District 9

Rated: R
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt
Director: Neil Blomkamp

I went to see District 9 a few weeks ago by myself - which is one of my favorite pastimes. I pay attention differently. The speed of the movie - District 9 is pretty fast - is easier for me to get used to. I don't have to share food ("JOEY DOESN'T SHARE FOOD").

I was thoroughly impressed with District 9. If you don't know, it is a movie about an alien ship that comes to Earth, but not to invade or colonize. The closest approximation I have seen to it is Alien Nation. A human, who is in charge of relocating the Aliens, once the city of Johannesburg (maybe an overly obvious choice - but Blomkamp is from S. Africa) is tired of their proximity, becomes infected with an alien liquid and is forced to live in their shanties. There is more to the movie of course, but I do not want to give it away. Maybe it is about 'isms'. District 9 is certainly about people and their/our darkness. It is about the potential of one man or woman to do the right thing. And, it might be about the consequences of all of those things coming together - quickly. I will say this, instead of 'what will the aliens do to us?', District 9 is about what we might do to them. And, it is a "disturbingly plausible" movie in that regard.

The movement is fast, but you will not lose the story. The acting is superb. District 9 begins as a pseudo-documentary, and moves into full blown Sci-Fi somewhere in the middle. The ending drags a bit, but you soon understand why. And all of us who have seen will eagerly anticipate District 10. Speed: 65 MPH.

What I loved: the acting, the story, the cinematography, the no-apologies approach.

What I did not love: they dragged the end out in a way that didn't seem to flow with the rest of the movie's speed. I understand the amount of movement desired, but it drug out.

4.5/5 stars. That is relative to the genre.

Duplicity

Rated: PG-13
Director: Tony Gilroy
Cast: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti

What I loved: I loved the movie, it was just enjoyable, fun, inventive, but not TOO twisty for my brain. I loved the ending. There is no spoiler here, but it was a solid ending. And, although I also call it a weakness, the triple-type of the movie was very enjoyable and fun. Each aspect - espionage, thriller, and romance - grew as the movie went on, in depth and enjoyment and complexity.

What I did not love: Duplicity's desire to please all people all the time might let some down. While aspects of it (and really, any new espionage or spy-thriller) are difficult to follow for awhile, that is not the problem. The problem is that the movie does a number of things well, therefore it is not an excellent espionage movie, or a an excellent romance movie, or an excellent thriller.

Movement: I think you might have anticipated this, but Duplicity moves at about 77 MPH (the SUV that is in the fast lane - still gets passed by a few but mainly passes everyone else at a nice clip). You will think you are lost at the beginning, but you will be filled in on some aspects of the movie.

3.5/5 stars. If there were an espionage/romance combo-genre I would be willing to go 4/5.

The Wrestler

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Rated: R
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood,

What I loved: The Wrestler is well acted, and the story is well done. It is eerie to watch Mickey Rourke act so well in a movie so similar to his own story. I am from Tulsa, and remember his character in Rumble Fish (you might only know of the Outsiders, but we Tulsa-folk know all of S.E. Hinton - although, have you looked at the cast from that one??? definitely worth checking out!) - the Motorcycle Boy. The movie is hard to watch because it is somewhat true to life about what it takes to change. I absolutely loved - in retrospect - how high the mountain of life-redemption looks with the entire movie piled on top of it.

What I did not love: Like people - the movie's strengths are also what make it difficult to watch. it is hard to watch Marisa Tomei as an aging mother in a strip club - for lots of reasons. The acting is incredible, and I think the movie might suffer without as many scenes as there are in the strip club - but that makes it difficult to watch sometimes.

Movement: The Wrestler moves at a nice 40 MPH clip. You walk down hallways, you enter the ring with Rourke, the music changes in volume. It sways in and out of redemption-potential in all aspects - romantically, professionally, and in regards to his daughter.

4/5 stars

All the President's Men

Rated: PG

Director: Alan Pakula

Cast: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffmann, Jason Robards, Hal Holbrook

What I loved: This movie is very fun to watch if you are okay without the Hollywood romance, without the montages (although there are a few), and without a spelling out of the problems being addressed.  I also enjoyed rolling with the 80 MPH of the film (more on this later),although I do no know my history well enough to follow perfectly.  The acting is tremendous; Redford, Hoffmann, and Robards deserve the oscar acclaim they received for this film.  The movie is about the beginning of the Watergate conspiracy that ultimately led to the first and only resignation by a President of the United States.  The film follows a few weeks in the life of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they move from Green reporters for the Post to national names as they bring down an administration.

What I did not love: The movie was made in 1976 so the camera work is hard on the eyes sometimes.  Not a big deal really.  It would have been helpful to add some dialogue that helped us follow the many movements of the this story, but that would have hindered other aspects of the movie.  

Movement: Fast.  This is a fast movie, keep up!  The characters do not transform as in many movies, because this is a movie based upon a relatively short period in the history of the United States.  It is more than worth seeing for the acting, for the writing, for the historic moment captured in the film - any of those buy themselves makes it worth seeing.  Together, it is indispensable.

4.5/5 stars

Sunshine

Rated: R

Director: Danny Boyle

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh

What I loved: It is a thrilling movie, entropic (can I use that word, I looked it up, it's okay), good characterization.  All of these aspects are used to implicitly discuss life, philosophy, etc.  And, when I say that, they do not address these things directly.  Towards the beginning they have a decision to make about the course of the ship (Did I mention it is a Sci-Fi, Save-the-World movie?  Well, it is).  The decision is left to Cillian Murphy because of his role on the ship, and the rest of the movie moves around the decision.  BUT, in a realistic way.  Chris Evans - who is in the Fantastic Four and is very compelling in Sunshine - disagrees in all sorts of ways and often throughout the movie, but his character is more rich than dissonant.  

What I did not Love: I wished for more depth and movement of the plot.  Even as I write that it is because I want to adopt this way of writing about movies (these three categories).  I did not love the consistent fall into chaos of the movie.  But, I respected it and maybe liked the movie more for that reason (like why many are so much more impressed with Empire than any of the other Star Wars movies).

Movement: Sunshine moves at 75 MPH, but in a very nice RV where you have time look around at the people, the setting, the music (not the Soundtrack, the music).  Note: it is very dangerous to move in an RV at 75 MPH, but you don't notice.  Sunshine is very startling at times, will make you think, and it very well written.  

4.5/5 stars

Volver

Rated: R

Director: Pedro Almodovar

Cast: Penelope Cruz, Yohana Cobo

What I loved: I enjoy stories with history. Volver explores generational issues, family and loss, the supernatural (sort of), and at heart - it is simply a movie about people. The acting is tremendous, and in many ways it is nice to deal with a fun, easy-going supernatural-ism, rather than an overly dark, evil kind.

What I did not love: Volver is doing a couple of things at the same time. I am unable to fully back away from my desire to see more... Something in any direction! The ending is not even anti-climactic, I just wanted a bit more I think.

Movement: Volver moves around in strange ways for North American Viewers. It is fast, it does not apologize, and it leaves you wondering sometimes, but never about the important things. It is very clear what is important to director Almodovar. Cruz is an interesting character and well-written character: as a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a woman with a blue-collar job.

3.5/5 stars

Watchmen

Rated: R

Director: Zack Snyder

Cast: Billy Crudup, Malin Akerman, Jackie Haley, Mathew Goode, Patrick Wilson

I confess that I have read the book, therefore this is a biased review.  I did, however, watch it with a friend in high school who has not read it.  If you are thinking about seeing Watchmen, I might read a summary on IMDB or Moviefone - don't read the spoilers, but you might get confused by the very strange montage of dead and dying "superheroes" from the last 40 years.  Essentially what you need to know is that the first generation (which includes Hooded Justice, the Comedian, Silk Spectre I, etc.) is set around the 40's, the movie is set in the mid-80's, and in the 70's the Super-heroes had to go under ground.

Watchmen is an enjoyable movie.  Funny when you are not expecting it, true to the book but without losing everyone by including all details.  There is a big difference between the book and movie in regards to the end of the film, but the movie's end made more sense relative to 2009 and some of the holes in the characterization.  

Did you like Sin City?  If you did, I think you will love Watchmen.  Do Super-hero movies annoy you because they don't have to deal with their collateral damage?  If so, I think will love Watchmen .  If you don't like violence...  Um...  This is not the movie for you!  My friend wants to read the graphic novel now.  

Watchmen follows a couple of superheroes who were working full time in the 70's - Silk Spectre/Lauri Jupiter, Rohrshack/Walter Kovacs (still active, name is not just a clever one, his face moves at all times), Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias, Dan Drieberg/Nite Owl, Jon Osterman/Dr. Manhattan - and are now in different places in their life.  The movie begins with the murder of one of their number.  The movie then expands in complexity until the credits roll.  This is why the graphic novel was so successful.  The story is intriguing, the characterization is robust and ever-expanding (even with characters we do not expect, i.e. all of them), and the violence and humor are enjoyable and well-timed. 

3.5/5 stars (5/5 for the book).

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Director: David Fincher

Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji Henson, Julia Ormond

Rated: PG-13

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button moves around a bit like Forrest Gump.  The characters are certainly different, but more like a Biblical Story than English Literature - the characters are as defined by their actions as they are by their speech or descriptions.  This makes it enjoyable, at about 45-50 MPH.  B. Button was nominated for a number of awards; it deserved the nominations but maybe not to win.  Taraji Henson is fantastic, and Pitt and Blanchett are solid.  The historical swings are exciting, and the comedic stop-overs are worthwhile.

Overall Benjamin Button is what you expect given the hype.  The Father/Son issues are not plumbed to their depths, but they sit in front of you for a few minutes.  The curious case of a man growing younger as he grows older is fun, and might have some holes if it wasn't such a fanciful story.  The love story is interesting, highlighted by, "Sleep With me...  " (Blanchett)  "ABSOLUTELY" (Pitt), it seems like that line would be trite, but it isn't.  3.5/5 stars.

The Reader

The Reader
Director: Stephen Daldry 

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, David Kross
Rated: R

Based upon the book Der Voleser by Bernhard Schlink, the reader moves like a book.  The chronology moves from pre-WWII, to 1966, and then throughout the 80's a little bit.  Kate Winslet has already won a Golden Globe for her performance, and she deserved it.  Ralph Fiennes does an eloquent job as the older Michael Berg, and David Kross is able to succeed as an adolescent and then as a conflicted law student in the film.  

The Reader is very sexual at the outset - with the clandestine affair of Winslet and Kross.  The affair moves beyond the teenage fantasy when Winslet announces, "We're changing the way we do things kid.  First you read to me...  Then we make love."  However, as with most films that are overtly sexual at times - the Reader moves on to explore the two characters and the ethical culture following the Holocaust.  While some scenes are predictable, the acting transcends the screen-play in that regard and I found myself on the edge of my seat in the interim period of 1966.

The Reader is a very good movie.  On IMDB it is given a 7.8/10, and I agree with that.  Winslet steals the show and attempts to drag it into a 9/10 (which i have never seen), but the story itself cannot move to epic but only remain at solid and compelling.  If you liked Atonement you will like this even more I think.  If you are expecting a feel good story that happens to be near the Holocaust - probably go see something else.  But, if you are okay being tossed around by incredible acting, the intricacies of love, and the difficulties of life and the sneaky watershed moments we are never prepared for - then I would highly recommend the Reader.  4/5 stars.

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight: PG-13

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman

This movie was very fun to watch, but at the end I was exhausted.  When the primary character is an anarchist the movie has to move in ways that made me simply slide further and further into my seat (both times).  The second time I watched it with my mom, and as we were talking I was sure she "got it" more than I did.  If you want a real superhero (meaning: an actual comic book that people know of - as opposed to Hancock) who has to begin to pay the dues of donning his cape and having just one rule - the you will love this movie.  If you enjoy medium-speed plot twists that you can follow - then you will love this movie.  If you loved the 80's and you're thinking 91 minutes and a clean ending...  You might be disappointed.

The Dark Knight definitely remains in the fold of (and probably surpasses) Batman Begins.  Christian Bale remains the playboy who masks his vigilante alter-ego that Michael Caine (who has remained at 68 years old for the past 30 years to my knowledge) suggested in the midst of Batman begins.  Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role of  Rachel Dawes (previously held by Katie Holmes...  this seems to be a new Comic Book thing...  "you're replaceable"), and gives her a bit more substance and earthiness.  Aaron Eckhart takes over (can we include him next to Billy Dee Lando Williams???) as District Attorney Harvey Dent, and here I am biased - I really like Aaron Eckhart.  The acting was superb.  And, I'm not saying that with the added salt that, "hey, its a comic book movie" - the acting was superb.  

The Dark Knight has a lot of anthropology in it.  I suppose there is some hollow philosophy.  Many people are pounded into oblivion if you like beat-downs.  The movie is long - check the number of minutes and the time you start it (especially if you rent it).  But it is fun and enjoyable.  

4/5 stars.

Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road: Rated R
Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: Leonardo Dicaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates

At the beginning of one of their arguments Kate Winslet asks Dicaprio, "Who made these rules?" and he has no answer but to retreat to some sort of caricatured "rationality". The movie is dark and disturbing if you have ever struggled with the meaninglessness of life. Or the hopelessness of existence. At one point in the movie it seems as though the husband and wife (with two prop-children) are firing off their hollow philosophies/worldviews at one another with no confidence in themselves - Dicaprio's of "You can be happy here" which seems a mere response to Winslet's "Find what makes you happy, leave and you are more likely to find it."

The movie is set in 1955 (with some in 1948, and flashbacks). Dicaprio works at in an Initech-like position similar to the one his father held for years. Winslet is his Stepford wife who has no idea what happened to her dreams of acting and the husband who, "Just wanted to feel life." Michael Shannon plays a good then a bad Deus Ex Machina (I looked it up to make sure I remembered what my Shakespeare Prof had said about this), with a powerful near-concluding line, "Now you'll never have to know what you're made of..." to Dicaprio.

I am fascinated when directors and writers downplay sex. That is done well in this movie, it is taken down a notch. Their marriage seems surreal to me, but I was not alive (or married) in 1955. If Mad Men and Far from Heaven were accurate, then Revolutionary Road is simply more drastic. I recommend Revolutionary Road, but it is not a feel good movie, it is only funny in ways that you're not sure if you should be laughing at. Without having seen "The Reader" I think Winslet totally deserves the oscar. 4.5/5 stars.

Before Sunrise

Before Sunrise: Rated R
Director: Richard Linklater
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

Before Sunrise is a brilliant film. It moves in realtime and explores the romance of Paris by an American and a French student. Linklater won two awards in the International category at the Berlin Film Festival for this one. The "sequel", "Before Sunset" won 11 awards, mostly on the back of Before Sunrise. Hawke and Delpy are magical, even as they are immature and awkward towards each other (made more funny in the second movie when they argue over their encounter in "Sunrise"). I think that I desire Before Sunrise when I watch romantic comedies, and I also fear it. Before Sunrise is dark enough that we don't feel transported into their world. I was nervous for them, I want their future plans to work out (have to see the second movie to find out), and yet the transience of their interaction is palpable from the beginning. What makes that work is that the characters are constantly aware of it, and work against it to varying degrees the entire movie.

4.5/5 stars. I don't know why I don't want to give it 5 stars. Seems like some movie should get 5 (maybe High Fidelity itself)! It is well written, well-acted, funny without distracting from the story, and funny in real ways. If I remember correctly even the sex is imperfect, in a perfect way.

Gran Torino

Gran Torino: R
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her

I remember reading that Miles Davis was able to change the face of music with his use of space. I am not sure Eastwood is going to change the face of films, but he definitely uses space and time and silence to full advantage in his movie. Gran Torino begins a bit like "About Schmidt", except Indugu is Eastwood's next door neighbor and he continually gets in trouble for his lack of masculinity and the brutal reality of sectarianism and gangs. The most compelling aspect of the movie is Eastwood's affection for the family while not losing the grunts that accompany every scene he is in.

Although I enjoyed Million Dollar Baby for many of the same reasons - this film moves differently. The priest is more interested, more respectful (which as a future man of the cloth - I appreciate), and he doesn't really mind - yea he learns from Eastwood's dressing down of him about life and death. I wanted more redemption in small ways, more legacy, but even as I write that I think I am actually more satisfied that the movie is sad but that it moves at a good speed, with character change - and not drastic change that tere can be no accounting for in reality.

4/5 stars for sure. And the gaps might actually make the movie better. Don't worry about laughing at the racism and series of grunts (especially at the beginning of the movie), if you're still laughing at the end... that might be a different story!

Taken

Will someone be in charge of reminding me that I have two daughters before I rent Gone Baby Gone, or go to the theater (by myself) to see Taken?


Taken: PG-13
Director: Pierre Morel
Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Framke Jansen

Did you like the Bourne Movies? Well, this is very different, but Liam does a pretty solid Jason Bourne impression with some of the hand-fighting. The plot goes a little haywire part of the way into the film, but I enjoyed it. There were lines that they just abandoned, but without de-railing the movie.

Although, if you're into realism you were hoping for more intrigue and less killing. Off the top of my head I am going to say that Liam Neeson (reprising his role from Krull??? Remember Krull?) kills around 30 men. Also, and this just can't be a spoiler... The movie deals with some of the grit of the tragedy of human trafficking. I hope the director is trying to make a statement, because he portrayed that aspect well. Parents: I'm not sure how this is only a PG-13 movie. I mean... I know, but I don't KNOW. It is very hard to watch as Neeson seemingly takes down an organization or two, but there is no debriefing, no conversation about what he did once the story slows at the end.

I enjoyed it. I would say 3 stars, and 3.5 if you give it some slack for genre. However, if you don't like superhero movies you will be annoyed that there is no accountability to the actions he takes. He does not have recourse to the violence he is responsible for. That is not Neeson's fault - he acts it well, and even appears to be less interested in justice than his daughter (which is a tricky as the movie goes on). However, any realism dissipates as he kills and kills. It is intense, the plot is good enough, the acting solid, and the intrigue is neither too little nor too much.

Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive

Rated: R
Director: David Lynch
Cast: Justin Theroux, Naomi Watts, Laura Elena Herring

Did you like Memento? We'll see if i ever get around to reviewing that one! If you liked Memento, you will probably like Mulholland Drive. My wife and I love Mad Men, so the appearance of "Jimmy" from that show threw us way off - especially if you know the scene!

Anyway, Mulholland Drive never loses its sense of suspense. I say it that way because, while intense, I do not think I can use the word the way we normally bandy it around in talking about movies! The movements are difficult, and we find out why at the end: it is because Naomi Watts sees Dead People... kidding. By the way, I came into that movie about 10 minutes late - it makes it better. Mulholland Drive is violent, very sexual in about 3 scenes (but, like any good director or story-teller, Lynch takes sex down a notch during the film), difficult to watch if you are good at predicting (I think... Alas, I am not good). But, it is enjoyable, it is a thrilling movie, but I wouldn't say a thriller. It is certainly not a feel good movie, but it is very fun to see the range of Naomi Watts - especially after King Kong.

I recommend it. I think I would give it 4 stars (out of 5). I think I would encourage watching it in two sittings (like Rachel and I did), simply because of the power of each scene. Towards the end Naomi Watts and Laura Herring go to a theater late at night, and it displays where David Lynch is amazing. Music, but with no musicians, singers who pass out (or die), emotion pulsing throughout the room, and still no seeming connection with the rest of the film.