WAR, INC.

WAR, INC. ... WELCOME TO PLANET STARBUCKS

"When deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything, the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks." From Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk

IF you loved Fight Club, have a thing for dark comedy and sardonic wit and John Cusack then WAR, Inc. may just be the movie for you! There is no way to even attempt to describe the actual plot of the movie. John Cusack is Brand Hauser, a mercenary type who runs on hot sauce. He is sent on a mission to kill Omar Sharif, and from then on it just gets more complicated. What isn't complicated are the other actors: Marisa Tomei, Joan Cusack, Ben Kingsley, Dan Ackroyd and Hillary Duff. It's so much fun to watch Joan and John interact together onscreen and Joan owns her part loud and clear. This film is all over. One minute it's a comedy, then a romantic comedy then a drama then sci-fi... but all of it, in its jumbled mess works. Clear and concise statements about war. It's all in there and I loved it. There are explosions and "car" chases and drama and comedy and I loved it. However, it is not for everyone. You must appreciate sarcasm and understand subtle asides. The interaction with the Guidestar is clever enough on its own. So very clever and sharp.

PICK: Cutting wit and insane dialogue and story plot makes for a great thrill ride!

WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER

WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER?
For any man who ever had or has a father

"A parent and a child. The past and the present. Memories and secrets.

Can you know someone for a lifetime.... and not know them at all?

The life of a father. Through the journey of a son."

Parents are both idols and heroes at different times in our lives. We love them. We hate them. They are dreamily hypnotic and terrifyingly embarrassing. Colin Firth, in perhaps the best role to date, is Blake, son of Arthur (Jim Broadbent) who is dying from cancer. There have been all sorts of grown children helping their terminal parent and making that shift from adult to really an adult. This is perhaps the best one yet. The scenery is lush and green. We see Blake in different years of his life and his father's role during them. It is serene and gentle. Definitely a character-driven movie, each actor bringing their hearts and souls to breathe life into the characters (based on a real story). A subtle and graceful film.

PICK: Brilliant performances bring father-son story to life. Beautiful and moving.

TRANSSIBERIAN

TRANSSIBERIAN PICKS UP PACE
One of the most terrifying things that can happen when travelling in a foreign country is a display of social unrest, not playing by the rules, or rather, playing by their own rules. When travelling in France many years ago, the truckers and produce farmers both decided to strike. They did so, not with picket signs, but by "parking" on major roads, leaving no room to pass and too much time to ponder. Naturally, my first thought was, "but we're Americans!" We were stuck, Americans or not and that is the vulnerable feeling this film projects; except they add in guns, drug smuggling and murder. Woody Harrison does a fantastic average American tourist gag. Emily Mortimir is off the charts as his wife whose past drives her onto a very unusual path. Of course, the true star is Ben Kingsley as Grinko. Is he a good guy or a bad guy and just how bad are Russian bad guys? The ending gives big payoff where it is due and is satisfying. Cold weather. Colder villain.
PICK: Slowly works up to full steam and a wouldn't-have-guessed-it ending.

LEATHERHEADS

LEATHERHEADS SWELL PICK
What did people do on Super Bowl Sunday before there was even an NFL? This film presents the "birth" of pro-football in the 1920's. George Clooney not only directs this movie, but also portrays Dodge Connelly, the driving force that brought it all together. Renee Zellweger is the "love interest", Lexie Littleton who is very much a woman reporter in a man's world. She is sharp and quick and a great match for the fast talking, borderline con-man Dodge. John Krasinski is the "star" player of the team after he returns from the war with a larger-than-life hero's following. The lights sure shown bright on this film. The story plot is tight, dialogue quick and acting flawless. It is this kind of movie that reminds us what films were like before all the explosions, rapid gun fire and strong language. Admittedly, I am not a football fan, but the sub-plots and comedic, almost slapstick fun, is sure to be a clean choice for fans and non-fans alike.
PICK: One of few clean films that are sharp, funny and romantic. Nice treat.

DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN and THE LOVE GURU

DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN and THE LOVE GURU:
Special 2 for 1 review!

Is your glass half empty or half full? Depending on your taste for funny films, you might have a full glass or go thirsty with these two movies. I include them for their similarities. Both movies have stereotypical crude depictions of Israelites and East Indians. Both movies use humor that is crude, immature or offensive. Both have guest cameo appearances or "star power". SO, if you are easily offended, don't see either. If you appreciate silly, dumb or moronic 'humor', you found it here!

In Don't Mess With the Zohan, Israeli Special Forces Soldier, Zohan Dvir (Adam Sandler)grows weary of his life and decides to follow his dream of "making people silky smooth" aka hair stylist. He fakes his own death and comes to America to cut hair at Paul Mitchell. When that doesn't work out plan B ensues and Zohan finds a niche. The rest of the movie rolls slow and the ending tries to wrap itself in a neat red bow. Personally, it was bearable at best and funny in only 3 or 4 minutes of screen time. The star power in this movie is: Mariah Carey, George Takei, Chris Rock, Lainie Kazan, and most magnificently, John Tuturro.

Mariska Hargitay, Love Guru. Of the two, Love Guru was a much more thoughtful movie. There was the obvious comedy and then the more dry 'asides' . This film understood the comedic bar and pushed way past it. Mike Myers is Guru Pitka, whose goal it is NOT to be a poor man's Deepak Chopra. He is hired by Jane Bullard, YAWN (Jessica Alba) to help a hockey player get back his game. In an extra, Meyers said it was his way of combining the things he likes most: hockey and Eastern Religion. The story line is pretty weak, but it also has some pretty good jokes. We hear Samuel Jackson's voice over and as the camera pans, we find Meyers talking into the microphone set on "Samuel Jackson". Hands down, this movie belonged to Justin Timberlake. Yes, that's right. He was hilarious as a French-Canadian sexy hockey player. Jacques Grande: "Don't look at me with that tone of voice or I will punch you in the shirt! " It was worth the bad parts just to see his performance. Lastly, this movie rules for its star power: Ben Kingsley, Jessica Simpson, Kayne West, Deepak Chopra, Stephen Colbert, Mariska Hargitay, and Val Kilmer.

Let's face it. Neither film will end world hunger or cure AIDS. Neither film was so well done I wet myself. BUT, both films can be amusing if you have NO expectation of great film making. I enjoyed The Love Guru more than Zohan, but either work to distract from the election and all the silliness.

PICK: Even though I didn't care for either film, they were silly and entertaining to watch.