A freak accident at a power plant supercharges some guy who hangs out at a Jersey VHS-rental store. The magnetic field he produces erases the tapes, forcing him and the store’s clerk to improvise remakes of all the movies. A messy, but ultimately funny comedy, this Michel Gondry picture tickles your funny bone as often as it grates on your nerves. (Though at this point I should point out that the “funny bone” is a nerve, Mr. Literal.) The extracurricular activities have more potential for entertainment (see www.BeKindRewind-TheMovie.com or search “sweded” on YouTube), so don’t be surprised if the film becomes as big a pop culture force as Napoleon Dynamite. For those who reminisce fondly on the days of VHS, it’s a must see. Starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover and Mia Farrow.
On the eve of Rob’s departure from New York City, a giant creature attacks the city. As filmed by his best friend who was taking video testimonials at the good-bye party, Rob and other survivors trek across a devastated Manhattan to rescue Rob’s would-be girlfriend. A terrifying, if angsty monster movie, the J.J. Abrams-produced feature succeeds in giving itself over to the human element, rather than simple spectacle. (Take note Roland Emmerich.) The very personal P.O.V. shooting-style — when mixed with special effects — adds so much to the genre film that you forget how badly it could have failed. Directed by Matt Reeves and starring Michael Stahl-David, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Odette Yustman and Lizzy Caplan.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)–*** Quickie Review
Jean-Dominque Bauby, editor of Elle magazine, suffers a stroke, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down and without the ability to speak. With the help of a speech therapist, he learns to communicate by blinking his left eye and dictates a book chronicling his “locked-in” life. A surreal, emotional experience, Schnabel adaptation of Bauby’s memoir is inspired even if it doesn’t reach the dramatic peaks it shoots for. Bauby’s still sharp sense of humor despite his condition (likely pulled directly from his memoir) maintains the film, while Max von Sydow’s performance as Bauby’s father achieves the highest level of sincerity. Also starring Mathieu Amalric as Bauby.
The story of America at war is told from the perspectives of a college professor and a promising student, a reporter and a senator, and two soldiers in Afghanistan. As boring as any of Robert Redford directorial efforts and as an unartful as any of the recent Iraq War films, this exercise in rhetorical pomposity isn’t nearly as influential as it thinks it should be. Sure, Redford’s film demands American civic engagement, but judging from the number of people eligible for AARP membership who made up the audience at my screening, it will still be unsuccessful in getting suburban kids to do something other than watch MTV or play video games. Featuring dreary, dispirited performances from Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Redford.
Slightly agoraphobic, but extremely sweet, Lars shakes up his small town when he orders a human-sized, anatomically-correct female doll and treats it like a real-life girlfriend. A touching and funny dramedy, this second feature from Craig Gillespie is only as believable as the actors are good. Ryan Gosling gives a painful, tender performance as a 27-year-old just coming of age, while character actor Paul Schneider gives his best performance to date as Lars’s guilt-ridden older brother. Writer Nancy Oliver (Six Feet Under) delicately discovers a heartwarming tale inside this rather offbeat premise. (Though, it may not be offbeat enough.) Also starring Emily Mortimer and Patricia Clarkson.
After graduating from Emory University, Christopher McCandless abandons his life of privilege for a nomadic journey that ends in the Alaskan wilderness. Sean Penn’s third feature film is the defining feature of his directorial career. Penn successfully channels the McCandless’s spirit, cinematically christening him as an inspirational and spiritual icon for generations to come. This is a film that will change lives. Starring Emile Hirsch, Catherine Keener, William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden and Jena Malone, with an Oscar-worthy turn by the 82-year-old Hal Holbrook.
The father of a murdered Iraq War veteran, himself once an Army man, helps a female police detective solve his son’s case, but the truth behind the crime is hard to comprehend. Writer/director Paul Haggis’s anti-war film proves once again that he should focus more on the writing and less on the directing. Most of the film’s drama comes from the audience’s knowledge of the current geopolitical climate and not from within the frame, while the actors are given the extreme task of contending with the world at large. This is a film that weighs on your shoulders, but rarely forces you to feel it makes one damn bit of difference. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon and Charlize Theron.
Dan Evans is a defeated rancher who is days away from loosing his farm to a neighboring land owner. When he gets the opportunity to earn a quick $200 by escorting the murderous robber Ben Wade to a train headed for federal prison, the usually safe Evans takes a chance on the fool’s errand. A well-composed and dramatic western, 3:10 to Yuma proves to be the always solid James Mangold’s best film to date. All around great performances are highlighted by Christian Bale’s harrowing turn as the rancher, Evans. A thrill for classic western fans. Also starring Russell Crowe as Ben Wade with Ben Foster and Peter Fonda.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)–*** Quickie Review
After being laid off from his job as a Boeing engineer, Steve Wiebe utilizes his obsessive personality and engineering-oriented mind to beat world champion Donkey Kong player Billy Mitchell’s high score.But Mitchell and his gang of devotees won’t let Wiebe take Billy’s record away that easily. An enthralling, emotional documentary, The King of Kong may be one of the best competition (sports?) films ever created. Rarely does any movie demand so much investment in its characters while so effortlessly telling their story.Sports genre techniques, flawless editing and a cast of characters too bizarre to be made up results in a cinematic gem you have to love.
A fact-driven boxing beat reporter tries to break out of his famous sportscaster father’s shadow by writing a heartbreaking feature on a homeless man who claims to be a legendary boxer. An earnest, but unaffecting sport drama, this Rod Lurie picture has all the skill of the reporter this film follows; it’s a straight-forward, informational drama. Samuel L. Jackson is superb as the homeless boxer, as is Josh Hartnett as the reporter/father trying to impress his own son. Still, the audience would be better served reading the Denver Times Magazine articles on which this feature is based than watching the movie and all of its easy, over-sentimental drama.
A freak accident at a power plant supercharges some guy who hangs out at a Jersey VHS-rental store. The magnetic field he produces erases the tapes, forcing him and the store’s clerk to improvise remakes of all the movies. A messy, but ultimately funny comedy, this Michel Gondry picture tickles your funny bone as often as it grates on your nerves. (Though at this point I should point out that the “funny bone” is a nerve, Mr. Literal.) The extracurricular activities have more potential for entertainment (see www.BeKindRewind-TheMovie.com or search “sweded” on YouTube), so don’t be surprised if the film becomes as big a pop culture force as Napoleon Dynamite. For those who reminisce fondly on the days of VHS, it’s a must see. Starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover and Mia Farrow.
Lions for Lambs (2007)–**
The father of a murdered Iraq War veteran, himself once an Army man, helps a female police detective solve his son’s case, but the truth behind the crime is hard to comprehend. Writer/director Paul Haggis’s anti-war film proves once again that he should focus more on the writing and less on the directing. Most of the film’s drama comes from the audience’s knowledge of the current geopolitical climate and not from within the frame, while the actors are given the extreme task of contending with the world at large. This is a film that weighs on your shoulders, but rarely forces you to feel it makes one damn bit of difference. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon and Charlize Theron.
A fact-driven boxing beat reporter tries to break out of his famous sportscaster father’s shadow by writing a heartbreaking feature on a homeless man who claims to be a legendary boxer. An earnest, but unaffecting sport drama, this Rod Lurie picture has all the skill of the reporter this film follows; it’s a straight-forward, informational drama. Samuel L. Jackson is superb as the homeless boxer, as is Josh Hartnett as the reporter/father trying to impress his own son. Still, the audience would be better served reading the Denver Times Magazine articles on which this feature is based than watching the movie and all of its easy, over-sentimental drama.
