Reds

"Reds" is an epic, and it's hard not to admire the sheer ambition on display in this production. But it feels like a vanity project. The majority of the film is comprised of people sitting around tables yelling at each other. This does not appeal to me. Particularly when they're mostly shouting about the Bolshevik revolution and worker's rights. Hard to follow, and hard to be entertained. Nonetheless, Beatty is a tremendous actor and he managed to corral a lot of notable talent for the film. But all in all it's too preachy and self-righteous for me.


Written 9/2/10

A Prophet

As brutal and harrowing as you'd expect a prison drama to be. I had to turn my eyes away from the action several times. Tahar Rahim is brilliant as the wide-eyed young prisoner trying to find his way in life. The supporting cast is also excellent. "Un Prophète" is not for the faint of heart!


Written 8/25/10

Up in the Air

The time flew by watching this. George Clooney is a king of smug banter. He seems to float through each scene. In other words, he plays emotional detachment exceedingly well. The lead character in "Up in the Air" is perfectly tailored to his strengths. Minus a couple of weak interludes that strain believability, this is a strong film chock full of themes snatched from the daily lives of working men and women everywhere.


Written 8/25/10

The Documentaries of Louis Malle: Vive Le Tour / Humain, Trop Humain / Place de la Republique

"Vive Le Tour" is brilliant, but the other two documentary features included on the disc are overly long and boring. "Place de la Republique" in particular suffers from a lack of narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed Malle's revealing glimpse into the annual Tour de France. You may want to steer clear of the other two.


Written 8/13/10

Facing Ali

It is highly entertaining hearing all these old-timers reminisce about facing Muhammad Ali, one of boxing's all-time greats. There are a surprising number of poignant moments, too. Particularly affecting is the footage of Joe Frazier, a sweetheart of a man who still bears scars from the verbal abuse and taunting Ali leveled at him. There's no doubt Ali had a dark side. "Facing Ali" is a documentary filled with remarkable men and remarkable stories.


Written 8/13/10

The Documentaries of Louis Malle: God's Country

"God's Country" is a charming documentary that does well to capture just what it was like living in the small midwestern town of Glencoe, MN in the 1970's. A synopsis of the film may lead one to believe that the ending will be grim, but I didn't see it that way. Times change, and people must remain adaptable. Filmmaker Malle is bright, cheery, and curious throughout - indefatigable to the end, as though wishing to permanently lift the mood of his subjects.


Written 8/3/10

Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening

Aziz's best bits kill, but on the whole this filmed set is uneven. It is refreshing to encounter a comic from a "non-traditional" ethnic background. Ansari lampoons his Indian-American ethnicity frequently. Probably the funniest bits involve anecdotes about his naive cousin. One wonders how well some of these jokes will age. Ansari's repeated references to Facebook and "emoticons" probably won't translate in 10 years' time. We'll probably be on to other technology-based diversions by then.


Written 8/3/10

The Room

"The Room" fits squarely into the "so bad, it's good" camp. I could watch Tommy and his screen buddies pass around their football at extremely close range all day. But I probably don't need to see any more shots of his naked arse. Let's be honest: this film is terrible and incoherent. But it's so flawed that it's actually entertaining to watch. Every viewer will rightly question everything they are seeing and wonder aloud, "Why, Tommy? Why?".


Written 8/3/10

Burma VJ

Another film that will make you thankful to live in the United States. This is harrowing viewing. The Burmese monks prove themselves a force to be reckoned with. Their appearances en masse in "Burma VJ" are exhilarating. The military regime in Burma is shown in all its oppressive ignobility. One hopes that this brave documentary, shot by endangered Burmese citizens, will bring truth to light for a wide, global audience.


Written 7/13/10

A Serious Man

Once again, the Coen brothers have created a world. In "A Serious Man" that world is a mid-1960's midwestern town populated by neurotic Jewish people. I loved every minute of this film. It's an imaginative spin on the Bible's book of Job. More understated and less populist than other films in the Coen's oeuvre. Certainly not everyone, but I was engaged the entire way.


Written 7/13/10

Mean Streets

"Mean Streets" is a love letter to director Martin Scorcese's youth in New York City. It has its thrilling moments, but for me it was mostly hollow. Perhaps I've seen too many that are influenced by or rip off "Mean Streets". Thus now its impact is dulled. Juvenile characters committing juvenile acts, with an oppressive Catholic sheen. It was amusing to see Robert De Niro sporting long hair in this youthful role. Unfortunately, one can perceive the ending to this story from miles away. No one's smiling by the time the credits roll.


Written 7/13/10

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Spotty and uneven. Kind of a drag to watch people throwing their lives away in the pursuit of drugs and illicit financial gain. There is a great movie in here somewhere, but the execution is sloppy. Nicolas Cage is eminently unlikable here, so I guess he played the "Bad Lieutenant" role very well indeed. There are a few gripping moments, but on the whole this is grotesque, unnecessary filmmaking.


Written 6/29/10

Badlands

"Badlands" is atmospheric and unpredictable. The gritty side of the story is hard to take at times. Murder upon murder are depicted onscreen. But director Terence Malick's filmmaking is always imaginative. What might be an everyday story of two young lovers on the run from the law is instead here a tone poem, vast and mutable as the horizon.


Written 6/29/10

An Education

"An Education" is stunning. The screenplay and director deftly execute what would have been a maudlin story in lesser hands. The cast is brilliant and believable throughout. Peter Sarsgaard is especially strong. Methinks this film deserves all the accolades it has received.


Written 6/14/10

Where the Wild Things Are

There are many bizarre and horrific moments in this film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's famous children's book. Childhood is presented here as a labyrinthine ball of confusion and emotional difficulties. I'm thankful I couldn't relate to the lead character, Max. He's a challenged dude. All the same, the characters and dialogue are striking in their naked honesty. You may be tempted at times to click "stop" and give up on "Where the Wild Things Are" as a film, but press on and you will be rewarded with a heart-warming ending. One ought to know going in that this is not a children's film.


Written 6/14/10

Crazy Heart

I was surprised at how much I loved this film. Jeff Bridges stars as Bad Blake, an over the hill country singer who is perpetually on the road and can't seem to get his life in order. The music in "Crazy Heart" is outstanding; I found myself humming the tunes long after the film had ended. I only wish they had cast an actress older than Maggie Gyllenhaal as Bridges' love interest. Their romance wasn't entirely believable due to their substantial age gap. Still, the actors do their best to sell it. Music fans rejoice: this is a film that respects musicians and portrays the music business as it really is - that is, usually slimy and cutthroat. Watching it all unfold is a rare treat.


Written 6/1/10

Broken Embraces

Somehow this just isn't memorable. Sure, it stars Almodovar's regular muse Penelope Cruz and features his usual wild array of characters and fantastically-colored sets, but something is missing. Mind you, this is still a strong film with a strong point of view, but it's lacking in areas I find hard to pinpoint. I'm glad I watched "Broken Embraces" once, but will probably never feel compelled to watch the film again.


Written 6/1/10