CHARLIE BARTLETT

CHARLIE BARTLETT IS TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL

"People like you ARE THE REASON

people like me NEED MEDICATION"

A New Ferris Bueller for a new generation. Meet Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchen). Despite being well-to-do, he has been kicked out of every private school that his mom (Hope Davis) couldn't bribe to get him back in. The only answer left; public school. After the initial resistance to a new, well-spoken kid in school, Charlie finds a way to make friends, become popular and help his peers. I really liked this movie. I admit that I first just wanted to see another Robert Downey Jr. role (Principal Gardner) but soon into the movie, there was room for two reasons. Downey plays the straight man to Yelchen's Charlie and does an amazing job.There are some disturbing scenes where the fantasy of what Charlie does leeds to a serious outcome. The second is when Principal Gardner also realized the consequences to his actions (or lack thereof). Downey is lovely and so very human and lets Gardner carry his pain with misplaced anger and sarcasm. He is a man who has given up, in many ways, This is NOT your parent's Ferris Bueller, although it carries pieces of Some Kind Of Wonderful, and other John Huges films. You may wince through a scene or two even though it is mostly comedic. What was refreshing is that not everybody rides off to a happy ending. However the ending is truthful and touching. Hope Davis is wonderful as Charlie's upper-class mother on Xanax. Not a spectacular movie, however still well done and sharp.
PICK: Well done on all accounts: acting, directing, writing. Good job.

BE KIND REWIND

BE KIND REWIND... THE SWEEDED VERSION
The quick version: Mike and Jerry (Mos Def and Jack Black) are neighborhood pals. Mike works at a video shop owned by Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover) and when Mr. Fletcher takes a couple of days off all hell breaks loose. Now, the long commentary: This film is unbelievable, implausible, unrealistic and just plain absurd. Mike seems like he took the short bus to school, while Jerry seems like he should be institutionalized. This film was a good idea that got lost on the way to becoming a real movie. That being said, there was something that was hard to label in this film. There was no big happy ending, but a plausible one. Included in that is the sense of community this film brought to the table. Despite all of the problems and criticism, it was sweet and heartfelt. No longer do we have a feeling of community. People drive to work each morning and may or may not wave when they see their neighbor, IF they even know them. The corner store has been replaced with big chain stores where you can check your own purchases out, not needing to make any personal contact. Amidst all this reality, we find a gem of a story about community pride. That is the very saving grace that earns this movie pick status. It is worth the lame parts just to see the good ones.
PICK: Not an average pick, but this story has real heart and a sweeded intent.

LIONS FOR LAMBS

LIONS FOR LAMBS IS EASY TARGET FOR SLAUGHTER
If you have just crawled out from under a rock lately, this film is for you. It is an education on the politics involved in the war as seen by many different sets of eyes. Talk about star power... all the uber-actors are in this movie and they did a splendid job of talking us through the screenplay. Considering most of this country gets it's information on the war by Jon Stewart, I'd say this was a very informative flick. If anything detracted from this movie, it would be the total lack of heart. Cruise was "glib" as ever, Redford as moralistic and Streep as curious. It felt like I was back in junior high watching the film about peer-pressure or teenage drug use. There are PLENTY of movies who have addressed the topic at hand, but also brought it home for us to feel... to become connected with and moved to tears about. This film was a neat little package, tied up in a big red bow. I may have opened it to see what was inside, but I spent more time playing with the box it came in.
NOT a pick: An informative discussion on the war as told through different perspectives with little emotion and/or heart. Not bad, just sterile.

CRAZY FOR LOVE

CRAZY FOR LOVE, AKA: MY SUICIDAL SWEETHEART, NOT INSANE
Oh how PC we all are now... first released as 'My Suicidal Sweetheart', now turned into 'Crazy For Love'... but hey, "What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name, would smell as sweet." Max (David Krumholtz) is a troubled young man who is sent to a mental institution after many unsuccessful attempts to kill himself. In true love story fashion, Max meets a beautiful young woman Grace (Natasha Lyonne) who is also suicidally-challenged and it is love at first site. Once they escape from the institution the real madness ensues. Despite either title, this is a surprisingly sweet movie which is funny but also very touching and unexpectedly sincere. It could have gone way over the top, but only neared the line once or twice. Lots of "D-list" celebrities throughout the film, but it is only the icing across this crazy cake.
PICK: Smart, funny and realistic, this movie has heart... and Prozac and Xanax and...

FUNNY GAMES

FUNNY GAMES ISN'T FUNNY... AT ALL

[talking to the viewers, breaking the fourth wall]

Paul: What do you think? Think they stand a chance?

This kind of movie rides like a high-class, upper crust horror movie. It's the cleverness in the set up, the well toned dialogue and the seemingly normal, happy life style that tricks us. Then comes the fury. This film is a remake of the 1997 film (by the same name) directed by Aussie, Michael Haneke. It seems a waste to me to do a remake in the exact same way, but if whatever reason, it was done well. A happy all American family (played by Aussie Naomi Watts and Brit Tim Roth- ha ha) who unsuspectingly walk right into the worst day/night of their lives. Their fatal flaw is to trust the two well dressed and mannered young men (see picture) who appear at the door asking to borrow the proverbial 'cup of sugar'. It's like Six Degrees of Separation with Will Smith. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, isn't it a duck? Right? The lethargic start of the film brings what comes after that much more of a jolt to the system. The violence is bloody and senseless; and that violence, in turn, takes a tale of suspense to a bloodbath on Quentin Tarantino's best day. This film has also been compared to a Clockwork Orange and for good reason. I can't say I enjoyed this movie, albeit compelling to watch. It was realistic, disturbing and thought provoking; something ever film should seek to be. PICK: Shocking and violent, the movie demands your attention; will you give in?

SISTERS

SISTERS... WAS MADE ONCE, FOR A GOOD REASON
(bigger picture doesn't mean better one)

In 1973 Brian De Palma released the original Sisters, staring Margot Kidding. Some movies never could be re-made. Some movies should never be re-made. This is one of them. Slowly we are introduced to our characters. Grace (Chloe Sevigny) is an investigative reporter working on an expose about Doctor Philip Lacan (Steven Rea) as she is sure he is mistreating his patients. Newcomer, Lou Doillon, is the mysterious woman, Angelique Tristiana, who draws Grace in deeper than she ever thought possible. It was hard to stay awake for the first part of this film. The second half quickly provided motive and action and even felt like a totally different picture. However, both parts sucked majorly. The gore and the script seemed terribly forced and the actors involved, followed soon after. This isn't a horror movie, despite the blood, it isn't a suspenseful film because you can guess the ending. Existentially speaking, this film just wasn't.

NOT a pick: Stay home and rock in the fetal position and then rent almost anything else.

CONTROL

CONTROL... SHOULD BE RENAMED: OUT OF CONTROL "Love will tear us apart, again..." and tear us apart it did. Only 23 years old, Ian Curtis, lead singer for Joy Division, a late seventies/early eighties band from the UK that exploded onto the post Ziggy Stardust (aka David Bowie) glam-rock scene, kills himself after losing a battle with depression, epilepsy and a tumultuous relationship with his wife, as well as the unexpected catapult to fame. He likened himself Jim Morrison, which would turn out to be sadly ironic. NOTE TO TALENTED, CREATIVE MUSICIANS: SEEK THERAPY! This film, directed by Anton Coorbijn, who has made a name for himself in the music video/production world did a fine job with this film. The grainy black and white shots give the movie an almost documentary style, akin to playing a record rather than a CD. The talent is beyond expectation. Sam Riley is Ian Curtis. Samantha Morton is Ian's wife, Debbie, who effortlessly plays the strong undercurrent of true love and acceptance. She is a most gifted actress and plays off of Riley to create a real bond. Sometimes hard to watch, but compelling and intriguing. After Curtis died, the group renamed themselves and became New Order, one of the most popular 80's bands ever. A must see.
PICK: A good film on its own, but also a must see for all 80's music lovers! Cheers!

P.S. I LOVE YOU

P.S. I LOVE YOU... P.P.S. No I don't...

Holly Kennedy: What if this is it, Gerry? What if this is all there is to our life? You have to have a plan. Why do I have to be the responsible grown up who worries? Why can't I be the cute, carefree Irish guy who sings all the time?

Gerry Kennedy: Because you can't sing without making dogs bark?

Where did my Million Dollar Baby go?! First was The Reaping and now this? I guess 'girls do cry' because Hillary Swank spent most of the movie either crying or being ready to cry. Swank is a woman whose husband dies from cancer who needs to work through her grief. He, knowing his days were numbered, prepares all sorts of things to be delivered to her in hopes of helping her grieve. As noted in reference A. (as seen above) this script was forced and told the views what they needed to know in case they missed the over-acted scene before. This could have been a very good movie if there was a different lead actress. Swank has given too many Oscar worthy performances to drop down to this level. Additionally, she doesn't hold up as a comedic actress; AND she doesn't know how to fake-kiss correctly. There is the obligatory karaoke scene and then the "final goodbye" scene. This film had some 'star power': Harry Connick Jr, Geena Gershon, Lisa Kudrow, Kathy Bates, but they were so flat and two dimensional. They were totally lost in the background. The one thing I did like about this film is the actor who portrays the husband, Gerard Butler. Although I thought the script made him less appealing, and made him perform all the typical romance crap, he still was charming. He starred in one of my favorites, "Dear Frankie" which is far better than this movie could ever hope to being. He has six films in production as we speak (or as I write).

NOT a pick: Tired ideas, miscast actors, flat film. Save your tears and watch Million Dollar Baby again.

CLEANER

CLEANER IS MILDLY NEAT

You've seen this film before, you just don't know it. It's a story about an ex-cop turned working stiff who gets pulled into a situation where what seems to be a normal occurrence turns into a volcano of mystery and mayhem. Once the players are in place, he doesn't know who to trust. The lined between good and bad show more gray than he has on his head. Samuel Jackson is Tom, the "retired" police officer. As always, Jackson delivers his performance effortlessly. Jackson has a fantastic bond with is on screen daughter. Rose (Keke Palmer, perfectly cast), strong willed and patient, teetering on the line between child to a very mature teenager, that adds to Tom's predicament. Ed Harris is an old friend of Tom's, sleep walking through a smaller role than he usually conquers. Eva Mendes is also in the film. Renny Harlin does an amazing job as director. The film is tight and beautiful. The transitions between scenes is clever and noticeable. It is a very pretty film. The biggest problem is that it is too formulaic. You can guess what's coming next and once the players are identified you sit patiently trying to figure out which one is not telling the truth. So, the last ten minutes are built around that pivot ending in an unsatisfying but also unpredictable ending. Worth watching if you can forgive the obvious.

PICK: Although plot is recycled, a well done and smart suspenseful movie.

FLAWLESS

FLAWLESS IS ANYTHING BUT
Terrible, terrible, terrible... Demi Moore is so pretty to look at, but so lifeless on-screen in this movie, full of flaws. Demi is Laura Quinn, a woman in the 1960's working in a man's world. After being passed over for promotion and seeing the end of her job in sight, she is just right for joining in a scheme to steal from her employer, a diamond exchange. Michael Caine is Mr. Hobbs, a long-time janitor for the company. It takes at least half the movie just to explain each of their past dealings with the company. Problem is, who cares? Caine is phoning in his part, as it is a role very much beneath his abilities. Moore plain can not act. There is no difference in her voice, her eyes, her body... there is only one gear she uses to act. There are many still shots of her "contemplating" while sucking down yet another cigarette. The film is too long and the plot moves so very slowing, inching along trying to create anticipation. Thing is, who cares??? There is no attachment to either character, to the plot to anything. The ending is mildly interesting, but not worth sitting through the other part of the movie. They say there are four "C"s in the diamond business: Carat Weight, Cut, Color, and Clarity. This movie's four "C"s are: Careless, Crap, Clumsy and Childish.
NOT a pick: Waste of good film... if you need to fall asleep, watch it.

I'M NOT THERE

I'M NOT THERE... and it shows
Huh??? Abstract film can be carried off well (Fellini) or not so well, like Todd Haynes, I'm Not There. This film, like Sex In The City, does not work unless you either know Dylan's music or are very familiar with his life. I'm glad a movie like this did not turn out like Ray, The Doors, Walk The Line and others because if this one was "it" I would learn nothing about who Dylan is/was. Now I'm convinced that Cate Blanchett should have won that Oscar. She, among many males, was the Dylan that I know. There were other "embodiments" to parallel Dylan's life and in course, his work. Cate and Heath Ledger's were the only performances I enjoyed. Gere's points fell down for his work in INT. It made NO sense to me and I even fast forwarded through some of it. I understood the meaning and the aim this film took. However, it was not carried out in any sort of way that made it an enjoyable film, no matter how abstract.
NOT a pick: Too wide a berth for this potentially fantastic film. Die hard fans only.

CASSANDRA'S DREAM

CASSANDRA'S DREAM FILM NOIR NIGHTMARE

"How far will you go to make your dreams come true?"

For the record, I've not been a big Woody Allen fan. That being said, I really enjoyed this movie. Two brothers ( Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell) get in debt over their heads and look to their uncle (Tom Wilkinson) to help bail them out. One is a man in love and the other is a man in debt. They are asked to help their uncle in a unique situation "family is family, blood is blood". Much like Match Point, Allen presents us with a clever story with several twists and turns. It is almost predictable that there will be twists, turns and whatever else comes along the way. Much like a typical film noir, our main characters are placed on a path they would normally not take and are asked to run, fast. Inject the twists and turns before they are in over their heads. HUGE fan of McGregor who does a fabulous job. Not so huge fan of Farrell. I couldn't decide if I really loved him or really hated him. There was something in him that has not been seen and he either was brilliant or horrid. Decide for yourself. Both actors asked to portray a character opposite of how they are usually cast. Wilkinson just another walk in the park. Solid film and fun ride.
PICK: Nothing that hasn't been seen before, but super acting and plot line.