Archive for 2009


Flawless

November 7th, 2009 — 1:06am

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Flawless
– nf – You can call this a good diamond heist movie. Demi Moore plays the passed over women diamond executive who decides to try to change her life by going over to the criminal side. She is seduced into the big caper by an about to retire janitor played by Michael Caine who has his own motivation. There is the requisite detective who is working to solve the crime and moments of suspense with the appropriate musical background. The plot seemed a little contrived and at times somewhat fuzzy. You may even feel a little warm and fuzzy at the end after the clever plot twists and “hold your breath” moments. 2007

Comment » | 3 Stars, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Everlasting Moments

November 7th, 2009 — 1:04am

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Everlasting Moments
– sp – This is Swedish movie which follows a women through her poverty, abuse and the discovery of her special gift which is being a sensitive photographer of the people and the times. The movie is one of the longest we have seen in awhile (132 minutes) and felt like it. Jan Treoll is a skillful director but the movie is having difficulty getting distribution in the US . We can understand why it hasn’t been picked up yet as it wasn’t quite our cup of tea. (In Swedish with subtitles) 2008

Comment » | 2 Stars, Drama, Foreign

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

November 7th, 2009 — 12:58am

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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
– nf – We had the thought that we better write this review before it was erased from our minds. Actually with this movie you had to buy into the idea that you could arrange to have the memory of a person and everything associated with him or her completely eliminated from your brain. Jim Carey who has been known to play in movies with unusual concepts plays Joe a nebbish guy who falls in love with Clementine a somewhat flakey girl with blue hair played by Kate Winslet. She is really into him and they get along great until she tires of him and decides to sign up to completely erase him from her memory. He gets wind of this and is very hurt so he decides to likewise with any memories of her. Wouldn’t you know it that while he is in the induced sleep having the memories removed, he and she in his thoughts decide not to go through with this. However the erasing team is far along in the process. In fact the team has their own issues which are a subplot in the movie. Now we enjoy a good comedy and science fiction story but we both felt that his movie didn’t really work. Perhaps the movie was raising the question can true love triumph even when people recognize each other’s flaws. However it was a long tedious pathway to get there and we hope to lose the memory of this movie to make room for better ones. 2004

Comment » | 2 Stars, Drama, Romance

Easy Virtue

November 7th, 2009 — 12:53am

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Easy Virtue
– sp- Noel Coward was obviously a genius and this movie is based on a play that he wrote when he was 25 years old. It is a period piece set in England where a young man (Ben Barnes) comes back to the family manor with a new glamorous American wife (Jessica Biel) who just came in first at the Grand Prix auto race in Monte Carlo. Most of the stuffy British family especially the mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) can’t handle her and her modern ways. Colin Firth does an excellent job portraying the father who has his own history. The plot has depth to it and the screenplay is true to the Coward genre, which includes many witty lines from him as well as from writers Stephen Elliot and Sheridan Jobbins (the latter was a guest at our course). Although it is not a musical, there is a most enjoyable musical background with many pieces by Coward. 2008

Comment » | 4 Stars, Comedy, Romance

Doubt

November 7th, 2009 — 12:49am

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Doubt
– sp – It is so remarkable that Meryl Streep can star in a musical comedy such as Mama Mia and also turn in such a perfect performance as the powerful but yet the ultimately doubting nun in this movie. Phillip Seymour Hoffman does an equally fine performance as the Priest of questionable character. Viola Davis is the supporting actress who plays the mother of a young student and matches these stars in her one moving scene. John Patrick Shanley wrote the Broadway play and the screenplay as well as directing this film version. He brings to us an ethical issue, which has relevance in many situations. 2008

Comment » | 4 Stars, Drama, Thriller

Departures

November 7th, 2009 — 12:46am

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Departures – nf – A beautiful Japanese movie which blends wonderful music with a the touching story of a young man who takes up the profession of performing the ceremony in front of loved ones of preparing people to be placed in a coffin shortly after their demise. It is a lyrical story that is moving, melancholy and yet clearly uplifting at the same time. The story allows the viewer to examine social attitudes and approaches to death. Outstanding acting and direction. This film gave us some further insight into conversations, which we once had with some friends who have been part of their Jewish community “Chevra Kadisha” those who wash the bodies after death and how meaningful they felt this experience has been to them. This film deserves the acclaim that it has received as the 2008 Academy Award Oscar for Best Foreign Film. 2008

Comment » | 5 Stars, Drama, Foreign, Musical

Defiance

November 7th, 2009 — 12:45am

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Defiance – sp – This is a “Schindler’s List” type of movie which takes place in the forest. It features Daniel Craig (known elsewhere as the current James Bond) and Liev Schreiber who play the Bielski brothers who lead an increasing number of Jewish refugees while they are hiding from the Nazis. This is a true story and at it’s conclusion we are told the actual follow-up on many of the people depicted in the film. Edward Zwick, who spoke at our screening, was the director, producer and also wrote the screenplay. He did a magnificent job in capturing the relationship between the characters, the pathos and courage of the people along with the violence of their experience. Those of you who have vowed “never to forget” will have to see this movie. 2008

Comment » | 5 Stars, Action, Drama, Thriller

Crossing Over

November 7th, 2009 — 12:41am

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Crossing Over – sp – If you liked the movie Crash, you will love this movie. The movie weaves several plots which reflect the conflicts and the human drama of the immigration problems on our borders today. Harrison Ford plays a sensitive immigration officer who can not ignore the painful situations which are being played out before his eyes. Outstanding performances by Ford, Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd and Jim Sturgess. We are surprised this movie was released so early in the year since in our book it could be a contender for best picture. 2009

Comment » | 5 Stars, Drama

Changeling

November 7th, 2009 — 12:31am

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Changeling
– sp – The amazing thing about this movie as told to us by long time TV writer, first time screen writer Michael Straczynski is that all the details in this movie are true as is much of the dialog which was taken from court transcripts. The time is 1928 Los Angeles with period clothes and automobiles setting the atmosphere while the story with very fine acting provides the drama and emotion. Director Clint Eastwood stays true to the story and script and once again shows how he has evolved into one of our finest contemporary movie directors. The Los Angeles Police Department is the villain of this movie and a young mother who doggedly wants her missing child returned to her, magnificently played by Angelina Jolie, is the heroine. John Malkovitch also turns in a sterling performer as the anti-police crusading reverend. A totally unsympathetic depiction of psychiatric treatment disturbed Michael but probably was mostly true at the time. 2008

Comment » | 4 Stars, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Ballast

November 7th, 2009 — 12:25am

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Ballast
– sp – An unusual movie by a first time Director who previously was an Art Director for Batman films. This is set deep in the Louisiana Delta region with non professional actors from the area playing all the characters. The movie delves into the heart of the poor people of this region dealing with life in a beautiful place but filled with poverty, hardship and painful relationships. The movie moves slowly and doesn’t deviate far from center but it will hold your interest. The dialect is real and initially somewhat difficult to understand but you eventually catch on to most everything. The Director/Producer Lance Hammer was so intent on delivering his vision of the region and the people that he turned down a distribution deal and will do it himself with a small team, so he could maintain final cut. 2008

Comment » | 3 Stars, Drama

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