An Education

Two thumbs way up for this little masterpiece! I usually shy away from older man-younger woman stories. But this one is different. Peter S and Carey M create such a unique chemistry, that the relationship became believable. First off, Carey is another Audrey Hepburn. Cute, pert, intelligent, sensitive. She plays the role of the naive, rebellious young school girl with charm and wit. As she's swept off her feet by the older suitor, we somehow root for her. Will this infatuation with the adult, bohemian lifestyle be for real? Then, smash! We learn that her gentleman and his friend are not so savory. Thieves, to be exact. At this point, we think Carey, the well-bred girl, will walk...but lo and behold, she compromises her ethics and stays with the man! As you note, Valery, when ethics get blurred, interesting things happen in the film world! Finally, of course, the young girl (and we) learn what a real louse the suitor is. There's a universality to this film that strikes home: Somehow, in most relationships (even "normal" looking ones), one party is more gullible and trusting than the other. This message provides the true worth of the film: We will never forget how the trusting can get screwed in life. A+ story, beautifully executed.

Your Favorite Musical

I think my newfound joy with GLEE inspired me to create this post. Ah, the joys of musicals. Is there any other genre that makes us smile so much and tap our feet to our favorite numbers? Favorite numbers....this is how I'd approach the topic. From South Pacific: "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair." Delightful lyrics. Super presentation by Mitzi Gaynor way back when. From Okalahoma: "I'm as corny as Kansas in August." What a whimsical piece! From The Music Man: "There was love, all around, but I never heard it singing..." Who can forget Marian the Librarian finding love? Also the upbeat theme song: "76 trombones at the hit parade." What about Liza Minelli singing "All that jazz?" What joy! On to the recent Chicago: I really enjoyed Richard Gere doing "Gonna razzle-dazzle 'em." Also: Catherine Z-J and Renee Z were dynamite in their duet toward the end. OK, enough avoiding the real question: my favorite musical. It's probably Cabaret. Between Joel Gray and Liza Minelli, there was a plethora of brilliant numbers. In general, I can't get enough when it comes to musicals. The stories that drift into song keep the themes light-hearted and unreal. What a great escape from our daily lives! Beats booze and other escapes any day of the week!

Your favorite western

I hereby present a new gauntlet: your favorite western! Really tough to come up with ONE. For me, the most recent is The Unforgiven (see under favorite films). But as I reflect, the beauty of the old 50's style western was the clarity of morality. Folks were good or bad. The good guys drew their guns and lived. The bad dudes died. But amidst the clearcut, no-nonsense view of right vs. wrong, the heroes always had to decide what to do. High Noon stands out as the classic. Who can forget Gary Cooper seeking help to stand up to the evil ones, only to find his requests denied by the cowards of the city. And the poor hero had to fight or "die a craven coward" in the eyes of his bride to be, Grace Kelly. What a morality play! Go back to the smaller TV films for really awesome ethical struggles...always within the confines of a half hour or so. I think of The Rifleman, the quiet dad who always stood up for what was right. And the Cartrights...father and three sons on the side of the just. Why, even Hugh O'brien in Wyatt Earp rode about with a halo...(in great contrast to the real Wyatt!) Maybe the westers were all great, because they portrayed a time when the line between right and wrong was not blurred. Ah, for the good old days!

What's YOUR Favorite COMEDY?

GO!

The Blind Side

Oh my, what a gem! For flaming liberals like me, Sandra Bullock's act of adopting a poor, lost soul runs so far left that I'm left in the dust! And most powerfully, this extreme generosity is set in a rather conservative social framework, where LeeAnn (Sandra) goes about her mission with simplicity and honesty.

Loved when she told off her snotty lunch friends. Loved when she pinched the coach's butt and went out on the playing field. Loved so many scenes. Wow!

I am most touched by the family's easy acceptance of their new member. LeeAnn's husband (played brilliantly by Tim McGraw) does not question his wife's motives...he simply acknowledges her kindness and bold, driving personality. The kids, a pretty teen and spunky little boy, round out the portrait of a family that sees no boundary between rich and poor, black and white, big and small, literate and semi-literate. I was touched when the daughter sat by Mike in the library. I was touched when the little brother negotiated for Mike.

Quinton Aaron plays Michael Oher with amazing subtlety. We realize as the film progresses that "BIG MIKE" (his un-favorite nickname) is far from stupid. He's just a traumatized soul who's hiding behind a silent mask...kind, caring, and finally loving.

I was prepared to argue against Sandra Bullock for best actress...particularly after seeing Carey Mulligan ace her performance in An Education. I was also rooting for my ol' fav, Meryl Streep, to win for her uncanny resemblance to the real Julia. But lo and behold, Sandra won my heart! She stepped into her role of determined, moral, high-road, sassy woman-of-action with charisma and pizazz!

I enjoyed her a lot in Speed. But in truth, I've liked every work she's ever done. Remember her comedic efforts in Miss Congeniality? Remember The Net? Well, our heroine topped off all her roles here...what fantastic acting!

So I give the acting and story an A+. A really unique, feel-good film that should not be missed.

Back to you, film buddy.

The Fall

This is a little gem that gives this viewer pause to wonder: Why did it not earn greater response when released? Is it all about marketing, distribution, promotion, big-time names?

With elements of Wizard of Oz, Pan's Labyrinth and many more, set in 1920s Los Angeles, "an injured stuntman begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm, a fantastical story about 5 mythical heroes." Assuming you have seen it, I'll cut to what I love about this film.

• The paradoxical friendship of a self-absorbed Roy (Lee Pace -where has HE been hiding? Reminds me of Ryan Gosling. Great voice, too. ) and Alexandria, so new to this acting stuff that much in her scenes was ad-libbed. I loved that she was chubby - a real kid! "Are you trying to save my soul?" he asks her as she offers him communion wafer like a biscuit. In the end, she does save his soul. Sometimes our brief encounters in life save us! And her child's wisdom moves me.

• The homage to stuntmen. When have we seen that?

• I love a framed story. This was such fun in making connections between the real people in the hospital and those in the story.

• I love the archetypes: the journey, the quest, the hero, the villain, the young protagonist being tested. The metaphor of "the fall" (forgettable as a title) intrigues me; can be applied in multiple ways throughout the film (I can think of 6).

• As literature teacher I love the overriding theme of the relationship between story/story-teller/reader. Like The Never-Ending Story, we are reminded that we are creating our own story in life. We add or eliminate characters as we see fit, reveal our deepest fears and loves, and are in greater control of our endings than we know. The story-teller can never remove himself from his story.

• Finally, I love the palette of this film. Like What Dreams May Come (to be blogged later), this is a journey of color, texture, landscape, shadows; it is moving art. Like Road to Perdition, every scene captivates me, whether hospital or tribal chant.

Each time I watch this movie I find new details, clues, cross-overs, metaphors. A fun "fall" into fantasy.

Judgement at Nuremberg

What defines a "Classic?" Whether cars, design, or movies, most would agree its value stands the test of time. I had the pleasure of re-visiting an American classic last night: Judgement at Nuremberg (1961). Set in 1948 Germany and based on the historic post-WWI trials of former Nazis for war crimes, this courtroom drama offers tightly wound dialogue and innovative camera work. Director, Stanley Kramer, brings out powerful performances by Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Maximillian Schell, Judy Garland (in a surprisingly homely and dramatic role), and even a very young William Shatner.

If you become easily entranced by thought-provoking debate and themes that challenge our critical thinking, ones whose relevance remains even within today's headlines, rent Judgement at Nuremberg today. Today. Especially as the world marks in reverence Yom Hashoah, Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust.

Full of Glee!

We would like this blog on film to extend to television. So here is an alert - next Tuesday night, Glee returns! Yes! You should know, at least one of us will be posting a weekly reaction to one of the best darned shows on. Check your listing. Be there.

Alice in Wonderland 3-D 2010 version

Sometimes we are disappointed by films when we have certain expectations going into the theatre.

I expected, or I should say, hoped for, a benign, cute, kid-oriented Alice, akin to the Disney original, with creative little animals that speak in rhymes. I figured the sweet, bizarre critters Alice meets in her dream world would be even more charming in 3-D. What a shock to find a violent world in that rabbit hole, where monster-types scream, scare, and destroy others!

Gee, where's my innocent childhood world? And where are those Disney rhymes that mystify the naive Alice?

Okay, Valerie, go ahead and teach me about the real Lewis Carroll!

Signing out, and awaiting a different spin on Alice!

What's Your Favorite Movie?

Welcome new readers! So, what's YOUR favorite movie? I hate this question. For me, too, too many to name. Those that use celluloid as an artist's palette. Those that make me feel smart, yet are smarter. Those that make me laugh and cry. Those that make me question life but reassure me of humanity. Those that make me think about them for days afterward. Those that do all of the above every single time I watch them. Want to suggest one?

Brothers

Thumbs a bit down on this one.

Sorry to say, this film does not meet one of my basic standards for any story: If you are going to present real, likable characters with tough dilemmas--which this film does--you need to RESOLVE, or strive to resolve, the plotlines.

Take two brothers in the brilliant forms of Jake Gylenhal (ok, spelling is iffy) and Tobey McGuire. One is a military man, the other a bum. But both quickly win our hearts. Now add the ever-charming Natalie Portman (without her Star Wars garb) as the military man's wife awaiting word from the front. You've got the makings of real drama.

Will one brother return from war? If so, in what condition? Will the other brother woo the wife during his sib's absence? Will the wife stay true to the memory of her soldier husband who may, or may not, still be alive?

Yes, enticing stuff. Worthy of full development.

Alas, the film ends where it should begin! Once we learn that Tobey (his character) has survived the war, and once we witness his demise back home, we need to find out more about him. What kind of relationship does he really have with his brother...with his wife...with his kids? Once he admits to the terrible events that unfolded in Afghanistan, how will he put his life back together?

I felt like I walked into a Sees Candies shop, watched the clerk open a box of my favorites (Bordeaux), only to learn that the shop was closing and the chocolates would go untasted. Bummer!

Enlighten me please, Valerie. Is there some redeeming value in this film that I'm missing?

Oh, brother! (pun intended)