Tuesday, January 29, 2013

"Quartet" - movie review


          Spoiler Alert:  This is a feel-good movie!

          Bravo, bravo, Dustin Hoffman, for your directorial debut of this wonderful movie! Also to Ronald Harwood for his charming screenplay.

          This movie starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins, is about a chateau-like retirement home for retired musicians. Verdi’s birthday is celebrated annually with performances by residents doing different musical numbers. Jean, the perfectly characterized diva, is a recent arrival to the home and is surprised when she is confronted by one of the residents who turns out to be her former husband, Reggie.

          Jean is approached by Reggie and Wilf and Cissy to perform at the event and reluctantly agrees. The movie ends with strains of the four in the quartet singing as the camera leaves the home and fades to black.

          But the movie isn’t over until credit after credit shows pictures of the current actors in the film along side pictures of themselves from bygone years in various theatrical and operatic performances.

          I loved this movie; it made me smile and laugh and tap my toe to some pretty recognizable classical music. The part of Cissy, played by Pauline Collins, is the most endearing and charming of them all.

          I want to live at this retirement home. I want to know these people. I want to hear myriad performances being practiced in all corners of this mansion in England.

          Compare this ‘old folks film’ with the likes of Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones experiencing sexual dysfunction in “Hope Springs” and I’ll take this one a thousand times over!

BRAVO!

                                                                                     
                                                                                                            Five out of possible five ticket stubs
                                                    
 
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Sunday, January 13, 2013

“Zero Dark Thirty” – movie review


          We know the story. I should say, we heard reports about what happened. “Zero Dark Thirty” takes you inside the killing of Osama bin Laden and all that led up to finding him. This process took the diligence of CIA operative, Maya, over a 10 year period. In the end, she was the only one of all the government personnel including the Navy S.E.A.L.S. on the project, who was completely convinced bin Laden would be found at the compound that was raided.

          “Zero Dark Thirty” is produced and directed by Kathryn Bigelow of “The Hurt Locker,” and the movie is up for a Best Picture Oscar. The film stars Jessica Chastain as Maya, the CIA operative, as well as Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt as other geeky government types. These geeky types were also highly skilled at the art of torture for information, which I found disconcerting. I’ve never heard of any of these actors but their performances were convincing enough to make the film work well. Ms. Chastain is nominated for Best Actress for her performance.

          I wanted to see this inside look at a monumental operation. For that reason alone, I appreciated “Zero Dark Thirty.”  I don’t think this movie has a chance in heck of taking the Oscar from the other nominees in the Best Picture category. But it is worth seeing, even if you wait until it is released on DVD.
Three out of possible ticket stubs.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

“Django Unchained” – movie review


          The year is 1858. Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), a dentist turned bounty hunter, purchases and ultimately sets free a slave named Django (“the D is silent”) to help him track down and identify his latest quarry. Dr. Schultz talks Django (Jamie Foxx) into sticking with him as a partner for future bounties and, in return, the good doctor will help Django reunite with his slave wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who was sold separately. Sounds simple enough, no?

          No! This is a Quentin Tarantino movie. Need I say more? Everything is over the top and, thus, becomes funny. It’s not a comedy, but I laughed more than I have in a long time.

          Not being a Tarantino fan, I didn’t even want to see “Django Unchained.” My friend and movie partner, Kristie, did see it and loved it. So much so that she wanted to see it again. Well, I couldn’t refuse. And boy am I glad I didn’t refuse.

          I loved this movie. Yeah, sure, I covered my eyes when the blood and gore was rampant, but it was done so majestically and dramatically it was awe inspiring…kind of like a 4th of July fireworks display. Ohhhhhh, ahhhhhh. Be warned: the “f” bomb gets tossed in there a lot as well and the infamous “n” word.

          Leonardo DeCaprio does an outstanding job playing the wife’s owner, Calvin Candie. And Bruce Dern even makes an up close appearance. Don Johnson, THE Don Johnson, is also in this movie, playing a southern plantation owner.

          “Django Unchained” is my new favorite for Best Movie at the Academy Awards. Christoph Waltz is up for Best Supporting Actor too. And then there’s Quentin’s Best Original Screenplay nomination.

          See this movie, but take it lightheartedly. Enjoy it for what it is rather than looking at it with a critical eye.  
                                                                   
                                                                                 Five out of five possible ticket stubs
                                                                                    
 
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"Silver Linings Playbook" - movie review


          “Silver Linings Playbook” is a movie about dysfunction, sometimes funny and sometimes sad. The sad parts may have been because a few times they hit too close to home for me to laugh at. It has been nominated for eight 2013 Academy Awards, including best picture.

          The movie is the story of Pat Jr. and his relationships with father (Pat Sr.), mother, and girlfriend, Tiffany. Pat Jr., labeled bipolar, has been sprung from a mental institution by his mother on the condition that he remain in therapy, take his meds and honor the restraining order his wife has against him. He winds up at the institution in the first place for severely beating up his wife’s lover when he finds them in the shower together.

          In spite of moments of logical behavior, Pat Jr. acts very crazy, as do his father and Tiffany, the girl he meets his first week home. Pat needs Tiffany to do something for him that he hopes will reunite him with his wife. In return he agrees to be Tiffany’s dance partner in an upcoming semi-professional contest. Pat Sr. also wants something of Pat Jr. and that is to spend time with him watching Philadelphia Eagles football games. The father feels the team will win if Pat Jr. watches the games with him.

         The movie culminates with the final Eagles game taking place at the same time as the dance contest.

          The acting in this movie is outstanding. Bradley Cooper as Pat Jr. is up for Best Actor, Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany for Best Actress, while  Robert DeNiro, as Pat Sr. is up for Best Supporting Actor and finally Jacki Weaver, as Pat Jr.’s mother  is up for Best Supporting Actress. Cooper and Lawrence give convincing portrayals of people with mental issues. As the movie progresses, all the characters fade in and out of clear and rational thinking. It’s easy to believe Pat Jr. would be crazy just growing up around his parents.

          It seems to me that anything with silver linings also leaves room for doubts. While Pat Jr. and Tiffany seem to be perfect for each other, their ‘relationship’ is clouded by a mish mash of deception, misplaced hopes and a general lack of anger management. At the same time, Pat Jr. and his father could strengthen their bond or completely blow it up based on the outcome of wagers. I found myself rooting for it all to work out for everyone, and, if it hadn’t turned out as it did, I would have been extremely disappointed.

          I liked the movie but wasn’t crazy about the story. Personally, I’m not convinced that two deeply troubled people can find complete healing in each other. In the end, however, it won me over, and I would recommend “Silver Linings Playbook” on the acting alone. Oh and, crazy or not, Bradley Cooper is still a hunk!

                                                                               
                                                                                                      Three out of five possible ticket stubs.
 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, January 5, 2013

“The Impossible” – movie review

          The notorious Indian Ocean tsunami killed 240,000 people in 2004. “The Impossible” is the true story of one family’s ordeal in the middle of this tragedy. Henry (Quique) and Marie Alvarez and their three sons were staying at a comfortable resort on a beach in Thailland for a few days during the Christmas holidays.

          On the morning of December 26th, while the family frolicked in the warm sunshine and aqua pools, a deafening roar mounts and we clench the arms of the movie theater chair as the catastrophe unfolds. We know what’s beginning to happen and, with a modicum of relief, we know at least this family ultimately survives.

          What does a tsunami look like? How can one grasp the feeling of being frozen, unable to move as a wall of water many stories high and totally inescapable rushes toward us? I  can’t imagine, but ‘The Impossible” gave me a pretty good idea of what it might have been like. The musical score, or I should say, taut violin sounds, blended excellently with the emotional tension all throughout the 114 minute film. Viewers not used to conditions in Southeast Asian countries may be surprised at the lack of cleanliness and sanitary conditions at the hospitals during this holocaust. It was a pleasant reminder to me that third world countries can do pretty well without our hyper vigilant, almost OCD, approach to wellness.

          The movie is very well done. It’s graphic, ugly, tense, and brown; everything is coated in thick brown mud. Even at the end when the Alvarez family is flying out of Thailand to safety, the brown mud and muck is still clinging to their bodies and clothes. How many times during the movie did I want to just get them cleaned up? Then everything would have been alright.

          “The Impossible” stars Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts as the mother and father, but the acting accolades in this film belong to the three young the boys. Tom Holland plays the eldest son, Lucas. Samuel Joslin plays the middle child, Thomas. Oaklee Pendergast plays Simon, the youngest. In the film their characters are 10, 8 and 5 respectively. Their acting skills were outstanding. I was totally pulled in to what it must have been like to live through this terrifying situation. At more than one time during this experience they all are separated, except the two youngest. It is very heart warming to see 8 year old Thomas console and comfort 5 year old Simon when they are separated from the rest.

          This movie did not disappoint. But it’s not the kind of film you’ll want to see more than once. I was exhausted after it was over. It felt like I held my breath through the entire time.

                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                  Four out of Five Possible Ticket Stubs