Fracture (2007)***

Since there has been a lot of hype about Ryan Gosling, I decided to check out this film. Gosling was good, but I haven’t figured out yet if the young baby faced actor was miscast for the role. Anthony Hopkins was great, his acting always seems so effortless. Overall, I thought the storyline was good and the characters were interesting, but the film was a little slow and perhaps overly melodramatic. It is worth renting, or in my case, worth checking out at the local library. I am really looking forward to seeing Gosling’s performance in Half-Nelson, it’s just so far back on my queue.

Director Syndey Pollack dies

Director Syndey Pollack recently died at the age of 73. He was easily among the top ten contemporary directors of our day.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24832016

For those of you who are unfamiliar with his work, here is a selection of some of the most famous films he directed (he acted in and produced countless others):

The Interpreter (2005)

Random Hearts (1999)

Sabrina (1995)

The Firm (1993)

Out of Africa (1985)

Tootsie (1982)

Absence of Malice (1981)

Three Days of the Condor (1975)

The Yakuza (1974)

The Way We Were (1973)

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

Jimmy Stewart

This article in the SF Chronicle is about the Great Jimmy Stewart, one of my favorite classic film actors. I thought those of you who appreciate the classics might find it interesting.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/14/DD6I10DRTS.DTL&hw=Jimmy+Stewart&sn=001&sc=1000

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

There is a link to the latest Star Wars installment - Star Wars: The Clone Wars Theatrical Trailer
http://movies.yahoo.com/summer-movies/Star-Wars-Clone-Wars/1809991325/trailers/133/880

The graphics look fairly cheesy, but it's Star Wars, you have to see it.

3:10 to Yuma (2007)*****

This is a remake of the 1960’s western written by Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Jackie Brown). This is by far the best western since Unforgiven, which was released over 15 years ago. Christian Bale has come a long way since Little Women, hasn’t he? He does a wonderful job of playing the anti-hero who is fighting to redeem himself and save his family. Cast against type, Russell Crowe does a great job of playing the villain. Incidentally, a lot of great actors have played against type in westerns (Gary Cooper – High Noon, Henry Fonda – Once Upon a Time in the West, Gene Hackman – Unforgiven). For those of you who know your westerns, you’ll notice that subplots in this film are reminiscent of other great westerns, including Shane and Winchester ’73. 3:10 has been described as a “classic modern western,” which is an accurate description because it has a postmodern feel that is most akin to the darker westerns that began appearing in the 60’s and 70’s. Unlike earlier westerns, this film isn’t afraid to show flawed multidimensional heroes. 3:10 goes one step further by showing the humanity of its villains too, which makes this a great film.

The Notebook (2004)***

I tried to put off this movie as long as I could, but there is only so much I can do when my wife has control of our netflix account. I had feared The Notebook would be the cinematic equivalent of a Thomas Kincade painting, overly sentimental and without substance (I don’t know how that guy makes a living). Anyway, I was surprised. The Notebook was actually fairly good. I guess I do have a bit of a sentimental side. [Spoiler Alert] I have to say that I think the film romanticized Alzheimer’s disease a bit by not placing more focus on how unbelievably difficult it can be for families. I guess they were worried about making it even more of a tear-jerker.

Speaking of tear-jerker movies, what would you say is the saddest movie of all time? House of Sand and Fog tops my list by far. I watched it once alone when my wife was out of town and it really messed me up.

Family Guy – Blue Harvest (2007)****

This is an hour long episode of the Family Guy that was recently releases on DVD. I am not typically a fan of the show, it is typically too offensive for my taste, but I decided to watch it after a friend’s recommendation. I am glad I did. The entire episode is a spoof of Star Wars IV- A New Hope. It is almost entirely redone frame by frame and you can tell the crew really geeked out when they put this episode together. If you are a fan of Star Wars, I highly recommend this film.

Flightplan (2005)***

This is one of a handful of movies that has capitalized on post-911 aeronautic angst (e.g. Red Eye, Snakes on a Plane). Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable thriller. It has a Hitchcockian flavor as the film leads you to question the sanity of the heroine played by Jodie Foster. The filming of the movie is excellent considering that the majority of the scenes are confined to the set of an oversized jumbo jet. If you rent this, I highly recommend watching the special features to give you an appreciation of the challenges they faced in filming in such tight quarters.

I am Legend (2007)**

I decided to wait to see this movie after reading the reviews. Watching it a few nights ago and I though that it was visually amazing, set in post-zombiefied New York. Will Smith’s acting was overall very strong. I couldn’t figure out why the reviews were so bad, that was until I came to the last 10 minutes of the film. It’s interesting how an ending can really make or break a film. As much as hate the late Charleston Heston’s support for the NRA, I think his version of this film titled Omega Man is better, simply because it has a tighter ending. It is a shame. Had they added another half hour to Legend, drawing out the ending and adding to the character development, this could have been a great film.

Watch the bonus feature if you can stomach the clips from a gruesome promotional graphic novel based on the film that was written by Orson Scott Card.

For a Few Dollars More (1965)***

With a weaker storyline that its predecessor, A Fist Full of Dollars and the capstone of the trilogy, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, A Few Dollars More is a mildly entertaining shoot-em-up western (many people get shot in this film, including a crazy-eyed hunchback named Wild). Eastwood is as cool as ever but A Few Dollars More doesn’t have the psychological complexity of these other films. The cinematography is good though and if you have seen any of Sergio Leone films, you’ll know that the musical score is an interesting one. The composer, Ennio Morricone, won a lifetime achievement award from the Academy, but that doesn’t seem to make his scores any less strange. I would like to see the films re-released with a score from the White Stripes. Now that would be awesome.

Michael Clayton (2007)****

Clooney has an uncanny ability to be cast in amazing films (We’ll forgive him for Batman & Robin and everything he did before ER). Michael Clayton is an intricate film that slowly unfolds. Tom Wilkinson deserved the Oscar nod, if not the win, for his supporting role in the film as the big business defense attorney who has a psychotic break in court. Wilkinson does one of the most convincing on-screen portrayals of bi-polar manic symptoms that I have seen. Tilda Swinton, who won an Oscar for her role in this film, proved she can also play a witch outside of Narnia. And then there is Sydney Pollack who played the head of the law film. It is interesting to see him in front of the camera for a change. What I really like about this movie is that it has a terrific ending, but still leaves you with some interesting unanswered questions.

La Samourai (1967)****

This is a French new wave film noir that incorporates Samurai philosophy into the story of a French hitman in contemporary Paris (what more could you ask for?). This is the first film I have seen by Jean-Pierre Melville, who directed a number of French film noirs currently released under the Criterion collection label (many of which I have recently added to my netflix queue). The lead actor in the film, Alain Delon, is smooth enough to rival anything Eastwood, Newman, and McQueen were doing in the 60’s and 70’s.

For an updated Tarantino-esque version of this film, I highly recommend Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. This zany and relatively unknown film with Forest Whitaker is a must see.

Hobbit Update

It looks like Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, The Orphanage, Hellboy) is slated to direct The Hobbit, which is supposed to be released in 2010. The Hobbit II is also supposed to come out in 2011. It looks like Sir Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf and Peter Jackson is onboard as the executive director. Can del Toro pull it off? I liked Pan's Labyrinth but he's no Peter Jackson. What are your thoughts?

Yours, Mine, and Ours (2005) No stars

This is the type of movie I suffer through when I visit my in-laws. I really had no choice. Here is a short synopsis: Admiral in the coast guard is a widower with 8 kids. He reunites with his old high school flame (Rene Russo), a fun-loving fashion designer, who also happens to be a widow with ten kids. It is a very believable and very clichéd story. Need I say more?

After Life (1998)*****

In a way station somewhere between life and the here after, a group of individuals are asked to select one memory to take with them to the eternities. The almost minimalist set of this film, with its drab features, and a script that doesn’t bother with explanations, helps to accentuate the meaningfulness of this decision.

I cannot remember a more thought provoking premise to a movie. Perhaps my reaction to this film is related to my wife’s playful reminder that I have now technically reached middle age. Certainly the existential themes in this movie encourage the viewer to examine what aspects of their own life are most meaningful. I highly recommend this movie.

Melinda and Melinda (2004)***

There are 2 types of people in this world, those who love Woody Allen films and those who don’t. My marriage straddles both side of this divide – I find Allen’s neuroticism entertaining (and somewhat familiar), while my wife’s typical response to his films is “I just don’t get it.” Which side of this fence do you sit on? Well if you are a fan of Woody Allen, you’ll appreciate Melinda and Melinda.

The film explores the relationship between drama and comedy by presenting two alternate and interwoven plotlines - one a comedy and the other a drama, each one relying on similar premises. This is the type of film that would be really interesting to dissect to examine the nuanced similarities between the two stories.

Like most of Woody Allen’s films, Melinda and Melinda is a very witty and quotable film. Will Ferrell has a role in this film which he plays with a subtle humor akin to his character in Stranger than Fiction (my Farrell favorite), and he does a great job of channeling Allen’s neuroticism. Steve Carell plays Ferrell’s buddy in the film and they are pictured together on the back of the DVD cover. Carell’s role in the film is unfortunately very minor and not noteworthy.

Rescue Dawn (2006) ****

This film is based on the story of the pilot Dieter Dengler’s experiences and escape from a POW camp after being shot down. This film is very different than many POW films I have seen. Unlike Stalag 17, it doesn’t trivialize life as a POW. Rescue Dawn examines the group dynamics between the prisoners, as well as their suffering and endurance. Christian Bale is likable and convincing as the main character. Steven Zahn does a surprisingly amazing job with the supporting lead (both Zahn and Bale are shown in the picture above). Zahn, who is typically relegated to the role of comic relief (e.g., Daddy Day Care, Sahara) has such a strong stage presence as Bale’s friend and co-POW in the film. The cinematography of the film is top notch with the use of light and dark contrasts to portray the dire circumstances of the POWs and the rugged beauty of their natural surroundings.

The director, Herzog, based this film on a documentary he made of Dieter Dengler in 1997.

It would be interesting to watch to get a better took at Dengler's life.

Hell House (2001) ****

What a terrifying and disturbing film. Despite the name, Hell House isn’t a horror movie, it is a documentary exploring the Trinity church (Assemblies of God) in Cedar Hill, Texas, and their yearly Halloween fundraiser called Hell House. This house of horror showcases hell and the church’s perception of what gets people there through reenactments of drug use, suicide, family violence, school shootings, abortion, and more. The film follows the families and youth among the congregation through auditions, set construction, rehearsals, and the opening night. Part of what makes this film so disturbing is that many of members of this congregation seem like very nice everyday people. For example, there is the soft-spoken father who is raising three children on his own, including a son with cerebral palsy and a teenage daughter who he hopes will get the part of the girl with the botched abortion.

No documentary is completely objective, subjectivity always comes in through the editing and what the filmmakers choose to show in the film, but this film makes an attempt to portray an objective stance. Unlike the Michael Moore style documentaries, this film has no running commentary. The filmmakers present a study of this church with their gospel of fear, while allowing you to make your own judgments.

Dir. David O. Russell Freakout

I Heart Huckabee is one of my all-time favorite movies. The characters are amazing and it is fantastically written. I recently found this clip of the director, David O. Russell, freaking out on the set during filming. Someone from the film crew leaked this footage onto youtube last year. I can’t believe it. Poor Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, and Dustin Hoffman look so uncomfortable while this guy has a full-blown tantrum. He looks like an upset third grader with a severe mood disorder.

For those of you who haven’t seen I Heart Huckabee, don't let this clip steer you away. I still highly encourage you to see this film. Just assume, as I have, that Dave Russell forgot to take his medication on the day of this embarrassing outburst. Caution – the clip includes a litany of expletives from multiple parties involved.

http://

Indiana Jones 4 Trailer

Here is a link to the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull trailer. I have a little prayer in my heart that this movie isn't going to suck....but, honestly, I am a little worried. I will try to stay optimistic. I guess if moviemakers can bring the Batman and James Bond franchises back to life, anything is possible. Check out the trailer and let me know your prediction.

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/indianajones.html?showVideo=1

Ransomed Jesus

It seems that all local news programs follow the same predictable pattern: fire, car crash, shooting - repeat. This clip shows that a few stations are willing to break outside the mold and provide quality news broadcasting -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUJ4es4cYIU

Raw Deal (***)

This film was directed by Mann during his noir period. The film involves a prison escapee, two women who love him, and a violent mob boss played by Raymond Burr. Raw Deal is mildly entertaining, although not as complex as some of Mann’s later works. Burr is the only notable cast member who is a real baddie in the film, at one point throwing a flaming soufflé at his girlfriend.

Rififi (*****)

This might possibly be the perfect noir film. Don't take my word for it, François Truffaut said of Rififi, "THE BEST FILM NOIR I'VE EVER SEEN! A marvel of skill and inventiveness!".

American director Dassin wrote this French masterpiece while being “exiled” in France after being blacklisted during the McCarthy Era. This film, set in Paris, follows four men as they meticulously pull off a jewel heist. Using such a realistic, documentary-like portrayal of the robbery, Rififi resulted in a number of copy-cat heists. The cast is wonderful. If you like film noir, I highly recommend this film.

Sicko (*****)

Sorry, I hate getting on a my soap box but I think the world would be a better place if people put less energy in vilifying Michael Moore and spent more time trying to understand the issues he presents. It is unfortunate that a country as rich as ours cares so little for its poor. The US has higher infant morality rates and shorter life expectancies than all the other developed countries (who have each accepted universal health care). Is universal health care so terrifying? The wall is down, Russia has democracy, and yet we still have the red scare of socialized medicine!

While we are on the topic of Michael Moore, I highly recommend the film This Divided State. This eye-opening documentary follows the reactions of many conservative members of the Utah County community as Michael Moore comes to give a presentation at their local college.

http://www.thisdividedstate.com/

Mogambo (***)

A remake of Gable’s earlier film, Red Dust, this was filmed on location in Africa in the early 50’s. Not a great film, but worthwhile given the location and cast (Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, and Grace Kelly). Interestingly, the film touches on a number of, for the time, progressive topics including: infidelity, evolution, religion, genital mutilation, and tribal warfare. The graying Gable plays a chauvinistic safari guide. In the end he makes an attempt to redeem himself (although somewhat unconvincingly). Ava Gardner is particularly good as the dancehall girl who fights against the prime and proper Grace Kelly for Grant’s affection. Sadly, I think Grant’s star power, which must have initially carried the film, has not aged well and may be lost on current audiences.

The Man from Laramie (****)

Some have said that the western is dead, and they might be right with a few recent exceptions (3:10 to Yuma, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford). But, like it or not, westerns join the film noir subgenre, as being America’s lasting contribution to film. And to tell the truth, I like good westerns. They remind me of my grandpa who was an old cowhand and had probably seen every major American western ever made.

The Man from Laramie would not have generally been my first pick. The name itself was off-putting to me, having been to Laramie myself. Furthermore, the director Anthony Mann’s name doesn’t typically come up in discussions of America’s great directors (None of his films made AFI’s top 100). I was inspired to pick up the film after reading two great books that had chapters showcasing Mann’s work (Film Noir Reader edited by Alain Silver and James Ursini, and Never Coming to a Theater Near You, by Kenneth Turan). Each of these chapters argued that Mann’s work has been unjustly overlooked. So I decided to find out for myself.

Man from Laramie follows Stewart in the title role as a mysterious stranger who comes into the town of Coronado seeking revenge against those responsible for his brother’s death. The town’s people are anything but hospitable. You quickly gain a sense that the people of Coronado have something to hide. In this way, the movie is reminiscent of Spencer Tracy’s Bad Day at Black Rock, a wonderful film. Although I understand that westerns are an acquired taste for some, this film has many universal themes, such as love, greed, and revenge that would resonate with most any moviegoer. The themes and photography of the films also show consistencies with elements of film noir (Mann started his career making gritty hard-boiled noirs). Man for Laramie has a more subtle artistry and sophistication that those westerns of Sergio Leone (whose films I also enjoy) and the characters in Mann's film are played skillfully with emotional depth and complexity. One exception is the Native Americans, who are portrayed as inherently evil – a sad product of the times in which this film was made. The writing is good and so is the acting, except for the leading lady played by Cathy O’Donnell whose overacted performance borders on annoying. Overall, I would say if you are looking for a good western that is character driven you’ll do good with The Man for Laramie.

Gaslight (*****)

Although many of George Cukor’s films are well known (My Fair Lady, The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, etc), Gaslight, which was filmed in 1944, has relatively slipped under the radar. That is a shame. It is a wonderfully suspenseful film that keeps you at the edge of your seat from start to finish. Don’t let the film’s Victorian London setting fool you, this is no sentimental Jane Austin period piece. It has many of the classic film noir motifs and is in the same vein as Les Diaboliques and Sudden Fear. The film follows a young heiress named Paula, played by Ingrid Bergman, who tries to escape her dark past by rebuilding her life through marriage to her new husband. Together the newlyweds return to her family home, which has been untouched since the murder of Paula’s aunt 10 years earlier. Shortly after their arrival, Paula’s behavior becomes increasingly odd. She appears absent minded, misplacing household artifacts, forgetting things, and eventually begins hearing voices. Her husband becomes isolated from her and seems convinced that she is going insane. Or is she?…

I highly recommend this movie. It is worth it to see a 17-year-old Angela Lansbury playing the couples’ saucy little cockney housemaid in her debut role.

Interesting fact: The movie influenced the term gaslighting. The definition is included below, but watch out, it includes a movie spoiler!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting

Thank You For Smoking (****)

This biting satire doesn’t pull any punches as it attacks tobacco companies, politicians, the news media, Hollywood, and especially lobbyists. Nobody is safe. Aaron Eckhart has the lead role and skillfully plays a ruthless tobacco lobbyist (are there any other kind?). Does anyone else see the irony in a Mormon playing a tobacco lobbyist? Eckhart and the rest of the cast do a wonderful job, William H. Macy is especially good, but it is the script that makes this film. With some big names in the cast, I was particularly surprised the entire film was made for only $7 million. If you rent it, don’t miss the included Charlie Rose interview with the director, producer, writer, and Eckart.

Golden Globes 2008

Here is a link to the Golden Globe Winners for 2008:

http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2008/globes

The Dark Knight is Coming...

Through the link below you can bring up slides for the next Christopher Nolan Batman film. Is anybody as excited about this movies as I am?

http://www.premiere.com/previews/4342/trailer-picks-the-dark-knight.html

Stalag 17 (**)

Billy Wilder has written and directed some of America’s best movies, such as Some Like It Hot, Sunset Blvd, Double Indemnity, The Apartment, Sabrina, the list goes on and on. Some of these films make my top ten list. I found Stalag to be mildly entertaining but not Wilder's best. Billed as a dark comedy, it seems light on the dark and heavy on the comedy. Furthermore, there is very little character development and I felt very little emotional connection to the characters. This may be due to the large cast of characters. Certainly there is a great deal of symbolism in the movie (interested viewers are encouraged to read the following http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/00/5/stalag.html) but this film left me with wanting something more.

The Yakuza (***)

This is a film released in 1974 by Sydney Pollock that places Robert Mitchum as a detective returning to Japan to help a friend who is in trouble with the Yakuza. It is a neo-noir of sorts. The only problem I have with the film is that I am unable to tell if it shows an interesting aspect of Japanese culture or if it exploits Japanese stereotypes. I wonder what Pollock would say about this movie today. Overall the movie is very good, action packed and interesting. It takes place primarily in Japan, with a mostly Japanese crew. Like many noirs, it has a number of twists and turns, with each character harboring secrets about their past. There is an emotional reveal about the characters right before the climax at the end that really makes the movie. The film has its share of violence involving Katana blades and such, but nothing approaching Kill Bill. This movie is no Out of the Past, Cape Fear, or Night of the Hunter for Mitchum. It is interesting to see an aged Mitchum, perhaps past his prime, playing a leading strong man in Japan. Mitchum is one of my favor actors, but he almost seems a bit miscast in this role.

According to IMDB, Martin Scorsese and Robert Aldrich were each considered for directing the movie before Pollack. Also both Lee Marvin and Robert Redford were considered for the lead role.

Ken Takakura, who plays Mitchum's unwilling but loyal partner in the film is very good. I would really like to see more of his films but I don’t know where to start. I need more exposure to Japanese cinema.

Suspicion (*****)

Another Hitchcock great! The plot of the film revolves around a wealthy bookish women played by Joan Fontaine, who falls for and marries a gold-digging playboy played by Cary Grant. Fontaine won an academy award for her performance in this film, which is her second Hitchcock role following Rebecca. Grant’s performance is also very impressive. His character in this film is unlike any I have seen him play. Grant is known for his suave ladies’ man persona (see Charade, North by Northwest, Notorious, An Affair to Remember, etc.). In Suspicion, there is some of that but Grant also shows more depth and complexity with even evidence of a dark side. This film also has many of the Hitchcockian trademarks, the sweeping long shots, themes of obsession and underlying sexuality, and lots of suspense. Like many of his films, Suspicion shows the good and evil of each of its characters and it has a great surprise ending too!

Paths of Glory (*****)

I decided to watch another early Kubrick film, Paths of Glory starring Kirk Douglas. I was really blown away by this movie. The film is very well written and the cinematography is amazing. I don’t want to spoil too much of it but it is based on a true story about a French regiment in WWI that is tried for treason after refusing to take a German position. Douglas plays a captain who is forced to defend his men from the death penalty in a war tribunal with charges of treason. The film is essentially an anti-war film that packs an emotional punch. It explores military bureaucracy, and the disconnect between military leadership and frontline solders.
Kirk Douglas’ performance is wonderful. Perhaps his best. Overall, I think this film is on my short list of best war movies of all time.