Nine - 1 frown

“Nine,” starring Daniel Day-Lewis, received a lot of hype before it opened. Unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to that hype even with a skilled actor like Day-Lewis, who, by the way, is miscast here. And there’s no story in Michael Tolkin and Anthony Minghella’s script. In fact, the narrative sections feel like they’re there to move our focus from one production number to the next. Each of the women in Guido’s (Day-Lewis) life enters, talks about her life, performs a song, and then fades away. While some of the numbers are effective: Penelope Cruz’s sensuality in “A Call from the Vatican,” Judy Dench’s surprising oomph in “Follies Bergere” and Fergie’s brassy turn as a whore who urges the adolescent Guido to “Be Italian,” others are not. And Day-Lewis’s singing skill is merely acceptable. Since the songs are more ornamental than integral to the story, what do you have? You’ve got a famous Italian director who’s facing a crisis with both his artistic career and his personal life. But neither Day-Lewis nor director Rob Marshall creates any reason for us to care about Guido. “Nine” is going on my list of 10 Worst Movies of 2009. 12/25/09

The Princess and the Frog - 3 1/2 smiles

Although “Up” will forever be my number one favorite animated film, “The Princess and the Frog” is certainly worthwhile viewing. It has all of the requisite ingredients: a plucky heroine, cute animal sidekicks (a jazz-loving crocodile and a firefly in love with a star), a fairy godmother type, a villain who uses black magic, Broadway-style musical numbers (penned by Randy Newman), and lots of romance and fun. The story, loosely based on ‘The Frog Prince’ fairy tale, focuses on Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), a hard-working waitress who holds down two jobs at eateries in New Orleans. Her dream is to earn enough money to own her own restaurant, a dream encouraged by her father (Terrence Howard) and her mother (Oprah Winfrey). Her best friend, Charlotte (Jennifer Cody), wants to marry a prince. This looks possible when Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) visits New Orleans. Unfortunately, he runs afoul of Dr. Facilier (Keith David), who turns him into a frog. Naveen convinces Tiana to kiss him, but instead of Naveen returning to human form, Tiana turns into a frog. With the help of Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), the crocodile and Ray (Jim Cummings), the firefly, they set out to find Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis), who is the only one who can combat the magic of Dr. Facilier.

From a visual standpoint, “The Princess and the Frog” is reminiscent of “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid,” Disney’s hand-drawn animation successes of twenty years ago. There’s just the right amount of jokes in the comedy to keep both younger and older audience members engaged. And the animal sidekicks are cute, but not too cute. The decision by directors Ron Clements and John Musker to use low profile voice talent is a wise choice, thereby preventing the audience from getting distracted by well-known voices. Randy Newman’s songs are catchy and set just the right tone for this romp through the streets and bayous of New Orleans. And with a message about never losing sight of what’s important, “The Princess and the Frog” is destined to be another Disney classic. 12/12/09

Invictus - 4 smiles

Invictus,” Clint Eastwood’s latest and starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, is not a bio-pic or a sports movie although it has elements of both. It is about reconciliation and forgiveness during a time in South Africa’s history where the possibility of violence is everywhere. The film, based on John Carlin’s book Playing the Enemy, takes place in the mid-1990s, just after Nelson Mandela’s election as the country’s first black president. Many of the country’s whites, Afrikaner nationalists still attached to a system that kept their black neighbors oppressed and disenfranchised, braced themselves for payback. Many of Mandela’s black supporters expect it, too, as their right after decades of brutal apartheid. But Mandela (Freeman) knows that getting revenge would be a disastrous course for the fragile democracy he leads. Instead, Mandela hopes to unite his country with a single goal: support the Springbok rugby team in their bid to win the World Cup. So an alliance develops between the president and Francois Pienaar (Damon), the Springbok captain. Pienaar’s struggle to persuade his team to accept the new social realities is a microcosm of Mandela’s larger project. Also illuminating the progress of racial understanding is the subplot about Mandela’s black bodyguards forced to accept their white colleagues as part of the security coterie. They proceed from hostility to wary tolerance to guarded warmth.

“Invictus” is the result of a master storyteller and Eastwood, working with a script by Anthony Peckham, clearly knows what he wants. This is an absorbing character study of a famous man during a brief period of his life; it is an investigation of the nature of leadership; it is an underdog team sports movie. It all works. And no one else could portray Mandela except Morgan Freeman. He adroitly conveys Mandela’s idealism and shrewd understanding of the importance of symbols and emotions. Freeman allows us to see a complicated man carrying the burden of a long imprisonment that resulted in estrangement from his family. Matt Damon, mastering a difficult accent, plays Pienaar with disciplined understatement. Even though you could argue that “Invictus” has a predictable ending, it hits you squarely in the heart nonetheless. This is a must see movie. 12/11/09

Everybody's Fine - 2 1/2 smiles

When I saw the previews for “Everybody’s Fine,” I thought it looked like an enjoyable, light movie, more dramedy than drama or comedy. And to top it off, with Robert DeNiro starring and Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, and Sam Rockwell co-starring, how bad could it be? Well, it isn’t bad exactly, but when you’re expecting one thing and get something else, you’re disappointed, aren’t you? There’s no comedy or drama at the core of this movie, no life’s lessons learned, which results in pretty bland fare. Sure, Frank Goode (DeNiro) has a few comic encounters as he journeys around the country visiting his four children, but they only generate a faint chuckle. And as far as family dysfunction goes, Frank’s excessive worrying and his children glossing over the truth by telling him ‘everybody’s fine’ isn’t very dramatic. In fact, everything about the story is pretty superficial. Frank is an ordinary guy and though he may have pushed his kids too much when they were younger, he’s definitely a loving dad intent only on ‘getting us all around the same table’ for Christmas. There is a twist at the end of this lackluster story, but it feels contrived, like writer-director Kirk Jones suddenly realized he needed some impact so he tossed in a little tragedy. “Everybody’s Fine” isn’t awful; it isn’t good. It’s…okay. 12/4/09

Old Dogs - 1 1/2 smiles

Thanksgiving weekend used to indicate a solid box office (after Memorial Day, Christmas and July 4). Now, apparently, it’s a dumping ground. How else can you explain the release of “Old Dogs”? Every attempt at comedy is not only obvious, but also forced, including lots of pratfalls and references to bear poop, dog urine, and human flatulence. Plus “Old Dogs” marks the last screen appearance of Bernie Mac, whose death resulted in the movie’s opening being delayed by about six months. It’s also the last film John Travolta made before the death of his son, Jett, although the rest of the Travolta clan, wife Kelly Preston and daughter Ella Bleu, have roles. Robin Williams has given a strong dramatic performance in the recent “World’s Greatest Dad,” but it makes you wonder why he’s having so much trouble with comedy. Gotta be the script - you think?

The two ‘old dogs’ are best buddies Charlie (Travolta) and Dan (Williams), who have been in business together for close to 30 years. On the eve of their signing a lucrative contract with a Japanese firm, Dan discovers that a 24-hour fling seven years ago with Vicki (Kelly Preston) resulted in the birth of fraternal twins Zach (Conner Rayburn) and Emily (Ella Bleu Travolta). With Vicki due to spend two weeks in jail on a civil disobedience charge, she needs Dan to take care of the children. This leads to a series of misadventures, including a camping trip, a golf game and visit to the zoo. “Old Dogs” really isn’t that funny. There are more enjoyable movies out there. 12/3/09

Red Cliff - 3 smiles

John Woo said in a recent interview that he had always wanted to make a Hollywood-big-budget-type movie in China. With “Red Cliff” he got his chance although it took almost 6 years from start to finish. The Battle at Red Cliff is as well known in Asia as the Trojan War is to Western audiences. And Woo said he wanted to create real people, not ‘superheroes of history.’ In a Los Angeles Times interview, he said, “These are the heroes I admired as a child. They’re men who are loyal to their country and loyal to their friends. They have a much smaller army but they defeat a much stronger and powerful enemy through the combination of teamwork, innovation, intelligence, confidence and courage.” Woo envisioned releasing a two-part film of almost five hours in China and paring that down to a single 2 ½-hour movie for American audiences. “Red Cliff” is an epic adventure, with stunning landscapes, dramatic naval engagements and strategic battle tactics enhanced with superb acting, historically accurate weapons and beautifully choreographed fight sequences.

Set is 208 A.D., “Red Cliff” tells of the battle between a power-mad imperial prime minister with a much larger army and an alliance of two warlords and their clans. The story also involves a beautiful woman (chiling Lin) who delays the prime minister with a beautifully performed tea ceremony; a wily tactician (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who develops a brilliant strategy that results in the general’s soldiers literally giving the beleaguered troops over 100,000 arrows; a military adviser (Tony Leung) who relies on the bravery of his men to overcome all odds. More than a dozen ships were built for the naval scenes with thousands more added digitally and between 700-1,500 Chinese soldiers appear as extras. Plus Woo added his signature white dove in an interesting sequence flying high over the enemy’s camp. What’s not to enjoy? Subtitles. 11/29/09

Me and Orson Welles - 3 smiles

“Me and Orson Welles,” a coming-of-age dramedy starring Zac Efron in a role that’s quite different from his High School Musical series, is set against the background of Orson Welles’ famous fascist-themed 1937 stage production of Julius Caesar. Efron plays Richard Samuels, one of two fictional characters in a book by Robert Kaplow, and it is through Richard’s eyes that we venture into the world of New York theater. At 17, Richard accidentally meets the then 22-year-old genius, wins a small role in the play, gets seduced by an ambitious assistant, Sonja (Claire Danes), the other fictional character, and becomes enthralled by everything theatrical. The emotional punch comes from the way the callous Welles first wins Richard with soft words of praise and camaraderie and then ultimately betrays him.

“Me and Orson Welles, directed by Richard Linklater, belongs wholly to British actor Christian McKay, who tears up the screen as the young, egocentric Welles. Welles’ broadcast of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds is a year away, Citizen Kane four years. But the married Welles has multiple mistresses and is unfazed about holding the entire cast hostage to his whims. And instead of a limousine, Welles rides in an ambulance (with sirens) because it’s the easiest way to get through traffic. Although McKay might not look 22, he portrays Welles so completely that we believe this is a man who will change radio, theater and film. Zac Efron is okay as Richard, but he’s not the reason to see this movie. 12/1/09

Twilight Saga: New Moon - 1 1/2 smiles

Hidden under all of the moping and sighing going on in “Twilight Saga: New Moon” is an interesting concept: the fear of aging. Unfortunately, director Chris Weitz ignores this and focuses on the love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob, much to the delight, of course, of pre-teens and teens. But with $142 million in box office receipts for the first weekend alone, the producers know what its audience wants: shirtless boys, longing glances, and Bella caught between two hunks (a werewolf and a vampire). The two most interesting characters come at the end of the movie: Dakota Fanning, who plays Jane, a high ranking guard in the Italian ‘royal family’ whose mental powers can cause excruciating pain to all vampires – though Bella seems immune. And Michael Sheen who plays Aro, one of three vampires who lead the Volturi and has the power to read minds – except he can’t read Bella’s. Each ooze menace and they bring life to the inert story. Too bad it’s at the end of the movie.

I am not a fan of the Twilight series. So as an objective viewer, I have to say “Twilight Saga: New Moon” is not a very good movie. The dialogue is cheesy, the story plods along and the script doesn’t demand much acting depth. Suffice it to say, Bella (Kristen Stewart) loves Edward (Robert Pattinson), a vampire who fears for Bella’s soul because of her association with him. He leaves and Bella cries, mopes, and resorts to taking dangerous risks with her life. Her best friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner), who has loved her from afar, becomes Bella’s confidant. But things get complicated when Jacob discovers he’s a werewolf. Then Bella receives startling news that has her flying to Italy to save Edward. 11/29/09

The Messenger - 3 smiles

“The Messenger,” starring Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster, takes a different look at the fallout of the Iraq War and its effect on soldiers and civilians. Foster captures the interior struggle of a man who keeps everything bottled up inside. Harrelson brings heart to the character of a recovering alcoholic who has secrets of his own. And Morton’s Olivia is filled with a deep sense of sadness, for the loss of her husband, but more for the loss of the man her husband was before he served in Iraq. Director Oren Moverman, having served four years in the Israeli army, knows the pressures soldiers live under and what it takes to pick up the pieces and move on with life.

Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery (Foster), a decorated hero, is shipped home after being wounded in Iraq. He’s assigned to work in the motor pool along with a special assignment: being a casualty notification officer to inform the next-of-kin of soldiers who have been killed in action. His new partner is Capt. Tony Stony (Harrelson), a veteran of the detail who quickly tutors Will about the job. Follow the script: get to the family before they hear anything in the media; do not engage emotionally with those they are notifying; do not hug or touch them; do not react. The job, obviously, is as emotionally draining as combat and Will is also dealing with his own issues. Because his girlfriend recently dumped him, the lonely Will is drawn to a new widow, Olivia (Samantha Morton). “The Messenger” is about respecting the sacrifice of the soldier, including the ones whose souls, rather than their bodies, are on the line every day. It will give you a lot to think about. 11/27/09

The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - 2 1/2 smiles

“The Bad Lieutenant” Port of Call New Orleans” is not a remake of the 1992 Abel Ferrera-directed “Bad Lieutenant.” The only similarity is a central character, a cop, who has moved to the dark side, yielding to drug addiction, gambling, and extortion. Nicholas Cage, who can act but hasn’t always in recent films, proves why he won an Oscar for his performance in “Leaving Las Vegas.” His character, Terence McDonagh, is in constant pain as a result of a back injury during Katrina and Cage conveys this through facial expressions and body movement. One shoulder higher than the other, a shuffle as he walks – you just know he hurts. As the movie progresses and Terence spirals out of control, Cage’s over-the-top acting works. However, there’s a lot about this film that doesn’t. There’s a dead alligator in the road, hit by a car, and maybe his friend seeming to smile as he ambles away. There’s a sequence featuring iguanas meant to represent Terence’s drug-induced hallucinations. Director Werner Herzog appears to have a fetish with reptiles, but these are distracting. His key villain, played by Xzibit, is not that scary and although Val Kilmer gets high billing, he’s barely in the movie. Eva Mendes is there to look good; there’s nothing challenging in her role as the clichéd ‘hooker with a heart of gold.’ And what’s with the awkward title? Better to call this movie ‘Port of Call New Orleans.’

This movie was better than I expected because Cage provides a compelling look at how a man’s struggle with pain leads to the slow disintegration of his moral compass. Eventually, doing what’s right means little to him yet he’s a cop and he has a case to solve. So if you decide to see this movie, see it for Cage’s performance, not for the story. 11/22/09

The Blind Side - 4 smiles

Sometime you like a movie just because it makes you feel good and it has a positive message. “The Blind Side” is such a movie. This is the true story of Michael Oher and the woman whose fierce love and determination to help him allows him to reach his potential. Director John Lee Hancock finds just the right tone, walking a fine line between manipulation and true emotion and mixing drama with bursts of comedy. Although there’s been some criticism about “The Blind Side” being ‘a paternalistic portrait of a deprived black youth being nurtured by a wealthy white lady,’ Hancock isn’t bothered. ‘From my standpoint I will only say that on that freezing night in Memphis, Leigh Anne didn’t stop the car and put Michael in the back seat because he was black. She did it because he was cold.’ (LA Times, Nov. 24, 2009, section D) Even though the central character is Michael, this is Bullock’s movie all the way. She portrays Leigh Anne perfectly and is the main reason to see this film. She makes us believe that Leigh Anne is a real person with her feistiness and steely compassion. Newcomer Quinton Aaron successfully conveys Michael as a gentle giant. While he rarely says more than a few words, he manages to convey his feelings through his facial expressions.

Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Baltimore Ravens. How he got there is the heart of this movie. With the help of a friend’s father and the school’s football coach, Michael is accepted to a private religious school. However, his grades are so poor that he’s not eligible to play. He has no home because the state took him away from his crack-addicted mother when he was young. He is wandering the streets, lost and alone, when Leigh Anne Touhy (Bullock) spots him. She and her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) recognize him since their son, S.J. (Jae Head) and daughter, Collins (Lily Collins) go to the same school. Leigh Anne’s invitation for Michael to spend the night turns into many as he becomes a part of the Touhy family. And with the help of supportive teachers, Michael’s grades improve and he is able to demonstrate his talent on the football field. Yes, “The Blind Side” is predictable, but it’s also a heartfelt story definitely worth seeing. 11/20/09

Note: Oher, now 23, signed a five-year contract with the Ravens worth about $13.8 million after helping Ole Miss reach the Cotton Bowl last season.

The Maid - 2 1/2 smiles

With “The Maid,” Chilean director Sebastian Silva has made a film that might touch on class differences, but is really a character study of Raquel (Catalina Saavedra), a live-in maid for the same family for more than 20 years. Raquel has no contact with her own family and has adopted this one as her own even though she really isn’t a family member. Nonetheless, she guards her territory as fiercely as a dog with a bone. Pilar (Claudia Celedon), the wife and mother of the family, decides that Raquel, who has just celebrated her 41^st birthday, needs help doing the housework. This threatens Raquel and her fierce competition with the other maids draws out the worst in her. Then Pilar hires Lucy (Mariana Loyola), an enthusiastic and self-confident young woman who handles Raquel’s attempts to get her to leave differently. Lucy, who is vitally alive and Raquel’s polar opposite, brings energy and excitement into Raquel’s life and we gradually see her begin to change.

At only 95 minutes long, “The Maid” seems much longer. And maybe it’s a credit to Silva and his co-writer Pedro Peirano that I never knew what was going to happen next. But that also adds to the meandering quality of this movie. Catalina Saavedra is effective as the taciturn Raquel, whose identity is tied to the family she has served for so many years. Her Raquel is empty although there are glimpses that she might change. Even so, Raquel is not someone I would want in my house. Subtitles. 11/19/09

A Christmas Carol - 2 smiles

Some of the visuals in Robert Zemeckis’ “A Christmas Carol” are amazing and the story remains fairly faithful to the original Dickens’ story. However, on the negative side, there’s some inappropriate humor, some out-of-place action and a lack of emotional connection that makes this version less than appealing. This is Zemeckis’ third motion capture film and it’s an improvement over “The Polar Express” (but I liked the story) and “Beowulf.” The figures in “A Christmas Carol” look almost real, which couldn’t be said for “The Polar Express.” And the voice work is uniformly good with Jim Carrey and Gary Oldman taking on a variety of roles. Also lending their talent is Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Colin Firth, and Cary Elwes.

The production, however, lacks emotional punch. It tells the familiar story, but there’s no heart. I especially had trouble with Scrooge’s transformation. One of my favorite versions is the 1951 version starring Alistair Sim and the change his Scrooge undergoes is touching and endearing. Unfortunately, Carrey’s change seems perfunctory. In addition, Zemeckis throws in some action scenes that would make Dickens roll over in his grave. Picture this: Scrooge is chased through the streets of London by an ominous black carriage drawn by horses with glowing red eyes. At one point in the chase, Scrooge shrinks to rodent size and chatters like Alvin the Chipmunk. And this wasn’t a short sequence. It went on and on and on. “A Christmas Carol” has a lavish look and lots of spectacle, but it lacks the magic this tale should evoke. 11/12/09

Fantastic Mr. Fox - 2 1/2 smiles

I like some of Wes Anderson’s films: “The Royal Tannenbaums” and “Rushmore,” mainly for their quirkiness. I also dislike some: “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” and “The Darjeeling Limited,” mainly because of their quirkiness. So it was with some anticipation and trepidation that I saw “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Unfortunately, this movie falls into the latter category and I’m still trying to discover why. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is an adaptation of a 1970 Roald Dahl story, using stop-motion and credible voice talent. While much of this production is engaging, the humor is uneven and the story grows repetitive, making this movie seem longer than 90 minutes. And it really seems more of an adult movie than one for children.

The film’s central theme revolves around a mid-life crisis and how it should be handled. Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney), a former chicken thief, has settled down, married his love, Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), had a son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman) and became a journalist. But he still yearns for the adrenalin-rush of his former life so he hatches a scheme to raid three loathsome farmers, not realizing the lengths they will go to retaliate. Also a story thread is Ash’s resentment of his father’s admiration of the athletic prowess of a cousin (Eric Anderson), making parenting a secondary theme. Prolonged chases and fights are the least interesting while the interactions of the various characters make for the best moments. And Mr. Fox’s universe is a fully realized vision of yellow and orange with its warm cottages and the almost colorless sterile underground industrial corridors. Nonetheless, “Fantastic Mr. Fox” falls short when it comes to evoking sufficient emotion; you should care what happens to the protagonist. 11/14/09

2012 - 2 smiles

Don’t drink any liquids before seeing “2012” because, at 2 ½ hours long, you’ll certainly need a bathroom break. Not that you’ll miss much, however. This movie is all about the special effects with bits of story in-between. Every kind of catastrophe can be found in this film, from mega-Richter-scale earthquakes, exploding volcanoes and monstrous tsunamis to capsized cruise ships, collapsing skyscrapers, and crashing plane. Director Roland Emmerich even manages to destroy the Vatican, topple the Washington Monument, and send California plunging into the Pacific. And if you really, really suspend your disbelief, you can enjoy this disaster spectacle. If you want the story to make sense, you’ve come to the wrong movie. Think about it. A limo escapes the crackling and buckling streets that destroys Pasadena. Our heroes evade a Yellowstone super-volcano on foot and in a rickety RV. And on the icy slopes near Mt. Everest, a car (with passengers) safely slides down the ramp of a huge cargo plane before the plane crashes

The story opens in 2009 when Dr. Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), scientific advisor to the President (Danny Glover), reveals that he uncovered evidence that the world is facing destruction. Three years later, the planet starts to destabilize and Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt), advisor to the President, is willing to make ruthless decisions on who lives and who dies. Meanwhile, writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) on vacation with his kids in Yosemite, has a conversation with a conspiracy fanatic (Woody Harrelson), who tells him about ‘space ships’ to escape the earth’s destruction are being built by the government. Jackson rushes back to LA in time to hustle his ex-wife, Kate (Amanda Peet), her boyfriend, Gordon (Tom McCarthy) and kids into his limo before LA falls apart. Eventually, this small group hooks up with Helmsley and Anheuser, just in time for Jackson to make the heroic gesture and save the day. Hope I didn’t give too much away. The special effects are spectacular and that would be the only reason to see “2012.” 11/15/09

Pirate Radio - 3 smiles

“Pirate Radio,” a series of loosely connected stories, is about a rebellious group of deejays whose love of rock-n-roll cause them to defy the British government in the late 1960’s. And the highlight of this movie is the music. Radio Rock, owned by Quentin (Bill Nighy), features popular disc jockeys, including an American known as The Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), well-known Gavin (Rhys Ifans); Bob (Ralph Brown), the 3-6 am guy people rarely see, and Simon (Chris O’Dowd), whose convinced no one likes him. After being kicked out of school, young Carl (Tom Sturridge) joins the group when his mother (Emma Thompson) sends him to spend some time with Quentin, his godfather. Carl quickly discovers that life aboard Radio Rock is sex, drugs and rock-n-roll although director Richard Curtis downplays much of the sex and a lot of the drug use. Meanwhile, cabinet member Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) is determined to shut down Radio Rock.

Because some of the vignettes don’t work, “Pirate Radio” is uneven in tone. And although the characters are mostly likable, you don’t really get to know them. The best comedic moments come from Branagh’s stuffed shirt politician and the ‘duel’ between The Count and Gavin. Ultimately, “Pirate Radio” is more about the music than anything else. There are numerous clips (from a few bars to whole songs) in the movie, making it a fairly comprehensive survey of late 60s-early 70s music, including songs by The Who, The Beach Boys, The Turtles, The Kinks, The Moody Blues, Procol Harem, The Supremes, David Bowie, Herb Alpert, and Cat Stevens, to name a few. (Gotta get the soundtrack.) “Pirate Radio” is entertaining and if it has a downside, it’s that the music outshines the narrative. 11/13/09

The Men Who Stare at Goats - 2 1/2 smiles

“The Men Who Stare at Goats” is a weird title for a weird movie. And if you like George Clooney and Jeff Bridges in goofy mode, then you’ll like this one more than I did. Not that I don’t like George Clooney and Jeff Bridges because I do. But this based-on-a-true-story-movie leaves a lot to be desired, the biggest problem being the weak narrative. In adapting Jon Ronson’s nonfiction book for a screenplay, Peter Straughan had to create a story (and an ineffective one at that) including Ewan McGregor’s character. For the first 45 minutes, the film is most interesting because it is content to play with the bizarre concept of a covert group of ‘psychic spies.’ Lyn Cassady (Clooney), an ex-Special Ops military officer, meets journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) in Kuwait. Cassady tells him about being a part of the ‘New Earth Army,’ a covert group led by Bill Django (Bridges), developing their psychic powers to become ‘Jedi warriors.’ Once we move beyond this amusing series of flashbacks, the movie gets less interesting.

There is one scene in the first half of the movie where Cassady demonstrates his psychic powers by staring at a goat and causing it to topple over. Producer Paul Lister explained that they tried using fainting goats, goats that are supposed to faint when scared. Unfortunately they didn’t faint, even with the loudest of noises. So director Grant Heslov was forced to digitize the goat. The ‘New Earth Army’ is based on the First Earth Battalion led by Jim Channon, a Vietnam veteran. He proposed that the military create a group that focused on the potential of the human mind and incorporated a lot of New Age elements. “The Men Who Stare at Goats” is a comedy and there are some humorous moments, but it doesn’t leave a lasting impact. 10/28/09

Precious - 4 smiles

“Precious,’ a harrowing tale of a 1987 Bronx teen, is both tragic and moving, hard to watch and uplifting. Ultimately, it’s a story of Precious’ journey to self-worth although this discovery comes with a price. Clareece Precious Jones, an obese 16-yer old girl who is still in junior high, excels in math but can barely read or write. At home, she is at the beck-and-call of her quick-tempered mother, Mary (Mo’Nique), and is pregnant with her second child as a result of rape by her father. When the principal of Precious’ school learns about the pregnancy, she arranges for her to go to an alternative school although Mary considers Precious too dumb to learn. She continually badgers Precious to go to the welfare office, which she finally does and faces uncomfortable questions from her case office, Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey). At school, under the patient eye of her teacher Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins to make progress with her reading and writing.

When this year’s Oscar nominees are announced, Gabby Sidibe will have a place alongside Carey Mulligan (“An Education”) for Best Actress. Hers is the kind of performance that’s hard to ignore because for two hours, Sidibe is Precious Jones. And we care what happens to her. Also amazing is Mo’Nique’s performance. Her Mary, full of anger and hate, is an ugly character and she puts everything in her performance. Mary emotionally and physically abuses her daughter in ways that are horrendous to watch and, on one occasion, she even tries to kill Precious by dropping a television on her. She, too, will earn an Oscar nomination. “Precious” is that rare human story that offers redemption without being overly manipulative. It’s one of the year’s best movies. 11/8/09

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant - 2 smiles

The first 30 minutes of “Cirque de Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” based on the best-selling young adult novels by Darren Shan, has a light tone and a sense of playfulness. If the film had stayed there, it would have been more enjoyable. Unfortunately, most of the film rehashes the been-there-seen-that battle of the vampires and “The Vampire’s Assistant” offers nothing new. Darren (Chris Massolgia) and his best friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson) are high school misfits. While playing hooky one day, they see a flyer for a freak show and decide to check it out. In an old dilapidated theater, they are entertained by various freaks such as a wolfman, a woman (Jane Krakowski) whose limbs grow back if they’re cut off, the bearded lady (Salma Hayek), a giant, Mr. Tall (Ken Watanabe) and Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly), a vampire who owns a multi-colored spider named Octa. The spider-obsessed Darren steals Octa, which bites Steve and puts him in a coma. To get the antidote, Darren agrees to become a half-vampire and serve as Crepsley’s assistant. Steve, however, who has long dreamed of becoming a vampire and now hates Darren, joins the group of ‘bad’ vampires.

All of the characters are introduced quickly without much development. Because the movie is based on a series of books, I assume that director/co-writer Paul Weitz plans more development in future episodes. But that doesn’t help this one. And the central actor, Chris Massolgia, is not strong enough to keep the audience engaged. Oh, John C. Reilly is good as Crepsley, but that’s not enough. Perhaps if we had a stronger story, “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” might have been more compelling. Maybe that’s what happens in chapter 2, but we’ll probably never know. 10/23/09

Amelia - 1 1/2 smiles

I was hoping that “Amelia” would soar. Unfortunately, it’s too leaden to get off the ground. This totally by-the-numbers bio-pic is bland, lacking any passion and insight. And although star Hilary Swank does resemble Earhart, hers is not an Oscar-worthy performance. The film opens in June 1937, with Earhart already on her way around the world. The bulk of the story is told in flashbacks, but this approach is sometimes awkward and often confusing, adding nothing to Amelia’s story. We meet Amelia before she is famous, when she is selected by publisher George Putnam (Richard Gere), who would later become her husband, to be a passenger on a transatlantic flight piloted by a seasoned veteran. This catapults Amelia into the spotlight and she uses her fame to feed her desire to fly. She becomes an influential role model for girls, befriends Eleanor Roosevelt (Cherry Jones), and has an affair with Gene (father of Gore) Vidal (Ewan McGregor) before reconciling with Putnam and planning her greatest challenge.

According to screenwriters Ron Bass and Anne Hamilton Phelan, the story is reasonably faithful to historical record: she was a spokeswoman for Lucky Strike cigarettes (even though she didn’t smoke). She promoted Amelia Earhart luggage and her own clothing line and frequently made the rounds as a paid speaker. Their Amelia is fearless, an independent spirit driven to fly, a heroic figure devoted to feminist causes. However, the Amelia in the movie tends to come across as reckless, self-centered and obsessed. Swank gives a credible performance although there is no chemistry between her and Gere’s character. And we know how it ends. Interestingly, Amelia’s continuing fame has more to do with the mystery of her disappearance than with her life’s accomplishments, but this movie isn’t into speculation. And that’s probably why “Amelia” just doesn’t take flight. 10/24/09

An Education - 4 smiles

“An Education,” perceptively directed by Lone Sherfig with outstanding performances by Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard, is clearly one of the best films this year. Jenny, a precocious 16-year-old high schooler cocooned in a claustrophobic world of school and home, is aching to feel everything the world has to offer. Her encounters with the much older David (Sarsgaard) provide her with experiences not contained in a typical syllabus. David proves to be a grifter so charming and so good at conning people that even Jenny’s parents (Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour) encourage their relationship.

Director Sherfig hits the right tone in Nick Hornby’s script – she keeps everything light. But at the core of the story is the fundamental dilemma, life vs. education. And in the early 1960s, the time period for “An Education,” there weren’t many doors open to women. Certainly learning about life with David makes more sense to Jenny than being bored and studying Latin. Mulligan brings intelligence and strength to her role, transforming Jenny from gawky girl to sophisticated woman. She lights up the screen with a charisma reminiscent of a young Audrey Hepburn. Sarsgaard is a perfect David, creating a man who is both fascinating and slimy and certainly less emotionally mature than Jenny. The excellent supporting cast also includes Olivia Williams and Emma Thompson as strong-willed educators with opposite responses to Jenny’s situation. See “An Education” for Carey Mulligan’s performance. She’s the heart and soul of the movie. You won’t be disappointed. 10/16/09

About "An Education"

Newcomer Carey Mulligan is gaining a lot of Oscar buzz for her portrayal of Jenny, a high school senior who learns about life and love in “An Education.” Mulligan’s enchanting performance is reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn in “A Breakfast at Tiffany's” as her Jenny blossoms on screen and she transforms herself from an actor into a star. Behind the scenes, Nick Hornby’s understanding script and director Lone Scherfig’s gentle guidance bring this story, based on an eight-page memoir, to life and is really worth seeing. Lynn Barber, who published her brief memoir in a magazine, has said that her experiences with David, the older man who provides Jenny’s ‘education,’ made her a better journalist because she learned not to take things at face value. Mulligan’s next major role will be as Gordon Gekko’s daughter in the upcoming “Wall Street” sequel, which will be released next year.

Where the Wild Things Are - 2 smiles

The reason Maurice Sendak’s picture book, Where the Wild Things Are, has remained so popular is there are different ways to interpret what the 10-sentence story means. However, director Spike Jonze, in co-writing the script with Dave Eggers, had to enhance the plot and therein lies the problem. All of the subtlety and imagination is gone. Because the bulk of the movie is spent with the creatures, Jonze and Eggers give them specific characteristics, which appear to be aspects of Max’s personality. So Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini), the giant monster who likes to destroy things, represents Max’s anger. KW (Lauren Ambrose) embodies the love Max is capable of giving and the large goat Alexander (Paul Dano), who complains that no one listens to him, signifies Max’s fragile self-esteem. There’s also Judith (Catherine O’Hara), who undermines Max’s authority with her sarcasm. The other Wild Things must correspond to something in Max, but I’m not sure what. And what’s with the two owls that KW likes so much? Finally, there’s only one way to interpret the significance of what happens to Max: When he finds himself in the role of a grown-up dealing with a group of angry and unruly children, Max gains insight into his own behavior. Nonetheless, it becomes tedious watching so much quarreling going on.

The creatures, a combination of the Jim Henson Creature Shop and computer-generated facial features, look great. And the world Jonze creates is reminiscent of Sendak’s work. Max Records, who plays Max, has an incredibly expressive face, a necessary ingredient in playing this angry nine-year-old. Catherine Keener plays his mother and Mark Ruffalo has a don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-him cameo. However, this is not a whimsical story and young children will find it hard to follow. At least read the book to them before going to see “Where the Wild Things Are.” Hopefully, you won’t be bored. 10/18/09

About "The Damed United"

I saw "The Damned United" recently and listened to a Q & A with its star, Michael Sheen ("The Queen" and "Frost/Nixon"). The screenplay for "The Damned United," an adaptation of a novel about Brian Clough, one of England's most successful soccer (football) managers, is by Peter Morgan, who also wrote "The Queen" and "Frost/Nixon." Sheen explained how he and Morgan collaborated on the 'United' script while Sheen was working on "Frost/Nixon." Because both men had read the novel, which focuses more on Clough's failures, their back-and-forth dialogues provided the revisions for the script.

This movie is not really about soccer, but about the Shakespearean themes of pride and ambition, about Clough's character flaws that prove almost career ending. Clough is both hero and villain in this intriguing movie and Clough's friend and assistant manager Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall) brings out the best in him while Don Revie (Colm Meaney), the celebrated coach of the #1 team in England, Leeds United, brings out the worst. Clough was a controversial figure in the British press, opinionated and arrogant, but his behavior hides his pain at not being able to play soccer because of an injury. Sheen can be seen as the White Rabbit in "Alice in Wonderland" and as a character in the computer in a remake of "Tron."

Coco Before Chanel - 2 smiles

“Coco Before Chanel,” starring Audrey Tautou, is visually attractive and mildly diverting. But because director Anne Fontaine focuses more on Coco’s early years and presents Coco as a demanding narcissist, it’s hard to really get involved in Coco’s life. After a brief introduction showing a young Coco and her sister being abandoned at an orphanage by their father, we shift quickly to a twenty-something Coco (Tautou) and Adrienne (Marie Gillain) singing for their supper in a cabaret. There she meets Etienne (Benoit Poelvoorde), a wealthy aristocrat, her on-again/off-again lover. Coco moves in with Etienne, benefiting from his generosity and resentful of his demands. Here she learns how to ride horses, makes hats for his friends and falls in love with his British financial adviser, Arthur Capel (Alessandro Nivola)

Although Tautou looks charming in Coco’s boyish outfits, her Coco is aloof and often unapproachable, making it difficult to have any empathy for her character. The sparkle in Tautou’s eyes, which is her most engaging quality, is nowhere in evidence. “Coco Before Chanel” may provide a back-story for the woman who had such a huge impact on the 20^th century fashion industry, but it gives no insights into how she developed from a seamstress at the orphanage to the legend she has become in the final scene. Subtitles. 10/1/09

The Invention of Lying - 1 1/2 smiles

“The Invention of Lying,” written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson, has an interesting premise and the ever-beautiful and engaging Jennifer Garner, but it seems more like an overly long comedy sketch rather than a cohesive movie. The setting is an alternate universe where people can only tell the truth, even if it means blurting out, ‘I loathed almost every minute that I worked for you.’ Most of the funny moments center around how much of a loser Mark Bellison (Gervais) is, but that’s humorous for about 10 minutes. Then it’s tiresome. When Bellison comforts his dying mother (Fionnula Flanagan) with tales of a glowing afterlife, complete with mansions for everyone, everyone believes him and asks for more. That’s when “The Invention of Lying” shifts into another gear with Bellison finding fame and fortune as a Moses figure, as the only one who talks to the man in the sky.

Although more than a half of the movie satirizes religious belief, specifically Christianity, the problem is, nothing is funny. Yes, Bellison presents the revelations from the man in the sky on pizza boxes. Two pizza boxes, get it? Briefly amusing. Gervais the actor seems to be working overly hard to manufacture laughs that aren’t there. But Jennifer Garner as Anna, the woman Bellison loves, is charming and a pleasure to watch. If you get roped into seeing this movie, you might want to watch for cameos from Tina Fey, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Guest, Ed Norton and Jason Bateman. Otherwise, skip this one and catch it on cable. 10/3/09

Zombieland - 3 smiles

“Zombieland” is a fun romp, full of witty dialogue, distinctive characters and creative (but not necessarily credible) events. Suspend your disbelief and venture out on a journey of survival. The narrator is Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), a lanky, curly-haired young man, who shares his rules for survival, such as ‘Be wary of bathrooms.’ That’s where you can be taken unawares by zombies. On his way to his Ohio hometown, Columbus meets Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a machismo redneck and Columbus’s polar opposite. If Columbus believes retreat is often the wisest choice, Tallahassee is a zombie’s worse nightmare. It’s hard enough for Columbus and Tallahassee to negotiate their own alliance, but when they meet Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), things really become complicated. These savvy sisters are not above leaving the men without their car or weapons. Eventually, the four travel to Pacific Playland, a place rumored to be zombie-free, with a stopover in Beverly Hills and a very funny Bill Murray cameo.

Screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick provide some genuinely humorous lines and situations like Columbus’s ongoing list of survival rules, the discussion Little Rock has with Tallahassee about Miley Cyrus and Tallahassee’s unending quest for Twinkies. Director Ruben Fleischer keeps the action moving at such a brisk pace that you really don’t have time to dwell on things that don’t work. Stone and Breslin are effective as the conniving sisters, but “Zombieland” belongs to its male leads. The contrast between Eisenberg’s dweeb and Harrelson’s cocky slayer makes for great chemistry. “Zombieland” does just about everything right. 10/5/09

Whip It - 2 1/2 smiles

If “Whip It,” directed by Drew Barrymore, succeeds, it’s because of its star, Ellen Page even though she looks younger than she did in “Juno.” If it doesn’t, it’s because the story doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Page plays 17-year-old Bliss Cavendar, who’s trapped living in Bodeen, Texas and participating in an endless string of beauty pageants that her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) insists she enter. On a trip to Austin, Bliss discovers roller derby and she’s so excited by the sport that she attends the tryouts, lying about her age. Improbably, Bliss demonstrates uncanny speed and becomes the newest skater for the Hurl Scouts, joining Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig), Smashley Simpson (Barrymore), Bloody Holly (Zoe Belle) and Rosa Sparks (Eve). Of course, Bliss’s addition to the team sparks the quality of their play, taking them from last to second and the showdown match comes on the same evening as a pageant Bliss promised her mother she would attend.

Screenwriter Sauna Cross has left out a sense of what would compel someone to strap on a pair of skates and roll around a track throwing punches, dodging kicks and risking serious physical injury. However, what is strong is the relationship between Page and Wiig, who becomes Bliss’s surrogate big sister and between Page and her best friend Pash (Alia Shawkat). For her directing debut, Barrymore keeps things light and the roller derby scenes are convincing. “Whip It” is a typical coming-of-age story, but, if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief, it works. 10/2/09

A Serious Man - 2 smiles

The Coen Brothers’ movies tend to be either love ‘em or hate ‘em and “A Serious Man” is no exception. The depressing world of protagonist Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a Job-like character, is populated with such unpleasant people. Larry lives in a middle-class Jewish neighborhood in a suburb in the Midwest in the 1960s. And his troubles fall like rain: his wife plans to leave him for an odious man named Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed); someone has been writing anonymous letters to the tenure committee maligning him; a student has tried to bribe him for a better grade; his son, about to be Bar Mitzvahed, is more interested in pot and F Troop; his daughter spends all of her time in the bathroom washing her hair; and his unemployed brother (Richard Kind), who has a continually draining sebaceous cyst, is an albatross around his neck. All Larry wants to know is why he’s so sorely tried because he’s done his best to be a serious man and his visits to three rabbis provide no solace or insight.

From what I’ve read, the movie is strongly autobiographical; however, the Coens’ characters range from dislikable to despicable, with very little sympathy to redeem them. Even Larry seems to be a caricature rather than a real person. And if you don’t care what happens to the main character, then what? You leave the theater with a host of questions like why the Coens inserted the story about the dentist and the goy or what the preface, a Polish fable with Yiddish subtitles, means. At one point, Larry lectures his class about Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, stating, ‘…we can never know what’s going on.’ Is that the point? 10/4/09

Bright Star - 3 1/2 smiles

What English teacher would not enjoy a story that brings to life John Keats’ poetry? And for all those English students who have had to struggle though Keats’ Endymion, or “Ode to a Nightingale,” “Bright Star” provides background information that helps to explain the meaning behind his words. “Bright Star” concerns the latter years of poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw), who died of tuberculosis in 1821 at the age of 25. At this time, Keats was involved in a love affair with his neighbor, Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) and the story is told from her perspective. They do not seem like a good match when they first meet. Fanny is obsessed with fashion and knows nothing about poetry while Keats agonizes over negative criticism to his published works. To make matters worse, Keats’ friend Charles Brown (Paul Schneider) considers Fanny superficial and continually denigrates her. Nonetheless, they fall in love and plan to marry until Keats fading health sends him to Italy.

This is Abbie Cornish’s movie from beginning to end, with her remarkable performance enhancing the credibility of Fanny and Keats’ romance. Although Whishaw does an adequate job as the fragile Keats, tormented by poverty and illness, when Cornish is on the screen, she dominates. Her radiant beauty and impassioned speeches deliver an emotional impact. And a Best Costume Design nominee might be Janet Patterson, who has created some visually stunning costumes for “Bright Star.” “Bright Star” is a tribute to the poet, the love of his life and the period in which he lived. 9/23/09

Fame - 2 1/2 smiles

“Fame,” a variety show loosely held together with a thin plot, relies solely on the musical elements to keep the audience engaged. One number, the lunchroom scene, exudes a toe-tapping energy and Naturi Naughton’s powerful interpretation of “Out There on My Own” evokes an emotional response. Most routines, however, though visually stimulating, are not really memorable. And the title song is not used until the closing credits. What’s that all about?

“Fame” is a PG version of the 1980 original, using a similar general format: students at a performing arts high school. But there are too many characters for any meaningful development, which means writer Allison Burnett takes the easy way out, relying on teenage stereotypes: the shy girl trying to fit in, the angry rebel who needs to get in touch with his sensitive side, the classical pianist finding her dreams in hip-hop, and the dancer who finds her dreams fulfilled. The standout is Naturi Naughton, who has skill both as an actor and a singer. The others seem to be cast for their ability to sing or dance, not act. And all are certainly older than high school students. The all-star adult cast, Kelsey Grammer (musical coach), Bebe Neuwirth (dancing), Mega Mullaly (singing) and Charles S. Dutton (acting) are wasted. 9/27/09

The Boys Are Back - 2 1/2 smiles

I first became aware of Clive Owen when I saw “Croupier,” a 1998 movie about a down-on-his-luck writer who takes a job as a casino croupier to make ends meet. I’ve since followed Owen’s career, including “Greenfingers” (2000), “Gosford Park” (2001), “King Arthur” (2004), “Inside Man” (2006), and “The International” (2009) and was disappointed when he did not become the latest James Bond. And while “The Children of Men” proved Owen is an exceptional dramatic actor, his latest, “The Boys Are Back” gives him an opportunity to demonstrate his acting chops in a smaller, more restrained story. Owen plays Joe Warr, a British-born sports writer who lives and works in Australia. When his wife dies of cancer, he is left alone to care for his eight-year-old son, Artie (George MacKay). Joe, never having had a close relationship with Artie, finds it difficult to handle his young son, who’s not coping with the loss of his mother. Artie seems normal one moment, angry the next, then moody and uncommunicative. Things get more complicated when Joe’s older son from a previous marriage, Harry (Nicolas McAnulty) arrives to spend the summer.

At the heart of “The Boys Are Back” are the father/son relationships and although the interaction between Joe and Artie and Harry is believable, it’s not as compelling as it could be. For whatever reason, director Scott Hicks keeps the audience at a distance so we really don’t tap into the emotion. Sure we can feel for a man who has to be father and mother to a young child, but we haven’t been pulled into the emotional core of the story. Nonetheless, it’s refreshing to see Clive Owen in a role other than an action hero. “The Boys Are Back” tells an interesting story and is technically adept, but lacks a visceral punch. 9/25/09

Paris - 2 smiles

The problem with “Paris” is director Cedric Klapisch provides a lot of snapshots of people’s lives without fully entering into any of them. So you meet many people and get snippets of love, illness, jealousy, depression, loneliness, and crass behavior with immigration issues thrown in for good measure. But no big picture although protagonist Pierre (Romain Duris) admits at the end of the movie, ‘That’s Paris. No one’s ever happy. We always grumble.’ Is that the point of this meandering 130 minutes of a movie? Maybe the point is that there is no point.

Pierre (Duris), a cabaret dancer, has a life-threatening heart ailment that a transplant may or may not fix. So he bides his time, experiencing life at a distance from his balcony. Taking care of him is his sister Elise, (Juliette Binoche), who moves into his apartment with her three children. Roland (Fabrice Luchini), a university professor, falls for one of his students, Laetitia (Melanie Laurent also in ‘Inglorious Basterds’). Meanwhile Jean (Albert Dupontel), a vendor at an open-air market, flirts with Elise and has mixed feelings about his ex-wife Caroline (Julie Ferrier). There are two or three other story lines as well. The only relationship that’s engaging is between Pierre and his sister; the others are not developed enough for you to care what happens to them. However, Klapisch does a more than adequate job of revealing the beauties of a Paris that the average tourist never sees. Subtitles. 9/22/09

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs - 3 smiles

“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs “ does have a cautionary message about gluttony, obesity and genetically-altered food. But the underlying meaning will not be foremost in your mind as you enjoy 3D hotdogs falling toward you and giant donuts jumping off the screen followed by a disaster spoof of a worldwide ‘foodalanche.’ Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) is the young man responsible for the initially welcome but eventually destructive plague of food. He has always wanted to help but his inventions often go astray, like his spray on shoes (that can’t be taken off) and his ratbirds (Ratbirds? Who wants ratbirds?). In an effort to help the ailing economy of his island home, Swallow Falls, Flint invents the Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator, which seeds clouds with food and results in food falling from the sky. His hamburger rain attracts world attention, including a weather reporter named Sam (Anna Faris).

Highly entertaining sequences include Flint’s courtship scene with Sam set inside a giant golden palace made of Jell-O, Flint’s monkey fighting giant Gummi bears and sentient roasted chickens. Although the 3D experience will keep very young children engaged for a while, the complex story and food puns (‘You may have seen a meteor shower, but you’ve never seen a meatier shower’) will eventually lose them. But with hamburgers, ice cream, steaks, and candy falling from the sky, what’s not to enjoy? 9/20/09

Love Happens - 2 smiles

Romantic comedies as a genre offer no surprises because the script follows a formula. And with expectations come problems. When Brandon Camp & Mike Thompson set out to craft a script, they ended up writing not a romantic comedy but a drama. Sure there’s a romance and there are some humorous moments, but this is a drama about Burke Ryan coming to grips with the loss of his wife. Burke (Aaron Eckhart) is a motivational speaker with a best selling book about confronting grief and moving on with life. The irony is Burke uses his career as a way to avoid dealing with his own loss. His manager (San Fogler) persuades Burke to spend a week in Seattle, Burke’s hometown. Here Burke meets Eloise Chandler (Jennifer Aniston), a florist who has her own relationship issues. With Eloise’s help, Burke is able to confront his unresolved issues and open himself to love again.

The biggest flaw in “Love Happens” is the way it’s marketed. Because it’s sold as a romantic comedy, you expect more of a balance between the ‘boy’ and ‘girl.’ And although ‘boy does meet girl’ and ‘boy gets girl,’ this is all about Burke. Aniston’s character is not well developed. Sure she has some quirky habits, like writing obscure words behind paintings in the hotels where she provides floral arrangements. But she really doesn’t have much to do other than act as a foil for Burke. You get to know more about Walter (John Carroll Lynch), a participant in Burke’s grief workshop who has lost everything after the death of his 12-year-old son. Eckhart is engaging enough and both he and Aniston look beautiful on the big screen. “Love Happens” is a tolerable story dealing with life’s tragedies. However, if you decide to see it, leave your expectations at home. 9/19/09

The Informant! - 2 smiles

Either you’ll like “The Informant!” or you’ll hate it. Either you’ll enjoy Matt Damon’s portrayal of the duplicitous Mark Whitacre or you won’t. Either you’ll get pleasure from Whitacre’s outrageous behavior or you’ll say, ‘Enough!’ In 1992, a corporate vice president of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Mark Whitacre, confesses to an FBI agent (Scott Bakula) that ADM is fixing the price of lysine, an essential amino acid. For close to three years, Whitacre assists the FBI in gathering evidence by secretly taping business meetings around the world. Unfortunately for the FBI, some of Whitacre's accusations are true and some aren’t and they have trouble sorting it all out. You see, Whitacre suffers from manic-depression, also known as bipolar disorder, typified by grandiosity and self-delusion. Needless to say the FBI case shifts focus when they discover that Whitacre embezzled at least $9 million from ADM.

Matt Damon, 30 pounds heavier with an ugly toupee, plays Mark Whitacre straight, which balances his voice-over and the other silliness going on in the film, including Marvin Hamlisch’s circus music in the background. What is amusing, though, is Whitacre’s stream-of-consciousness: a clue that he is not tuned into what is going on around him. For example, he wonders if polar bears know that their black noses give them away; whether his car is pronounced Porsh-uh or Porsh; that his hands are his best feature. What can I say about a movie whose strength is its voice-over narration? 9/18/09

Extract - 1 smile

“Extract” is supposed to be a comedy. Guess what? It’s not funny. And the fault lies with an empty script. The actors, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Ben Affleck and Mila Kunis do their best, but there’s only so much you can do with a stupid premise and silly dialogue. Joel Reynold (Bateman) is the sexually frustrated owner of a company that makes flavor extracts. It he’s not home by a certain time every night, his wife, Suzie (Wiig) dons sweatpants, which means no sex for Joel. His bartender buddy, Dean (Affleck) talks him into hiring a young stud to pose as a pool boy and seduce Suzie. This will leave Joel guilt free to have an affair of his own with the new temp, Cindy (Kunis). Unbeknownst to Joel, Cindy is a con artist who wants to get closer to Step (Clifton Collins Jr.), who had a work-related accident, and the insurance money Step is going to get.

Didn’t you see all of this in the promotional clips before “Extract” opened? If you did, you saw the best parts of the movie. 9/17/09

The September Issue - 2 1/2 smiles

“The September Issue,” a documentary about Vogue’s powerful editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and the process behind creating the September Issue, the issue that typically dictates the fashion trends for the coming year, is interesting enough. However, traditional runway shows that result in fashions being in the stores six to eight months later now seem irrelevant as do the huge catalogue-like fashion magazines. Designs can be seen online minutes after a designer shows them and purchased soon after with knock-offs appearing in malls at a fraction of the price. The Internet allows the convenience of shopping any time, anywhere and with the economic shift, the fashion industry faces a huge challenge.

Nonetheless, if you want to get a glimpse behind the scenes of a woman who did have (and maybe still has) huge power in the fashion industry, “The September Issue” will give you that look. And if you’re a fashionista, you’ll enjoy watching Wintour as she oversees photo spreads of some beautiful, some trendy, some awful – but all expensive – clothes. Wintour is the top dog and all of her underlings know it as they scramble to keep her happy. But her creative director Grace Coggington, who has worked for Wintour for years and creates beautiful photographs that succeed on their own as art, is often willing to contradict her boss. So if Wintour is the one who dictates the direction of clothing trends, Coggington is responsible for the artistic style that keeps Vogue the leader. Wintour can boast that the 2007 September Issue was the biggest ever, but, according to an LA Times article, Vogue is a third slimmer than last year and Vogue’s ad pages decreased 36%. Change happens. So what you see in “The September Issue” might be a picture of the past. 9/10/09

9 - 3 smiles

“9” is an expansion of director Shane Acker’s 2005 Oscar-nominated animated short by the same name. And like “Wall-E” and “Terminator: Salvation,” “9” deals with a post-apocalyptic world, only this time humans and most of the machines they battled have died. The survivors are a series of puppet-like rag dolls made out of burlap and animated by one visionary scientist before he, too, died. Number 9 (voiced by Elijah Wood) awakens not knowing where he is. He is rescued by Number 2 (Martin Landau), but 2 is then carried off by a mechanical beast. 9’s desire to rescue him is vetoed by Number 1 (Christopher Plummer). 9 goes after him anyway, accompanied by 5 (John C. Reilly) and 7 (Jennifer Connelly).

“9” hardly compares to the visual and emotional feast provided by “Wall-E,” but it stands on its own as a speculative tale about life after man destroys himself although Acker doesn’t answer all of the questions he poses. Perhaps he keeps the action moving so he won’t have to. Acker does, however, provide some intriguing blasted city scenes and menacing metal antagonists. Maybe even more menacing than the recent “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” “9” is an enjoyable fast-paced science fiction adventure aimed more at the teen viewer than younger children. Some of the scenes are too intense for young audiences, hence the PG-13 rating. 9/11/09

In the Loop - 3 smiles

Although you can’t summarize the plot of “In the Loop,” a political satire, in a few sentences, the dialog is hilarious and it challenges the audience to be alert enough to catch the jokes as they fly by. For example, a dovish General Miller (James Gandolfini) explains his opposition to war: ‘Once you’ve been there, once you’ve seen it, you never want to go back unless you have to. It’s like France.’ Or when a liberal American cabinet secretary (Mimi Kennedy) greets a young aide wandering aimlessly around the office: ‘Hanging, Chad?’ The movie opens in London, where Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), a small-time cabinet minister, gives one interview vaguely opposing an impending US/British co-invasion of an unnamed Middle Eastern country before making another statement vaguely supporting it. The Prime Minister’s Director of Communications, Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), whose creative use of profanity adds to the humor, rushes into contain the bumbling Foster. Of course, events spiral from there.

“In the Loop” belongs to Capaldi, who calls General Miller ‘General Flintstone’ and ‘General Shrek’ and insults others by calling them: ‘Ron Weasley,’ ‘Frodo,’ ‘Charlotte F***ing Bronte,’ and ‘J. Edgar F***ing Hoover.” He’s truly a terrifying character, but a master of the insult. Directed by UK TV veteran Armando Iannucci, this is not a film about real US/British policy, but a satirical statement about the manner in which politicians will manipulate a situation to their advantage, throwing ethics, evidence and logic out the window. The bottom line, after all, is getting what you want. It’s easy to think this is how governments really do make decisions. Scary thought. 9/5/09

Gamer - 1 smile

If you’ve seen “The Matrix” or “The Running Man,” you’ve already seen better movies. Even the more recent “Death Race” is better. Directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, based on their script, don’t seem to care that the story barely makes sense and character development is nonexistent. Sure, there’s a hero, Kable (Gerard Butler) and a villain, Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall), but you don’t really care what happens to either. There’s no real emotion at the center of this movie although Neveldine/Taylor seem to have a vague message about what happens when society becomes addicted to computers and gaming. The fact that Lionsgate refused to screen “Gamer” before it opened says it all. And negative word-of-mouth should finish its box office chances. 9/4/09

My One and Only - 3 smiles

Where Demetri Martin (“Taking Woodstock”) does not have enough screen presence to engage our attention or compete with stronger personalities, 17-year-old Logan Lerman, who stars with Renee Zellweger in “My One and Only,” has the magnetism necessary to anchor this movie. Inspired by incidents in the life of actor George Hamilton, Lerman plays 15-year-old George, who, along with his older half-brother, Robbie (Mark Rendell), is pulled out of school by their mother Anne (Zellweger) in the summer of 1953. Anne, disillusioned with her philandering bandleader husband (Kevin Bacon), decides to hit the road in search of a new life and a new man. Their travels take them to Boston, Pittsburgh and St. Louis as Anne attempts to charm a former boyfriend (Steven Weber), an army colonel (Chris Noth) and a storeowner (a funny David Koechner). George’s interests lie in writing, but their continual movement prevents him from making any connections in school. Finally, they head to Hollywood.

Directed by Richard Loncraine, “My One and Only” has a classy look from the 1953 powder-blue Cadillac Coupe de Ville convertible that conveys mother and sons from place to place to the authentic costumes Zellweger wears. And Zellweger is enjoyable to watch. Her Ann is a beautiful woman who’s used to getting her way even if she often refuses to recognize that at her age, she can’t just jump into the marriage market and compete with younger women. Zellweger acknowledges Ann’s fears and plays her as a strong woman. Although Lerman is the straight man to Zellweger’s Southern Belle and Rendell’s gay actor brother, he’s articulate enough and strong enough to hold his own with the adults. “My One and Only” is a heart-warming late summer movie and worth seeing. 8/27/09

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard - 1 frown

I often wonder how studios green light certain movies and not others. “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard” is inane and stupid and Jeremy Piven’s character, Don Ready, a fast-talking car salesman, is a hustler and a huckster and there’s nothing likable about him. Or any of the other characters, for that matter. The humor is cheap and easy, often relying on shock value and potty talk. And after a while, everything becomes redundant. Even a cameo by Will Farrell can’t save this loser. “The Goods” doesn’t deliver and I’m embarrassed I even saw it. How could a studio think this movie would have wide appeal? 8/30/09

Taking Woodstock - 1 1/2 smiles

“Taking Woodstock,” about how the legendary festival came together for a few days of “Peace, Love and Rock ‘n Roll” during the summer of ‘69, is a huge waste. Wasted is the chance to tell a gay acceptance story set against the backdrop of this age-defining happening. Wasted is the casting of Liev Schreiber as Vilma, a 6’3” cross-dressing marine, especially because you learn so little about his character. Wasted is a film that is supposed to celebrate the spirit of Woodstock but barely scratches the surface. You never even get close to the musicians and their music. And, finally, wasted is the two hours spent watching this movie.

Director Ang Lee does explain how Woodstock came to be, but he tells his story in a series of fragments rather than a cohesive whole and most of the scenes and characters are flat and underdeveloped. The weakest of these is both the character Elliot and the actor who plays him. Elliot is a shy fellow trying to get somewhere and never quite succeeding. And Demetri Martin is not a forceful enough presence on screen to hold our attention or make Elliot worth caring about. Luckily, Lee surrounds him with a fantastic array of actors, including Imelda Staunton, as his Russian-immigrant mother haunted by her past experiences; Henry Goodman, as his recluse father whose interaction with the hippies gives his life meaning; Schreiber; and Emile Hirsch, as a disturbed Vietnam war vet. Perhaps at the heart of “Taking Woodstock” is the coming-of-age-coming-out-of-the-closet story of Elliott, but Lee seems to keep the emotional and social implications at bay. So perhaps not. Bottom line: there’s nothing new or interesting here. 8/28/09

Shorts - 1 1/2 smiles

“Shorts,” written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, tells the story of a boy who finds a rainbow rock that grants wishes in a creative way. The narrative is separated into chapters with a voice-over narrator and the chapters are not chronological. This gives the movie the feel of reading a collection of short stories. Unfortunately, children will have trouble following the plot. But Rodriguez has thrown in enough silliness (telephone ears on one boy, a booger that grows to gargantuan proportions, upright-walking alligators) that children really won’t care what the story is about. The adults, however, will groan that this movie isn’t short enough. “Shorts” biggest fault? It’s not entertaining. 8/25/09

Inglorious Basterds - 3 1/2 smiles

Either you’re going to like “Inglorious Basterds,” Quentin Tarantino’s latest, or you’re going to hate it. And like Tarantino’s widely recognized masterpiece, “Pulp Fiction,” “Inglorious Basterds” breaks all of the rules. It’s a spaghetti western but not really a western; it’s a comedy, very funny in many places and dramatic and violent in others; it’s an homage to any number of WWII movies with a lot of Tarantino flourishes thrown in. There are three plot strands that converge at the end. Think “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:” Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent), a French Jew whose family is slaughtered by ‘The Jew Hunter’ SS Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) is the Good. Landa, a ruthless, outwardly charming man who takes pride in his intelligence and his ability to do his job, is the Bad. And Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) and his group of American ‘Basterds,’ charged with striking fear into the hearts of the Germans, is the Ugly. The Basterds converge on Shosanna’s Paris movie theater when it is learned that Hitler will attend the premier of a new propaganda film. Unbeknownst to them, however, Shosanna has plans of her own and Landa waits in the wings to pounce on the conspirators.

“Inglorious Basterds” is about the bloody side of war and Tarantino adroitly builds tension and suspense as the movie progresses, breaking this tension with occasional bursts of violence. His script is full of dark humor, some laugh-out-loud funny with the best lines going to a capable Brad Pitt. Christoph Waltz won an acting award at Cannes and Tarantino has said that the success of this movie hinges on the skill of the actor portraying Landa. And skillful he is; his Landa is all charm that masks an insidious evil. Tarantino demonstrates his vast cinema knowledge by creating a musical score from various past movies, including “The Alamo,” “Kelly’s Heroes,” The Battle of Algiers” and “Death Rides a Horse” and, curiously, everything works. If I have a criticism, it’s that “Inglorious Basterds,” at 2 hours and 33 minutes, is too long, especially one segment in a French pub. “Inglorious Basterds” is a colorful fantasy of how World War II might have ended had Quentin Tarantino been in charge. 8/21/09

Play the Game - 2 1/2 smiles

It seems that "Play the Game" is getting another chance. According to the LA Times, it's opening again August 28. So I'll repeat what I wrote in April.

With absolutely no marketing, “Play the Game,” written and directed by Marc Fienberg, quietly slipped into a few Los Angelestheaters 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

Gotta Dance - 3 smiles

Although I enjoyed “Young@Heart” more, “Gotta Dance,” a high-energy pleaser, had me smiling and tapping my toe. Dori Berinstein’s documentary chronicles the formation of the NETsationals, a senior dance team for the New Jersey Nets. Berinstein, who usually produces Broadway musicals, explained in a recent discussion that she had wanted to make a movie about people chasing their dreams. When she read the Nets audition notice for dancers 60 and above in the paper, she grabbed her camera. And with the Nets giving her access to the rehearsals and performances of this unusual dance troupe, Berinstein has created the feel-good movie of the summer.

“Gotta Dance” tells the stories of everyday people tackling new challenges and discovering that getting old is a state of mind, especially because the NETsationals have to learn hip hop routines. The best scenes revolve around Betsy, a matronly 64-year-old elementary school teacher who calls her wilder alter ego Betty; Fanny, an energetic 81-year-old Filipina, the grandmother of a Nets dancer; Deanna, a 64-year-old New York legal secretary; and Joe B., the only male member of the group. ‘Life doesn’t end at 60’ as “Gotta Dance” illustrates so well.

Note: “Young@Heart,” a 2008 documentary, has the same message, but tells the story of a senior singing group with more poignancy. This group of 60, 70 and 80-year-old singers lose some of their members along the way so they celebrate living with their music. You’ll laugh with them, but you’ll also cry. Rent this one.

The Cove - 3 1/2 smiles

“The Cove” is a documentary with an agenda. It wants you to be outraged over the slaughter of dolphins, over the secrecy, over the government cover-up. It wants you to be aware and, more, take an active role in trying to stop it. Early on, director Louie Psihoyos lets you know that dolphin slaughter is going on in the picturesque village of Taiji, Japan. And soon, “The Cove” turns into a combination horror picture and espionage thriller as the filmmaker and his team go to great lengths to capture on film what really happens in the heavily secured Taiji cove. Under the cover of night, they hide microphones in the water and plant cameras hidden in fake rocks. The main on-screen voice is Richard O’Barry, who bears the guilt over having caught and trained dolphins for the Flipper TV show, which resulted in the ongoing capture of dolphins for entertainment around the world. O’Barry’s battle to stop the annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins has been futile, but now he has proof.

The IWC (International Whaling Commission) could end this needless destruction of what is arguably the world’s smartest species. But the Japanese government has blocked it, buying the support of poor Caribbean and African nations that have no interest in this issue. However, backed by two courageous Taiji town councilors, the film has already one positive outcome: mercury-laced dolphin meat is no longer served in school lunches in Taiji. I read recently in the LA Times that “The Cove” is not doing well at the box office. I’m guessing that’s because some choose not to expose themselves to the heart-breaking scenes of barbaric butchery. As hard as it is to watch these scenes, “The Cove” is a gripping documentary and deserves to be seen. 8/13/09

Time Traveler's Wife - 1 1/2 smiles

I was looking forward to this movie. After all, you have two beautiful actors, Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, and a love story. I like love stories. Sorry to say, I was disappointed. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is bland and the contrived screenplay fails to bring any of the characters to life enough that you care what happens to them. Bana and McAdams give performances full of emotion, but their scenes together lack chemistry. And you’ll find yourself trying to figure out what’s happening as Henry (Bana) randomly travels back and forth through time. The story would have been more engrossing if the focus were more on the hows and whys of Henry’s time travel. But since the story is from Clare’s (McAdams) perspective, all you know is he’s gone. This could have been an engaging movie full of drama, romance and science fiction. But it’s not. 8/14/09

District 9 - 4 smiles

“District 9,” an intelligent, thought-provoking, and suspenseful movie, has something for everyone. And like “The Hurt Locker,” it’s so good that I hope the Academy remembers it come Oscar nomination time. South Africa, Johannesburg specifically, is the setting for “District 9’s” allegorical layer. That country’s history of apartheid is never mentioned, but the implications of human behavior extends beyond that particular nation and is taken as representative of the planet as a whole. No human group is innocent – not the mostly white soldiers and bureaucrats who corral and abuse the aliens, called prawns because of their crustacean-like appearance, not the Nigerian gangsters who prey upon the prawns and exploit their addiction to cat food, not the people who clamor for prawn resettlement elsewhere. And as the movie progresses, we, along with the main character, Wilkus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley), discover M.N.U. doctors conducting horrific medical experiments reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Coupled with that is an agenda of corporate greed as M.N.U. (Multi-National United) has taken over the administration of the prawn population. As M.N.U. moves to resettle the aliens in a remote enclosure, they go to extremes to discover how alien weaponry works.

Co-writer (and director) Neill Blomkamp’s story not only has depth and provocative ideas but shoot-outs, explosions, and bloody violence. It’s a story of how a member of a dominant group becomes aware of the injustice inherent in a system that’s designed to subjugate others. And although Sharlto Copley is an unknown by American standards, his skill as an actor is what makes Wilkus’s discoveries and ultimate situation so poignant. “District 9” is such a singular movie-going experience that you might have to see it a second time. It’s refreshing when a movie asks you to think. 8/15/09

GI Joe: Rise of Cobra - 2 1/2 smiles

First Disney had the idea of converting a ride into a movie, making tons of money in the process. Then Paramount Pictures and Hasbro collaborated on the blockbuster Transformers. Now, Paramount and Hasbro join Spyglass Entertainment for another toy-based action movie, “GI Joe: Rise of Cobra.” This movie, packed with action and special effects, might have several plot holes and plausibility issues, but it’s never boring. US soldiers Duke (Channing Tatum) and pal Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) join the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity – or GIJOE – a special ops team that uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt arms dealer Destro (Christopher Eccleston) when he joins the mysterious COBRA organization that’s determined to plunge the world into chaos.

The plot is pure comic book, filled with wall-to-wall action delivered at a break-neck pace although almost every character gets about two minutes worth of back story. And I did appreciate this attempt to develop character. Most of the actors, which include Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Jonathan Pryce, seem to be enjoying themselves although Channing is a bit wooden. “GI Joe” is also full of high-tech gadgets from power suits that enhance the Joes natural abilities (run faster, jump higher, etc.) to pulse guns and super-duper eavesdropping equipment. The plot and the dialogue are often silly, but, then, director Stephen Sommers seems to know this so “GI Joe” doesn’t take itself too seriously. And that’s what makes this movie a guilty pleasure. However, the ending, which really provides no closure, makes it clear that Paramount et al are planning a sequel. 9/10/09

Julie & Julia - 3 1/2 smiles

“Julie & Julia” is a deliciously satisfying movie about food and marriage although I would suggest that you don’t see this on an empty stomach because you’re going to develop a craving for bœuf bourguignon by the time the credits roll. Director Nora Ephron intertwines two true stories: Julia Child (Meryl Streep) revolutionized the American housewife’s notions about cooking in the early 1960s with Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Newly settled in Paris with her diplomat husband, Paul (Stanley Tucci), she fell in love with the fresh, wonderful flavors of French cooking and, with Paul’s staunch support, decided to study at the Cordon Bleu. At six feet tall with a high-pitched voice, she was an unlikely gourmet, but she was passionate, knowledgeable and completely fearless. With the completion of her cookbook, Julia moved onto television where she charmed American audiences with her sense of humor, enthusiasm, and bœuf bourguignon.

In 2002, Julie Powell, a low-level cubicle worker, faced the fact that her life had little meaning. She and her husband Eric (Chris Messina) lived in a tiny apartment with an even smaller kitchen above a pizza place. During the day Julie listened to the problems of people seeking help with their 9/11-related injuries and losses. After work, she escaped her dissatisfaction by cooking. Wanting to complete something, Julie, with Eric’s encouragement, decided to work her way through Julia’s massive cookbook, cooking all 500+ recipes in one year and she would blog about her experiences. This became ‘The Julie/Julia Project.’

Meryl Streep is fantastic as the heart of the story. She more than impersonates Julia Child; she becomes Julia Child and you smile all the while she’s on the screen. Amy Adams has the more difficult job of making the sometimes bitchy, egocentric Julie an engaging character. But Adams’ skill draws you in, gaining your allegiance as Julie attempts this challenging task. The supporting cast is equally good, especially Tucci. “Julie & Julia” is about food, love, following your dreams and butter, lots and lots of butter. 9/9/09

Shrink - 2 smiles

I got the feeling, while watching “Shrink” starring Kevin Spacey, that this movie was trying to emulate “Crash.” You know, the intersection of random characters where by movie’s end, you’ve made significant discoveries. And ‘Shrink” does touch on some meaningful topics, but its characters are too sketchy, their connections too contrived and the investigation too superficial. The only thing that holds this movie together is Spacey’s skill as an actor. Dr. Henry Carter (Spacey), psychiatrist to the stars, is conflicted. His wife recently committed suicide and for all of the self-help books he’s written, Carter believes he can’t help himself let alone other people. So he spends his waking hours in a marijuana haze and his nights drinking enough booze so he’ll pass out where he is and he won’t have to sleep in an empty bed.

Carter’s patients run the gamut of Hollywood types and they flit in and out of the story. There’s Jack (an uncredited Robin Williams), an alcoholic movie star who worries about his possible sexual addiction while refusing to acknowledge his drinking problem; Patrick (Dallas Roberts), a super-agent suffering from extreme obsessive-compulsive disorder; Daisy (Pell James), Patrick’s pregnant assistant who dreams of being a producer; and Kate (Saffron Burrows), a beautiful actress with a cheating husband recognizing that she is no longer the young starlet. The one standout is Jemma (Keke Palmer), a troubled African-American teenager and avid movie fan, that Carter treats pro bono. It doesn’t feel real when these characters interact with Carter and each other. This is especially evident whenever Jeremy (Mark Webber), a friend of Carter’s, is onscreen. Except for Spacey’s bleary-eyed therapist desperately seeking his own solutions, “Shrink” doesn’t offer much. 7/30/09

Funny People - 1 frown

“Funny People,” starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen and written and directed by Judd Apatow, suffers from an uninspired, unfocused, unfunny script, boring characters and contrived plot. And at 2 hours and 35 minutes, it’s torture to sit through. There’s not a single character worth caring about. Sandler plays George, an egocentric comic whose empty life haunts him when he finds out he has leukemia and is soon to die. However, this life-altering experience doesn’t really change him when he goes into remission. He remains selfish and mean. Ira (Rogen) works behind a deli counter and has aspirations of becoming a famous standup comedian. When he meets George at an improve comedy club, George hires him to be his assistant and write jokes for him. When an experimental drug sends George’s disease into remission, George seeks to rekindle his romance with Laura (Leslie Mann), who left him 12 years earlier when he cheated on her. Ira gets to tag along. It doesn’t matter to George that Laura is now married and has two children.

The first hour-and-a-half leans toward comedy – or at least, you’re supposed to laugh at the many standup routines. But the humor is mostly mean-spirited and tedious and there are waaaaaay too many penis jokes. At this point, the movie turns into a contrived, overly long drama with a little humor tossed in. In fact, the funniest part of the movie is when Laura and her two daughters talk George into playing the peanut butter game with their dogs. But that’s what, a 30-second scene? George and Ira’s transformations at the end of the movie don’t feel real and Sandler and Rogan have absolutely no charisma onscreen so you don’t really care what happens to them. You just want the movie to end. “Funny People” ultimately fails as a drama, comedy and romance. 8/1/09

G Force - 1 1/2 smiles

“Up” has raised the bar for movies, animated ones in particular, so high that most are found wanting. Such is the case with “G Force.” You would think that you could create a decent movie out of talking super agent guinea pigs, complete with tiny night-vision goggles and jet-propelled grappling hooks. Although “G Force” looks great and moves fast, it has a weak story and no characterization. Specially trained guinea pigs, Darwin (voiced by Sam Rockwell), Juarez (Penelope Cruz) and Blaster (Tracy Morgan) along with a tech-savvy mole (Nicolas Cage) and a buzzing, micro-camera-laden fly try to bring down arms dealer Leonard Saber (Bill Nighy). Unfortunately, when a late night foray to Saber’s mansion yields nothing, the FBI shuts down their program and sends them to a pet store, where they must find a way to break out and stop Saber from world domination.

This sounds good … on paper. Unfortunately, the dialogue offers nothing creative. The guinea pigs utter clichés and stock phrases and even their handler, Zach Galifianakis, fresh from his success in “The Hangover,” is curiously flat. And the script, with its high-speed chases, random explosions, and fart jokes, is a mishmash of everything, including a “Transformers” rip-off sequence at the end of the film. The only bright spot is an aggressive hamster (Steve Buscemi), who maintains that he’s not part ferret. Just about everyone, children included, will find this film lacking. 7/28/09

The Ugly Truth - 2 smiles

If you like formulaic romantic comedies, then you’re going to like “The Ugly Truth,” starring Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl. It’s comfortable, like an old bathrobe, and Butler and Heigl are so attractive that director Robert Luketic is hoping that you’ll look at them and forget about the story. Abby Richter (Heigl) is the uptight, prudish producer for a Sacramento morning TV show that’s not doing well in the ratings. The station manager hires Mike Chadway (Butler), a ranting lout who hosts a cable access show that gives advice to men. When Mike learns that Abby is trying to win the affections of her hunky neighbor, he makes her a deal. He will offer insights into the male psyche and teach her how to get her man if she’ll agree to work with him. If he fails and Abby doesn’t get her ‘perfect’ mate, he’ll quit. Of course, it quickly becomes clear that these two beautiful people are attracted to each other. And you know how this movie is going to end.

Butler is not new to the rom-com genre, having starred opposite Hilary Swank in “P.S. I Love You.” And who can forget him in “300”? If his accent slips now and again, who cares? And Heigl, taking time away from Grey’s Anatomy, has headlined in “Knocked Up” and “27 Dresses.” Both are photogenic and have enough on-screen chemistry that you might believe these two characters indulging in a fling, but a lasting relationship? Remember, we’re following a formula here. If you want to see a creative use of the formula, see “The Proposal” instead. 7/25/09

The Answer Man - 3 smiles

“The Answer Man,” starring Jeff Daniels and Lauren Graham, is about people that are trying to find real answers to real problems and make meaning of their lives. Writer/director John Hindman has created a comedy/drama about faith that manages to be real and entertaining at the same time. Twenty years ago, Arlen Faber (Daniels) wrote an immensely popular book called “Me and God,” in which he claimed that God spoke to him and provided him with answers to life’s biggest questions. The impact of this book was so great that when we first meet him, Arlen is a bitter, angry recluse. Arlen’s life changes when he meets two people: Elizabeth (Graham), a single mother/chiropractor who just opened her own business and treats him for a back injury and Kris (Lou Taylor Pucci), a young used bookstore owner who’s just out of rehab and trying to save his shop while maintaining his sobriety.

One major pleasure in “The Answer Man” is watching the characters interact with each other and they do this in interesting ways. These three people have broken souls and they begin to heal each other. Arlen begins to feel again, first when he’s smitten with Elizabeth and then when he tries to guide Kris. He discovers that he actually wants connections to other people. The characters do not learn big life lessons; they learn small truths that lead to bigger truths. Hindman’s script suggests that people often look to God for answers, when, in truth, He gave us each other. The acting is another pleasure. Jeff Daniels gives a truly great performance. He doesn’t shy away from the nasty, mean side of Arlen’s character, yet he possesses enough likeability that we side with him, even when he’s being a jerk. Lauren Graham gives us an Elizabeth who is confident in her work, but less so about raising her small son. Lou Taylor Pucci makes Kris’ torment authentic without being annoying. “The Answer Man” proves that love and friendship are powerful antidotes to sorrow and heartbreak. It’s a terrific film. 7/24/09