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

Fantastic Mr. Fox

This is the same old Wes Anderson. His approach is tiresome to me because it never varies. Sterile, perfectly framed shots. "Quirky" characters with mental problems who eventually (by the end of the film) figure out how to exist in the world. An abnormal family dynamic. The stop-motion animation is beautiful and gives the film a great lift, but unfortunately the director is too busy aping his own body of work.


Written 6/10/11

Tetro

The film "Tetro" has so many flaws. It is visually stunning, and that covers many ills. But that's not enough. The storytelling strives for realism for awhile and then throws the viewer a succession of curveballs that are entirely unbelievable. I love Vincent Gallo; I want everything he touches to turn to gold. His work is good here, but Francis Ford Coppola's screenplay needs rigorous editing. It's a shame too, because Coppola has not lost his eye for a great shot. In "Tetro", his meandering story is what lets him down.


Written 5/22/10

The American Friend

This is filmmaking without a net. Some of director Wim Wenders' choices puzzled me for days. But I don't mind this - I appreciate his daring. Dennis Hopper's crazed performance is transfixing. I had no idea what he was doing with this role; a lot of it seems improvised. "The American Friend" is a curious film that will not appeal to all, but if you are daring in your tastes or if you have a special appreciation for 1970's cinema then you ought to give it a look.


Written 5/22/10

Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak, author of many famous children's books, including "Where the Wild Things Are", is a cranky dude. I didn't find him endearing, but I guess others do. If listening to an extremely talented and blessed elderly man complain about his life for 40 minutes sounds like an excellent time, then this film is for you.


Written 5/18/10

Escape from Alcatraz

The first 15-20 minutes really drag with slow and excessive exposition. Perhaps when the film premiered in 1979 Alcatraz wasn't so well known, but as a modern viewer I found the explanations about the prison (i.e. everyone saying again and again, "No one escapes from Alcatraz") to be tedious. But the film soon picks up. Clint Eastwood is outstanding in the lead role. The story presents enough twists that it remains compelling to the end. Not something I'd watch again and again, but definitely worthy of one viewing.


Written 5/18/10