Review - Shame

If the MPAA slaps a movie with an NC17 rating, chances are any good storytelling, fascinating characters or other redeeming qualities of the film will be overshadowed by potty mouth press. Michael Fassbender’s private parts have definitely been the headline (enough said there), but I was struck by how this movie is really good, really raw and really well made. It skillfully showcases the issue of addiction, and for someone who does not suffer from addiction (unless you call running a movie club an addiction), it brought to light things I never imagined - so to speak. In Shame, addiction to sex is our protagonist’s problem, but it artfully depicts how addiction of any kind can consume someone to the point where they cannot function in most aspects of their lives. Some of us might find the idea of a sex addiction to be unfathomable, or even humorous (cue David Duchovny), but Shame shows us that sex addiction - like any addiction - can be a reality. Don’t look for any reasons or solutions or tidy fixes; kind of like life, really. This movie gives the viewer a chance to peek into the day in the life of an addict - what he goes through, the excuses he makes, the SHAME he feels, the lengths he will go to in order to submit to the hunger. The accolades praised on Fassbender for the role are deserved; he gives a compelling performance of an emotionally detached individual who is consumed by this addiction. Keep an eye for Carey Mulligan’s supporting role as the sister of the addict as well. This movie is NOT for everyone, especially if you do not want to see some compromising sexual scenes. The movie’s NC17 rating is deserved due to the graphic nature; if you are okay witnessing those scenes, watch this for the raw emotion and be left feeling grateful that you can control your addiction, whatever that may be.

Rating: B+

Review - Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I went into this movie having read all of the books and screened all the Swedish movies, so I was excited to see David Fincher’s take on the tale...and I was not disappointed. In fact, I was left wanting more. Girl with a Dragon Tattoo delivers great story, great casting, terrific suspense. See the movie, folks. Great mystery and original story, with Sweden as a back drop. Besides, always nice to see Daniel Craig in ANYTHING, and this is no different. But the real star of the film is Rooney Mara and her breakout performance as Lisbeth Salander. It is hard not to be a fan of this highly complex, constantly misunderstood, and viciously intelligent character.

And try to pronounce those Swedish names and locations - I dare you!

Rating: B+

Review - The Iron Lady

One icon playing another icon. One is beloved by her peers and her public; the other was beloved by her peers and her public (and despised by everyone else). Can she (they) pull it off? If anyone can pull off portraying one of the most controversial yet trailblazing figures in Western politics, it is Merryl Streep. Sadly, her stunning performance could not turn this film into the vehicle which deserves her top billing. This film shows that one stellar performance cannot make a mediocre film into a great film. Iron Lady imagines Margaret Thatcher today as a geriatric suffering from dementia, the anti-Iron Lady. It is reported that the real Thatcher does suffer from dementia, so the premise of our movie “could” be true. If you have no knowledge of the Thatcher regime or the events that highlighted her tenure (the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the crippling economy, the breaking of the labor unions and the privatization of many industries, the Falkland Wars, and the Cold War), you may have a hard time following this film. The screenwriter provides very little direction or guidance in order to navigate the timeline. (I admit I had no problem following because I am the child of this era, and I remember when Thatcher came to power, her ascension, her domination and her ultimate collapse). However, this film reminds us that a really good film has many critical parts that must be present in order to make it great; and this film failed in delivering those critical elements. And herein lies the challenge for the Oscars - should Streep’s amazing performance in a poorly executed film trump the excellent performance by Viola Davis in the fantastic offering that is The Help?

Rating: B-

2011 Oscar Nominations - Announced January 2012

Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
Moneyball
Midnight in Paris
The Tree of Life
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
War Horse

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

Best Actor
Damian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Animated Feature
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss In Boots
Rango

Documentary Feature
Hell and Back Again, Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
Pina, Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
Undefeated, TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Foreign Language
Bullhead, Belgium
Footnote, Israel
In Darkness, Poland
Monsieur Lazhar, Canada
A Separation, Iran

Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Hugo, Screenplay by John Logan
The Ides of March, Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
Moneyball, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan

Original Screenplay
The Artist, Written by Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
Margin Call, Written by J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen
A Separation, Written by Asghar Farhadi

Review - The Artist

Warning: Club Members will recognize that the following is not my typical review. Every so often, a film stirs up some emotions that even surprise me. This is one of them.

As I learned from screening The Artist, dialogue is only one key element of a film. Music, cinematography, pacing, sequencing and facial expressions also effectively tell a story. But since the advent of sound in film, dialogue became a central element; and why not? Verbal communication is natural - we express facts, details, judgements and emotions through words. Why, then, revive an outdated art form that eliminates the basic human instinct to speak? The Artist is not necessarily a throw back to the old era of silent film; rather it is a metaphor, an age old, timeless lesson for everyone to either remember or learn for the first time, even though every generation thinks it is unique to their current era: progress vs. tradition; youth trumps old; Kindle Fire or physical books. I went in thinking this film would be a lot about Hollywood navel gazing, harkening back to a golden age of cinema by celebrating its past dominant history in the current era that sees film revenues and attendance slipping. To my surprise, I left feeling a little sad and confused, not about the movie, but about myself. Am I being left behind in our new technology age? Am I the silent film star, watching new technology pass me by - resisting the new timeline feature in Facebook; refusing to subscribe to streaming Netflix by clinging to the little red envelopes; resisting to revert to e-cards at Christmas by continuing to mail out cards with stamps? I could not understand why a silent film - about Hollywood - was getting so much buzz; I do now. This film forces you to look into the EYES of the actors and see not just those on the screen but your own persona. You’ll have to see the movie and gage if you have the same reaction as I did. So many people have resisted seeing this film; I am glad I was not one of them because it forced me to look at myself. Do you have the same courage to do so? Perhaps you will not have the same reaction that I did; if you do, get ready for some thoughtful reflection. Can I be saved or am I the fading silent film star? Well, time will only tell.

Rating: B

Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

As someone who remembers the Cold War including the weekly updates on the evening news as to who had the most nuclear warheads (Soviets vs. the US), I eagerly anticipated the remake of this great LeCarre thriller. This is a thrilling film because it has all the ingredients a smart movie should have, along with an amazing cast and a terrific script. Gary Oldman is rock solid as our lead, but the entire cast is great. My favorites are Benedict Cumberbatch (watch him on the returning Sherlock series on PBS Masterpiece) and Tom Hardy (he commands the screen in whatever he does). You keep wondering who is the mole; you really don’t know (unless you read the book or saw the original BBC series in the 1970s) until the very end. That is great execution of story. I am very disappointed that the filmmakers did not give equal screen time to Cirian Hinds, the terrific Irish actor, but that is just my beef alone. Treat yourself to a great spy thriller.

Rating A-

Review: Young Adult

Wow. What is all the hype about?! Honestly, I was surprised at how much I did not like this film. I kept waiting for it to start. Yes, Charlize Theron is a terrific actress but this character had no redeeming qualities; I had no sympathy for her at all. Don’t waste your money in the theatre folks. Honestly, don’t waste your money at all on this lousy film. Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman scored a major home run with Juno; they could not match that success with this work.

Rating C-

Review: The Descendants

This one is getting loads of publicity because of Clooney’s performance as a father - yes, father! I am also pretty sure this film was co-funded by Hawaii Tourism because I just want to jump on a plane and visit the Islands. Hawaii as character? I think our film tells us that real life problems exist even in paradise - sickness, betrayal, disappointment, revenge amidst palm trees and beautiful beaches. What a juxtaposition! Acting and casting great, but my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE character was Sid. I want a t-shirt that reads “I am with SID.” His character provides the perfect comic-relief to this family drama. See this one; you may need some tissues if you cry at movies (I don’t so not a big deal for me on the heart strings). Just remember SID!

Rating B

Review - My Week with Marilyn

This has all the ingredients of a film that I love - British, British and more British! Oh wait...more ingredients - great cast, smart script and sympathetic characters. Michelle Williams is stunning as a Marilyn Monroe; she will get a nod for sure. The story is sweet, and the acting is terrific. The Brits just know how to make a great character driven film. This also showcases young stars (Eddie Redmayne and Emma Watson) to the stalwarts of British cinema (go Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh!). Another film about Marilyn Monroe? No; this is a film about the people around her, particularly the young Colin Clark and his relationship - albeit fleeting - with Marilyn. It is amazing to see how the characters around Colin changed, rather, how skillfully the young Redmayne was able to maneuver through. Keep an eye out for this young man.

One bonus is the soundtrack. From Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin; this movie packs in some of the great b-sides of these legendary singing giants.

Rating B+

Review: Breaking Dawn

Not even worth writing a review on this movie. I admit that I read all of the books and enjoyed them; I really enjoyed them. The movies are laughable - although it is clear that Summit put more production dollars into this fourth film that then first one. My advice: if you read the books, go see the movie. Actually, I know if you read the books, you already saw the films. If you have not read the books, do not see these films. They are not for you. And, men, do NOT see these movies...you are definitely not the target demo.

B+ for Twihards

F for everyone else

Review - Martha Marcy May Marlene

This movie is an indie lover’s dream, but it was really a nightmare for me. As most of my Club members know, I am a simpleton when it comes to movies. If there is no plot, please do not waste my time. This movie....NO PLOT. Oh goodness, I was so angry when I left the theatre because I felt as if the director and the writer were snubbing their noses at me, saying “We are so much smarter than you, you simple little movie goer. We are true movie people, and we think the viewing public outside of Manhattan and Hollywood are too stupid to understand things.” Well, I flip my middle finger your way. Yes, the acting was terrific. Yes, the tension was thrilling. But oh my goodness, I was so insulted by the execution of the project.

Folks, if you like a plot and want to be treated with respect, skip this one.

Rating C

Review - Margin Call

I am really surprised this movie did not get a wider release considering the outstanding cast and terrific screenplay. Perhaps the world is tired of seeing films based on the economic meltdown of 2008, but not me. As someone who relishes any news on personal finance and the economy, I had to see this film. This is a dramatization of the crisis, and a really, really good one. Look out for Simon Baker’s performance - spot on one of the best cold blooded villains in the movies this year.

Rating B+

Review -The Guard

Independent. Irish. Gritty. Brendan Gleeson. Need I say more? The Guard is a great dark comedy, smartly written and rife with dry, inappropriate humor. If you missed this one in the theaters, crack open a beer, pour a shot of whisky and watch this movie at home; and get ready for some guilty pleasure. Brendan Gleeson is one of those rare talents who knows how to tackle a role and make you cheer for him - no matter how rude, shocking or absurd the character is. And what a great performance from Don Cheadle; his facial reactions make his character. Cheadle is one of the best American actors of our time.

Rating: A-

Review - Ides of March

So what? I guess living in the Washington D.C. metro region and following politics on a daily basis leaves me jaded; I did not really feel as if this film showcased anything I have not already seen in previous political films (or in the pages of Politico). Yeah, George Clooney is good- he knows how to act in this film. The real stars are Ryan Gosselin and a solid performance from Marilyn Manson’s on-again-off-again girlfriend. There was some good tension, and an interesting twist in the middle the film that made you think our political protagonist does have a heart after all. But in the end, as in politics, people simply disappoint us and this film did just that for me.

Rating C+

2012 Oscar Telecast Trailer

Check out the ABC Television trailer for the February 26 telecast

Oscars® Trailer: "Off the Grid" | Video | The Academy