Carrie (1976) and The Thing (1982)

I just watched these two for the first time in about 20 years, and I really enjoyed them. Carrie isn't really scary, but it's cool. It also seems oddly topical. Carrie is abused and tormented by her peers, and when she realizes her abilities, they really get what's coming to them. Unfortunately, so does everyone else in town. If you've ever been bullied, or just wished you could get even, this movie might help. Of course, it ends horribly, but it is a horror flick.

The Thing is a lot like Alien, but it's different enough to make things interesting. The guys are isolated at the Antarctic whatever station and have had no radio contact for two weeks. A storm rolls in about the same time a Norwegian in a helicopter flies in to camp following a dog and begins shooting up the place. Things go downhill from there. If you have seen the original, please be aware that they have little in common. They both have a station in the Antarctic and a monster, but that's it. I like the John Carpenter remake better.

Silent Light (2007)

I haven't disliked a movie this much in a while. It's about a man in a Mennonite community in Mexico (the group is German, so both German and Spanish is spoken) who has six or seven kids and apparently loves his wife. He is also cheating on her with another woman in the community. I have no idea how this got in my queue. If I figure out who recommended it, I'm going to put a Tod Solondz movie in their queue.

The pace is not slow - oh no. It is glacial. The scenery is beautiful, but the camera-work is insane. The camera will sit on an innocuous object, such as a car side-view mirror, for a freakish amount of time. I wasn't seeing much in the way of symbolism; it was just boring, and sometimes unnerving.

The ending was heading to a cool place when the director, Carlos Reygadas, threw in a twist that I did not understand. I mean - I didn't understand what happened to the characters. It made very little sense logically or stylistically.

Hereafter (2010)

I loved this movie. I cannot believe what Clint Eastwood is doing in his 80's. Now, I think Eastwood is a great director, so I want to be impartial. I loved Invictus, and a lot of people thought it was slow / boring. Well, this movie is not an action film. Most of it is talk, and it is about death; specifically how death has affected the lives of three people. The first is a man in San Francisco, the second a child in London, the third a woman in France.

This movie is very sad, but I also found it incredibly hopeful. Hopeful is the word that keeps coming to my mind, along with startling and romantic (oddly enough). Add that to the pacing and cinematography I expect from an Eastwood film, and I give this an enthusiastic recommendation. I don't think I have ever seen a movie like this, and since most film making is derivative, that's saying something.

Leaves of Grass (2009)

Please don't bother with this one. It has great actors (Ed Norton and Melanie Lynskey, Keri Russell - she's getting better all the time), but they are totally wasted in this stupid story written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. The fault lies with him.

I suppose this is supposed to be a farce, or maybe a farce of a grand tragedy, about twin brothers (Ed Norton) who have taken different paths in life. One is an ivy league professor, the other is a genius pot grower with a simple view of what is important. It doesn't work. The paragraphs of dialog from the philosophers, and Walt Whitman poems, etc., do not mix well with the cross-bow shooting rednecks or the Jewish drug kingpin. Just pass.

The Town (2010)

Mom and I went to this tonight - what a great movie!! I cannot believe how reliable Ben Affleck is becoming. He co-wrote and directed this; his acting was fine, but much more impressive was the directing. After Gone Baby Gone and The Town, I will be rushing to see the next film he directs.

This is a story about bank robbers and criminals in Charlestown, Mass. Apparently more bank robbers are from Charlestown than any other town in the U.S. It's a family profession there. This is one of those movies where you want at least some of the criminals to come out ahead, and there are enough moving parts to keep you guessing until the end. I think there's a possibility this could get nominated for original screenplay.

That Evening Sun (2009)

This movie is one huge downer - but it's really well done. It's one of those films that's just got a really crappy story - a life story, that's no fun to watch. The acting is great, the characters are well done, but it just sucks.

Hal Holbrook plays an old, surly farmer whose son has put him in a old-folks home. When he leaves and returns to his farm, he finds that his son has leased it to a man he detests. His son has no interest in his dad's wishes, as he was a little weasel-y kid now grown into a weasel-y lawyer. His son then tells the police that his dad is crazy, so dad has no recourse. The man leasing his farm is bad news, the son is a shit, and the old man is not easy to like. This is not a movie with easy answers. If you like an interesting story and well-drawn characters and a good movie, watch this one. If you need a story that is resolved or happy or a pretty view of the world, don't watch.

RED (2010)

This movie was super fun. Unfortunately it was also an absolute mess. This could have been a clever film with much pleasure derived from great performances and actors who can poke fun at themselves. But the movie has a split personality, flipping between cartoonish action and taking itself far too seriously. This is not a serious film. The director should have corrected all that serious crap in the editing room, but he didn't.

Anyway - this is still a lot of fun - particularly Mary-Louise Parker and John Malkovich. I would recommend waiting until it is on DVD and catching it then. You will be able to not pay attention in the really stupid parts, flip through a magazine while watching, etc.

All About Eve (1950)

This is a great Bette Davis vehicle with non-stop famous dialog. The entire cast is great, and it even has an early Marilyn appearance. Bette plays Margo Channing, an extremely famous 40-year old theater diva. Her circle of friends is infiltrated by one of the most conniving, back-stabbing, evil characters ever written - Eve Harrington, played by Anne Baxter.

If you ever start to feel that a friend is not really a friend, but worry that you're just succumbing to paranoia, watch this film. It may confirm that you have a big problem on your hands.

The Social Network (2010)

This is currently the movie to beat for Best Picture. Keep in mind that when a picture takes an early Best Pic lead, its existence is often a taunting middle finger for other films to up their advertising, talk show presence, print ads - you name it. Think Shakespeare in Love beating Elizabeth. Think back to just last year with Hurt Locker beating Avatar (truly a horrible film).

The difference here may be that Social Network is a great film. It will be tough to usurp. The acting is amazing, the dialog is witty and sharp and fantastically delivered. And then there's the story - this story is fascinating, and it's true, and it's recent. I remember the first time I was "facebooked" - it wasn't that long ago. I have friends who play that farm game non-stop. To see how it all happened, and to see what caused Mark Zuckerberg to take to his computer one night in a fit of pique and hurt and (plain old) sour grapes is pretty amazing. And then you get to watch the rest of his behavior.

I went with my mom - it's award season - and we had an interesting conversation about Zuckerberg's personality. She felt it didn't portray him too badly, as he didn't come across as some evil genius, but as someone so socially retarded he was to be pitied. In my opinion, most people would rather be the billionaire evil genius than the billionaire who cannot hold a conversation, who cannot recognize his true friends, who cannot tell when he's being played. Pity is a very unflattering emotion.

I think Jesse Eisenberg should get a best actor nomination. I also predict this film might give us two best supporting actor nominations: Andrew Garfield (as Eduardo Saverin) and Justin Timberlake (as Sean Parker, the founder of Napster). I think it will get a nomination for adapted screenplay.

Music - two people mentioned the music to me (one my mother - she didn't always like it). Trent Reznor did the music here, and he did an amazing job. It increases the tension, makes you laugh - this is what a soundtrack should be. I think the music will get nominated.

I recommend you do not wait for this one to hit DVD - take yourself to the theater.

Mona LIsa (1986)

This movie stars Bob Hoskins. There are great performances by Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine and Robbie Coltrane, but it's Bob Hoskins' movie. He plays a low level mob employee recently released from prison. The only job for him (based on his connections with the mob) is a driver for a high-end prostitute. They become close. They don't have sex or anything, but there is affection. In lesser hands, this would be a stupid role - really, falling for a prostitute?

Bob Hoskins plays tough like nobody else (see Long Good Friday), but what makes him special is when he combines that tough with a bizarre tender, an uncanny childishness. He is really amazing in this role.

Also interesting is Neil Jordan, the director. This movie is about somebody who isn't what she appears. He has the same theme in Crying Game and Ondine, and who knows how many other movies?

Welcome (2009)

This is a very interesting movie. There is so much about immigration in the news today - not just in the U.S. but all over the E.U. as well, that you may find this thought provoking. There is one country lately I have been noticing in the news more than others - France - which I find interesting. I have heard from more than a few people that France is a utopia, with great education systems, retirement, hospital services, la la la. When I say that good usually comes with bad, I am often scoffed at as an accountant who knows nothing about social systems. Well, anyway, that's probably true. If interested, read about the pros and cons of the French social systems for yourself, and maybe educate yourself with a movie or two as well.

One such movie is Welcome. It is set near the English Channel in France. The area has a large underground and unwanted immigrate population - primarily looking for handlers and other ways to get to England and the good life / jobs, etc. They eat at soup kitchens and sleep in the brush, or anyplace else they can find. The local supermarkets try to bar them from entering as the illegals offend the customers. One person asks if French men and women have forgotten their history - what happens when people are barred from stores and buying themselves food and necessities?

Into this situation Bilal arrives. He fled Iraq and has spent the last three months walking, riding under trains, riding under trucks to arrive at the Channel. He wants to get to England to see his girlfriend and maybe play for Manchester United. He is 17, and very innocent, but very determined. He cannot get smuggled in a truck to England, because he has a problem keeping a plastic bag over his head for the duration. He decides to swim the channel, and stops at a local pool to learn how to swim. At the pool, innocence meets disinterested weariness and cynicism in the form of Simon, a former champion swimmer. Simon helps Bilal for his own reasons, and this leads him to trouble in the form of the immigration police, and neighbors who would love to turn him in to those police for helping an immigrant.

In classic movie form, Simon comes back to life, and that comes with a price. Does anything work out for Bilal? For Simon? You should watch and find out.

The Cowboys (1972)

This is a John Wayne flick filmed in the same time period as True Grit (1969). It has the same techno colors and somewhat sanitized countryside and sets. The similarity ends there, though. This is a movie that relies on boys and Roscoe Lee Browne for a novelty factor. (John Wayne's crew for the cattle drive all took off for a gold rush and he is forced to hire schoolboys.) Individually, all are fine - Mr. Browne gets to use his impressive voice to good effect, for example. But the movie is cute and predictable at best. At worst, the dialog is pathetic and the use of the children is unsettling. They are first viewed as cute, immature children, but by the end of the movie they are killers looking for vengeance. The transition is poorly done and not believable due to the sad, laughable quality of the villains and a lack of urgency in the plot.

I would not recommend this movie ever.

If you want a John Wayne film that is good, watch True Grit or The Shootist for an example of his later work, or Stagecoach - an old John Ford film. For non- John Wayne try Pale Rider, Once Upon A Time in the West, The Wild Bunch or The Magnificent Seven.

Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)

I need to revise my list of greatest sports films. This one probably goes to the top. Anthony Quinn plays Mountain Rivera, a boxer who has finally had one fight too many. When he almost loses his eye, the boxing commission's doctor says he cannot fight any more.

After 17 years fighting, Mountain has to get a job outside of boxing. Needless to say, he has no skills. This guy will take any work: movie usher, dishwasher, you name it. Into the mix we throw Mickey Rooney as the cutman, who really has Mountain's interest at heart, and Jackie Gleason as Mountain's manager. Jackie cares about Mountain, but he's in trouble with his bookie. He needs cash.

The acting is tops. The film-making is tops. We meet Rivera during that last fight. He is getting the shit beat of him by Cassius Clay - the real thing. The first time we see Rivera's face is when he sees himself in a locker room mirror - after being carried there. It's a great opening scene. Mickey Rooney and Jackie are first class, as per usual. There is a scene with the two of them playing cards that is fantastic. It's a black and white film, the sets are seedy hotel rooms and locker rooms, gyms. It's a great take on the sport of boxing. Here's a sample of some dialog:

Mickey Rooney: After 17 years he's lucky to have his brain (scoffing). It's a great sport.
Jackie Gleason: Sport? are you kidding? If there was head room they'd hold these things in sewers.

Watch this and then watch Facing Ali. Would you want your kid to box?

Winter's Bone (2010)

Well, I saw an amazing movie yesterday. Winter's Bone should be getting some Oscar nominations (adapted screenplay, Best Actress and Supporting Actor). Other than technical awards, I think it is the first Oscar film of the season. It may get a best picture and director nod as well, especially since ten pictures are now in the best picture category.

So Jennifer Lawrence plays Ree, a 17 year old (high school drop-out, it appears), who takes care of her much younger brother and sister. Mom is in a catatonic state, and dad cooks meth. I think the household keeps working as long as dad is cooking / working, but he has gone AWOL. That's bad enough (no food or money for food), but it turns out dad put up the house as his bond. If Ree doesn't find him, she and the kids and mom will be out in the woods. So she turns to the network of relatives / meth cookers in her circle for help - and they are not welcoming.

I was sure that these were not actors in the film. Remember the kid on the porch with the banjo in Deliverance? Was he an actor? They all looked and sounded and felt so much like hillbillies that I was almost wondering if it was a documentary. Anyway, Jennifer Lawrence is an actress, and a fantastic one. John Hawkes plays the uncle, he's a familiar face. The rest of the cast was also fantastic.

This was an amazing directing job. I believed everything in the film - the mood, lighting and pace - were perfect.