ROCKET SCIENCE

ROCKET SCIENCE
Most movies about high school are full of sterotypes (jock, brain, stoner, preppie) but this movie is refreshingly dramatic without all the drama. High school is portrayed as simply awkward in this film. To add to the inevitable pain, our unlikely hero Hal (Reece Thompson) suffers from a cripling stutter. In this movie he is literally and figuratively trying to find his voice. He is "recruited" by Ginny (Anna Kendrick) who kicks ass on the debate team. She is the 'Tracy Flick' from ELECTION; type A personality. Last year her partner, Ben (Nicholas D'Agosto) froze in the middle of his speach and cost her the most coveted first place. This year, she plans to win and thinks that she can "mold" Hal into a debating God. As he works with her and grows increasinging mesmorized by her, he also works with the school's counselor on his studdering; which include whispering, singing and/or talking with an accent. His first attempt to debate fails miserably and so Ginny dumps him and moves on to a more sure path to her fame. Hal tries to get revenge and seeks the aid of Ginny's former parter, Ben, which also fails miserably, except that he is growing as a character and learns from these events. Ben eloquently puts it, "The fights you fight today are the fights you fight until you die." This is a movie with a heart. As painful as these experiences are to watch, they also remind us of our own experiences. The supporting actors are characters in themselves and very entertaining to watch. Hal befriends Ginny's neighbor so he can spy on her. Every time they pass his parents on the way upstairs to his room, his parents are playing Violent Femmes songs on the cello and piano; great gag. This was a lovely and touching film that is neither too dramatic or overly funny; it's human.

Pick: This film is well done with heart and respect for youth's growing pains. Definate pick.

THE BRAVE ONE

THE BRAVE ONE REDEFINES WHAT A HORROR FILM IS
At first glance, even at second glance, I wouldn't imagine that anyone would classify this film in the "horror" genre. Horror now means guys in masks chasing stranded, scantily clad hitchikers in a creepy old mansion. THE BRAVE ONE is the worst kind of horror film because it sets up a scenario that is real and believable and horrible to witness. One minute NPR talk show host Erica Bain (Jody Foster) is alive; really alive. Her big blue eyes twinkle and pure joy and love seep from her every pore. One violent night she and her fiancee are attacked and we bid a fond farewell to those twinkling peepers. This of course is the straight set up for a revenge movie; however no one expects that a woman would react in the way Bain does. Men take their anger out, women suck it in, but not this time. What's best about her character is that noticable difference between the "old" Bain and the new hurt, grieving ready for blood Bain. The portrayal and the film are raw and gritty and dirty and very, very real. She doesn't break down (like other women might do in this type of film) she fights to hold on to a life that only now resembled hers. Foster is gold. She owns the role and those blue eyes were put into full force. Next to her, the compassionate soul trying to figure it all out is Detective Mercer (Terrance Howard). Again, he keeps it real, believable. He is no "super cop" and doesn't have to rush to Bain's aid. I was disappointed by the ending. It really turned a fierce corner that didn't feel in character, particularly with Mercer's. That being said, this is a extremely well done movie with talent, feeling and best of all believability.
Pick: Incredible well done film all around; conflicted ending worth the whole soul of the film.

CRAZY LOVE

CRAZY LOVE MORE THAN LOCO

If you have seen WHEN HARRY MET SALLY you'll enjoy the twisted way this documetary was shot. Interlaced with still photographs of times gone by, we are introduced to Burt and Linda Pugach, and then slowly we meet their friends and co-workers etcetera. They tell funny stories of how they met and what everyone else thought of the dynamic duo. It reminded me so of those clips between "decades" in WHMS where they had real life couples talking about how they met and fell in love instantly. This movie was called "mezmerizing" by some and though documentaries aren't my favorite, I love crazy. What a let down. Long story short, he had an affair with a woman who didn't know he had a wife and child, and as she was on her way out of the relationship, he pulled an Ike, threatening "I can't have you, no one else will have you, and when I get through with you, no one else will want you." So, like any other like minded obsessed crazy in love kinda guy, he hired thugs to throw lye in ther face which resulted in her blinding and disfigurement. While Burt went to the big house for 14 years, they wrote to each other and eventually married. I don't get it. Why would anyone want to document this terrible ordeal? Once more, all the talking and monotone voices literally put me to sleep. It looked like a good one, but unless you are in need of a nap, pass.

NOT A PICK: I felt morally dirty just by watching and found it boring and dull.

THE NINES

THE NINES WAS GOOD... UNTIL IT REACHED THE TENS

Part One: Meet Gary (Ryan Reynolds) a typical hollywood actor out on a binge, stopping to ask a hooker, "excuse me, is this crack?" So well done and very realistic. It's fun to watch actors portray actors. So sentenced to house arrest, he finds romance with a mysterious neighbor, Sarah,(Hope Davis) and unexpectedly gets a new roomie, Margaret (Melissa McCarthy). Unexplainable things happen and there is the sense that something is off, but you can't put your finger on it. The acting was super, the plot intrigueing and the casting supurb. Part Two: Now we're on a reality tv program or documentary following Reynolds again, except this time he looks diffrent, acts different and his name is Galvin. He has just written and is now supervising the shoot of one of his scripts. He has written a part in for his gal-pal, Melissa (who is played by McCarthy) as the real writer/director wrote McCarthy's character just for her. Gavin gets between a rock and a hard place as the "suits" producing the project (enter Davis as Susan) don't agree with his choice of actress. At this point the movie is still strong and good and well acted etcetera. Part Three: The show that "Galvin" had written is now a "real-life" incident. He, this time as Gabriel, and his wife Mary (McCarthy) are out in the forest with their daughter (another adorable Fanning) and their car has trouble. He runs to get a cell signal or help and runs into Sierra (Davis) hippie naturalist. By now, the issue of same actor/different part works and is even fun. However, the ending leaves a lot of questions and then goes off on a wildly different tangent ending in a way that only leaves more questions. DVD extra: A short story showcasing McCarthy called God. That alone is worth the rental fee.

Pick: I recommend this film, fun ride until you get to the end, but it's easy to forgive.

KING OF CALIFORNIA

KING OF CALIFORNIA LOOSES THRONE

The worst part about this movie is that it could have been done so much better. I'm not a fan of Evan Rachel Wood who plays Miranda, the daughter of a recently released mental patient. But I can't fault her for a dissapointing script. Michael Douglas is Charlie, her father, who has been in a mental institution for the last few years. Now Charlie wants to find burried treasure. Again, given what they had they did the best they could with it. I can't tell if it was the script or directing or Douglas, but his character was stereotypical at best. His performance gives crazy a bad name. It was also unbelievable that his daughter would let him go off on a tangent, indulge his thoughts and then a few minutes later play the protagonist who is to be the "reasonable" one. I just didn't buy it.

Not a Pick: The script and writing could have made this magical, but it wasn't.

HE WAS A QUIET MAN

HE WAS A QUIET MAN SPEAKS LOUDLY

This is a dark, unpredictable film. We have seen this behavior before (going postal) where the fed up, over worked and under paid worker bee decides to take out a few co-workers before shooting himself. Because we know this happens, it is hard to watch a film that brings light to this behavior, that being said, it was done in a very nice light. Bob (Christian Slater) is that worker bee and he takes a lot of crap from a lot of people. He isn't outgoing or good looking (and yes, they managed to make Christian Slater look terrible) and he is a bit of a loner. There is a shooting at the company where he works and he is involved, in one way or another. This is where things get complicated. There are three, yes, three alternate endings to this movie. Some things are explained while others just keep us guessing (while others sit through and watch it again with the director's comments trying to find meaning or intent). There is no way to predict this film's path because it pulls the rug out from under you and before you can sit up in your chair they do it again. The lines between reality and fantasy are so blurred that you can't even tell that there are any lines. Elisha Cuthbert and William H. Macy add to the star power of the movie and do a fantastic job. Slater is perfect as Bob not only in his appearance and the way he holds his body, but also with the subtle gestures that kept him from going too far over the top in this role. It is a very interesting movie and frustrating at the same time because there is no definitive answer. Like the real-life shootings, I guess there is no answer anywhere.

Pick: Well done film and interesting to watch, but slightly maddening to keep score.

EAGLE VS SHARK

EAGLE VS SHARK IS AN EVEN MATCH
It would be too easy to compare this film to NAPOLEON DYNAMITE from 2004. Both movies have off-beat characters; but school is out and it's time for the real world in New Zealand. This is an usual love story. Lily (Lauren Horsley) looks forward to lunchtime at her job at a burger joint so she can glance, and perchance take the order of the object of her desire, mall worker, Jarrod (Jemaine Clement). Lily crashes his costume party as a shark and he is the eagle; "I almost came as a shark actually, but then I realized an eagles slightly better." One thing leads to another and she agrees to go back with him to his home town for his confrontation with an old high school bully. While he prepares for the showdown (using numchucks and sweet moves) she gets to know his family and weaves a quiet thread that links them all together, whereas time and circumstances have pulled them apart. This is a sweet and simple love story and Lily is sweet and simple in a mature way. There is more to her than meets the eye and she proves to be strong. Jarrod is hilarious to watch because he is so earnest and serious about his endeavor. The film is beautiful, New Zealand is beautiful, and the stop-motion animation is different and fun. It's an easy comparison to ND, but there is so much more depth and insight in this movie.
Pick: A sweet and smart film, fun and lighthearted with some dramatic overtone.

KLIMT

KLIMT... IF ONLY THE FILM WAS AS PRETTY AS HIS ART

What a total waste of time and money. Perhaps there is some huge subliminal message in this film, but if so, I totally missed it. John Malkovich doesn't even try to "be" Klimt. I don't even think he is acting; perhaps sleepwalking through the movie. So we are back in Vienna circa 1900 and that's as far as it gets. Nothing else makes sense in this movie. It's like a David Lynch movie on acid, aside from the lack of little people. There is a surreal feel throughout the movie that made me wonder if something was slipped into my drink. This film does not give any kind of actual information about him, only images and suggestion; kind of like a long Calvin Klein commercial.
Not a pick: Terrible, horrible movie; spend your time looking at his art instead.

WHEN NIETZSCHE WEPT

WHEN NIETZSCHE WEPT WELL WORTH CRYING OVER
What a lovely surprise I've found! In living color, everything may be an illusion, but this film is one beautiful illusion. First I will caution you; this film is based on the real life events concerning the beginning of psychotherapy as we know it today, it is long and pensive and it contains an almost unknown cast. It isn't a film for everyone and certainly much more thoughtful and deep than many movies I see. That aside, it is visually stunning and contains wildly surreal dream sequences that jump out from the screen. But, I've gotten ahead of myself. Yes, it is a film about Friedrich Nietzsche (an unrecognisable Armand Assante) and the time of melancholy he succumbed to before finding his way to writing perhaps one of his best known works, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Assante is in excellent form and it's a shame this film is not better known. ALL of his dialogue is from Nietzsche's actual works. He is "set up" by Louise Salome, a friend who believes that Nietzsche is suicidal and feels that his mind is so brilliant that he needs intervention from a much respected doctor in Vienna, Dr. Josef Breuer, who happens to have a little friend about 25 years old, called Sigmund Freud. Dr. Breuer and "Ziggy" devise a plan to get Nietzsche to think he is helping the doctor with his "problems"; perhaps the first use of reverse psychology. But alas, the doctor is in for quite a surprise! This is the beginning of the use of the "talking cure" which was the cornerstone for Freud and psychotherapy. How interesting to see where ideas originated and become introduced to a world very deep in scholarly exploration. Although this is not an action movie by any means, the dream sequences are reminiscent of the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, using very vivid colors and wildly entertaining, borderline-slapstick, zany acting. It is a period piece and the costumes, more specifically Salome's costumes are beautiful and radiant. If you have interest in a thoughtful and well done film, then look no further. Pay close attention because everything has purpose and to see it come together as it does in the end is fine work by all.
Pick: A high-brow must see film; thoughtful, interesting and visually stunning

HEATH LEDGER 1979-2008

REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF HEATH LEDGER
With so many people speculating on how Heath Ledger died this week, I'd rather pay tribute to a young actor who left this world far too early, but left behind groundbreaking work. Heathcliff Andrew Ledger was born in Perth, Australia April 4, 1979. His early work was done on Australian television. I first noticed Heath in the 1999 film, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU with Julia Stiles. Not wanting to be typecast, he next performed in THE PATRIOT with Mel Gibson. His career spans many films both good (MONSTER'S BALL, A KNIGHT'S TALE, CANDY) and not so good (NED KELLY, THE BROTHER'S GRIMM) but it was in Ang Lee's BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN that everyone took notice. The subject matter was thought shocking to the average viewer, as it brought into focus something we've never seen before, but it was his embodiment of his character that made us connect, feel his conflict, feel the emotions. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and Heath were nominated many times for many awards. His last film, currently playing, was the Bob Dylan film, I'M NOT THERE. The film we will see him in next, now is post-production, is THE DARK KNIGHT as a much more twisted version of the Joker with Christian Bale playing Batman once more. Of course the movie studio is reassessing their plans to market the movie, adding a black ribbon to marketing materials in Heath's memory. Although his work as an actor was impressive for his young age, I think he would agree that his best work was with actress Michelle Williams with their production of a daughter, Matilda Rose who was born in October of 2005. His death is tragic and sad. He was a gifted actor and he will be missed.

AWAY FROM HER

AWAY FROM HER "THE ULTIMATE LOVE STORY"
In Hollywood, older actors get about the same treatment older people get... we make them disappear. We have nursing homes and retirement "villas" where we leave them lined up against the corridors looking for a familiar face every other week unless the kids have soccer practise. Not that it's easy to care for them at home. Especially when Alzheimer's hits. And our unlikely hero of a husband, Grant (Gordon Pinsent) fights all the way. However, it is not he who suffers, but his wife of 44 years, Fiona, played with grace and depth by Julie Christie. They have a wonderful marriage and a comfortable routine in rhythm with each other. She is well aware that she is slowly "beginning to disappear" and her behaviors worsen. She is "going, but not gone." Fiona is the one who reads up on what the caregiver (usually the spouse) should expect. She is the one who picks the time and the place. (Note: This is a Canadian film and their system works differently from ours as I doubt anyone here chooses to enter a home unless in dire straights.) Due to policy, he can not see her for 30 days so she can acclimate. The time feels like years not days, and when it is permissible to visit, he has a difficult time making his adjustment. How do you grieve the loss of a person when their heart still beats, and they talk to you in that familiar voice, but it just isn't the same? Then we toss in new attachments and it gets more and more painful and conflicted. Christie does an eloquent job in her role, bringing tenderness and substance to a woman who is not dumb or crazy, she has Alzheimer's. Pinsent also gives us a clear picture that we oddly feel not in our heads, but in our hearts on how difficult it is to let go, to regain your life as if you were widowed. In every subsequent shot, he looks more and more disheveled and less hopeful. Sarah Polley, gifted actress, wrote and directed this film which is stunning. (I want to say 'for her age' but for anyone it would still be stunning.) This movie is a rarity where not only do these older adults have healthy and active lives, they also have sex. On the most part, I think our society doesn't want to see that, but here it is handled gently; and yes, Julie Christie is still one beautiful, sexy woman. Alzheimer's may be easier to recognise now, but it doesn't make it any less heartbreaking for those who are near and dear to those afflicted.

Big Pick: Absolutely a must see; Compassionate, excellent, touching and brave.

GOOD LUCK CHUCK

GOOD LUCK CHUCK SUCKS

Comedian Dane Cook is Chuck, that 'one guy' you date and then after breaking up with him you find the real man you're supposed to marry; at least that's the premise of the movie. So this turns into an "urban myth" and women are flocking to be with him, except for the one he can't have. Jessica Alba is Cam, the ultra clumsy, but beautiful and sweet "girl next door"; at least that's the premise of this character. She has heard the rumor and won't date him until he finally endears himself to her. No need for further mention unless you want me to get mean. This movie, and especially Dane Cook, is like a vibrator; nice at a low setting, but way too much stimulation when turned on high. He has his moments (few and far between) when he's funny, but there are way too many moments when he grates on you. He has a friend; no need for further mention unless you want me to get mean and vulgar... okay, more vulgar and crude. I think they were trying to pull a SOMETHING ABOUT MARY and got lost. I felt embarrassed Not a Pick: Not as bad as I expected, but not better than that. You can sit this one out.

DEATH SENTENCE

DEATH SENTENCE... Too stunned for clever tittle

It's at times like these that I miss smoking, because after the adrenaline rush I've just been through, in theory, it sounds like it would help... Aside from it's gory, realistic violence, I can not believe that I didn't know more about this movie until now. There are no words to describe the range of emotion I felt while on this two hour nightmarish journey (though I will of course try). On purpose I am going to be very vague about the plot in case you see the movie. When you do, you will know why I couldn't say much. Most outstanding is Kevin Bacon as Nick Hume, loving husband and father. He is no longer Kevin Bacon playing a part. He IS Nick Hume, average Joe with a middle-class job with a fabulous wife and two lovely boys. Through the opening credits we watch home movies of the Hume family; the birth and growth of their children, their family celebrations, their close-knit all American normal family. As never before, after this fast introduction, I feel like I know the family and I like them. I feel them. 14 minutes into the movie the unthinkable happens and the family is left numb. I felt their pain. 18 minutes into the movie and the tears began. Then the adrenaline starts. Bacon is a crafty actor and you can see in his eyes what is going on in his head without saying a word. On the other side of the tracks we meet another family; not all American, not middle-class, most of all, not loving. Another big nod goes to John Goodman for playing the creepiest, smarmy bastard who is most realistic and scary. You will never think of him the same lovable way after seeing this movie. 54 minutes into the movie is the most suspenseful chase scene I have ever watched. The bad guys are gang members and they are very bad men. You will not like these boys/men. While Hume is being chased you think, this could actually happen. You feel how it would feel if it were you. We are on the run with him and just as terrified as to what to do next. I think I actually stopped breathing at that point. The movie darts back and forth between the emotional family life and the downward spiral that Hume finds himself on. While still trying to play it cool, back at the office a co-worker asks Hume how he is. His answer is quite telling. "Well, you don't really know what you'd do until it happens. Surprise yourself." Therein lies one of the themes of the movie. Just when you think that things are going to be okay, we get hit with another intense scene. My heart racing so fast I can hear it. Again, up on the roller coaster then down, but wait, the movie is still unfinished. The very bad men in the gang has to learn that retribution goes both ways. This could have been pushed too far, but Bacon kept Hume believable and realistic. He doesn't turn into some amazing action hero, he is still Hume, but placed in a very difficult spot. This is not an episode of MacGiver turning a paper clip into a machine gun. Up until the very end, he is still a loving husband and father. It is at the very end that we also learn that violence that begats violence never ends and nobody wins. There is no tidy way to just finish this movie. It's not as simple as turning off the TV. You keep playing and replaying things over and over. Yes, it is a violent film, but this is a violent world and I think when not living in that violent world we tend to forget it exists. This film stays with you, bothers you and leaves you wanting more answers or a different ending (but that would be a different movie). I can not speak more highly of a film that even so violent, is full of love and pain and the human condition. My heart aches.

BIG Pick: Exceptional film, well done from outstanding actors to director; most excellent. See for yourself... if you dare.

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.

THE NAMESAKE

THE NAMESAKE EMIGRATES EXQUISITELY

This beautiful film, both visually and spiritually, lets us join on the path taken by an Indian man, Ashoke Ganguli (Irrfan Khan) from New York, where is currently lives, back to his birthplace in Calcutta, where he agrees upon an arranged marriage with the enchanting, Ashima (Tabu). Once they move back to New York they spend time getting to know each other while Ashima adjusts to American life. They have two children; Gogol (Cal Penn) and Sonia (Sahira Nair). The movie grows as the characters grow and develop. Gogol wants nothing to do with his heritage until his family returns home to Calcutta and he is forcibly immersed in tradition. Throughout the film we are presented with explanations about the origin of Gogol's name, which he changes to sound more American. He also dates a white, upper-crust girl, Maxine, which his family is less than delighted to meet. Then Gogol's world turns upside down. He finds the importance in his heritage and is able to find a way to balance both worlds. It is then that he understands what his name means and how important it is. This film is simply remarkable. It is heartfelt and you care about the characters and their trials and tribulations. I found myself smiling with their joy and tearing up in their sorrow. Amazingly the time span during this film is great and the characters look and act realistically. (Some films do not handle such transitions well and it can detract so much from the movie.) Penn (who is well known for 'Harold and Kumar go to White Castle') does an amazing job transitioning from a disrespectful, ungrateful boy to a responsible, sensitive and strong man of character. As an actor who has done many "teen/comedy" movies, he proves that really can act in this film. This movie was a joy to watch and touched my heart.
Pick: Amazing and beautiful film; a definite must see