Carnage (2011)

OK, each one of these actors is insanely good. Jodie Foster has won 2 Oscars; Kate Winslet has one; Christopher Waltz has one; John C. Reilly has been nominated. There should be a few nominations from this movie as well. The acting is top notch. The only thing they could have done to improve it would be to add Meryl to the film. But she's in Iron Lady, so they were stuck with these 4.

Two couples meet in the apartment of one of the couples to discuss a violent fight between their 12 year old boys in a local park. They are very civilized initially, but the meeting quickly devolves into behavior that would rival the fight in the park.

I see two main themes here: the veneer of civilization (not a hidden theme) and claustrophobia. The movie involves 4 actors and takes place entirely in the apartment and the hallway outside the door. Remember how trapped Jimmy Stewart was in Rear Window? This is a a different kind of trapped. These people are physically mobile, but the apartment represents the inability to escape their lives. At least that's my take. And it's good. It's funny and freaky and honest and a bit scary. Jodie Foster blew my mind. I hope she gets a Best Actress nod. Wouldn't it be cool if she and Meryl were the front runners this year?

Roman Polanski directed, and he's good with the insanity of enclosed spaces. Watch this and watch Repulsion. The man has talent. Too bad he's a pervert who has tried to escape jail for 30 years. He should have just gone to jail and finished it. Wouldn't he have been able to do more films if he had?

I didn't love all the cinematography here, but it's hard to make a play into a movie. I will watch this again and again. They acting is just wild.

We Bought a Zoo (2011)

This is the sappiest, most sickly sweet movie I have ever seen. I think that's right. I need to refresh my memory. I'm pretty sure this is way sappier than The Notebook, for instance. If you have kids, take them to this one. It has animals, it is perfectly innocent and harmless. It has a ridiculously cute little girl in it. It has no real value whatsoever, but Matt Damon is always good, the kid is cute, Elle Fanning is a great and charming actress, and there is a lion and a tiger. What the hey. That's got to be better than Chipmunks, right?

Matt loses his wife, and he is torn up about it, but in this movie he calmly quits his job and buys a zoo. All the while he is wearing nice sweaters and helping his daughter "catch her mommy's spirit" with her hands and hold it to her heart (no shit). His son is acting out, but in a very artistic way. It's ridiculous, but inoffensive. Just sickly sweet.

By the way, Scarlett Johansson is fine in this. I kind of liked her. Cameron Crowe directed, and he should be embarrassed about this one.

War Horse (2011)

I am not a Steven Spielberg fan. I feel he manipulates his viewers with sob-story antics and has probably never even heard the word "restraint" spoken out loud. He can tell a good story, and it's usually beautiful to watch, but I am not a fan of being hit over the head with a club of pathos. If I had to guess, I would say I hate that manipulation so much because it usually works. If he hits his mark, I leave the theater with tears running down my neck. And he hit his mark with War Horse.

I would say this movie is a front runner for Best Picture. The star is a horse, without any doubt. The humans that come into the life of the horse are important sidelines, but that's it. They have no real substance. One thing I did like and found believable was that wherever the horse was, whatever side of the war he happened to be on at the time, there were people who valued and found love for an animal in spite of what was happening around them. The rest of the time the characters were thinly drawn, with melodramatic dialogue and unbelievable clothes. A young girl surrounded by battlefields would probably not have consistently clean and well-groomed hair with a big satin bow in it at all times. You'll do better with the movie if you accept its cartoonish quality and don't get too annoyed at the ridiculous and unrealistic characters. No matter how great Emily Watson and Peter Mullan are as actors, I wanted to slap them both for their characters' dumbshit, predictably stupid and stoic acceptance of their gender roles.

Anyway, on to the good stuff. The cinematography is insane. Remember the old Disney movies that had amazing colors - like Mary Poppins? Have you ever watched the Searchers and marveled at how beautiful the cliffs and rocks of the West are, and how gorgeous and well-groomed the (marauding and kidnapping) Indians are? The cinematography in War Horse is even better. I want to go to war if it's this beautiful. Janusz Kaminski (cinematographer) has worked with Steve S for years and they have a great thing going. I would say they understand each other.

This horse is awesome. I still like Seabiscuit better, but this is a miraculous horse. There are many scenes in this movie that will become favorites. You know the type of scene where you will stop what you are doing and wait for it to unfold rather than leave the couch to get some ice cream? Lots of those scenes. But there is one at the end of the film that will go down in viewing history as one that makes your heart stop, makes you jump up and walk around the room, will rivet you every time. (More so than the scene in Jaws where Roy Scheider sees the shark for the first time and says, "We need a bigger boat". More so than John Travolta singing Greased Lighting.) You will stop what you are doing for this scene.

So go and watch. You will have a good time. Don't get annoyed at the improbability and just enjoy the horse and the view. And then cast your vote for Best Picture. I am not voting for this one.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Oh my. This is a good one. If we are talking technical mastery of the medium of film, which includes directing the actors, the editing, the mood, the set direction, the cinematography, the artistry, the music, plus that certain something that is so hard to pin down, this may be the best movie of the year. It was directed by Tomas Alfredson, the director of Let the Right One In, the Swedish vampire movie (later made into a US film).

This is the story of Smiley, a British spy, swept out of his job with his boss on the wave of a botched Hungarian mission. The time is the early 70's, and the Cold War is is the mood, along with bad fashion, hair and makeup. Smiley, played with precision by Gary Oldman, is brought back into the fold to search for a mythical double agent planted by the Russians at the tip-top of British Intelligence. None of his former cohorts know he is investigating, and the stakes are high. These cohorts are the who's who of British film and theater: Colin Firth, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Ciarán Hinds; as well as newer faces. They are perfect to a man. Women don't have much of a role here, but the atmosphere is thick with tension, whether sexual or political or plain-old sneaking around tension.

I was surprised at the end. Do you know how wonderful that is? I was confident I knew the identify of the spy, and I was wrong! How delightful. In addition, Mark Strong is one of my least favorite British actors. I feel he plays the same role again and again, rarely stretching himself. He is a revelation here. I will buy this one and watch it many times.

Right now I'm thinking Oscar nominations for Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for this film. I think Gary Oldman could win. I need to review my list. Watch the scene where he reenacts his conversation with Karla. He's worthy of the nomination right there.

Le Corbeau (1943)

Henri-Georges Clouzot directed this film, which is why I picked it up. I recently watched Quai des Orfèvres, and Diabolique before that. He is three for in my book. I need to get more of his films! Maybe buy a box set?

This movie is set in a small town in France, where a doctor starts to get poison pen letters. They are signed by The Raven. Pretty soon he has lost his patients and the Raven has started writing to many people in town. The town goes a bit wacky. There is paranoia, finger pointing, neighbor is turning on neighbor and a mob mentality develops. A nurse is thought to be the Raven, and she is carted out of town. It is quickly evident she is not Le Corbeau (the Raven), as the letters do not stop.

This movie is, at its core, about the claustrophobia of small towns. It is fantastic. I recommend Le Corbeau - it holds up very well and is a joy to watch.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) - Fincher

OK, I have read all three books (twice), and I've seen all three Swedish films. And I liked them. I was disturbed (I think that's the best word) to hear that Hollywood was remaking the movies. I was pretty certain Hollywood would fuck this up. Then I heard David Fincher (Social Network) was directing the first film. That was a game changer. Fincher is a very assured and very good director.

And he did a great job. This movie is better than the first Swedish film. Here are a couple of simple reasons: Rooney Mara is a better fit for the role than Noomi Rapace. Noomi was awesome, but she doesn't look like a 16 year old, which is part of Lisbeth's mystique. Since Rooney's acting is fantastic, she wins the contest easily in physicality and intensity.

Daniel Craig is the better Mikael. I am astounded by this guy. He is still gorgeous, and nobody wears clothes like he does, but he can act. He doesn't feel like Bond playing a reporter. His Mikael bumbles, falls, is confused, scared and shocked. He is not cocky and bold, but human and capable of self-awareness. He's a great actor and so easy on the eyes.

Stellan Skarsgård is a far superior Martin. You have to see it. He is a character rather than a cardboard villain. It's interesting.

And then we get to Fincher, where the real difference lies. He makes a slick movie. He concentrates more on Lisbeth than on Mikael, which is what we all want. He loses some details, but let's face facts - we all know this story. We don't need details anymore. Fincher can really build tension - very different from the Swedish film. And he brought Trent Reznor in for the music. Reznor won an Oscar for Social Network, and he does a great job here. He adds to the tension, definitely.

The big problem with this movie? We have a better Lisbeth, a tighter, more suspenseful film - what more do we need? Something fresh. We all know this story. It's old ground, and hard to really make an impression. This feels more like watching an old favorite than seeing something new.

The Debt (2010)

OK - this one is a ton of fun. If you like a thriller, rent this film. It has the obligatory surprise, but what it really has is acting! WooHOO!! How often do you find a thriller with Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Ciarán Hinds? Simple answer: not often. Definitely not often enough. So these three play the older versions of three Mossad agents who were on a mission in the 60's that made them famous. And of course, they have been carrying around the secrets of that mission every since.

The younger Helen is played by Jessica Chastain, and I'm getting really impressed with this gal. She's everywhere this year, and I haven't seen a bad performance yet. But the eye-opener for me was Sam Worthington as the young David (Ciarán Hinds younger version). I was very impressed, and could not figure out where I had seen him before. Well, I couldn't remember because I had blocked it out: Avatar. He was also in Clash of the Titans, which I may never see (with any luck).

Watch this one - it is way better than average.

Super 8 (2011)

This was quite disappointing. There were some cool effects here, but ET is still better in every sense, and far more original.

The kids are good, especially Elle Fanning, but the adults are stereotypes. The alien is a rip-off from previous movies (it makes Predator sounds), and the plot is a conglomeration of other films, including ET and Close Encounters. It's fine for a couple hours of escape, but don't buy it. The credits are the best part of the movie.

Young Adult (2011)

This movie is awesome. I liked it more than Juno. What a great and surprising film. Mavis, played by Charlize Theron, is an anti-hero, but not a typical one. She isn't just flawed - it's very hard to find anything good about Mavis at all. Perhaps her uncompromising sense of self and entitlement? These qualities are admirable in a way.

Mavis goes back to her hick hometown to steal her HS boyfriend away from his wife and new baby. These are burdens and baggage in Mavis's mind, and she's doing him a favor. He may or may not agree.

Watch the portrayal of small town life here. It's very interesting. Who is really to be pitied in this group of personalities and types?

Charlize should get an Oscar nomination for this one, and Patton Oswalt for supporting actor. I'm going to go see this one again. But this isn't a comedy. If you're looking for comedy, rent Bridesmaids.

The Help (2011)

I'm the minority for this one. I did NOT like the book. I found it portrayed evil and ugliness in a cartoonish way, and I wasn't interested. This was a crap time in American history, and I think the book gives the impression that vapid women obsessed with toilets and pie ruled the day.

The movie is pretty much the same. Logic rules the day, people develop courage suddenly and as needed (whether black or white), and a nice dinner can make everything better.

Nevertheless, I would recommend the movie over the book for one huge reason: Viola Davis. I could feel her despair and hopelessness in every scene. She made this film for me, and that was worth it. Otherwise I would pass and watch something real.

Try Trouble the Water or Order of Myths for different takes on what it's like to live down south. They are not candy-coated. And for another great performance of Ms. Davis, check out Doubt. It's not a huge role, but it's unforgettable.

The Women on the 6th Floor (2010)

I went to see this movie last week with friends, and it was perfect. You know how with a diverse group of friends it can be hard to pick a film? Well this film falls in the "charming" category. There is French spoken, Spanish spoken, it set in the 50's, so it's a bit costume-y, it takes place in France and then Spain so the scenery is lovely. It's pretty much perfect for seeing with girlfriends.

The story is pretty simple. A well-to-do French family in 50's Paris lose their housekeeper. All the good families are now hiring Spanish maids, so they do too. In the apartment building where they live (and where the husband in this family was born), the domestic staff for all families lives on the 6th floor. No one else ever goes to the 6th floor, so lack of heat or working toilets is never observed or fixed.

Well, the new maid unintentionally starts shaking things up. The man of the house, played by Fabrice Luchini, starts taking an interest in the welfare of the women on the 6th floor, which just isn't done. Pretty soon everything is screwed up with his wife, in his household, you name it.

The ending was a bit surprising. I liked it. I recommend this one.

The Lady Vanishes (1938)

This is one of my fav Hitchcock films. Ostensibly it's a mystery about what happens to a middle-aged English governess who disappears on a train leaving a small European country. And the mystery, plot, acting are all great. But to me, this is really a love story about British characters. We have the obsessed cricket fans, the middle aged governess, the stiff, upper-crust judge who is cheating on his wife, and the incredibly charming musician. The heroine is an American heiress, and she and the musician are freakishly good together, with sparkling dialogue. This one is a lot of fun.

Quai des Orfèvres (1947)

I picked this one up because it was directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, the director of Diabolique. I adored that movie. I should probably buy it.

This movie is a who-done-it, complete with many possible suspects and a poor but genial and very intelligent policeman. But this one is not a thriller. It is a family and neighborhood film with the focus on three people: a husband, wife and their good friend. The wife is incredibly ambitious, and not particularly moral, but she does love her husband. She is stringing along a wealthy old pervert in the hopes of snagging a film contract. When the perv turns up dead, who killed him? The wife, her jealous husband? The good friend? This is the kind of movie where a happy ending is the point - sometimes the regular guys do OK and the police are actually trying to help. And this movie is great - I highly recommend it. I cannot believe it is 65 years old! I would watch this one again and again.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

Hitchcock directed this movie twice; once in the UK in 1934 and once in the US with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day in 1956. Pretty cool, right? I think I like the earlier one better. In both movies a child is kidnapped after the parents accidentally receive information about an assassination. The child is held so the parents will not talk.

The first movie is black and white, and the transfer I viewed was very poor, plus the sound was bad. Nevertheless, the couple in the earlier film does not include Doris Day, so I like them better. Plus, this is one of those old British films where their child is kidnapped, but the parents are still dressed and made up and lounging about without fighting. They are incredibly polite even in their distress. How fun to watch! And this ending is better than the later version. Whatch them both and see what you think!

Captain America (2011)

I watched this one twice!! Mainly I liked the guy who played Captain America, Chris Evans. He's very cute, very buffed, and very waxed. He is also curiously expressionless, which is normally a death knell for an actor, but this guy isn't bad. He isn't totally expressionless, see? He delivers the corniest lines with sincerity and without over playing them. He is perfection when he needs to be embarrassed or flustered or flummoxed. Since this Captain started as a skinny, sickly, always beat up nebbish, he has no experience with girls or success in manly pursuits. He is frequently at a loss for how to behave, how to react, how to talk to a girl. It's endearing. Combine it with Mr. Evans' lovely physique, and you may find you watch this twice as well.

The supporting case is decent (Tommy Lee Jones doesn't have much to work with, but I always like him.), and the art direction is cool. Those are bonuses.

The ending is bad (too many blow-ups), but not as bad as the last Batman and Iron Man films. And here's a surprise: I will tune in to The Avengers to see how they resolve the issue of Captain America and his "perfect partner". Who knew I would fall for that tease?

The 10th Victim (1965)

OK, this rarely happens. I turned this movie off after 20 minutes because I'm a grown-up and I don't have to watch crap. I turned it off right after Ursula Andress does a belly dance and shoots a guy with guns planted in each bra cup. Life is just too short, and I won't get that 20 minutes back.

The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

I think I put this one in my queue because it was directed by Ida Lupino. Ms. Lupino was a Hollywood trailblazer. She was a B-movie star, usually playing the hard-boiled dame on the run from the law with her man. But she was also a director. If you realize that only one female has won the Best Director Oscar (Kathryn Bigelow for the Hurt Locker) it gives a picture of how the directing biz is a man's game. Ida also wrote movies, plus wrote and directed for TV.

This plot is simple: two men meet up with a murderous hitch-hiker, who kidnaps them to drive him far down into Mexico. The men know the hitch-hiker plans to kill them, and all three are listening on the car radio to the progress of the police search for the hitch hiker. The men know that if the police get too close, they will be shot.

Most of the action takes place in a car, with some activity on the roadside, or various pit stops. This is hard for a director to keep interesting, but Ida did a good job.

Best surprise? The evil hitch-hiker was played by William Talmam, otherwise known as Hamilton Burger from Perry Mason! He's an awesome bad guy.

Thunderbolt and LIghtfoot (1974)

This movie was not what I expected, and it was a nice surprise. In retrospect, this seems to fit well with Clint's path in movies over the years from reveling in violence to making anti-violence statements. He did not direct this, but his character sets the tone.

The movie starts with Clint (Thunderbolt) posing as a preacher in a small town. In the middle of a Sunday sermon he is interrupted by a former colleague opening fire on him, and he takes off running. Literally. At this point he meets and is rescued by a young Jeff Bridges as Lightfoot. (Clint was 44 when this movie was released; Bridges was 25.) Bridges is a crook or con man rather than a hardened criminal. He is also young, sweet and an incredibly good-natured and cheerful kid. He is basically looking for fun. His character makes this movie. Clint's character is more cerebral than violent, the man who masterminds bank robberies and doesn't kill his former colleagues even when they are trying to kill him.

Eventually Clint's old buddies, which include a nasty and brutal George Kennedy, catch up with the duo and they all determine to rob another bank. George has a visceral dislike for Lightfoot, but is kept from hurting him by Clint. But Clint can't always be there.

This movie starts as a lighthearted romp of a chase film. It then morphs into a robbery film, and ends as a tragedy. I loved it - watched it twice in a row. The ending is awesome. This movie really made me aware of Jeff Bridges - he's from an acting family and was born to act. His charisma is palpable, and his acting is both natural and physical.

Island of Lost Souls (1932)

OK - this baby is creepy, and some might find is scary. It is, I believe, the first film made of the H.G. Wells story about Dr. Moreau. There wasn't much in the way of restrictions at this time, so there is talk of vivisection, mating, eating "long pig" (human) and of course, medical experimentation. This Dr. Moreau, as played by Charles Laughton, is a monster who relishes his experiments. His eyes gleam. I found him very disturbing. I was definitely looking forward to his comeuppance. This movie does not feel 80 years old. It just cam out on DVD, so pick it up. And watch for Bela Lugosi as the Sayer of the Law.

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

OK - this movie blew me away! The Descendants may have suffered in comparison because I saw them back-to-back.

This was written and directed by Sean Durkin, and it's his first feature length film. How does someone get this assured out of the gate? This movie treads the line between thriller and psychological drama very, very well. The tension mounts and your attention is riveted - I think he'll get a screenplay nomination. I hope he gets a best picture nomination.

Martha, played by an amazing Elizabeth Olsen, is in a cult when we meet her. She is planning her escape, but we don't realize it until we watch her run, which is a stressful way to start a movie. She calls her sister, who hasn't heard from her in two years, and who comes immediately to get her.

Martha seems to be about 20 when she runs from the cult, but it's hard to say. She looks very young, but her behavior is off. She swims naked when it is not appropriate, she sleeps all the time, she cleans and gardens like a pro. And she gets more and more odd. Her behavior and conversation lead her sister and brother-in-law to wonder about what happened to her, and their discomfort grows. They ask her where she was, but Martha isn't talking.

In flashbacks we see her arriving at the cult, being indoctrinated, having her name changed to Marcy May. Each scene at the cult and with her sister gets steadily more upsetting as the movie progresses. And the ending is as it should be. Which is very satisfying.

Elizabeth Olsen will probably get a nomination for Best Actress. She won't win, because dues have to be paid (think Jennifer Lawrence last year in Winter's Bone). John Hawkes, as the cult leader, should get nominated for Best Supporting Actor again for this one. Hopefully this year he'll win.

The Descendants (2011)

OK, I am not getting the hype about this one. It's a solid movie about a family going through a bad time, but it did not blow me away. George Clooney is really good, the girls who play his daughters are awesome, and all the smaller performances are at least solid. It also showed family groups of real-looking people: some with good teeth, some with bad, some dressed like crap, lots of bad hair. Hollywood doesn't normally show us real people, so I liked this.

I did not like the editing, which was choppy. I also thought there were far too many long takes of scenery (yes, Hawaii is pretty) and close ups that gave no value. I was a bit bored. And the soundtrack - 100% Hawaiian music - was grating and distracting after a while. I do not think this is Alexander Payne's best film. Some of his other movies/characters really tread the edge of human behavior, like Thomas Hayden Church gleefully and compulsively sleeping around on his bachelor-party trip and Paul Giametti frantically drinking his prized bottle of wine at a hamburger stand instead of seeing his ex-wife at a wedding. Or Reese Witherspoon's Tracy Flick! Now there's a character to watch.

This will be nominated for an Academy Award for best picture, director and maybe adapted screenplay. Clooney may be nominated. But I suggest you watch Sideways or Election if you have limited time rather than this one. These people were way too sane and controlled for me. Even when they acted out, they did so in a tame manner. I did not buy it.

Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

OK - this is a contrived wreck of a movie. It is not a believable depiction of cheating or divorcing couples or - anything. It's actually laughable.

However, it has Ryan Gosling. He is so hot that it is just scary. He takes off his shirt. He has a long scene without his shirt on. I was talking about this in a bar the other night with GF's, and the male bartender called Mr. Gosling his guy crush. I believe it. And he can act!

The scene where he and Emma Stone fall in love is so damn cute that it is worth watching the movie. Or you could just skip to that scene and watch it several times.

Julianne Moore is great, but it's a stupid role. Steve Carell is charming. But the movie is a waste. Watch Cookie's Fortune and Drive instead.

Easy Virtue (2008)

This movie blows. Stay away. Here are the main problems:

1. Jessica Biel cannot act. She is horrible in this.
2. The script sucks. A couple of the biggest scenes in the movie are ludicrous (Jessica sits on the family dog by accident and kills it, someone performs the cancan without underwear)
3. The casting is generally bad.
4. There are really two movies here - one where Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas are actually acting in a drama; whereas Jessica and her erstwhile husband cannot act and are perhaps in a farce.

Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas are parents of adult children in England about 15 years after WWI. Their son, the eldest, brings home an American race car driving bride. I think this is supposed to be funny, but it's not. Rent Gosford Park instead.

The Widow of Saint-Pierre (2000)

I was bored and perplexed by this one. In 1850 on the island of Saint-Pierre, a fisherman slaughters a man for no good reason and is sentenced to death. He is supposed to be guillotined, but there is no guillotine on the island. While they are waiting for the machine to be shipped in, literally, the prisoner is put under the care of the French Captain assigned to the island, played by Daniel Auteuil. The Captain and his wife, played by Juliette Binoche, take the prisoner under their wing. This is primarily Madame la Capitane's doing, and soon the condemned is fixing roofs and doing other good works on the island. He fathers a baby and gets married. By acting responsibly he become responsible. Pretty soon the islanders want him spared. It doesn't end well.

What I found perplexing was the relationship between the Captain and his wife. They adore each other, but there is some odd intensity there that I didn't understand, revolving around the Captain's pride in his wife and his need to defend her and be her protector. If anyone understands, let me know.

J. Edgar (2011)

I think there will be some nominations from this movie. I do not think it will be picture or director, but I do think Leonardo DiCaprio will be nominated in the lead actor role. I would also like to see Armie Hammer and Naomi Watts nominated in the supporting categories. I will predict costumes and makeup will also be nominated.

This is a Clint Eastwood film, and he is a very assured director. This movie looks at Hoover's personality and personal life rather than focusing on his famous secret files or vendettas. We see some of that, but as a way to learn about Hoover's personality, as he was paranoid and maniacal and power hungry and incredibly guarded. He had an inflated opinion of himself and his talents, seeing himself as brave and persecuted, when in reality he hid behind the men in the field and his files. He persecuted many people, but he had enough cunning to develop the FBI and run it during the tenure of 8 presidents. He wasn't stupid. The movie flashes back and forth between Hoover's first years at the FBI and the years before his death.

A large focus of this movie is the love story between Hoover and Clyde Tolson. This is portrayed as a platonic love, and you'll understand why after watching Hoover's relationship with his mom (Judi Dench). These men were devoted to each other, and while we may never know the details of the relationship, Tolson did inherit Hoover's estate and is buried next to him in the Congressional Cemetery. The relationship is lovingly portrayed in the movie, though realistically. After all, Hoover was a prick. He wasn't easy to be around. There were hard times.

Clint takes his time with a story. He doesn't go for flash when he doesn't need to, but he gets a lot from his actors. He lets you really sink into a story and make your own decisions. I like his films.

Handful of Dust (1988)

This is a tough one. It is beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, and tragic. I can't say I want to ever see it again, but I am glad I saw it once.

This is based on an Evelyn Waugh novel considered one of the best novels of the 20th century. It is about the pointlessness of our lives, and the harm people do to each other. That's not an upper, but the civility of this movie masks the nastiness for quite a while. The characters are British, see, so they are so incredibly polite to each other, even when acting in the basest possible way.

Kristin Scott Thomas plays Brenda, married to Tony. They are Lord and Lady, living on Tony's family estate, which takes all Tony's money and time to maintain. Tony is described as a "stick", and it's true that he prefers country life and church to town and parties. Brenda is bored. When an acquaintance of Tony's from his club, John, shows up at the estate for a weekend visit on the barest pretense of an invitation, he and Brenda start an affair. Tony is oblivious.

Brenda is cold and evil, but always sweet and polite and smiling. She seems sincere, but her actions tell about her real character. Using a terrible death as an excuse, she leaves Tony and plans to marry John. John, though, is just a gold-digger, and he is only interested in a rich divorcee. When Tony has finally had enough, and denies Brenda what she wants, John is gone like a shot.

But then things get worse. Tony runs from his life for a six month break, and manages to find someone (Alec Guinness, or Obi Wan) just as evil as Brenda who literally takes away the one thing Tony has left. And Brenda? Things work out just fine for her. This is a very disturbing view of humanity. And it's probably a true and accurate portrait of life, which is oh so discouraging. If you love a great story (and a period costume drama to boot), pick this one up. If you're in a fragile place, rent Bridesmaids again.

Sarah's Key (2010)

This movie is pretty bad. Considering that it has some great performances and an interesting story, that's saying something. Unfortunately, it happens a lot. The story and the performances in a movie are related to, but not necessary tied to what the director does with the material. The problem here is the script, (lack of) editing, and the direction, which combine to make this movie reminiscent of a mushy soap opera.

Mélusine Mayance is the real star of the movie, and she is amazing. At the time of filming, I would guess she was about 10. And the kid can act. She can do so much with just facial expressions that most of Hollywood should sit up and re-think all that Botox. She plays a Jewish kid in a Paris apartment, and we meet her as she is playing joyously with her brother in one of the bedrooms. This happiness only lasts about a minute of screen time because the police pound on the door and round up the family to go to Vel' d'Hiv, the Paris velodrome. Parisian Jews are being held there in filth and heat before being shipped to the camps. The French police and officials are doing the round-up for the Germans. It's harrowing, to say the least.

Before leaving the apartment, Sarah hides her little brother in a locked cupboard. She tries and is unable to pass the key to a neighbor. She is eventually separated from her parents, and her entire being is now focused on getting back to that cupboard. Sarah's story is riveting. The parallel story being told about and by Kristin Scott Thomas in 2010 is not nearly as interesting. Parts of it are totally unnecessary and distracting and should have been edited out of the script and movie. I have heard fantastic things about this book, and it is very likely that the modern story is great in the book. But a movie usually cannot include all of a book.

There are also way too many conversations like this:
- You need to know the truth!
- I don't want the truth. Take your stories away from me.
And later...
- Why did you have to tell me the truth?

Kristin Scott Thomas is under-used, but it's still fun to watch her switch back and forth from French to English.

Pass on this one. Maybe read the book.

Sugarland Express (1974)

This is an early Steven Spielberg film, and it's pretty bad. It has a hard time deciding on a tone - social commentary? Chase film? Farce or tragedy? Also, you can see some early versions of Spielberg's contrived scenes and shots that seem to me like a slap in the head saying - hey! you're supposed to be sad now!

Goldie Hawn plays a petty criminal / shoplifter who gets out of jail (in Texas) to find her son (2 year-old Baby Langston) has been put in foster care and has found a permanent home. Determined to get him back, she breaks her husband Clovis out of jail (not a tough job), and they take off to get the baby. They are immediately stopped by a state trooper, so they take him hostage. Pretty soon they have a trail of 50 or so police cars. Clovis is not a total idiot, so he figures out how to take bathroom and food breaks, and even get to a gas station when the tank is empty, all while being tailed by massive police.

All is going pretty well until they are found in a used car lot by a couple of hunters who proceed to blow the place up in the name of civic duty. This scene is totally ridiculous, and the already stretched premise devolves into fantasy. And of course it cannot end well. And the ending is bad on many levels. The final scene manages to focus more on a lovely sunset than the characters. Spielberg really likes to cram stuff into a film, but most of it is a distraction.

Goldie Hawn makes a charming criminal. Clovis is played by William Atherton, and he's OK. I'm always distracted by Atherton, as his later career has been spent primarily playing villains with a strong weasel streak. I find him distasteful. But he's ok here. An odd choice, but OK.

I would pass on this and pick up Vanishing Point, Bonnie and Clyde, etc. This is very derivative of better films.

The Skin I Live In (2011)

I am a summer gal. I hate it when the weather cools and the leaves die. Winter blows. But there is one silver lining. At least for a couple of months, starting November 1, the movie situation gets pretty damn awesome. This is primarily due to the Academy Awards and advertising budgets. A movie has to be released by 12/31 to be eligible, and movies fresh in the public's mind are more likely to win than a movie already forgotten (think Social Network and The King's Speech).

So I do look forward to this time of year for movie purposes. Today I went with my mom to one of my favorite lunch places, and then we went to a movie. The new Pedro Almodóvar movie. How perfect is that? Pedro is one of the world's best directors, and this movie did not disappoint. It was really well made and well acted.

My mom called it sick. I said, but what about...?" And she interrupted with "sick, sick, sick." She requested that I never take her to a movie by "that director" again.

So, beware. I thought this movie would have a horror element, but it is more a twisted psychological study. A plastic surgeon, Antonio Banderas, has a woman captive in his house. They have an odd relationship. Antonio is really creepy, and the more you learn about him, the less you will like him. How did the woman get there? Will she be able to leave? You have to watch and find out. And the ending is awesome. This is very stylistic, and I think it will stick with you.

Back to the sick part. The first hour really drags. The subject matter is tough. We meet some horrible characters. This is not for everyone.

Tower Heist (2011)

OK - there's good news and bad news. First the good news. This movie is a LOT of fun. I had a couple of huge huge huge laughs with this one. And they come from an obvious place and a couple perhaps not so obvious. The obvious - Eddie Murphy is fantastic, and he steals some scenes. He doesn't, however, steal the movie; this truly is ensemble work. Téa Leoni and Gabourey Sidibe are hilarious. Téa is only given one scene to really work with, but it's a great scene. Gabourey has more fun with her character, and she's good. I look forward to seeing her in more films.

Which brings me to the bad news: this could have been better. The goal here was to be a boneheaded version of Ocean's Eleven. Well, the movie should have been more raucous and used its people more effectively. Eddie is great, but the gals above could have done a lot more. Ben Stiller played a straight man - what the fuck? Matthew Broderick and Casey Affleck were both too tame, playing nebbish type chicken shits. If this movie had thrown in some Hangover type nuttiness it would have reached stratospheric heights.

The NYT (I think A.O. Scott) was disturbed by the stereotype of Eddie's character and the plot holes. Who gives a shit about plot holes? Is there reality in the movies? Especially in heist films? (Or horror, or romantic comedies....and on and on.) I don't care about the reality part. And I found every character to be a stereotype, but not necessarily used effectively. By not pushing the envelope, there were scenes that stalled a bit, dialogue that seemed forced.

But the upshot - this is fun. Enjoy yourself. And watch for the improv scene between Gabourey and Eddie.

X-Men: First Class (2011)

This wasn't bad. Sure, it's still a formulaic action / adventure / superhero movie, which translates to mediocre dialogue and little character development, plus an explosion filled ending. Nevertheless, it is better than most. We know these characters, and it is fun to learn how Xavier, Mystique and Magneto all met, grew up together and split. Some things are answered - like where Magneto's dorky metal hat came from - but some things are still hanging. Michael Fassbender is great - he is a compelling actor, and James McAvoy is pretty damn good as Xavier. Kevin Bacon is totally wasted as the villain.

The time went quickly while I watched this, and who doesn't need a couple of mindless hours every once in a while?

FYI - Jennifer Lawrence can act (see Winter's Bone), so she tries to do something with Mystique. She does what she can. If you want an action / thriller, pick up Winter's Bone.

L'Auberge Espagnole (2002)

This movie is a boatload of fun!. A tightly wound French kid goes to Spain for a year to learn the language and ready himself for a post-college job in economics. He has a hard time finding a place to stay in Barcelona, and eventually ends up with six other students, each from a different country, in a cramped apartment. He has a wonderful time. The group fights, makes up, eats together, drinks together, parties together, and has many adventures. Boyfriends and girlfriends and family members wander in and out, and all kind of hi-jinx ensue. There are a couple of absolutely hilarious scenes. Plus, there is one of the dopiest, funniest characters I have ever seen in this movie. Actors truly have no pride. I would watch it again just for him. And there's a bonus! Audrey Tatou plays a whiny, repressed girlfriend with bad hair. And it works. She's totally unlikeable.

There are some stupid dream-ish sequences that are unnecessary, and the ending is lame. But this is still one to pick up.

The Rum Diary (2011)

I liked this movie. It is not perfect, but it is original and interesting and funny and bizarre. I didn't find it settled into one genre or one style, but instead was a combination travelogue, frat-house party film, and coming of age story for Hunter Thompson. Johnny Depp's character, Kemp, is loosely based on Thompson, and he stumbles through the film in an alcoholic haze, hung over, but still stylish. There are drugs, beaches, cockerel fighting, a crazy boss with a bad toupee (I love Richard Jenkins), an insane roommate with sores on his penis (Giovanni Ribisi - and my God, he gives an interesting performance), and a really gorgeous girl.

Kemp discovers during his time in Puerto Rico that he likes drugs as well as booze, hates corporate bastards and politicians, and does indeed have a voice. There are parts of the film that seem totally unnecessary (Giovanni's penis, the tongue scene), but by the end I had the distinct impression that pointlessness and random events were the point of the film. I'm ok with that. The ending was weak, but I can live with that.

Johnny is great. (A.O. Scott thought Depp was basically showing us his own charisma rather than acting, but I disagree. At a minimum, there is a physicality to Depp's performance I found impressive, plus he used a plummy eastern shore voice that put him in the correct era.) Michael Rispoli is awesome. And then there is Amber Heard. This girl is gorgeous, like Halle Berry or Selma Hayek gorgeous. And she held up her end without much of a role to work with.

I recommend this one.

Ma Vie en Rose (1997)

This is a fantastic movie. I really didn't know much about it when I started it; I had the impression it was maybe a gay coming of age story. Nope. Not so much. This film is about Ludovic, a seven year old boy who believes he is a girl. He understands he might be a boy now, but he believes he will grow up to be a girl. He wants his hair long, to wear his sis's clothes, to put on lipstick and earrings.

His parents are perplexed, but tell themselves that when kids are little they innocently play and Ludo's obsession is temporary. Then they move to a new town and a cloistered suburb where Ludo falls for his dad's new boss's son. He believes they will get married some day. All of a sudden Ludo is front and center of a neighborhood crisis. Very few people, adult or child, want him around. His parents freak out - dad first, with mom defending Ludo. Then dad gets fired (because of Ludo), and mom loses it. He gets beat up after soccer practice, and one of his brothers holds the other brother back, so both stand and watch him take a beating. The family eventually moves, and all the while Ludo is confused. How come he's not a girl? What's the big problem?

The actor playing Ludo, Georges Du Fresne, is amazing. This movie rests on him, and I have no idea how a child could be so self-possessed and talented at his age. The movie is interesting from a stylistic standpoint as well. It uses fairy-tale type imaginings to put us in Ludo's head (did you see Precious? a little like that). The movie is funny and sweet and heartbreaking. And it did not go for a big-hug ending. There is a little of that, but it's not excessive. This movie family has a rough road after the camera stops rolling. It's a really interesting look on being born in the wrong body.

Pick this one up. (It's French - so il y a les soutitres.)