Fired Up

I have a confession to make. I saw this movie because of the poster. I am near-sighted and I was walking in a mall when I saw a huge sign with two giant, orange, collegiate looking letters, saying F, U. I thought to myself, “That’s funny.” And as I got closer I saw some additional letters, much smaller, and in black, which spelled the movie’s title, Fired Up. Then I saw the slogan, 300 Girls, 2 Guys, You Do The Math. The poster summed it all up. I knew exactly what I was going to get. A teenage sex comedy with cheerleaders. After reading that I thought to myself, “If the movie is half as funny as the poster, or half as funny as Bring It On, then maybe it is worth my time.”

Well, the movie was not as funny as Bring It On, but I have to admit it was amusing. Going in I knew exactly what I was going to get. Two boys skip football camp and become cheerleaders instead. They score chicks, plan to leave, but get caught up in the spirit of teamwork and competition. But what was fun for me was the unexpected elements. I didn’t recognize any of the cast except three adult character actors. Because everyone else was unknown to me I was enjoying the new faces. I especially liked the dynamic, and comedic timing of the two leads, Nicholas D’ Agosto and Eric Christian Olsen. Their pick up patter was polished and rehearsed, so it was very easy to adapt their style to cheerleading camp.

As far as sex comedies are concerned, this film is fairly PG if you can overlook the language. The writer, Freedom Jones, must have had a wonderful time listing every slang and vulgar term for sex, and personal body parts. The visual humor was crude as well, and for extra offense, there were gay jokes. But even though I never laughed out loud, I did find parts of the film funny, as well as some of the supporting characters. All in all, not a great film, but worth renting.

Rating: Bargain Matinee Bring a pencil and paper if you want some new pick up lines, or vulgar terms to shock your friends.

Medicine For Melancholy

What I love about today’s technology is that the ability to make films has become so affordable that almost anybody can make one. This is great news because new voices are being heard. What I like about small, independent films is that they can break the rules. They don’t have to be commercial, so stories can be told in new and exciting ways, giving voice to a part of the world that we may not normally hear from.

Medicine For Melancholy is the story of two African American strangers who get drunk and end up having sex at a friends party. In the morning their one night stand appears to be over, but a forgotten wallet brings them back together. They end up spending the day together and discover how different their experiences of life have been. The film discusses race relations, what it means to be black, personal identity, and the gentrification of San Francisco.

If Hollywood commercial films are like a full orchestra, then this film is like a San Francisco street musician. They compel you to stop and listen because the music is coming from the heart. The film is often slow, and some of the scenes seemed unnecessary, but the acting was so natural and resonate that you could identify with the characters. The political issues in the film were made personal so the author was able to get his point across without creating a sermon. If you are interested in relationships, black culture, or urban economical dilemmas, then you’ll find this film interesting. If not, this film is not for you.

Rating: Rent It Watch it with some friends and open up a dialogue. There are some good topics for debate here.

Polanski

When I saw the trailer for this film I was intrigued. I had never put it all together before. I remembered that Polanski was unable to return to this country because he had skipped bail on a statutory rape charge. I also remembered that he was involved with the very pregnant Sharon Tate, who was murdered by Charles Manson. But I had forgotten that he had lost his mother in World War II, and was a first-hand witness to Nazi brutality, rape, and violence. As a result, Roman Polanski, was obsessed with evil, sex, and the demons he was trying to exorcise through his films. I was intrigued, but ultimately disappointed.

The production values in this film were so bad that they kept taking me out of the movie. Damian Chapa wrote, directed and starred in this film. He bears a resemblance to Polanski, but that’s not enough to build a entire film on. The story kept jumping back and forth from wartime Poland, 1967 London, and 70’s era Los Angeles. If you are going to do that, and show these time periods side by side, you better have a good art director. The costumes were at times ill fitting and looked like they came out of the actor’s personal closets. The sets were filled with wrinkled draping as if they were trying to hide something. The furniture was sparse and often mis-matched, and the locations were inconsistent. Some were perfectly appropriate, while others were completely wrong. It was such a mess that I found it very distracting.

Roman Polanski is certainly an interesting subject, but his story isn’t over yet. There was no mention of his current situation, or his Oscar win for The Pianist. I couldn’t figure out what the film maker was trying to say. Roman Polanski’s life is worth examination, but this film isn’t the one to do it.

Rating: Don’t Bother I’m sure someone else will make a film about Roman Polanski one day. I’d wait for that one.

Oscar 2009

The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences tried to reinvent the wheel this year. They were so successful that the show glided along with grace, elegance, and in some respects, speed. I respect that the Academy refuses to cater to commercial interests and continues to nominate quality films. This hurts when it comes to ratings because some people lose interest when there is a lack of popular films, or films that they have seen. However, those people, who skipped the show this year, missed a very good, entertaining, show.

To begin with, I love the set. I loved the crystal drape that was able to change color throughout the show to suit the changes in tone. I also loved the floor motif. It was able to change color as well, and the design was carried out in the podium, and the dividing walls to great effect. I also liked the idea of having the orchestra on stage. This paid tribute to the old Hollywood Big Band days in both music and design. I wished we could have heard more of the musical themes. They were fun and fresh, while still evoking Hollywood’s Golden Years. But, in order to keep the show moving, we were only able to hear samples.

In juxtaposition to the glamourous front, I liked that they represented an unadorned sound stage in back. It was like a before and after shot. Literally this is what film and television is like. You start with this grey chicken-wired box, and when you add sets, props, lighting, actors in costume, and some well scripted words, suddenly you have a show. All you have to do next is add music, some special effects and some very careful editing, and you’re done. This production showed us it all.

I thought it was smart to have the presenters give awards in category clumps. This saved a lot of time by cutting down on set up and travel. Also, by choosing presenters who could relate to the category, we were educated, as well as entertained. I especially enjoyed the bit with Steve Martin and Tina Fey. It was funny without the forced patter that we have come to expect from past award shows.

If I missed anything, it was the reduction of inside jokes. I enjoy those little zingers that land dead-on and make the whole room erupt with laughter and guilty glee. But, the problem with those kind of jokes is that they do not travel well. I may be falling off my couch here in Los Angeles because I understand the reference, but people watching in Spain, Japan, or other parts of the world are scratching their head and wondering what is so funny. An example of this is Ben Stiller’s imitation of Jaoquin Phoenix. If you did not see, or read about, his recent bizarre behavior, you may not have enjoyed the joke as much. But luckily Ben’s commitment to a bit makes it funny even if you don’t understand it. I always look forward to his comedic contributions.

Another thing that was new that I liked this year was the yearbook structure. So often award shows are so busy honoring the past that they forget we are here to honor the present. It was awesome that so much time was devoted to paying respect to all of this year’s films. The Judd Apatow segment with James Franco and Seth Rogen, reprising their Pineapple Express characters, was a lot of fun. It also reminded us that some films, though not Oscar caliber, are loved just as much. It was also brilliant when they showed previews of coming attractions during the end credits. This was a very smart idea, and good marketing move. We are all amped up after the awards and our appetites are whetted. Now we are primed for what is coming next. Excellent idea.

If I had to name my favorite change to this year’s Oscars, I would say it was the way they presented the acting awards. By having five Oscar winning actors standing on stage and telling the world why a certain nominee was nominated and why they deserved to be there. It was wonderful. Just to look at their faces. How honored and respected they felt. If I were a nominee I wouldn’t even mind if I lost. Whoppi Golderg just told the whole world I am funny. Robert De Niro just called me, friend. Sir Anthony Hopkins just said I was a brilliant actor. What a tribute. What an honor. What a wonderful way to make all the nominees feel like winners. Well done!

In summary, I was very impressed with this year’s Oscars. Hugh Jackman did a remarkable job and the show achieved what it was designed for. The Oscars was created eighty-one years ago to encourage quality work and to promote the film industry as a whole. By highlighting those individuals who demonstrate dedication, artistic integrity, and cinematic innovation, everyone prospers. I love cinema, I love the Oscars, and come tomorrow, you’ll see me in line at the movies.

The International

In this politically correct environment we are living in, it’s hard to find a good villain. You either have to go back in history and call forth the old reliables, like the Nazi’s. Or, jump forward in time and create a science fiction counterpart. But, for as long as cinema has been around, bankers and money-lenders have always been good, bad guys. Whether it’s the black caped, mustached villain trying to foreclose on the ranch, or the Carpet Bag bankers being robbed by Jesse James, banks have never been popular.

I liked The International from the very beginning. Clive Owen is hot on the trail of evidence that will prove that the largest private bank in the world is dealing in illegal arms. The film starts out intense, and maintains this pace throughout the entire film. The script was tight and intelligent, and some of the lines were so poignant that I found myself wishing I had a paper and pencil to write them down. Clive Owen makes an excellent agent. Whether he’s sitting behind a desk shuffling papers, or blazing it out in a gun fight, you knew that he would not give up until justice was served.

Naomi Watts is also good as an American Agent. She is equally determined to expose this conspiracy, but her life is a little more balanced. She has a family, and she trusts her superiors and her justice system to back her up. Clive’s character has been burned before. He has seen the long arm of money and power outreach the long arm of the law. He feels that time is running out and he’s getting desperate. Naomi’s character wants to support him and so they step outside of the law to get the job done and risk both of their careers.

In addition to the excellent script, I also like the locations. I saw parts of the world that I’d never seen before. The cinematography was beautiful, as well as artistic, and there were some very interesting locales. I also liked the score. For my money, The International was a good ride.

Rating: First Run Lots of action and no romance to slow it down

Coraline

Coraline is a truly unique movie. I spent a large part of the film wondering, “How did they do
that?” This magical stop-motion animated film is so artistically done and imaginative that I
was completely caught up in the art of the film. But what eventually transported me from being an observer to a participant was the voice talents of Terri Hatcher and Dakota Fanning. Terri Hatcher essentially plays three versions of the same character and her interpretations were so nuanced that I was greatly impressed with her voice work. Dakota Fanning was also a natural choice for the part of Coraline. She gave the young girl in this story a grounded, real quality, that was necessary to sustain her through the fantasy sequences. I am a great fan of
Dakota’s talents.

Coraline is not going to appeal to everyone, the animation style is a long way from Disney, or
Pixar. But this film will be talked about for a long time to come. It is truly a work of art. If you
enjoy animation, are brave enough to try something new, or are already a fan of work like The
Nightmare Before Christmas, you’ll love this film.

Rating: First Run Take a chance and see this film. It’s different, but worth the effort.

Defiance

It is easy to become emotionally invested in a tale of survival. We choose a character that is similar to us, or at least one we would like to be, and we follow them closely, watching them with great intent. As we track their every move we ask ourselves, “Would I do that? Is that the decision I would make?” As the story unfolds we secretly sit in the dark, asking ourselves what kind of survivor would I be? Would I be quiet and watchful, would I be greedy, would I whine or complain, or would I summon some unknown courage from the recesses of my sole and stand up to be someone worth admiring.

The beauty of Defiance is that the heroes in this film are all very well rounded and believable. We see then in moments of doubt, indecision, making mistakes and then suddenly surprising us with acts of bravery and self sacrifice. Daniel Craig plays the oldest of four brothers, while Liev Schrieber portrays the competitive second. Jamie Bell is the third brother forced to grow up very fast, and George MacKay plays the youngest, most sensitive brother, that reminds the other three to keep their humanity. This true story chronicles the unheralded efforts of the Bielski Brothers who managed to rescue hundreds of Jews and kept them alive in the forests through several harsh winters and the aggressive pursuit of German soldiers. Their efforts saved entire families keeping them from extinction. Many Jewish families today owe their present day existence to
the efforts of these brothers.

All four actors do admirable work and the cast is full of excellent supporting characters. I especially appreciated the women in this film. Although their parts were not as large, they gave these women depth, strength and purpose. I definitely recommend this film.

Rating: First Run   Inspiring

Fan Boys

I remember vividly when Star Wars first came out. I saw it at the Century Theaters in San Jose, California and it was the first time that I ever had to stand in a long line to see a film. The theatre was totally unprepared for the hundreds of people standing in line eagerly waiting to get in. The queue extended all the way into the parking lot and ushers had to coax us to move, clearing the way for the occasional car. There was so much excitement in the air, and anxiety too. Will I get in? Will I get a good seat? I hope this film is good. Nothing has been the same since. Theaters now have Event Film logistics down to a science. They have advance tickets sells, staggered show times, midnight screenings, and in some theaters, reserved seating. But this story takes place before all that.

Fan Boys is set in 1999. The first three Star Wars films have already been analyzed, discussed, and dissected to death. Fan Boys everywhere were drooling for the next installment after a seventeen-year drought. The anticipation was turning into a frenzy. But for four Star Wars fans, they were becoming desperate. When they discover that one of them is dying from cancer and wonʼt live long enough to see the next film they decide to drive across country and break into Lucasʼ Skywalker Ranch.

I found this film to be a lot of fun. I went on opening day and there were plenty of Fan Boys there. But, there were no long lines, no sell out crowds, just a bunch of people who enjoyed laughing at themselves in this low budget, independent comedy.

This film took a long time to make it to the big screen. It was a real labor of love and deserves to be seen, however I would recommend that you rent it. Or better yet, buy it and watch it with some friends. Get some Hot Pockets, aerosol cheese, order a large pizza, and enjoy. As all Fan Boys know, watching a good film, or a bad film, is immaterial. Itʼs all about the shared experience. May the Force be with you.

Rating: Rent It I recommend that you share this film with a friend.

Hotel For Dogs

Let’s do a writing exercise. Let’s take a room full of writers, preferably dog lovers, and pretend
that we are dogs. Think from the dog’s perspective. If I were a dog, what would I consider fun? What food would I like? What would be important to me? How would I spend my day? The result would probably be a movie like Hotel For Dogs. But that’s not how this film got made. It’s actually based on a children’s book by author Lois Duncan.

As an adult I wasn’t practically motivated to see this film, I am not its target audience and I don’t have kids. But for a children’s film I didn’t find it very painful. For one thing, there were no talking dogs, thank you. Secondly, there were no CGI tricks, or fake dogs hands. There were just some very talented dogs, performing natural dog behaviors, in an imaginative fantasy environment. I enjoyed some of the dog contraptions, and I thought that the mercenary Foster Parents played by Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillion were well played, but I was mostly impressed by Emma Roberts. She is a natural, likable, young talent without the affectations I see in other young actors. I was mystified why Oscar nominee Don Cheadle was in this film, but considered that he probably has kids, or is a really big dog lover. Either way, note to parents, if you are doing Paper, Rock, Scissors to see who has to escort the kids to this movie, it’s okay to lose on this one. There is enough to this film for an adult to enjoy.

Rating: Rent It     Buy a copy for the kids. There is enough cute dogs footage for many, many
viewings.

Inkheart

My father was a story teller. I recall that on car trips he would tell these long rambling stories.
I learned at a very young age to not interrupt my father, even if the story seemed to move too
slow. l learned that if I was patient, and listened attentively, his stories always paid off in the
end.

Inkheart is such a story. At times the pacing is slow. But, it is a rich story full of interesting
characters. If you give it a chance and buy into its premiss, youʼll be rewarded with a delightful tale honoring books and the power of the spoken word.

I was captivated with Inkheart. The acting was delicious and the special effects enhanced the
story without detracting from it. The costumers and make-up artists must have had a wonderful time recreating some very familiar characters that were enchanted out of their tales to be thrust rudely into our world. Some of these characters were so disenchanted with our world that they wanted nothing more than to go back to where they came from. For anyone who has ever escaped into the pages of a good book youʼll find Inkheart a delight.

Rating: First Run     Anyone who loves a good story will enjoy this film.

Last Chance Harvey

My mother always told me that disappointment was human planning, but there is nothing in this film to be disappointed about. Last Chance Harvey tells the story of two people who are very disillusioned with life. Harvey, beautifully portrayed by Dustin Hoffman, is a man who flies to London to attend his daughterʼs wedding only to discover that she has asked her step-father to give her away. As his day continues to spiral downward he encounters Kate, brilliantly played by Emma Thompson, who has suffered some disappointments of her own. 

Both of these characters are victims of the choices they made in their youth. They find themselves on the outside looking in and wondering if there is any hope. Is this the life I get to lead, or is there time for something new? These two were destined to meet. Of course, every love story must have its obstacles, but you wonʼt find any manufactured roadblocks here. This is a mature love story. Where people spend a life time designing the life they want to lead, and though it isnʼt quite what they had dreamt of, they are afraid to give it up. This film is about last chances and daring to hope. Love is always a possibility, but only when you are open to it.

Rating: First Run     A wonderful date movie for the mature couple. Or anyone who can appreciate good writing and fine acting.

New In Town

What do you do in the corporate world with a woman who is intelligent, capable, and who just might outperform you on a level playing field if given the chance? Why you throw her to the wolves and ship her off to Minnesota. This is what happens to Rene Zellwegerʼs character in the comedy New In Town.

What I liked about this film is that even though the woman is made fun of, she remains intelligent, capable and manages to retain her own professional identity. Much sport is made of her city ways and she quickly catches on when she is the butt of a joke. But instead of being mean-spirited or petty she pushes on and tries to find a way to adapt and get along. The same goes for the town people. They know that her presence does does bode well for the company, but they stop their resistance just short of being malicious. They donʼt like her being there, but they know its inevitable. Above all they are good people.

Thereʼs also a love story in this film. Although I didnʼt feel a lot of chemistry between Harry Connick Jr. and Rene Zellweger, there were some very nice scenes between them. To quote Reneʼs character Lucy, “Iʼm just here to do a job”. So, she resists any romantic entanglements for awhile, but is eventually seduced by the entire town.

This film has something for everyone. A little flirting, nice clothes, scrap booking, beer, sports, comedy, and hunting. But above all youʼll leave the film with a huge craving for Tapioca.

Rating: First Run A little girl power for the women and enough guy stuff for the men.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

If youʼve ever worked in a mall, a theme park, or perhaps on a large ship, you know that secret pleasure of mastering your universe. In these types of environments, one has to learn the in and outs, the back ways and byways and become so familiar with your city within a city that you can navigate your manufactured world with ease. It is this type of joy that I found in Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

Kevin James plays a father who wants to become a police officer more than anything in the world. But due to weight control issues and hypocalcemia he has failed the physical test numerous times. He refuses to give up however, and as he waits for his next try-out he sharpens his skills working as a Mall Cop.

A lot of jokes revolve around the lack of respect that Security Officers receive. But in my opinion comedic gold was found in the magical union between a man and his Segway. I could just imagine the hours of practice that Kevin James put in to become so deft at riding this machine. It reminded me of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, or Harold Lloyd. His mastery of this machine for comic effect was a beautiful thing to behold. I found this film funny, charming, slightly sentimental and with enough action and stunts to keep it fun and exciting. The violence stays in the extreme sports vein and never gets too gratuitous. The romance is sweet and the sentimentality is natural and not forced. I really liked Kevin James in this film and I hope he will do
more. He really is a comedic talent.

Rating: First Run Would make a good family night out or date film

Taken

I donʼt know why this film was released near Valentineʼs Day. They should have saved it for June and released it on Fatherʼs Day. Itʼs a real Father-Daughter Film. I mean what girl wouldnʼt want her estranged father to quit his mysterious job with the government to devote his time fawning on you. And donʼt we all secretly wish that if we were ever really in trouble, that our daddies would move Heaven and Earth to rescue us. In addition, having a dad that looks like Liam Neeson, well maybe they got it right, Liam Neeson is a Valentine to us girls.

Taken is an action film through and through, but the plot barely holds it together. Liam Neeson plays a retired “preventer”. He spent his life acquiring a certain set of skills and now that his daughter has been kidnapped in Paris, heʼll tear down the Eiffel Tower if he has to, to get her back. Thereʼs plenty of hand to hand combat, explosions, and car chases, but no real good villain. Just a bunch of swarthy men who are interchangeable.

I liked Liam as a tough guy. I liked the balance he showed between being a trained professional and a worried dad. But the plot line was a little too much, and as the body count continued to rise, I found myself being turned off. Liam Neeson is the only reason to see this film and I predict that it will do very well as a rental. And thatʼs what I would recommend, rent it.

Rating: Rent It     See it with adult daughters please. Too much blood shed for the young ones.

The Class

Imagine standing in a room with 30 or 40 people scrutinizing your every move. They judge your appearance, the way you talk, they make personal comments, and they watch you like a hawk waiting for you to make a mistake so they can mock you. No, Iʼm not talking about an episode of American Idol, Iʼm describing what itʼs like to be a teacher.

Watching The Class was a very painful process for me. Not because it was bad, but because itʼs the most honest film about teaching Iʼve ever seen. I grew up watching romanticized films like Good Bye Mr. Chips, Up The Down Staircase and Dead Poetʼs Society. I thought that teaching would be cool. But education has changed, and todayʼs teachers get very little respect.

Francois Begaudeau plays himself in this French film based on his own experiences. I completely empathized with him when a couple of students provoke him into losing his cool. Hurt and humiliated, he lashes out and says something inappropriate. Every teacher I know can understand the frustration of being held to a higher standard than the rest of humanity. Students can cuss and swear with impunity, but when a teacher says one wrong word, everyone acts like a covenant has been broken.

Although this film is in French with English subtitles, and French schools are run a little differently than they are in America, youʼll recognize that we are more similar than different. I think that any one who plans to teach, run for School Board, or involve themselves in anyway with working with children should see this film. Teacherʼs need a lot of support and a little understanding would help.

Rating: First Run Donʼt let the subtitles keep you away

Waltz With Bashir

What if you were a film maker and you discovered a mystery about your own life. In search of answers, you interview friends, family, and past acquaintances trying to put the pieces together. Bringing a camera along would offend some and cause others to be less candid. So you leave it behind. Yet, when you finish your quest and have your answers, you discover that you have a story that must be told. What do you do? You animate it.

Ari Folman wrote and directed this unique film based on his experiences as a young Israeli soldier in the 80ʼs War in Lebanon. We journey with Ari as he collects each clue until it is revealed how one traumatic event can block a personʼs memory for decades. By using animation to tell this story we are slightly desensitized from the violence much like a soldier would come to be. If we were not desensitized, this story would be too hard to handle. Honest and intriguing, this film makes a strong anti-war statement without getting political. Itʼs a human story about the cost of war upon humanity.

Rating: First Run     People will be talking about this film for a long time.

Bride Wars

I really wanted to like Bride Wars. The stars are likable. I like Anne Hathaway, I like Kate Hudson. Iʼve liked other comedies that theyʼve made. But this movie left me feeling horrible and insulted. The comedy in Bride Wars revolves around pettiness, back-stabbing and miscommunication. To me, this is not fun. And this is where the insulting part comes in. Do the writers think so little of women that they imagine that we would sit by and not poke holes in the absurdity of this plot line? Do they underestimate professional women so much that they think that a high class professional wedding planner with decades of experience couldnʼt solve the problem of a conflicting wedding date? Do they think so little of women in general to think that not one friend or family member would have stepped in to stop this foolishness before it got out of hand? Or, do they think so little of the bonds of sisterhood, to think that these two women would throw away their life-long friendship so easily out of petty motives?

Although there were some parts of the movie that did work, over-all, this movie is mean-spirited and leaves you feeling empty. If you must see the film, my recommendation is to rent it. Why pay top dollar to be insulted.

Rating: Rent It     Best to watch alone on a day when youʼve had a fight with your best friend or husband. Men, you wonʼt get much out of this one.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Romance is full of love/hate relationships and this is how I felt about the film Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It begins with a very clever recital introducing us to the characters Vicky and Cristina, two American women who will be spending their summer in Spain. At first I enjoyed the snappy dialogue of the narrator, but soon my eyes wanted to linger on the gorgeous Spanish scenery and the faces of these two beautiful girls. I had to keep telling myself to pay attention and listen, or I would miss some important detail.

When the opening account was over I settled into the film like a good book on summer vacation. But soon the narrative jolted me awake like an insensitive pool side waiter. When there was no narration, I loved this film. But during the parts with witty expository I felt like I had to jog to keep up. The rapid Film Noir style narration didn’t match the tone of this forbidden-love romantic comedy. Like the character of Vicky I longed to be swept up in the fantasy, throw caution aside, and live in the moment. But like a gun wielding ex breaking in before the kiss, this just wasn’t possible. The performances of all the principals were excellent. I was particularly taken with Javier Bardem who seduced me with his decidedly male logic. If you are a Woody Allen fan or love absurd love stories I would recommend this film in it’s Second Run, for everyone else, Rent It.

Rating: Rent It