AVATAR. Human beings have come to another planet - Pandora - where they intend to mine a precious mineral. Unfortunately, the mineral is located under a tree sacred to the indigenous people, the Na'vi, who live in harmony with all living things on their world. The humans can create avatars that look like the 10-feet tall, blue Na'vi, and Sigourney Weaver runs a program doing anthropological studies on them. She hopes to learn enough to convince them to relocate without the need for violence. On her team is a Marine who is a paraplegic (so he especially appreciates being in the avatar's body). He is captured by the locals, and begins to learn their ways. Meanwhile, the Na'vi people won't leave their homes, so the human military is determined to forcibly move them. I would say there isn't much that is original about the plot - and it's pretty heavy-handed - but director James Cameron has created such a beautifully realized world on Pandora that the movie is still well worth seeing. He did an amazing job making the world and the people believable. Too bad the story wasn't better.
CRAZY HEART. Jeff Bridges play Bad Blake, a down on his luck country singer. His days of playing big venues is long gone, and he is reduced to playing bowling alleys and such. Into one of his shows comes Maggie Gyllenhaal to interview him for a local paper. She is attracted to him and they will over time become friends, and then more than friends. I have to say, even though it is Jeff Bridges, I can't see any sensible woman being attracted to a sweaty, smoking, old alcoholic like Bad Blake. But, anyway, she will bring something out in him that he hasn't felt in a while. And her young son really brings out the goodness in him. Maybe he'll be redeemed by the love of a good woman. Or maybe not. Jeff Bridge is being acclaimed for his acting, but the movie was just OK for me. It would have helped if I could understand what Maggie saw in him. This is being compared to WRESTLER, and I can see that.
IT'S COMPLICATED. Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin have been divorced for over a decade (Alex cheated on her, and eventually married a young hottie). During their son's graduation, they get drunk and end up sleeping with each other. And Alex admits that life with his new wife isn't all that he had hoped. So it isn't just a one-time fling. Complications (ha!) ensue, including Meryl's attraction to her architect, Steve Martin. The movie is pretty cute, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't seen so many of the cute scenes in previews. Nothing special, but if you haven't seen many previews, it's a lightweight flick worth a look.
A TOWN CALLED PANIC. This low-tech claymation feature from Belgium is not your ordinary animated movie. It involves roommates Horse, Cowboy, and Indian. Horse is the leader and brains in the house. Cowboy and Indian want to get Horse a birthday present, but a mistake in their order makes things go horribly awry. And things just get stranger and stranger, including visits under the ocean and to the poles. Their crazy adventures are very silly, but I was smiling pretty much the whole time, so I guess I have to say it was a fun movie.
YOUNG VICTORIA. The young princess Victoria was over-protected by her parents, and her step-father wants to be the power between the throne. He is actually rather abusive to her. Once she becomes Queen, various factions want her married off to a suitor of their choice. And since she is so inexperienced, she has to rely on someone to help her rule, in this case the prime minister. One of her suitors is Prince Albert of Germany. Even though they both know they are being manipulated by others, Albert and Victoria still feel an attraction for each other. Now, I know a superficial love story between 19th century royalty isn't going to be many people's cup of tea, but I enjoyed the movie.
BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS. Nicholas Cage is a sergeant in the New Orleans police dept. during the Katrina disaster. When trying to save someone, he hurts his back. Six months and a promotion later, he is addicted to pain killers and cocaine. He also has gambling debts. He is one big mess, but he is still on the job. Four days after seeing this movie, I can barely remember the plot. It was so bizarre. It was cleverly resolved, but...not memorable.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Favorite movies of 2009
There were a lot of terrific movies this year, but my top two (I couldn't decide which was tops) were the very different INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (Aug) and THE HURT LOCKER (July). AN EDUCATION (Oct) was a close third. I also really enjoyed THE INFORMANT (Sept), FUNNY PEOPLE (Aug)and UP IN THE AIR (Dec).
The Best Animated - UP (May). PRINCESS AND THE FROG was very good, but UP is a classic.
The Funniest - THE HANGOVER (June).
Best Science Fiction - STAR TREK (if you want to call it sci-f :-) (May)). DISTRICT 9 (Aug), and MOON (June).
Best Foreign films - from Japan DEPARTURES (June), from Sweden EVERLASTING MOMENTS (Apr), and the Denmark FLAME AND CITRON (Aug).
Best Documentary - HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29 (Mar).
Best Relationship Movies - (5OO) DAYS OF SUMMER (Jul) and ADAM (Sept).
Best Sports Movies - SUGAR (May)and DAMNED UNITED. (Oct)
The Best Animated - UP (May). PRINCESS AND THE FROG was very good, but UP is a classic.
The Funniest - THE HANGOVER (June).
Best Science Fiction - STAR TREK (if you want to call it sci-f :-) (May)). DISTRICT 9 (Aug), and MOON (June).
Best Foreign films - from Japan DEPARTURES (June), from Sweden EVERLASTING MOMENTS (Apr), and the Denmark FLAME AND CITRON (Aug).
Best Documentary - HARVARD BEATS YALE 29-29 (Mar).
Best Relationship Movies - (5OO) DAYS OF SUMMER (Jul) and ADAM (Sept).
Best Sports Movies - SUGAR (May)and DAMNED UNITED. (Oct)
Saturday, January 2, 2010
December movie reviews
UP IN THE AIR. George Clooney is Ryan Bingham, who is on the road 300+ days a year in his job as a hired gun firing employees for companies who don't can't bring themselves to fire their employees. He seems to take pride in his job, and he is good at it. He also really loves accumulating the frequent flier miles, with a goal of getting to some super elite status. He is OK leading a life with no human connections (he also teaches seminars telling people it is good to have no personal baggage). When his company threatens to ground him, he takes a new employee on the road to show her the ropes. The young woman is understandably appalled by his lifestyle and attitudes. A second story line involves Ryan meeting a woman (Vera Farmiga) that sparks something in him. (She is a commitment-phobe as well). He is surprised that she is someone he actually wants to spend time with. The movie doesn't go to expected places, and while very funny at times, is also quite touching. And Clooney is perfect for the role. A definite two-thumbs up.
INVICTUS. After Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) was released from prison in the early 1990’s and became president in South Africa, he was faced with the daunting task of trying to bring his country together. One of the methods he used to unite people was to encourage the South Africa rugby team (captained by Matt Damon) to be competitive in time for the 1994 World Cup, which was going to be held in South Africa. The team had been hated by the country's black population- rugby was overwhelmingly a white man's sport, and the team was a symbol of black oppression. But Mandela sees the power of sports on the national psyche. Although the movie ends with a climatic rugby match, this isn't a typical inspirational sports movie. It is more an intellectual look at politics, how leadership works, and about the political savvy of Mandela. He is a brilliant man. This is a good (not great) movie.
THE BLIND SIDE. LeeAnn Twohy (Sandra Bullock) is a well-to-do designer in Memphis Tennessee - a steel magnolia Southern woman. While driving home one evening, she discovers a teenage boy walking out in the freezing cold. Realizing he has nowhere to go, she lets him stay the night in her house. She discovers he has no home (no dad, taken from mom because she was addicted to crack, kicked out of a friend's house), and eventually the teenager becomes part of her family. Not just that, LeeAnn makes sure he does well in school so he can play football. This is based on the true story of Michael Oher, who is now a professional football player. I was surprised by how much I liked this movie. It is inspirational without being treacly or preachy.
A SINGLE MAN. George (Colin Firth) is an English professor in 1962 Los Angeles. Eight months earlier, he lost his long-time lover in a car accident. And he is not getting over his grief. And, because he is gay, he really can't share how devastated he is with anyone (except one old friend played by Julianne Moore). His pain is palpable, and he doesn't see a future. He is just going through the motions. He has a gun... Now, I will agree with all the critics that are raving about Colin Firth's performance, because he really does an amazing job, both in the grieving and in the flashbacks to his life with his lover. But as far as the movie goes, despite the outstanding acting, the recreation of the 1960s, and the style of the film, I thought it was too low-key. Watching a man being depressed (practically catatonic) for the first half of the movie nearly put me in a coma.
PRINCESS AND THE FROG. This is a delightful movie by Disney, with the look of their classic animated films. The pictures of jazz-era New Orleans are beautifully drawn. This is an updated Disney, though, because the lead character, Tiana, doesn't want to marry a prince. She is working hard make her dream of having a restaurant come true. When a ne'er do well prince arrives in town, the prince gets involved with a practitioner of voodoo, and before you know it, the prince is a frog. He will involve Tiana in his predicament and they will end up in the swamp befriended by a firefly and an alligator. And so it goes in the Disney way. Catchy tunes with a New Orleans feel by Randy Newman. I thought this was a very sweet movie. At one point I even had a tear in my eye. Awwww.
ME AND ORSON WELLES. Zac Efron is Richard, a wanna-be actor in 1937 New York. One day he is outside the Mercury Theater, and Orson Welles hires him for a bit part in his play "Caesar", opening in a week. The movie follows the young kid's introduction into how much it takes to put on a theatrical show. Plus he has his first romance. And he learns the pros and cons of dealing with a genius like Welles. The movie's real highlight is Orson Welles, who was such a fascinating man. Although I somewhat liked the movie, I think it would probably be more for viewers who know a little background about Welles and the Mercury Theater, because there are some historical references that might be lost otherwise. (Although I am not sure they are important.) I enjoyed the movie, but other than a great performance by the guy playing Welles (you can really believe it is Welles), I am only mildly enthusiastic about it.
EVERYBODY'S FINE. Robert DeNiro is a recently widowed, retired factory worker. When all of his kids (including Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Beckinsale) bail on a family get-together, he goes on the road to visit each of the four in their various home cities. Of course, he finds during the visits that all of the kids have issues/problems he didn't know about. Part of the communication problem lay in the fact that dad expected a lot of his kids, so they are afraid to disappoint him. There are no big reveals, nothing over the top. Nothing unpredictable either. Although not exactly a ground-breaking family drama, it was a decent enough movie. It least it isn't overly sentimental or tear-jerking. But not really worth the price of a ticket.
INVICTUS. After Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) was released from prison in the early 1990’s and became president in South Africa, he was faced with the daunting task of trying to bring his country together. One of the methods he used to unite people was to encourage the South Africa rugby team (captained by Matt Damon) to be competitive in time for the 1994 World Cup, which was going to be held in South Africa. The team had been hated by the country's black population- rugby was overwhelmingly a white man's sport, and the team was a symbol of black oppression. But Mandela sees the power of sports on the national psyche. Although the movie ends with a climatic rugby match, this isn't a typical inspirational sports movie. It is more an intellectual look at politics, how leadership works, and about the political savvy of Mandela. He is a brilliant man. This is a good (not great) movie.
THE BLIND SIDE. LeeAnn Twohy (Sandra Bullock) is a well-to-do designer in Memphis Tennessee - a steel magnolia Southern woman. While driving home one evening, she discovers a teenage boy walking out in the freezing cold. Realizing he has nowhere to go, she lets him stay the night in her house. She discovers he has no home (no dad, taken from mom because she was addicted to crack, kicked out of a friend's house), and eventually the teenager becomes part of her family. Not just that, LeeAnn makes sure he does well in school so he can play football. This is based on the true story of Michael Oher, who is now a professional football player. I was surprised by how much I liked this movie. It is inspirational without being treacly or preachy.
A SINGLE MAN. George (Colin Firth) is an English professor in 1962 Los Angeles. Eight months earlier, he lost his long-time lover in a car accident. And he is not getting over his grief. And, because he is gay, he really can't share how devastated he is with anyone (except one old friend played by Julianne Moore). His pain is palpable, and he doesn't see a future. He is just going through the motions. He has a gun... Now, I will agree with all the critics that are raving about Colin Firth's performance, because he really does an amazing job, both in the grieving and in the flashbacks to his life with his lover. But as far as the movie goes, despite the outstanding acting, the recreation of the 1960s, and the style of the film, I thought it was too low-key. Watching a man being depressed (practically catatonic) for the first half of the movie nearly put me in a coma.
PRINCESS AND THE FROG. This is a delightful movie by Disney, with the look of their classic animated films. The pictures of jazz-era New Orleans are beautifully drawn. This is an updated Disney, though, because the lead character, Tiana, doesn't want to marry a prince. She is working hard make her dream of having a restaurant come true. When a ne'er do well prince arrives in town, the prince gets involved with a practitioner of voodoo, and before you know it, the prince is a frog. He will involve Tiana in his predicament and they will end up in the swamp befriended by a firefly and an alligator. And so it goes in the Disney way. Catchy tunes with a New Orleans feel by Randy Newman. I thought this was a very sweet movie. At one point I even had a tear in my eye. Awwww.
ME AND ORSON WELLES. Zac Efron is Richard, a wanna-be actor in 1937 New York. One day he is outside the Mercury Theater, and Orson Welles hires him for a bit part in his play "Caesar", opening in a week. The movie follows the young kid's introduction into how much it takes to put on a theatrical show. Plus he has his first romance. And he learns the pros and cons of dealing with a genius like Welles. The movie's real highlight is Orson Welles, who was such a fascinating man. Although I somewhat liked the movie, I think it would probably be more for viewers who know a little background about Welles and the Mercury Theater, because there are some historical references that might be lost otherwise. (Although I am not sure they are important.) I enjoyed the movie, but other than a great performance by the guy playing Welles (you can really believe it is Welles), I am only mildly enthusiastic about it.
EVERYBODY'S FINE. Robert DeNiro is a recently widowed, retired factory worker. When all of his kids (including Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Beckinsale) bail on a family get-together, he goes on the road to visit each of the four in their various home cities. Of course, he finds during the visits that all of the kids have issues/problems he didn't know about. Part of the communication problem lay in the fact that dad expected a lot of his kids, so they are afraid to disappoint him. There are no big reveals, nothing over the top. Nothing unpredictable either. Although not exactly a ground-breaking family drama, it was a decent enough movie. It least it isn't overly sentimental or tear-jerking. But not really worth the price of a ticket.
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