Shame is a story about a man who is addicted to sex and pornography. So far he has been able to hide his proclivities, but as his past begins to catch up with him, he starts to feel shame and a sense of manic tension. When his sister shows up unexpectedly, she cramps his lifestyle of one night stands and hookers. Their circumstances become strained as they are both proven to be tortured, tormented souls. We know nothing about their past or their relationship other than it is an unhealthy one.
Michael Fassbender plays Brandon Sullivan in Shame and his performance is a study in deconstruction. We literally watch a man fall apart. His sister, portrayed by Carey Mulligan, is a fragile wounded bird. Everything she does is a cry for help. This is a story of two very damaged people. Their connection, their similarities are what drives them apart.
Shame is full of nudity, graphic sex and disturbing images. It was interesting as I watched people leave the theatre. Two ladies left during a menage a trois scene and another man left when Brandon Sullivan enters a gay bar. But my reaction to the film was very clinical. There was nothing sexy or titillating about these scenes. All I felt was a detached sadness. Sexual addiction is a real disorder and it can really mess up your life.
Shame is a brave film about a very distasteful subject. Michael Fassbender’s performance is extraordinary and he demonstrates the ravages of his psychosis. This film is not for everybody, but if you do choose to view it you will be rewarded with two memorable performances and an insight into a terrible affliction. These are two people that definitely need help. Sexual addiction is a true disorder.
Rating: First Run A brave performance by Michael Fassbender
About Me
- Melanie Wilson
- My Reviewer's Philosophy: I believe that every film has its audience. One man’s Citizen Kane is another man’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre. My purpose is to help you spend your entertainment dollars wisely. A bad review never kept me from going to a film I wanted to see, but a good review will sometimes get me to a film I never considered. As a movie lover I want you to go to the movies. When more people go to the movies, the more movies get made. But, I also believe that if you enjoy the films you see, you naturally will be inclined to go more often. So join me in supporting our film industry by going to a movie today. Hopefully I can steer you towards a good one. See you at the movies. Melanie Wilson
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy 400 Aniversary
Dear Friends, Family and Followers,
This marks my 400th post and I wanted to write this note before midnight. When I started this blog in February of 2009 I had no idea I'd still be going strong 400 posts later. Even though I saw more movies this year than I did last year I wrote less reviews because they are very time consuming and it has been a very busy year. But every time I think about quitting, I will get a cool comment or reaction and that keeps me going forward.
For those of you who visit Cinemovie.tv you know that I am a contributing writer there as well. Cinemovie has given me the opportunity to attend major press junkets and interview stars right along with the best of them. When I sit in a screening with greats like Leonard Maltin I am secretly pleased with myself because no one there knows I am a rookie. As far as they are are concerned, I am a pro just like the rest of them.
I hope you have enjoyed my reviews, but more importantly I hope you have found them useful, whether it's saving you money or finding a good film to see or rent. I'll keep this up as long as I can. It is a labour of love.
Happy New Year!
This marks my 400th post and I wanted to write this note before midnight. When I started this blog in February of 2009 I had no idea I'd still be going strong 400 posts later. Even though I saw more movies this year than I did last year I wrote less reviews because they are very time consuming and it has been a very busy year. But every time I think about quitting, I will get a cool comment or reaction and that keeps me going forward.
For those of you who visit Cinemovie.tv you know that I am a contributing writer there as well. Cinemovie has given me the opportunity to attend major press junkets and interview stars right along with the best of them. When I sit in a screening with greats like Leonard Maltin I am secretly pleased with myself because no one there knows I am a rookie. As far as they are are concerned, I am a pro just like the rest of them.
I hope you have enjoyed my reviews, but more importantly I hope you have found them useful, whether it's saving you money or finding a good film to see or rent. I'll keep this up as long as I can. It is a labour of love.
Happy New Year!
A Separation
It is so easy for us to close our minds to other cultures and religions, but when you see a movie like A Separation it reminds us how much we are alike. A Separation is set in the country of Iran where a husband and wife are sitting in front of a judge asking for a divorce. In this judicial system there are no lawyers or big fancy courtrooms, it is just a man and a women sitting in a small office before a judge. When the judge asks the wife Simin (Leila Hatami) why she wants a divorce, her reply is, “He won’t come with me.”
Simin is a modern day woman and although she wears the head scarf of her culture her other clothes are contemporary. She wants to move outside of Iran and she wants her daughter to have more opportunities. But her husband won’t leave because he is caring for his senile father. He won’t hold his wife, but he won’t let his daughter go. For Simin this is a problem.
The judge is not sympathetic to the woman’s plight. In his opinion she should just go home. And he is offended by her unpatriotic views that Iran is not a place of opportunity. But Simin is resolute. She must leave, she has to leave and her exit visa expires in 40 days. Unable to get the judge to see her side she decides to leave her husband anyway. He is now charged with caring for his father by himself. Since he can’t leave his father alone while he works and his daughter is at school he hires a woman to work in the home. But Razieh (Sareh Bayat) is untrained and unskilled to care for a man with Alzheimer’s disease. Things do not go well and Nader (Peyman Maadi) and Razieh have a big fight.
The next thing we know is that Razieh is in the hospital and Nadar is being charged with murder. Razieh had a miscarriage and Nadar is being given the blame. We are now back in front of the judge where he must sort through all the he said, she saids, looking for the truth. Blame is thrown everywhere and tempers are running high. A Separation is a fascinating family drama.
In addition to the cultural differences A Separation is intriguing due to its portrayal of the justice system. I was engrossed as each individual tried to find a just and fair solution while still seeking out validation and acknowledgment. Yes, both men were being stubborn, the case also involved Razieh’s husband, but both men were also right. Everyone was acting and reacting on the information on hand. But the truth was not always being told. As the court failed to act in a swift manner the people took their problem to the elders, the families. This is an old judicial system going back for millennium. I found the legal aspects of this film as fascinating as the family drama.
Peyman Maadi gives a wonderful performance as a father who goes through all the emotions from gentle tenderness and care to righteous indignation and rage. I especially enjoyed the scenes in which he displayed a fatherly pride in his daughter played by Sarina Farhadi. Sarina Farhadi is also outstanding as the only child trapped between two loving but bickering parents. Her situation will break your heart and Sarina shows a maturity well beyond her years. A Separation has come to our country full of accolades from all over the world. I encourage you to see this film, if only to learn about a culture not our own.
Rating: First Run An outstanding family drama
Simin is a modern day woman and although she wears the head scarf of her culture her other clothes are contemporary. She wants to move outside of Iran and she wants her daughter to have more opportunities. But her husband won’t leave because he is caring for his senile father. He won’t hold his wife, but he won’t let his daughter go. For Simin this is a problem.
The judge is not sympathetic to the woman’s plight. In his opinion she should just go home. And he is offended by her unpatriotic views that Iran is not a place of opportunity. But Simin is resolute. She must leave, she has to leave and her exit visa expires in 40 days. Unable to get the judge to see her side she decides to leave her husband anyway. He is now charged with caring for his father by himself. Since he can’t leave his father alone while he works and his daughter is at school he hires a woman to work in the home. But Razieh (Sareh Bayat) is untrained and unskilled to care for a man with Alzheimer’s disease. Things do not go well and Nader (Peyman Maadi) and Razieh have a big fight.
The next thing we know is that Razieh is in the hospital and Nadar is being charged with murder. Razieh had a miscarriage and Nadar is being given the blame. We are now back in front of the judge where he must sort through all the he said, she saids, looking for the truth. Blame is thrown everywhere and tempers are running high. A Separation is a fascinating family drama.
In addition to the cultural differences A Separation is intriguing due to its portrayal of the justice system. I was engrossed as each individual tried to find a just and fair solution while still seeking out validation and acknowledgment. Yes, both men were being stubborn, the case also involved Razieh’s husband, but both men were also right. Everyone was acting and reacting on the information on hand. But the truth was not always being told. As the court failed to act in a swift manner the people took their problem to the elders, the families. This is an old judicial system going back for millennium. I found the legal aspects of this film as fascinating as the family drama.
Peyman Maadi gives a wonderful performance as a father who goes through all the emotions from gentle tenderness and care to righteous indignation and rage. I especially enjoyed the scenes in which he displayed a fatherly pride in his daughter played by Sarina Farhadi. Sarina Farhadi is also outstanding as the only child trapped between two loving but bickering parents. Her situation will break your heart and Sarina shows a maturity well beyond her years. A Separation has come to our country full of accolades from all over the world. I encourage you to see this film, if only to learn about a culture not our own.
Rating: First Run An outstanding family drama
Friday, December 30, 2011
New Year’s Eve
I’m sorry, but how can a movie so full of talented people be so flat and boring? I don’t get it. I couldn’t wait until New Year’s Eve ended. Michelle Pfeiffer who has been nominated for an Oscar three times was barely recognizable as a mousy office assistant and Hilary Swank, an actually Oscar winner, was equally bland. Robert De Niro, another Oscar winner, spends most of his performance in a hospital bed and even having Oscar winner Halle Berry as his nurse couldn’t make those scenes any more interesting. I found this film completely disappointing.
Last year I went to see Valentine’s Day with a couple of friends and we actually enjoyed it. It was silly and trite, but still entertaining. But this film, with too many actors to name was predictable, sad and lack any real sentiment or joy. When it comes to this New Year’s Eve you’re better off going to bed early.
Rating: Don’t Bother Call it an early night
Last year I went to see Valentine’s Day with a couple of friends and we actually enjoyed it. It was silly and trite, but still entertaining. But this film, with too many actors to name was predictable, sad and lack any real sentiment or joy. When it comes to this New Year’s Eve you’re better off going to bed early.
Rating: Don’t Bother Call it an early night
Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Dear Tom Cruise,
If you expect me to remember all the plot points and characters from your previous Mission Impossible films you need to release them more frequently than every five years or so. My memory is not that good and if I have to take in crib notes that would be too much like homework.
What I do remember from your previous films is impressions. These contain amazing action sequences such as fast motorcycle riding, death defying climbing stunts, massive gun play, explosions and the latest gadgets and technology. All these are present in your current film and I enjoy them very much. I also enjoy the relationships and loyalty of your support team. But when it comes to the plot points of all your movies I’m afraid I’m at a loss. If a villain put a gun to my head and asked me to tell him about your missions from the past you’d be stepping over my body right now because I really couldn’t. But that’s not a bad thing. It would be bad that I’d be dead, but it’s not bad that your scripts are forgettable. This series is about escape and entertainment and that you do deliver.
When it comes to the action you always try to push the envelope. Some of your stunts are so original that they first became iconic and now they are cliche. Your stunts have even recreated in cartoons and that’s just a testament to your lasting impact. But if you want your films to rise beyond featherweight popcorn fare invest more time in your women and your supporting players. Every wound and loss should hurt us deeply if we are to care about the team as a whole.
We have lost a lot of real life villains lately, Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong-il. Good luck finding a worthy opponent for your next film. For most of us our villains are mortgage lenders, investment bankers and the traffic cops handing out excessive tickets to keep the city in black. Our world view is currently a little stunted as we focus on the concerns in our own backyard. But thank you for showing us that cool hotel in the richest place in the world. It was reassuring that even the rich aren’t immune to a dust storm. Nature is always the great leveler.
You still look great, are in excellent shape and I like you with the longer hair. It pleases me that you are secure enough with your height not to cheat or surround yourself with shorter actors. You always give your best and you are always entertaining. Thank you for the diversion. I’ll be there for the next one. I’m still a fan.
Sincerely,
Melanie Wilson
If you expect me to remember all the plot points and characters from your previous Mission Impossible films you need to release them more frequently than every five years or so. My memory is not that good and if I have to take in crib notes that would be too much like homework.
What I do remember from your previous films is impressions. These contain amazing action sequences such as fast motorcycle riding, death defying climbing stunts, massive gun play, explosions and the latest gadgets and technology. All these are present in your current film and I enjoy them very much. I also enjoy the relationships and loyalty of your support team. But when it comes to the plot points of all your movies I’m afraid I’m at a loss. If a villain put a gun to my head and asked me to tell him about your missions from the past you’d be stepping over my body right now because I really couldn’t. But that’s not a bad thing. It would be bad that I’d be dead, but it’s not bad that your scripts are forgettable. This series is about escape and entertainment and that you do deliver.
When it comes to the action you always try to push the envelope. Some of your stunts are so original that they first became iconic and now they are cliche. Your stunts have even recreated in cartoons and that’s just a testament to your lasting impact. But if you want your films to rise beyond featherweight popcorn fare invest more time in your women and your supporting players. Every wound and loss should hurt us deeply if we are to care about the team as a whole.
We have lost a lot of real life villains lately, Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong-il. Good luck finding a worthy opponent for your next film. For most of us our villains are mortgage lenders, investment bankers and the traffic cops handing out excessive tickets to keep the city in black. Our world view is currently a little stunted as we focus on the concerns in our own backyard. But thank you for showing us that cool hotel in the richest place in the world. It was reassuring that even the rich aren’t immune to a dust storm. Nature is always the great leveler.
You still look great, are in excellent shape and I like you with the longer hair. It pleases me that you are secure enough with your height not to cheat or surround yourself with shorter actors. You always give your best and you are always entertaining. Thank you for the diversion. I’ll be there for the next one. I’m still a fan.
Sincerely,
Melanie Wilson
The Artist
Motion Pictures are one of the earliest nicknames for the cinema. Like shaking a rattle in a baby’s face the public was fascinated with every moving imagine on the screen. Young, handsome, athletic actors would drive fast, ride horses, and cross swords to entertain the masses. An expressive face was like money in the bank and in the earliest days of cinema it was not uncommon for an actor to write, direct and produce. It was a fledgling industry and there were no rules. It was the time of the artist and talent ruled.
The movie The Artist begins by introducing us to our star George Valentin played by Jean Dujardin. He is handsome, dashing, charming and a total ham. He has just screened his latest film and now he is basking in the glow of accolades. When he leaves the theatre he is met by the press and legions of adoring fans. A young woman (Berenice Bejo), standing behind a velvet rope, is looking on with admiration. In an instant she is pushed by the crowd and finds herself crashing into George Valentin. He is shocked, bemused and then erupts in laughter. Peppy Miller has just had a Hollywood moment and soon she’ll become a media star.
Trading on her brush with fame Peppy lands herself a job as a background actor. That assignment brings Peppy her next and soon she is on her way to a career of her own. Peppy Miller is fresh, animated and full of life. She is determined to make her mark and she has the talent and looks to do it. But what Peppy really has is a wonderful voice and personality. When the silent era ends, this will be her ticket to stardom.
The Artist is an unusual movie in that it was made in black and white and has no spoken dialogue. We have a musical score and a smattering of sound effects, but for the most part it is a silent film. The other unusual thing about this movie is that it is written and directed by a French man (Michel Hazanavicius) stars two French actors (Dujardin and Bejo) but was filmed in Los Angeles and features American favorites such as John Goodman, James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller. This film is absolutely a testament to old Hollywood and really captures the joy, glamour and pathos of that time. It is a very special film and a cinematic treat. It can be enjoyed by any age and by people of any language, that was the beauty of silent film. This tribute celebrates that magical era and everyone will find it a delight.
Rating: Must See A tribute to the silent era
The movie The Artist begins by introducing us to our star George Valentin played by Jean Dujardin. He is handsome, dashing, charming and a total ham. He has just screened his latest film and now he is basking in the glow of accolades. When he leaves the theatre he is met by the press and legions of adoring fans. A young woman (Berenice Bejo), standing behind a velvet rope, is looking on with admiration. In an instant she is pushed by the crowd and finds herself crashing into George Valentin. He is shocked, bemused and then erupts in laughter. Peppy Miller has just had a Hollywood moment and soon she’ll become a media star.
Trading on her brush with fame Peppy lands herself a job as a background actor. That assignment brings Peppy her next and soon she is on her way to a career of her own. Peppy Miller is fresh, animated and full of life. She is determined to make her mark and she has the talent and looks to do it. But what Peppy really has is a wonderful voice and personality. When the silent era ends, this will be her ticket to stardom.
The Artist is an unusual movie in that it was made in black and white and has no spoken dialogue. We have a musical score and a smattering of sound effects, but for the most part it is a silent film. The other unusual thing about this movie is that it is written and directed by a French man (Michel Hazanavicius) stars two French actors (Dujardin and Bejo) but was filmed in Los Angeles and features American favorites such as John Goodman, James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller. This film is absolutely a testament to old Hollywood and really captures the joy, glamour and pathos of that time. It is a very special film and a cinematic treat. It can be enjoyed by any age and by people of any language, that was the beauty of silent film. This tribute celebrates that magical era and everyone will find it a delight.
Rating: Must See A tribute to the silent era
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Let me begin by answering the question foremost on everyone’s mind; yes, the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is just as good as the original from Denmark. There are subtle differences in tone and color, but a good story is a good story and will translate in any language. The key to success in the American version is the brilliant casting of Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander. Their chemistry is essential to the film and the two of them work well together.
For those of you who do not know the story, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first of a trilogy involving an investigative journalist named Mikael Blomkvist and an anti-social researcher and computer hack named Lisbeth Salander. They join forces to solve a mystery and find that they are a pretty good team. They form a bond that will carry them over into the next two films. Hopefully this cast will be reassembled and the next two films will be made.
The mystery of the first film contains a disappearing girl, a serial murderer, Nazi collaborators, and deep family secrets. The other mystery is Lisbeth Salander herself and how she came to be a ward of the state. Her past is a tragic one and her present is not much better. But Lisbeth is a fierce survivor and she is clever too. Blomkvist accepts her as she is and she in turn responds to his honesty. The two are good for each other and that is the beauty of this series.
It is difficult to judge the impact of a film when you are seeing a remake because there are no surprises and you know what is going to happen. But craft wise this film is very well done and I believe that even the sharpest critic will find some merit.
Rating: First Run As good as the original
For those of you who do not know the story, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first of a trilogy involving an investigative journalist named Mikael Blomkvist and an anti-social researcher and computer hack named Lisbeth Salander. They join forces to solve a mystery and find that they are a pretty good team. They form a bond that will carry them over into the next two films. Hopefully this cast will be reassembled and the next two films will be made.
The mystery of the first film contains a disappearing girl, a serial murderer, Nazi collaborators, and deep family secrets. The other mystery is Lisbeth Salander herself and how she came to be a ward of the state. Her past is a tragic one and her present is not much better. But Lisbeth is a fierce survivor and she is clever too. Blomkvist accepts her as she is and she in turn responds to his honesty. The two are good for each other and that is the beauty of this series.
It is difficult to judge the impact of a film when you are seeing a remake because there are no surprises and you know what is going to happen. But craft wise this film is very well done and I believe that even the sharpest critic will find some merit.
Rating: First Run As good as the original
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