BEGINNERS: A TRUE LOVE STORY IN MANY WAYS

Hal: Well, let's say that since you were little, you always dreamed of getting a lion. And you wait, and you

wait, and you wait, and you wait but the lion doesn't come. And along comes a giraffe. You can be alone,

or you can be with the giraffe.

Oliver: I'd wait for the lion.

Hal: That's why I worry about you.

 

This film has the very essence of what I look for in a good film; it's magical and it's about love... the love between a parent and child, the love between a man and a woman, the love between a man and a life partner, the love between a man and a dog and the love a man has for himself. It really is a little slice of heaven. We meet Oliver (a cheeky Ewan McGregor who has just lost his father, Hal, to cancer. Lucky for us, we catch glimpses of their lives leading up to this time. Lucky for us we are engaged by Christopher Plummer as he finds himself widowed five years earlier and deciding it is okay to come out of the closet as a gay man and a man with a new lease on life. This performance is stellar. Oliver reflects on his parent's marriage and his upbringing as he meets and falls in love with a lovely french actress played by Melanie Laurent. Relationships are hard!!! It's amazing anyone has them at all. Of course, one of my favorite parts is the relationship Oliver creates with his father's dog, who does understand 160 words of English. The subtitles are very clever. Goran Visnjic is a surprising little gem as Hal's younger lover. It is a movie of hope within realistic perimeters. It is a story of love, struggle and redemption. It is a story you must see.  

MILK

GOT MILK?
Perhaps the majority of those who die 'before their time' are idolized in some way or another. Harvey Milk was the exception. Sean Penn breathes life into a great man who was very much human and flawed as he was effective and courageous. It's hard to believe how much has changed over the 31 years since his assassination in 1978. It's also hard to believe how much has not changed since that time as well, but that's another story. This film follows the path that changed an ordinary man into a political activist. The dialogue is sharp, the story is clear and accurate, the acting across the board was flawless. The DVD has features that include the many people who promoted Milk and those he promoted. Interesting on how the main character is no where to be found. Penn has been on the bitter end of a great deal of bad publicity for his own activism and level of seriousness. He has proved to us that Spicoli is no more. With MILK he doesn't just lighten up, he transforms. This is one of those films where the authentic recreation of a life is reflection of a master craftsman. Paired with Gus Van Sant, they make a film that touches one's spirit and offers a bit of hope. "Without hope, life is not worth living."
BIG BITE: This is a piece of art; a well crafted movie which touches the heart and soul.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL

DEATH AT A FUNERAL PUTS THE 'FUN' IN FUNERAL

Only the British could get away with the antics in this film. It's the day of the funeral of two brother's father. One is a mild mannered man, the other his famous writer brother arriving first class from New York. There are far too many characters to summarize here. When the film starts with the wrong body delivered to the house, it can only go up from there; and it does go up. Higher and higher, faster and faster... there are a million stories and subplots going on at the same time, like an Altman film on speed. This movie does an amazing job at getting you really dizzy and then bringing you back to a sober halt. There is as much drama, realistic and genuine than there is comedy and bawdy humor. Very real issues are covered during the course of this film and at the end of the day, it is another movie about life and death. There is one scene that is truly the most disgusting and horrific scene than I have witnessed in a very long time; worse than anything from the Saw series or any other horror film. It must be seen to be believed. So well done and enjoyable from start to finish.

PICK: Must see film, funny and sad and everything in between. Big Pick!