THE SOLOIST

THE SOLOIST: A PERFECT DUET


Being a psychology major in college, I've gained a discerning eye with regard to films about the mentally ill. My complaints usually stem from the usual stereotypical behavior assigned to each condition. This film, however, did an exceptional job of showing the reality of a terrible majority of those who suffer mental illness and homelessness. It's not perfect and to me, ended up being more about homelessness than mental illness. Over time, many people who endure mental illness have also been blessed with genius; painting, writing, playing music. That's where this movie starts. Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) is a reporter in Los Angeles who, while searching for story ideas, comes across an interesting character, Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) who can make a two-strung violin sound like angels from heaven.

ANTHONY MINGHELLA: 1954 TO 2008

ANTHONY MINGHELLA: RIP
Talented director, writer and producer of some of the most grand movies to date, has died from complications during treatment for cancer at 54. His eye caught to big picture and made it more elaborate and twice as majestic than anyone could have imagined. He won accolades for his work on The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain, the English Patient.

"He wasn't just a writer, or a writer-director, he was someone who was very well-known and very well-loved within the film community," Puttnam said. "Frankly he was far too young to have gone." Minghella is survived by his wife; his actor son, Max Minghella; and his daughter, Hannah. (From the AP)

MR. WOODCOCK

MR. WOODCOCK... RHETORICAL REVIEW, TAKE A LAP!
Ah yes, there were many ways this review could have started, but I'm taking the high road on this one... Anyone who has ever dreaded gym class in school will relate to this movie. The problem is, they have to relate to it for an hour and a half. Self-help guru John Farley (Seann William Scott) is called to return to his hometown in nowhere's-ville Midwest small town to receive the key to the town. To his horror, he finds that while he was off being successful, his mother (Susan Sarandon... is that right? Yup, it is) has found a new romance with the school gym teacher, Mr. Woodcock, (Billy Bob Thornton) who tormented him when he was in his PE class. We sees the flashbacks to the humiliating and cruel tactics used on the younger John which bring on a fury with the older John and makes him attempt to break the couple up. This movie does have some funny moments, but most of those moments are from Saturday Night Live cast member Amy Poehler who is Maggie, John's agent. It wasn't a terrible movie (still #1 Lindsay my love) but it wasn't a great movie either. Thornton is stereotypical as is Scott and if the movie kept the comedic pace up it could have been something. However, at the end of the movie everything gets all dramatic and it just doesn't work with the beginning of the movie being somewhat crude and sophomoric. If you are totally bored and have seen all the movies I recommend then I guess you could take a time out and watch this. There is some entertainment value, just like mushrooms on a pizza count as a vegetable.
Not a Pick: Pretty predictable, and not totally horrid; it didn't suck as much as I anticipated.

INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW GOOD EXCUSE TO WATCH SIENNA MILLER
If you are a Steve Buscemi or Sienna Miller fan, then definitely rent this movie; but be prepared that it comes off more like an actor's audition than a film. Buscemi is Pierre Peders, a political journalist whose dim career warrant that he covers a "fluff piece" about actress Katya (miller). What starts out as a introduction to our two main (and only) characters turns into a roller coaster ride of character driven acting. Big surprise; the both turn out to be someone totally different than we originally thought. As booze and illicit drugs energize the characters, they run rampant, emotionally and physically until both are exhausted and part ways. Both give outstanding performances even though the movie was a bit boring and slow paced. Nice twist ending, albeit unbelievable, still made it interesting.
Rating: Not for action fans... character driven piece, borderlines on boring but interesting

IN THE LAND OF WOMEN

IN THE LAND OF WOMEN EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

With some movies, I pretty much feel like I'm taking a bullet for the team in efforts to keep you away from bad movies and steer you to the unexpected. I may not see all the "best" movies and actually try to find the ones that like buried treasure, are often hidden but valued. This is one of those movies. It's not fantastic by any means, but it is an unexpectedly sweet and tender movie. Cartner Webb (A surprisingly talented Adam Brody) is a writer who's life gets so complicated that he needs a time out. He goes to stay with his grandma (Olympia Dukakis) to get away from it all, but instead finds that there is no true hiding place from life's messy business. He is well spoken and the dialogue is sharp and amusing. He practically drips of Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye). Soon he meets his grandmother's neighbors, wife and mother, Sarah Hardwicke (Meg Ryan) and her daughter Lucy (Kristen Stewart) who are both going through some of those messy life things. I liked Ryan in her role. She isn't cute or funny, she is sincere and real and did a decent job in this. As I mentioned earlier, this is not the best movie of the year, but an entertaining honest look at ourselves.

Rating: An entertaining post-coming-of-age film with heart.

THE HOAX

THE HOAX IS MORE THAN A SIMPLE LIE

Based on actual events, Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) is a writer, who has not reached the level of celebrity he had hoped for with his previous publications, so in the 'one-thing-turns-into-another' vein, he has the big shots at McGraw-Hill wrapped around his finger when he dangles the exclusive autobiography of Howard Hughes for them, as of course, told only to him. His partner in crime, Dick Suskind (Alfred Molina) began researching the book only to later be more of a victim of the lie than a conspirator. Add in large sums of money, Irving's wife's involvement (played by the lovely Marcia Gay Harden), a Swiss bank account, a mistress and growing suspicion; the close-calls keep getting closer and the stress and tension send both men in a downward spiral. It is only Irving that has the confidence that the scheme will work. The only thing they had in their favor was the fact that Hughes had become quite reclusive, had a strong dislike for the press and his behavior grew more bizarre and abnormal. Irving banked on that reputation and it got him far enough. No great reveal that Hughes finally did concede to a phone conference to dismiss the validity of the book. It is an interesting story although Irving claims his character in the film was not accurate. Richard Gere does a fantastic job of not being Richard Gere. For the first time, as my memory serves me, he is not portraying someone powerful, smart, charismatic or charming. He has become this tired, worn out writer who is insecure and behaves as a real human man (in this fantastic story) would.

Rating: Interesting story, cast full of great actors, entertaining.