The Attack

The Attack is a film that takes place in Israel, where nearly every movie being made today deals with the Palestinian-Israeli disconnect.  This film is no exception.

The couple above seem happy enough.  They should.  Having grown up in Nablus, a town taken by Israel in the 1967 War, the two Arabs emerged from poor surroundings and became beautiful people:  he's a prominent surgeon practicing in Tel Aviv, living in a fantastic home, and receiving awards for his work;  and she's, well, just beautiful.

Then the unthinkable happens.  There's an explosion.  A terrorist suicide bomber attacks a restaurant.  There are 17 dead.  Many are maimed.  The surgeon tries to save as many as he can.  After all, that's his profession.

Someone special dies.

No spoiler, of course.  But as the film unfolds, we learn about how hopeless peace still seems amid those who hate and kill.   We get glimpses of life in Israel and the Arab cities.  We get to know players in a very sordid war.

Here's a plus:  The film does not take sides.  Both Arab and Jew appear bigoted and flawed.  No one comes out looking like a winner.

Is the film good?  Sort of.  Well, maybe not.

Parts of it grab the viewer.  Other parts put the viewer to sleep.  The flick is more educational than entertaining.  We never really get to know the characters, because there is no true character development.  We never get too deeply emerged in the plot, because it's superficial.  We never feel tense, because there is no tension.

Yet, the film cloys.  It hangs onto you.  The images stay in your mind.  You end up thinking about the movie long after you've seen it.

Grade of B.  Unless you are intrigued by the Arab-Israel conflict, you may not find this film so interesting.

On the other hand....

OK, give it a go.  You might like it.

American Hustle

Remember The Sting?  Remember Ocean's 11?  Or how about TVs Mission Impossible?  All those shows portray teams of scammers who pull off a heist under the very noses of less-than-savory dudes.

American Hustle is a fine example of the genre.  Never the spoiler, I can't say much, but I will give you the general gist, lest you turn your back on an excellent film.

Back in the 80's, there was a true story of a bunch of politicos, senators and others, who accepted bribes tied to the visit of an Arab sheik to the U.S.  The whole event is known as ABSCAM.

Interested?  No?  Me neither!  Booooring!  But then this film comes along and all of a sudden jsut another little political brouhaha involving corrupt politicians becomes fun!

See, the hustlers hustle the hustlers, and soon we are in the middle of a very intriguing story!

So why the picture of Jennifer Lawrence being slinky and sexy?  Easy.  She steals the show.  You might remember when she wowed audiences in Winter's Bone.  In that dark backwoods flick, she deftly played a hillbilly in search of a louse of a father.  Then came her brilliant performance in Silver Lining, for which she earned a well-deserved Oscar as Best Actress.  Of course she's fantastic as Katniss the Survivor in The Hunger Games.

But if that's not enough, this starlet extraordinaire acts up a storm in American Hustle.  She plays the ditsy blonde with so much pizazz it'll knock your socks off!  She's more than a moll:  She's the epitome of the charming idiot with the perfect looks!

A shoo-in for Best Supporting Actress?  Absolutely.

Other stars:  Christian Bale.  He was soooo scary as the Yuppie businessman monster in American Psycho.  Now he plays a Jewish scammer to perfection.  Amy Adams.  Did she impress you in Doubt?  She's always great, in my book.

Caution:  The first half of the film confuses, drags, and nearly drives the audience to head for the Exit signs.  The second half is the redeemer.  Because of this inconsistency, the film is not worthy, in my mind, of Best Film.

But if you want superb entertainment, this one is a winner.

Elysium

The year is 2154, and that's Matt Damon fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way!

Here on earth in the future, life is bleak.  There is terrible pollution, disease, and well, Earth just ain't what it used to be!

But up there in the sky lies utopia:  The rich have created a satellite called Elysium, where folks live on tree-lined streets and have machines that can cure any illness.  There is peace and harmony.  Everything is pristine.

Hey....let's go!  Oh wait, the folks up there don't want us!

Matt Damon's character represents us common people.  He will somehow get up to the sky and see that the spoils are shared.

That's enough info!  No spoiler from this reviewer, but I need to say that this crazy flick is fun!  Sure, it requires just a little suspension of disbelief (haha), but once Matt dons his power suit and fights the baddies, all hell breaks loose!

Jodi Foster is delightful as the evil bitch.  She has a harsh, quiet sternness about her that is downright spooky.

Will you find any redeeming value in this mindless flick?  I doubt it.  But count on two hours of solid, gripping entertainment.

And, by the way, if you find a way to get up to utopia, let me know....I'll join you!

Dallas Buyers Club

Sometimes it just takes one role of a lifetime to kick an actor out of his complacency in settling for unchallenging, static roles.

In other words:  I take back everything I ever thought about Matthew McConaughey.  The dude can ACT!  Who knew?

Dallas Buyers Club is a film not to miss.

DBC chronicles the true story of Ron Woodruff, a promiscuous, bull-riding, Texas good-ol-boy who contracts AIDS back when we all feared a true plague in America, almost as much as most people feared homosexuals.

Fighting to prolong his life and others', he begins the ultimate start-up company out of the trunk of his car, distributing as yet FDA-unapproved drugs.

Equally compelling and riveting in his performance is Jared Leto, who, playing a transsexual, actually steals scenes from the captivating Woodruff character.

McConaughey (as well as Leto)  dramatically altered his appearance by dropping a tremendous amount of weight for this role.  It is mesmerizing.  I truly forgot who it was.

This was a tough film for me to watch for personal reasons.  David knows.  But I didn't even cry; it's not sappy at all.

Hope I've gotten your attention.  This is a truly powerful film that will stay in your consciousness for days to come.  Go see a quality film!

The Book Thief

This period piece takes us into a small village in Germany during the war, where food is scarce, bombs fall, Nazi propaganda is everywhere, and traumatized folks seek solace in the comfort of their homes.  From 1938 to the end of the war, we view the conflicts of normal folks as they strive to figure out how to survive, both physically and mentally, in the midst of madness.

No spoiler, of course.  But the setting is fascinating:  An older couple, played brilliantly by Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson, adopt a young girl because they need "credits" from the government for more food.

The waif, played perfectly by the up and coming French star Sophie Nelisse, has to adjust to the quirks of the older couple.   They too have to adjust to her.  Everyone grows in the process.

Well, it turns out the girl, Liesl, loves books.  How does she get them?  Check out the title!  Don't worry, she's not a serious thief.  But she is crazy about reading.  The film offers contrasting themes: while she lives to read books, the Nazis live to burn them.

Now add to that enticing plot the fact that this couple is "righteous," bravely hiding out a young Jewish man and risking their lives in doing so.  Simple in their ways, the elderly pair come to grow on you as the film shows you small details of life during a horrendous period in history.

Is this a masterpiece?  Not quite.  Something is lacking.  Can't really say what it is without getting into details that I can't divulge.

Suffice it to say that the acting is extraordinary, the story gripping, and the setting educational.  The film has a dour tone, but it avoids the true horrors of the Nazi era.

Grade of A-  The film keeps you thinking long after you've left the theatre.

Breaking Bad (TV)

For more than five years, many TV fanatics like me have heard a lot of buzz about Breaking Bad.  I've said, sure, I'll get around to it.  Then the series started winning numerous awards, and folks over dinner asked me if I'd seen it.  Being a movie/TV reviewer, it was high time to get educated!

Well, more than 50 episodes later, I'm almost done with the series!  Yeah, I went back to the start where  I was supposed to begin, and sat there and watched the series like a real TV crazy....and what a delightful ride it has been.

At the risk of overusing superlatives, I'd have to say that Breaking Bad is the most original, thought-provoking, brilliant show I've ever seen on TV.  Bar none.  Yep, it's true.

So what's it about?  No spoiler ever from this reviewer, but here's the gist of it:  A high school Chemistry teacher suddenly faces a life crisis, when he turns up with a serious disease and has to find a way to pay his medical bills and care for his family.  He knows that on a teacher's salary he will never be able to leave his family well set, should he pass.

The solution:  Become a meth chef!

OK, that's basically it: The teacher turns to producing meth, and he works with a former student who is a drug dealer.  As the show progresses, we begin to like this guy, who is trying to do the best he can to take care of his family.

FACT:  We begin to get confused about our own values.  After all, we're all opposed to drugs.  But what if someone gets involved for a good cause?  Hmmmm....

As you watch the series, you begin to wonder where you really stand.  When is bad good?  When is good bad?  As you see the protagonists do things quite unimaginable, you begin to wonder what you would do in their situation.

The tension:  Well, in this "bad" world, there are "bad" dudes.  Yes, readers, how does a high school Chemistry teacher take on gangsters?  How does he take on the infamous cartel?  What does he do to survive?  Whom does he harm along the way?

Walt White, the Chemist, grows on you.  He loves his wife, son, daughter, and inlaws.  He becomes a father figure to the student who works with him.  He cares about people.  He has high standards.  He is a GOOD man.  But wait... Isn't he BAD?

Prepare to view the best acting ever.  Prepare to marvel at the best scripting ever.  Prepare to be dazzled.

A+++ plus plus.  My highest endorsement.  NOT to be missed by any viewer who considers himself/herself "good"....or is that "bad"?

Enjoy!

Gravity

Hi readers...and welcome to high altitude fun!  I'm never the spoiler, so I have to report obliquely on this film.  I don't want to give anything away!

Imagine, however, that you're floating in space like that figure in the picture above.  You are tethered safely to your craft, and in zero-gravity, you're doing some nice work on your space station.  How peaceful and other-worldly!

Then ka-boooooom!  Something goes majorly wrong!  Uh-oh!

OK, now consider that with the fanciest effects perhaps ever coming out of Hollywood, you are somehow that person out there in space in the middle of a terrible emergency.  No need to imagine, dear readers.  Somehow, the special effects guys put you in that spacesuit!

YIKES!

Hahahaha.  Yes, this film is a wonder of special effects.  Shot in 3-D beyond your wildest imagination, the flick puts you in space!  Woweeeee!

And just which actress is in the spacesuit with you?  None other than the ultra-talented Sandra Bullock.  Sandra got me at Speed.  Remember her with Officer Keanu Reeves trying to keep that bus above 50?

Well, Sandra got us again!  She's fantastic in this sci-fi thriller.

Problem is, it's not really sci-fi.  What happens out there is well within the realm of reality.

Piqued your interest?  RUN out and see this whopper!  It's an incredible ride.

A+    Not to be missed!  And a must-see on the largest screen available, which is IMAX.  It's loud, real, and wonderful!

29 Palms

Back in 2002, an absolutely brilliant film came out about a chase in the desert between a corrupt cop, a hit-man, an undercover FBI agent, a scheming young lady, and several other notable members of the underbelly of society.

The movie is currently playing on the movie channels and I had a chance to catch it.  So glad I did.  Wow!

See Chris O'Donnell in the picture above?  Well, he's the hit-man, and he's got his weapons pointed at two different guys.  Why?  Because he's not sure which one to shoot!  Got your attention?  Yeah, it's that kind of movie.  Quite tongue in cheek.  Cynically whimsical and yet so serious that you can't turn away from the screen.

Point is, all the folks in the desert are after a bag of money, and what a bag it is!  With wads of hundreds stacked thick, everyone wants the path to the big easy.  Funny thing is that the bag just goes from one greedy fool to the next, as each strives to figure out how to keep it.

With big name stars like Bill Pullman and Rachel Leigh Cook, the movie abounds in fine acting.  But the guy who steals the show is Jeremy Davies.  Lest you forgot who he is, he's the one who played the translator peacenik in Saving Private Ryan.  Remember him running between soldiers to supply the ammo?  Remember how conflicted he was about killing the German who fired on his buddies?  Davies plays the FBI agent on the run here, and he is fantastic!

What else is worth noting?  The amazing effects.  Recall the original, dazzling effects in Natural Born Killers?  If you think those effects were cool, wait until you watch this film.

Overall, it's a real gem.  A diamond in the rough.  Or, I should say, a diamond in the desert.

Grade:  A+

Blue Jasmine

I have not seen a Woody Allen movie in a long time (I don't count Midnight in Paris.  He may have done it, but it wasn't a Woody Allen film, as I categorize them.  I think he just wanted to get paid to be in Paris.  But I digress...).  I usually give a film my litmus test of waiting 2-3 days to see if I'm still thinking about this, but I saw this film a few hours ago and just have to post on it.

THIS is Woody Allen!  At age 77, he's still got it.

Excellent movie.  Great casting.  Had Woody's elements of a real story with authentic characters and dialogue, comic wit mixed with drama, urban jazz scoring (probably by Woody's own New York quartet, he on clarinet).  Lots of layers to this.

This film is more drama than comedy, with Cate Blanchett in a TOUR DE FORCE performance.  My god - is she good!

Strong supporting cast including Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay (yes!), Louis C.K., Peter Sarsgaard and Sally Hawkins.

I want to talk more about this film, especially the ending, but you should see it first.  Let me know when you have!

Lee Daniels' The Butler

See this movie.  See it because it tells a compelling story.  See it for some dang good performances.  See it because it will give you a unique perspective on a turbulent era in American history (then again, isn't every era?).  

The Butler (I'm not into indulging directors' egos) is based on a magazine article (can you believe it?) about an actual African-American butler who served through about 6 presidents' administrations, starting with Eisenhower.  As the civil rights era gets hammered out the hard way, and the butler's own son takes the activist route toward equality, Cecil Gaines goes about changing the consciousness of America in his own quiet, humble, dignified way.  

I'm adhering to my vow to keep posts short, but you'll get a kick out of the fascinating casting here.  One of my favorites was Jane Fonda as Nancy Regan!  And a remarkably unglamorous Mariah Carey is powerful without uttering a word.

Very clever release date on this film, timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech.  Let us never forget.

Red Dawn (2012)

Back in the mid 80s, Hollywood wowed audiences with Red Dawn.  It is now considered a cult classic.  Patrick Swayze starred in that wildly original film, which required just a bit of suspension of disbelief!

Disbelief?

Well, if you consider a movie about Russians invading America, taking over a small town, and setting up shop a bit unbelievable, so do I!  Do you remember that movie?  In it, a group of tough, rebellious teens flees to the woods and fights the commie invaders with guts and grit, just to save their homes...and the U.S. of A.!

Seems some producers thought they could duplicate the offbeat film in a more current version.  In the 2012 remake, the invaders are North Koreans and the kids are armed with heavy duty weapons!  Chris Hemsworth is the only known actor, just as Swayze was in the original.  Hemsworth is the handsome hunk who faced off against evil in the horror flick Cabin in the Woods.

Does the remake succeed?  Yes indeed!

No spoiler, so I can provide no details, but you'll really get into the action when you watch this flick.  The North Koreans are extremely rotten dudes, and so the kids in the woods have every right to get revenge.  And get revenge they do!

If you decide to view Red Dawn, be in a light-hearted frame of mind.  Don't ask too many questions about the plot.  Don't think too much about reality.  In fact, don't think!

A mindless but engaging action film for viewers seeking a mental escape!

Time of Death (LMN movie)

Hi readers!  Sometimes we have stereotypes that need fixin'!

Stereotype 1:  Blondes are dumb!  Stereotype 2:  LMN movies are soppy and stupid!

I've often reviewed LMN mysteries and lauded them in this blog.  I came across one the other day that absolutely knocked by socks off!  Sure, a lot of LMN offerings are not so great.  Mostly, the made-for-women network offers tales of men who are rats and women who are abused by those rats.

But lest ye be mistaken, don't put the mysteries in that category.

Time of Death is a fantastically crafted piece.  It stars Kathleen Robertson, the pretty blonde above, as the brilliant detective who must solve the puzzle.

And just what is the puzzle?

As the title suggests, folks get killed at exactly the same time...with way too much frequency!  Is there a link between the murders?  Is the culprit someone in the corporate world?  Why is there no modus operandi?  Some die by getting pushed out of windows, others by getting shot.  What in the world is the pattern?  And why do the victims all die on different days at the same minute on the clock?

No spoiler, dear readers, so you must find out for yourself!

Of course, that beautiful detective works with a handsome young fellow, her new partner, and you can imagine what those two do when they're not sleuthing!  Yes, the love motif is fun too.

I guarantee that this mystery will grab you and not let go.  Great filmmaking on the channel that often gets maligned yet offers diamonds in the rough.

Grade:   A+    Find this film on your TV listings and go for it!  You won't be sorry!

Bait

BAIT is outlandish!

Here's the scenario:  A bunch of folks in a supermarket are in the basement of a grocery store when, of all things, a massive tidal wave comes ashore.

No spoiler, but just imagine a basement that is flooded with exits blocked by debris.  The only place for the survivors to hang out is on top of the shelves that are not under water.

Sound exciting?  Wait!  There's more!  A huge shark is trapped in the basement with the humans.  And he just happens to be hungry!

Think of Jaws meets, well, tsunami wave.  Think of your favorite disaster-survival film.  The people trapped below must get out alive without becoming... BAIT!

Haha!

And there's more!  Sitting atop those shelves are folks falling in love, criminals being criminals, and old and young trying to figure out the generation gap!

It's a hoot.  Leave your brains at the door.  Leave all your disbelief at the door.  Leave your good sense at the door.

Then turn on the film and enjoy!

Oh, by the way, one fellow suspended above the water loses the lower half of his body to the shark in a wonderful scene that will stay more than a while in your mind...what's left of it after viewing this mindless wonder of a flick.

Highly entertaining for folks seeking some low-brow fun!

The East

The EAST is a very unusual film about a rarely discussed topic: how rational people join cults and somehow become part of the movements.

First, check out Patty Hearst on the right.  Remember her story? She was the daughter of a wealthy newspaper magnate attending Berkeley back in 1974.  One day, the SLA, a group of leftist terrorists, kidnapped her for ransom to increase their coffers.  Next thing, the straight-laced, never-in-trouble Patty, was seen robbing a bank with the radicals.  Shocker!

Now check out the picture in the upper left.  That pretty blonde is Brit Marling.  Who?  Go back and check her out playing opposite Richard Gere in Arbitrage.  Yes, that's her.  She was great in that film, and almost stole the spotlight from the very talented Mr. Gere.

No spoiler, but Brit plays an agent who infiltrates a group of radicals called The East, who hide out and live communally in a cult-like manner.  When Brit joins up, she is not too fond of the group.  Soon their strange love for each other, and their mission to take down corporations who abuse the environment, capture her imagination.

Enough said.  What happens then?  Gotta go see the film to find out!

Don't expect Hollywood-style action or even a lively pace.  Sometimes the film drags a bit trying to get its message across.  Not an A+ film by any means. But with Ellen Page, who dazzled in Juno, also in the mix, the film sort of grabs and holds on.

I'm back to thinking about Patty Hearst, so the film must have touched me at some level.

Curious about Patty?  She was captured, found guilty of bank robbery when her "brainwashing" defense did not hold up, and served two years in prison before Jimmy Carter pardoned her.

Strange behavior indeed.

Olympus Has Fallen

Strangely, there are currently two movies out about terrorists attacking and taking over the White House.  Forget the one with the easiest name to remember, White House Down.  It is stupid and badly done.  But RUN out and see Olympus Has Fallen!

I'm no spoiler, but you can guess what happens:  Very evil dudes take over the president's residence, and good guys come to the rescue and get it back.

Here's the kicker:  In the movie called Olympus, the taking of the White House is so damn realistic it will make your hair stand on end!

Right, I'm talking about the way the bad guys assault and dominate the White House.  You might expect to say, hey, as usual, I'll have to suspend my disbelief about how terrorists grab the most famous house in the land.  After all, aren't there a gazilliion agents and military folks guarding the White House?

Yes indeed!  But that does not mean that it is impossible to take it over.

How?  Haha...  For you to imagine, dear viewers!

Got your attention?

Great acting and a solid script enhance the realism of the movie.  Aaron Eckhardt is perfect as the President.  Gerard Butler is a man's man as the hero who fights the baddies.  And Rick Yune is scary as the cool-headed terrorist.  Don't forget about Morgan Freeman as the Acting President.

All in all, it's a fantastic ride!  Super action.  Most of all, believable.

If I were in charge of White House security and went to see this film, I'd have trouble sleeping at night!

Enjoy.

World War Z (WWZ)

Hi movie fans!

Check out the wonderful picture above.  That would be your favorite star, ladies, Brad Pitt, with his wife nearby and yes, a zombie with a knife in the back seat!

Does that whet your appetite?  If not, it sure whets the zombie's appetite! Haha.

I'm a zombie film lover, so I must admit to some bias before I offer my two cents on this delightful romp.  I find The Walking Dead series on TV absolutely captivating in its action and symbolism, and I watch almost every film made on the zombie theme.  OK, I confess: I'm weird when it comes to this genre!

WWZ?  A fine classic among this cult.  What makes it so good?

First off, the actors. Mireille Enos, the hero of the TV series The Killing, has a hauntingly beautiful face that expresses worry and angst every time she smilles. She is good!  Opposite her is none other than Brad himself.

In my mind, Mr. Pitt has gotten a bum rap, because the ladies go for him due to his looks.  Fact is, he's a damn fine actor. From the day he leaped into the libidos of the ladies in his role as the hitchhiker in Thelma and Louise, to the wonderful work he did in 12 Monkeys, to so many other portraits, Brad can really act!

Second positive point, the action.  Wow!  I will never spoil a movie for viewers, but these zombies are scary!  See, they don't just drag their feet like your standard zombie.  They run!  And fast!  In one of the most imaginative scenes ever, the undead, as they are called, scale a wall like ants!  Amazing!

Third, the story sort of works.  I can't give it away, but there's a strong plot line having to do with epidemiology.  How did the zombies get the disease?  Why does it spread?  How can it be stopped?

Of course, the film does not challenge us mentally.  It's all for entertainment.  So if you're in the mood for some lighthearted action, and lots of super film effects, get out and see this one!

Don't get eaten on the way!

Quartet

Critics raved about this movie.  Everyone told me to run out and see it.  I finally got to it on pay-per-view, and sorry, folks, it was just not my cup of tea.

Of course, I've never really enjoyed films that go into nursing homes and try to charm us.  Is there anything truly charming about these places?  Someday there, perhaps, go I.  Yeah, folks, it's the truth.  We might all be there.  Do you want to ponder that?

Don't get me wrong.  The elderly can be affable and interesting.  But if I am going to visit a home, I'll go see a family member, thank you.

No spoiler, because it's fairly clear from the cover and the hype what the movie is about: a special home exists for the formerly musically talented.  Is there such a place in reality?  I doubt it.  But go figure.  Hollywood wants a bit of suspension of disbelief.

I'm okay with the premise.  I'm not okay with the story.  All these talented folks must re-kindle their fire and get back in touch with their musical selves.  After all, they were once so great.  So, will they succeed?

Who cares?

The big issue is that these poor folks are old.  There's no getting around that.  And getting old is sad.  Sure, it takes a positive attitude in those twilight years to keep on truckin'.  As the saying goes, getting old is not for sissies.

The good points?  Great actors:  Maggie Smith and Geoff Rush.  Great music: Wonderful arias and choruses.

But watching the elderly struggle with their issues of senility and loneliness does not strike me as a solid evening of entertainment.

The moral of the story:  Simple.  Don't get old!  If you do, don't look back.  Well, do look back if you're trying to discover your old self.  Wait!  Shouldn't we strive to discover a new self as we age?

Bottom line:  Skip this one.  Ignore the rave reviews.  Unless you enjoy watching older folks suffer.

Gangster Squad

Filmdom offers us a nice array of gangster grit, including The Godfather and Scarface.  If you liked the shootouts in those classics, with lots of blood and gore, you'll love Gangster Squad!

The film opens with Sean Penn, who plays the somewhat mad, utterly power hungry Micky Cohen, standing over a dude with chains tied to his upper and lower torso.  In a few seconds, we see that the chains are attached to cars facing in opposite directions.  Yes, readers, you get to see a man torn apart at the waist!  Hahaha!

How's that for getting the full "flavor" of the flick right at the outset?

When it comes to gangster flicks, there's not much to the story.  It's really about bad guy vs. good guy.  Sean Penn is masterful, as usual, at his role: he's corruption, egotism, and violence incarnate!  Josh Brolin is the cop who must bring the bad guy to his knees.

So why am I not going on and on about these two fine actors?

Simple.

They're upstaged by the dazzling new starlet Emma Stone.  You might remember Emma from The Help, where she was outstanding as the young girl brave enough to stand up to racism.  I also recall Easy A, where she played the "slut" with grace and comic wit.  She was even great in Zombieland, where she wandered with fellow survivors and played the empowered young woman.

Emma, however, steals the show in Gangster Squad.  There's something about her mannerisms and style that elevates her from stereotypical gangster moll to a sympathetic character.  Check out the starlet in the picture above.  Doesn't she look like a gangster's girlfriend?

So, overall?

Tough to really say.  Yes, the film was entertaining.  Yes, it offered top action.  Yes, the characters were fairly well drawn.  Yes, the flick had talented, well-known actors.

But it lacked a certain something.

For you to determine, I hope.

42

42 tells tells the amazing story of Jackie Robinson, the first person "of color" to be admitted to major league baseball.

Impossible for me to be a spoiler here: most of us know the shameful chapter in American sports history.  Jackie Robinson came to the majors in 1947, and when he arrived, he was greeted with hate mail, boos from the crowd, racial slurs, threats against him and family, and a variety of other sundry treats typical of bigots of the time.

Most folks also know that Robinson stood tall, never reacting to the terrible racism, simply doing what he did best: baseball.  By excelling at the sport, he showed fans he was a quality ball player.  But that did not stop many idiots from harassing him, denouncing him, and showing the lowest, basest behavior that was all-too-common in an era when, in the south, African Americans sat in the back of the bus and used separate facilities.

The fun of the movie is in the details.  How many of us know the people who facilitated Robinson's rise to the majors?  How many of us know his history prior to breaking the color barrier?

I learned so much from this film about the real Jackie Robinson, up to the year 1947.  I checked a lot of sources online after viewing the flick, and indeed, every detail is true.

My only complaint is that the movie ended in 1947.  That was Robinson's rookie year with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  What about after that first year?  There is so much to the man after he started in baseball.

Did you know he was a Conservative Republican who supported the war in Viet Nam?  Did you know he was a compulsive eater in his later years and succumbed to diabetes at age 53?

This film is a must-see.  Very painful, of course.  You will watch the bigots in action and wonder how, in this country, more than a century after the Civil War, we allowed so much injustice.

The picture I chose was a defining moment in baseball.  That's the famous shortstop Pee Wee Reese with his arm around Jackie in front of thousands of fans.  Reese was from the south and raised with prejudice.  But he overcame his upbringing to show the world that it was time to end the racism.

See the film and weep.  See the film and be uplifted.  See the film and learn.

Grade: A

The Marine

Some movies have the worst scripts, the worst actors, the worst plot-lines, and the most stupidity....but strangely, sometimes these awful movies grip us!

OK, dare I say I enjoyed this ridiculous piece of nonsense?  Yes indeed!  Never the spoiler, I'll say just a bit: the story presents a muscle-bound ex-marine (yeah, that's the hunk in the picture....ladies can stop staring!) who struggles with civilian life.

His problem:  BOREDOM!  Yes, hard to believe, but Mr Muscles just can't seem find a job that keeps his interest.  Even beating up bad guys and throwing them through windows does not pique the interest of our "hero!"  After all, he used to carry a machine gun and run through enemy territory on a killing tear!

Worry not, dear viewers.  Muscles is about meet his match: very, very evil dudes who kidnap his wife.  Now that's a real no-no!

Marine to the rescue!

Well, I admitted the film was stupid, didn't I?  So why do I like it?  Simply for the over-the-top, mindless action.  You'll see cars being blown up like never before!  You'll see chases through alligator-infested swamps!  You'll see fast cars and big guns!  You'll see the Marine doing what he does best, fighting evil and standing strong and proud!

Fun!

John Cena, a well-known wrestler, plays the lead role.  He obviously wanted to break into the movies and "break" he did:  he broke the bones of endless villains!

I won't assign a grade to this film, or I'd have to give it an F.  However, it could also get an A-..... for those who are willing to park their minds and escape to the world of one very angry marine out for revenge.

Enjoy.

Savages

I got inspired to see this film by reading the book.  Before departing on a ten hour flight overseas, I picked up what looked like an easy read.  I was gripped by the story for almost the entire flight!

Before turning to the film, I must say that the style of the novel was one of the most original I have ever encountered: a staccato, fast-paced, hip, cool, narrative that simply got me caught up in a story that blew me away!  (Valerie, my English-teacher buddy, the book is a must!)

On to the film:  If you want different, bizarre, engaging, and mostly gritty, Savages is for you.  No spoiler ever, but I can tell you the basics. Two guys, old chums, are as different as night and day. One is a peacenik, a hippie love-your-neighbor type, who travels the world trying to save the poor. The other is a former marine, tough as nails, prone-to-violence type, who figures that might makes right.

They both love a very attractive young lady, and she loves them both back.  Yeah, it's a menage-a-trois, but with a twist:  The threesome make their living by growing the classiest dope this side of the Mississippi!

All is well in quirky dopeland in Laguna Beach, where they live, until the bad boys, a Mexican drug cartel, try to move in on their territory.

Then all hell breaks loose!

OK, enough on the plot. Check out the amazing actors: Benicio del Toro, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, and the budding starlet Blake Lively.  Oh, and the film is directed by Oliver stone.

I would not be surprised if Del Toro picks up an Oscar Supporting Role nod for his stupendous, creepy, over-the-top portrayal of a nasty drug lord.  Benicio does bad like few guys I've seen.

This film is not for the weak of heart. Expect a lot of blood and gore, and violence that makes shoot-em-up movies seem tame.

Grade of A+  

I could not stop watching this flick, which captured all the emotion and allure of the book.

BOOO... (another Oscar complaint!)

Here are today's headlines:

Oscars producers defend Seth MacFarlane's 'irreverent' stint as host

For those who might have forgotten, the Oscars hit an all-time low in bad taste with jokes about women's breasts, gays, and Jews.

And now the producers are closing ranks.

How shameful....

History Channel: The Bible (TV)

Hey readers, there's a FANTASTIC series on the HISTORY CHANNEL.

It's a ten part production on The Bible.

No, you won't see Charlton Heston or others playing cheesy roles!   Instead, you'll see a well-done, intriguing, informative story that will keep you watching and remembering what you know about the great book.

The first episode premiered March 3.  It's not too late to catch up on that one and then tape the rest.

In the opener, the story covers the period of Creation through Moses' exodus from Egypt and the trek to the Promised Land.  Meet your old friends:  Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Pharaoh, Lot, and many more!

You'll enjoy the characterizations and narrative.  It's gripping, to nerds like me who go for all forms of history!

As a person of Jewish faith, I'm familiar so far with the Old Testament.  My real fun will be learning the New Testament once and for all.  Can't wait!

Hope the other nine segments are as powerful as the first.

Oscar BUST!

See Oscar above.  He got kicked to the ground last night, and he will need some time to heal and get back on his feet.

My beef?  Very, very inappropriate jokes.  For those of you who might have missed the show, there was a song and dance number about women's "boobs" that hit an all-time low, comments about gays, and an anti-semitic tirade that made us wonder if we were not back in pre-war Germany.

Here's an example of one joke about Lincoln that will go down in history as one of the most unpleasant moments on TV:   "I would argue, however, that the actor who really got inside Lincoln’s head was John Wilkes Booth."

The rest of the show was normal Oscar stuff, with pretty gowns and emotional thank you's on stage.  

But with such a sour taste in our mouths, it was really tough to enjoy the annual spectacle.

Grade:  F   A truly failing, infamous moment in TV viewing.

Oscar Guesses!

Hi Folks!  Valerie and I hold an annual guess-who's-gonna-win event!  Here are my choices for the awards tonight.  Please list yours!  The winner gets our "Best Predictor" award: Recognition on this here website that provide you with a year's worth of bragging rights!  (haha)

David's predictions:

Best Picture:  Argo
Best Actor:  Daniel Day Lewis
Best Acress:  Jennifer Lawrence
Best Supporting Actor:  Christoph Waltz
Best Supporting Actress:  Anne Hathaway
Best Director:  Steven Spielberg

Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is a master of originality.  His films are unlike any other.

Remember Reservoir Dogs?  Have you ever seen such a tense story?  The "dogs" are holed up together after a botched robbery, and someone among them is the rat!  Then there's Pulp Fiction.  Wow.  John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson simply dazzled us as gangsters grappling with amorality and religiosity!  What about Kill Bill?  Who would have guessed that Uma Thurman would make such a great swordslady?

But wait!  Here comes Django!  Be prepared to admire Quentin's brilliance once again!

No spoiler, but the story is outlandish:  A German bounty hunter runs loose in the South, in pre-Civil War years, frees a slave, trains the slave to shoot and fight, recruits the slave to help him gather bounties, and sets off in search of adventure!   Outlandish is what Tarantino does best.  In spite of the crazy plot, we suspend our disbelief and somehow enter Quentin's bizarre world.

Check out that picture of Jamie Foxx!  Is he not one COOL dude?  He's a man with a purpose!  (sorry, folks, can't give that plotline away).  Jamie shoots 'em dead, just like the best of the Western heroes...but he tends mostly to shoot racial bigots!  Hahaha!

This film is totally involving.  Yes, it's unreal.  Yes, it's different.

DIFFERENT is why this reviewer lauds Tarantino, who is by far and away the most creative film maker in Hollywood.

Grade:   A plus.

Caution:  Not everyone agrees with my review!  But then, you can count on this reviewer to think for himself (yes...like my hero, Quentin!)

End of Watch

Cop-buddy movies are great!  In this one, Jake G and Michael Pena have a wonderful chemistry, and their banter in the squad car keeps the action lively and highly macho!   For a while, it seems like a typical cop story, where the good guys cruise the streets and make mincemeat of evil!

But there's a twist to this flick:  The cops find themselves in deep trouble.  They get involved chasing some very, very bad dudes, and the bad dudes are out for revenge.  Will the cops be tough enough to survive?

Of course, we come to care about the two cops because we get to know their spouses and see them as flawed human beings.  Neither is an angel, but each is basically on the side of truth, justice, and the American way.

Never the spoiler, I won't say how things turn out.  Consider this film a real nail-biter.  Unlike the Dirty Harry genre, where you know the hero is invincible, you're never so sure here.  The tension lies in whether the cops, reckless and tough as nails, will make it.

Jake G was masterful in Brokeback Mountain.  He was even better in Source Code.  Here, he is 100 percent street cop.

Is there any depth to this flick?  About zero.  But if you want mindless violence for ninety minutes, I recommend this action-packed, adrenaline-filled, awesome film!

Les Miserables

Or, The Miserables, as I heard someone recently say.  Yes, with the advent of the newest version of this classic, every conceivable pronunciation is out there.  It does not matter.  As Shakespeare said, "The play's the thing."

If and when you see this, blog readers, weigh in.  In the meantime I will strive for my usual brevity...but I may fail.

This current incarnation is masterful.  Set design, costumes, and most of all performances.  With every moment being in song, it requires tremendous skill to act through singing.  These players do just that.  Director, Tom Hooper's commitment to shun dubbed singing and have LIVE production was major gutsy, and it works, at least for me.  Seeing Hugh Jackman's neck veins pop out as he grunts Valjean's lines in parts, or Anne Hathaway's voice crack in emotion as Fontine lets go of her dream is raw and real and moving. (who knew, Anne?)  And despite some criticisms of Russell Crowe's un-operatic voice, I loved its authenticity.  It is as gritty as he and his character of Javert are.

Yes, it's long.  Tedious in parts.  So what?  You get your money's worth.

It is extremely rare for me to cry in a movie.  Les Miserables moved me to weep THREE times and is doing so again as I write this.  My daughter and I saw it together; she, too is not given to emotion, yet held on to me at the end in a tearful embrace.  Wow.  What movies can do.

Our meager audience (hey, it was a Thursday at noon) applauded at its conclusion.  For me it has not concluded, as I hear strains in my head of some favorite music pieces a week later.  AND, I was inspired enough to finally buy Victor Hugo's 1200 pg. novel and plan to learn much more about each of these compelling characters and Hugo's greater themes of justice, redemption, and always love.

Tomorrow's a rainy day.  A good day, I think, to delve into great literature inspired by great film inspired by great literature.

I hope you will enrich your soul by seeing this movie.

Taken 2

Check out the poster that spoofs Taken 2!  Hahaha!  Don't you love it?

First off, did any of my dear readers see Taken (that is, the original)?  It is a good piece of thriller movie-making.

In that film, a CIA operative's daughter, played by pretty Maggie Grace, is kidnapped in Paris by some very bad dudes who specialize in sex-trafficking.   Dad, who "does what he does best" (assassinations!), comes to the rescue.  The film sort of grabs you, if you like the go-get-the-terrorists-and-save-your-daughter theme.

So naturally, thinking I'd get more of the same, I watched installment two.  What a mistake!  The poster pretty much sums up of the folly of "taking" Taken to the next level.  But lest you think I will totally pan the sequel, I will point out a nice silver lining:  great action scenes!

Never the spoiler, I can't say much more than what the advertising clips provide:  last time they took his daughter, this time they are after him!  Well, sort of.   His wife just happens to be with him, so they're going after her too.  You see, the bad guys seek revenge, because Liam (our CIA hero) knocked off many of the terrorists' kin when he got his daughter back in the original film.

The silver lining:  As I suggested, the film offers really well-done chase, shooting, and running scenes, all in the streets and on the rooftops of Istanbul!  In fact, if I ever go to Isbanbul, I will think of the scenes in this film.

Here's a tip:  Maybe fast-forward through the stupid, insipid family scenes that open the flick, and go straight to the Istanbul part, where things really heat up!

Grade?  Hmmmm.....  I always assigned a D instead of an F because I was a soft touch in the classroom.  Here, I might generously say B-....  or is that C+?

If you see this flick, I hope you don't feel "taken!"

The Flat

The Flat is an outstanding piece of documentary filmmaking.  It provides a history lesson that no one can forget.

Arnon Goldfinger is a relatively well known Israeli filmmaker who got into family history in an accidental sort of way:  He lost his 98 year old grandmother and went with his mother to clear out the flat.  In doing so, he came across documents that shocked him.

What documents?  No spoiler, so I won't say much.  The filmmaker discovers that his grandparents may well have been best friends with a Nazi.  So?  Well, there's more to this.  The Nazi in question happened to be high in the inner circle of culpable Germans, up there with Adolph Eichmann and other renowned monsters.

The filmmaker basically goes on a quest for truth, which takes him back to Germany.  There, he questions folks who know the SS soldier in question.  He also gets his mother to talk reluctantly about what she knew.

The secrets of the past unfold like petals of a flower.  With each new truth, the filmmaker asks more questions.  It seems that many folks just want to forget the past.  But can we?  Aren't we all products of our past?  And if we flee from our pasts, how can we define our futures?

Arnon the narrator digs and probes.  He seeks answers.

Before long, so do we.  And the answers we discover are unsettling, to say the least.

A top-notch film that every person of every nationality and faith should see.

Grade of A.

First Position

Hollywood has provided us with so many wonderful films on the art of ballet.

My previous favorite was Center Stage.  In that 2000 production, we follow twelve students who strive to perfect the demanding dance.  With Amanda Schull in the lead, the film has a sweet boy/girl motif and offers great views of the dance world.

Now I have a new favorite:  First Position.

The film is a documentary.  It tells the true story of a handful of young people who want to be professionals.  Some of the kids are from disadvantaged families.  Others are from wealthy backgrounds.  Some are teens, others pre-teens.  All are driven to succeed.

As we follow the ambitious youth, we come to realize that at the core of their success is a unique work ethic. The talented dancers push themselves to the limit:  they are willing to put up with tortured toes, feet, ankles, and psyches to make their dreams come true.

I particularly enjoyed watching the teaching styles of the mentors.  Some shout, others hug.  Some are positive, others brutally negative.  But all want their students to reach the top.  We come to appreciate the dedication of the teachers who push their proteges to develop the fine craft of ballet.

We watched this movie with our grandkids.  It is perfect for every person of every age.  If you can appreciate what it means to struggle for success, and if you enjoy ballet as a beautiful art form, you'll love this flick.

Grade of A+.....  Don't miss this one!

Pitch Perfect

I used to be a real Glee fan.  I loved the music, particularly the wonderful harmonies when the group sang.  I stopped watching Glee when the silly story finally outweighed the beautiful songs.

Pretty much the same for Pitch Perfect....delightful music, cloying plot.

Simple story, really:  The Bellas, a group of all-women college singers, had a funny yet strange mishap on their way to the finals last year.  This year, they need new talent.  Who will fill the bill?  Along comes Anna Kendrick who fits voice-wise.  But is she too much of a rebel to get along?

We got to know the actress in Up in the Air, when she played the soul-searching assistant to George Clooney.  What a talent!  She has a charming smile, and she truly lights up the screen as the wannabe singer who seeks a cohort that will accept her novel song ideas.

Let's focus on the real strength of the film:  Fantastic songs!

If you enjoy wonderful harmonies and perfectly choreographed dance, you'll revel in the beautiful numbers.  As the groups compete for first place in the competition, they truly compete for first place in our hearts and minds.

Is this film perfect?  Hardly.  But it is close to "pitch" perfect!

A truly rewarding film experience.