggle to win a part in a Broadway musical. 4/24/09

Earth - 3 1/2 smiles

The documentary “Earth,” directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield and distributed by Disneynature, is marked by spectacular photography and beautiful images of our planet’s grandeur with a cautionary warning about the effects of global warming. Three storylines follow months in the lives of polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales. Mama polar bear emerges from hibernation with her two cubs while papa bear’s survival is challenged by prematurely melting arctic ice that limits his ability to find food. The elephant herd is migrating toward the floodwaters of the Okavango Delta while being stalked by lions and threatened by dehydration. And the two humpbacks, mother and baby, make the three thousand-mile trek from the tropical birthing waters to the feeding grounds of Antarctica. Two scenes not to be missed are the demoiselle cranes crossing the Himalayas and a great white shark fully suspended in mid-air grabbing a seal.

The film’s structure is fairly loose as the directors attempt to include as much eye-popping footage as possible. And as much as I like James Earl Jones’ voice, it doesn’t fit as narrator for this film. It’s too heavy and somber, especially for the lighter moments like when baboons find themselves knee-deep in water and baby ducks go for their first flying lesson. Nonetheless, it’s easy to get lost in nature’s majesty with time-lapse photography and aerial shots providing the most breathtaking special effects. The one thing that “Earth” doesn’t do is juxtapose the cruel alongside the beautiful. Any potentially upsetting scenes of animal-on-animal violence have been carefully trimmed. The stalk, the chase, and the initial pounce are shown, but nothing more. It’s as if the recognition that carnivores dine on other animals might be too distressing for young children to understand. But wild animals are not cuddly stuffed toys and even young children can learn to have respect for wild animals. “Earth,” which deserves to be seen by everyone, will whet your appetite for “Oceans,” due out on Earth Day, 2010. 4/23/09

Play the Game - 2 1/2 smiles

With absolutely no marketing, “Play the Game,” written and directed by Marc Fienberg, quietly slipped into a few Los Angeles theaters this weekend. Truly an oddball comedy, “Play the Game” is part romantic comedy and part bawdy romp and the pleasure in watching this movie is seeing Andy Griffith ‘do his thing.’ Although be aware that some of the humor can be uncomfortably blunt. David (Paul Campbell) sees himself as a ‘player’ when it comes to women and he wants to share his expertise with his widowed granddad, Joe (Griffith), hoping to give Joe a new social life. When Joe discovers the miracle of Viagra, he becomes the Don Juan of his retirement community. Meanwhile David has met someone who might fit his grandfather’s definition of love, but Julie (Marla Sokoloff) is not falling for his charms or his schemes.

“Play the Game” is definitely Andy Griffith’s movie and it’s a pleasure watching him ham it up as a senior looking for love in all the wrong places. Campbell and Sokoloff are effective as the youthful couple while the rest of the ensemble cast has more fun with the slapstick, especially Liz Sheridan (who played Seinfeld’s mother) who introduces Joe to Viagra. “Play the Game” is a bit naughty and plenty sweet and you should catch it soon before it disappears. 4/19/09

State of Play - 3 smiles

The screenwriters for “State of Play,” Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy, Billy Ray, do a remarkable job of condensing a nine-hour miniseries into a two-hour movie that results in something that is both coherent and engrossing. There’s no doubt that there are plot holes and questions left unanswered; however, the story unfolds with enough urgency and suspense to keep viewers involved. D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey’s (Russell Crowe) street smarts leads him to connect two unrelated murders and uncover collusion among some of the nation’s prominent political and corporate figures. McAffrey’s friend, U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending, is his party’s rising young star until his research assistant/mistress is brutally murdered and his secrets become headline news. As McAffrey and partner Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) try to uncover the killer’s identity, they discover a cover-up that not only threatens their lives but also threatens to shake up the power structure in the nation’s capitol.

“State of Play” boasts strong performances by its stellar cast. Crowe turns in a predictably convincing performance and his scenes with Rachel McAdams are punched up by their on-screen chemistry. Ben Affleck takes on the role originally given to Brad Pitt and his good looks and passion about politics makes him an affective congressman. Also compelling are Helen Mirren (McAffrey’s editor), Jeff Daniels (a politician who may hold crucial evidence) and Jason Bateman (a slimy player on the periphery of power). And it’s clear that this movie wants you to consider who is playing whom? “State of Play” is an intelligent movie that requires its audience to think. What a novel concept. 4/18/09

Sugar - 3 smiles

Although “Sugar” is set within the milieu of baseball, it’s really a humane look at the immigrant experience. “Sugar” tells the story of a young pitcher (Algenis Perez Soto) with a sweet nickname and a wicked curve ball who leaves his home in the Dominican Republic for the promises of success in America. His dream is tempered by language problems, competition from other players and a fan base that turns on those who don’t produce, even if we’re talking about the minor leagues. However, what Sugar dreams of having turns out to be different from what he really wants.

“Sugar” is not your typical rags-to-riches sports story, but a powerful character study of a ball player and his transformation into something greater than he expected – to live as a free and happy man doing what he really wants to do. You see, “Sugar” is really about the way America treats non-Americans, about the beauty of the Caribbean, the Midwest and the South Bronx, and about a young man full of desire and potential in a world that has a definite line between success and failure. Written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, “Sugar,” with its engaging story and strong cast, is reminiscent of “The Visitor” in impact; it is both sad and hopeful. 4/12/09

Fast & Furious - 2 1/2 smiles

This popcorn flick is full of high-octane chases, road races, fistfights and gunplay, which is probably a good thing because plot and character development are nonexistent. But what can you expect from the fourth installment of a street racing franchise that boasts ‘New model, original parts’? And as with the other three Fast & Furious movies, the cars and the stunts are the centerpiece. Vin Diesel reprises his role as ex-con fugitive Dominic Toretto and Paul Walker plays undercover FBI agent Brian O’Conner. An adrenalin-pumping opening sequence, the best in the film, involves a heist of a bunch of oil tankers in the Dominican Republic. Later, when Dom learns of the tragic death of someone he loves, he enters the US unnoticed by the authorities. After the funeral, he visits the crash site where he discovers clues to the possible murder. His need for revenge is tied to a drug kingpin who is looking for a new recruit to drive his heroin across the border from Mexico. Dom and Brian’s paths cross as they compete in a crazy race through the busy streets of LA’s Koreatown for a position that will give the winner access to the drug lord.

Diesel, looking fit and tough, plays a dangerous man with a moral code for living and seeking vengeance. The mutual respect between Diesel’s and Walker’s characters, established at the end of the first movie, creates an interesting dynamic on screen. Michelle Rodriquez and Jordana Brewster fill less important roles than they did originally until you realize that they’re there only to reprise their characters. And the primary villains (John Ortiz and Laz Alonso) are your typical bad guys. The true stars of the movie are the muscle cars and car aficionados should be satisfied. Directed by Justin Lin, the action sequences are well choreographed and the music is heavy with a Latin beat. However, after a while, everything seems redundant. If you saw “The Fast and the Furious,” you saw a better movie. 4/3/09