Lakeview Terrace (2008)

Jack likes to quote James Brown, "I may not know karate, but I do know ka-RAY-zy," (make sure your voice goes up for the RAY part--which is not how Owen Wilson says it in the trailer for Drillbit Taylor). And no one does ka-RAY-zy like Samuel L. Jackson. Sam did not disappoint in Lakeview Terrace. The setup had all been revealed in the trailer (Jackson's character is a cop who does not approve of his new neighbors' inter-racial marriage), but the pace was good, building steadily to a big finish. Nice to see Ron Glass as his patrician self, and director Neil LaBute is still doing the mean-spirited thing he did with In the Company of Men (1997), Your Friends and Neighbors (1998), and The Shape of Things (2003). This one made me want to yell at the characters, quoting The Wizard of Oz, "I'd turn back if I were you!"

Choke (2008)

Have I mentioned I watch a lot of TV, too? One of the shows I watch is The New Adventures of Old Christine on CBS, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It's spotty but has plenty of laughs (the episode when Christine starts menopause is priceless, and Wanda Sykes is always first-rate). Clark Gregg is one of those "Oh, THAT guy" actors. He plays Christine's dopey ex-husband. I see on imdb he was in another of my faves, State and Main (2001). Well, he loved the novel Choke by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) and went on to write the screenplay adaptation and direct his first feature, in which he plays a small but memorable part (the colonial co-worker/boss who hates the main character the most). OK, folks, this one is sick and twisted. Jack & I both loved it. Sam Rockwell plays a sex addict whose mother (Anjelica Huston) suffers from dementia and is in a private hospital. SERIOUSLY sick and twisted; also nominated for the Sundance Grand Jury Prize earlier this year. And the familiar face in the 12-step meeting? Joel Grey.

The Women (2008)

The kennel line ending the original begins this version, as Annette Bening's character picks up her little dog from an encounter with another dog on the streets of New York. All relationships between the women have been updated from the original (see my post of 9/21/08). Even the 1939 sweet daughter, known as Little Mary, is now a rebellious pre-teen called Molly. When Candace Bergen, as Meg Ryan's character's mother, expresses the same pre-feminist views as Lucile Watson did as Norma Shearer's character's mother, Ryan says, "This isn't some 1930's movie!" Perhaps you will not go see this, as the critics savaged it. I and 5 other women in the shopping mall theatre had a number of hearty laughs at the 3:15 show today. Sometimes a chick flick with lush sets and costumes (in full color this time) is just what one needs. I had a good time. It's not particularly art. But it doesn't always have to be. One imdb blogger wrote, "Holy product placement, Batman!" Dove and Lexus were big. There is also a bonus (a short scene at the end after the credits). It was related to the Dove product placement, but it had a good message, about real beauty. In the original George Cukor version there were no men on screen. In this (adapted, written, and directed by Murphy Brown's creator Diane English) there is only one non-female. I'll let you guess.

Ratatouille (2007)

Kim, mother of kids ages 4 & 6, reminded me of this food movie. How could I forget?? In computer animation, but still about gourmet French cooking. I loved that all ads and promotion for it gave the correct French pronunciation: rat-a-TOO-ee. The female sous-chef is voiced by Janeane Garofolo. And the soundtrack was Oscar-nominated!

Roman de Gare (2007)

This French thriller (literal translation: Train Station Novel, which has little to do with the plot) stars Dominique Pinon. He has a very long list of credits on imdb, but all I remember him from is Diva (1981), also a French thriller (trés bon), in which he played the scary geek. He is an unlikely-looking leading man, but by the end I was rooting for him. Fanny Ardant co-stars. She, too, has a long list of credits, but I remember more of her work. Ridicule (1997) stands out among them. Like many fine foreign films, Roman de Gare may have been released last year, but here in the boonies, it plays for one week, ending Thursday, at the 3-screen aging "art house." It was a private screening for me today at 3 PM. Tell No One (Ne Le Dis à Personne) (2006) was popular at that theatre this summer, but was complex and hard to follow. This one had twists and turns, all neatly tied up at the end. Speaking of twists and turns, here's a warning for those with motion sickness: the movie opens with footage from a speeding car (that's a camera car, when the camera is attached, as opposed to a picture car, which is onscreen), and later many sequences are shot on a magnifique sailboat. Didn't bother me much.

Mamma Mia (2008)

Saw the touring company on stage. It was fun. Looked forward to seeing the movie. The locations got an A, art direction A, aerial photography A, singing C. The movie was so sweet you will need an insulin fix.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Just wanted to fill in everything that I've seen that's still playing now. It's been a while since I saw it but I'm pretty sure I didn't mind the excessive length of 2 hours 32 minutes. The cinematography, the special effects, and the spectre of Heath Ledger kept me involved the whole time. What a shame. He sure went out with a bang. Jack has just reminded me that we saw this in the first week of its release while on vacation in July at the Cinerama Theatre in Seattle, which was an experience in itself. That place is amazing and the movie was great. Recently I read the New Yorker review of this movie. It reminded me why I wait: the writer casually tossed in a detail about the end of the film that should have been left a surprise.

Breaking Bad (AMC-TV) First Season

So glad Bryan Cranston won an Emmy for the leading man in Breaking Bad. This show was nasty and Jack & I watched every episode. Cranston, best known as the dumb dad on Malcolm in the Middle, plays Walt, a high school chemistry teacher in Albuquerque, who is used to getting the short end of the stick. After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he teams up with a young thug to cook up crystal meth to provide for his family after he's gone. Like I said, it's nasty (the thing that happens in the bathtub in the second episode? OMG!) (if you can handle the second episode, you're good to go for the season). But it's gooood. Walt has a teenage son with cerebral palsy (I had to look up that detail; it's not very clear what's wrong with Walter Jr.), a pregnant wife, and a brother-in-law who is a DEA cop. There are surprises in every episode. Even before the Emmy win it was renewed for a second season. Watch the first season first.

Grace is Gone (2007)

This won the Audience Award at Sundance last year and I had been meaning to see it, so I just watched the DVD. First 10 minutes: Stanley (John Cusack) learns that his wife Grace, a soldier, has died in Iraq. He takes his two daughters, aged 12 and 8, on a road trip without telling them what happened. Really good. The score by Clint Eastwood was good too. And I think it wins Jack's & my Producing Plethora Prize: counting the Co-Producers and Associate Producers, this one had 17! I thought Back to Future had a lot in 1985 with 5.

The Women (1939)

It seemed wise to see this before the remake. Contrary to popular belief, I don't know a ton about old movies; I started seeing a lot in the mid 70s, and that's what I know about. The only actresses I knew from this version without looking them up were Rosalind Russell, who was delightful in this tail of cattiness, and Joan Crawford. Imdb has a long list of quotations from this but my favorites were, "He could crack a coconut with those knees...if he could get them together," and Joan Crawford's parting shot, "There is a name for you, ladies, but it isn't used in polite society...outside of a kennel." Whatever they have done to bring it into the 21st century will change it a lot. This one was entertaining. The black & white photography had all those shades of gray--I only wish I could have seen those fabulous dresses in color.

Millions (2004)

With the power still out this TV addict watched a DVD on the laptop last night (and biked to the coffee shop to post and recharge). I had been meaning to see this for some time and it was delightful. The story was charming, the actors believable, and Danny Boyle's directing cinematic, with fantasy sequences and fast-motion action. This is not the Boyle of Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, or 28 Days. Well, it is the same guy, really, but those movies were perverse (that's not criticism) and this was anything but. This is probably old news, but it's fun for the whole family (under 7 or so might be a wee bit scared toward the end).

Traitor (2008)

"Co-written by Steve Martin" got me into the theatre but there was not a laugh in it and I found it more than a bit confusing (if only it had Burn After Reading's David Rasche & JK Simmons deconstructing the goings-on). It picked up in the second half, though, and Don Cheadle's performance was spot-on, especially after certain plot twists were revealed. Cheadle fans should see it for sure.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2008)

Sitting in the cafe adjoining the theatre, I am moved to post now, as my home is powerless, a victim of Hurricane Ike v.3 (v.1 was Cuba, v.2 Texas, v.3 the midwest). I really liked this movie, which is scheduled to leave this Thursday. It had fully realized characters, cynical yet hopeful, with plenty of dark humor, and grainy black & white photography of some great LA locations (I was surprised to see that some of it was shot in Austin! Jack, Sarah, and Philip will have to tell me which parts). It was not at all predictable. Frank talk about sex and intellectual discussions excludes this from being suitable for young teenagers. Perhaps I was in just the right mood for something like this, but it felt like a combination of my favorite genres: sick and twisted (not as s & t as Todd Solondz, but lighter) meets adult relationships. I had not heard of any of the actors or filmmakers before.

Burn After Reading (2008)

This would not be the Coen Brothers' best effort, but don't miss it unless you only go to one movie a year. Starting a little slowly, it picked up speed and wrapped up nicely, with the requisite brutal gore near the end (Jack pointed out that it was not in close-up, and lasted less than 5 seconds). Brad Pitt was an adorable goof, George Clooney an adorable sleaze, Francis McDormand an adorable romantic. With so much to adore, ya think it might have been a little better. But we didn't hate it. In fact, we enjoyed ourselves, with reservations.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

This one just might cure a bad mood, unless you hate Ben Stiller (I asked Michael if he wanted to join us. "No way," he said, "I hate that guy.") This parody of action movies and action movie actors had great production values and laughed at itself. Pretty much everyone's character (and the plot) was a stereotype of one sort or another, and the more movie knowledge the one has, the more jokes one will get. This is lowbrow and crude, as one would expect from Stiller. And, in case you didn't read it elsewhere, the executive with the bald head, aviator glasses, and beer belly is Tom Cruise!

Pineapple Express (2008)

Disclaimer: I was in a bad mood that night. I really hoped that a crude stoner movie would cure me, but it didn't. There were definitely some laughs in the beginning, but as it went on (and on and on), I went back to thinking about what (whom) I was trying not to think about, and started a text message conversation with that person from the theatre. I'm sure that I will, in the future, remember things about it that I liked, but right now...I can't really think of any. Jack suggested I should see it again before reviewing it. Let's just say this isn't a review and leave it at that.

Bottle Shock (2008)

I saw one trailer for this movie, based on the true story of the 1976 blind wine tasting that brought California wines onto the map, so to speak. It looked enough like fun that I noticed when it was playing in only one theatre and only one show per night. I had a great time with it tonight. Alan Rickman played the English wine snob Steven Spurrier and Bill Pullman the cantankerous vintner Jim Barrett. Special mention must be made of the awful wig worn by Chris Pine, as Bo Barrett, and hilarious outfits worn by Dennis Farina, as an Ugly American in Paris on the eve of our country's bicentennial. The aerial photography was beautiful, the 70's music nostalgic, and the French locations magnifique. Predictable, even if you didn't know the exact details, but no less entertaining. U-S-A! U-S-A!

Frozen River (2008)

The trailer looked depressing, but I was drawn to this. Melissa Leo, from Homicide, plays a woman whose fondest wish is to buy a new double-wide trailer in the northernmost part of New York state for herself and her two sons. Her town, Massena, abuts the Mohawk Indian reservation, which in turn abuts a (frozen) river across from which is Canada. The movie did not disappoint, though there were no laughs whatsoever. It was all shot on location in NY state, with lots of snow and ice. I felt cold watching it!

Elegy (2008)

It's a Penelope Cruz festival! Her part in this couldn't be more different from her two-note character in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, not that there's anything wrong with that. The Charlie Rose interview in the beginning defines Ben Kingsley's character, and I imagine I will soon forget that a fictional character made those observations about sex. Maybe because they were conceived (ha!) by Philip Roth. Since the credits rolled at the end, I had almost forgotten it was based on Roth's work, but the subject matter reminded me. A well-crafted timely story, brilliantly cast and acted. Watch for a cameo by Deborah Harry (lead singer of Blondie). Isabel Coixet also directed one of the segments (Bastille, with Miranda Richardson) in Paris Je T'aime, a delightful compendium from 2006. I liked the furniture in Kingsley's apartment, too. This is not for the kiddies, and features some Cruz-skin, far from gratuitously.

Volver (2006)

LOVED this. Saw the preview several dozen times and the movie delivered. About a community of women (including ghosts) and their unbreakable bonds. Not for kids, like most of Almadóvar's work. Penelope Cruz is radiant, almost as luscious as she was in Woman on Top (2000), which I also enjoyed immensely, though some might call it a chick flick.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

I wouldn't miss a Woody Allen joint. He is constantly improving at showing (to quote High Society) the privileged class enjoying its privileges, and now has relocated from New York and London to Barcelona and other parts of Spain. Newcomer (to me--according to imdb she has 5 pictures coming in the next year in a half) Rebecca Hall (no, wait, she was in The Prestige with Scarlett Johansson) plays the requisite fearful Woody-type character, and Penelope Cruz the requisite loony b***h. Javier Bardem is the ladies' man Woody wishes he were, and Scarlett the free spirited Annie Hall type.

Man on Wire (2008)

Amy asked me recently how to make a great documentary. My fast answer was: have great people to interview. Man on Wire adds more ingredients to the recipe: have incredible vintage footage and photos of an incredible event, and then show the same people 30 years later, talking about it. Then dramatize other parts of the action with actors. Very satisfying, and recommended for everyone, even if you are afraid of heights, as I am. It seems that it will be playing another week at our single-screen "art house."

Enchanted (2007)

Karen joined my netflix friends list and then told me she hated Enchanted. I allowed as how it was not great art. "But you gave it five stars!" she protested. I had a good time watching it that day. I was in the mood for a syrupy chick flick and it tickled me that every aspect was ripped off of one or another fairytale classic. It wasn't nearly as good as Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, also starring Amy Adams as a sweet naïf (when it's a woman, does it have to be "naïve?"). Sorry! Perhaps Karen is the reason I am writing this blog. 1-5 stars isn't descriptive enough.

Hamlet 2 (2008)

A big soggy mess of a movie (actually short, at 1:32) with a lot of laughs between the cringing. Steve Coogan plays his usual self-involved loser, this time a drama teacher at a high school in Tucson who writes a sequel to Hamlet. One character says about the play within the movie, "It was awful but I just couldn't stop watching," or words to that effect. That's how I felt about Hamlet 2. Catherine Keener also plays her usual mean girl. I predict a long cult life for this movie, and its hit single, the bouncy "Rock me, sexy Jesus."

A Thousand Clowns (1965)

This has been my stock answer to the question, "What is your favorite movie?' since the 1980s. It takes place in the New York of my youth, about a nonconformist and his smart aleck kid. When I was in film school developing the short film that was to be the graduate thesis for me and my colleagues, I answered that question with that answer, and we watched it together and analyzed it. The predicament/conflict was clear within the first 10 minutes. That was important since our film had to be under 30 minutes! Unfortunately A Thousand Clowns is not available on DVD, nor is my thesis.

Quantum of Solace (2008) preview

Jack & I think this is the worst movie title ever. I wondered if it was written by Ian Fleming, and Jack got out the iPhone and confirmed that it was, indeed, a short story published by Fleming in 1959. Here's a link to an article about it. I'll wait to read it until after I see the movie.

Maybe the word quantum wasn't so ambiguous when he wrote it? How many people know for sure what it means? I imagine the title will be explained in the movie. And, like my friend Judy, I will see all the Bond movies.

Brideshead Revisited (2008)

I didn't think I had seen any of the PBS series, but for some reason the character of the younger sister, Cordelia, seemed familiar to me. Maybe I had seen part of an episode or perhaps I mixed her up with the younger sister in High Society and The Philadelphia Story, a much nicer love triangle.

This version delivered all I expected in terms of costumes, and oh, those locations: the sumptuous cruise ship, the estate of Brideshead, the dark London flat, the streets of Morocco; almost as good as those in Atonement. I will see anything with Emma Thompson in it (well, except Nanny McPhee--maybe someday on netflix) and she was brilliant as always. Matthew Goode (from Match Point) was wonderful as Charles Ryder and all the acting was first rate. I enjoyed it immensely.