The Conspirator

Every February, children all across the United States learn about Abraham Lincoln. We learn that he was the 16th president; that he was born in a log cabin, and was a lawyer before he entered politics. We are also taught that he hated slavery and fought to keep the country together during the War Between the States. But unless you go on to college and study history this is the extent of your knowledge, you never really get to know what he meant to the country at the time. That’s why films like The Conspirator are so important.
 
When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated just before the conclusion of the Civil War, the country reeled. It was just as inconceivable and shocking to them as 9/11 was to us. The Secretary of War (Kevin Kline) was so intent on bringing swift justice that he vigorously pursued the collaborators and tried them in military court. One of these alleged collaborators was Mary Surratt (Robin Wright) a widow and mother.
 
Mary Surratt was a southerner who ran a boarding house. Her son John (Johnny Simmons) was a known confederate of John Wilkes Booth (Toby Kebbell) and based on proximity alone she was arrested. Like the Patriot Act is sometimes used today her rights were circumvented and she appealed to a well-known southern senator (Tom Wilkinson) for help. He in turned enlisted the assistance of a Union war hero (James McAvoy). This young officer was recently discharged for wounds received in action and was now returning to his law practice. He wanted nothing to do with this case, but after meeting the client and seeing how much her rights were being violated, his love of the law overcame his resentment and bitterness towards the south.
 
As directed by Robert Redford there are a lot of parallels between what happened then and what is happening now. Like Gautama Bay, anyone associated with the assassination attempt was thrown into prison without counsel until the military was ready to prosecute. According to the film, one detail that surprised and shocked me was that the actors in the play were arrested too. Just because they were there and some of them knew Booth as an actor they were suspected too. And another fact that was ignored during my grade school education was that Lincoln was not the only target. Three assignation attempts were made that night. This was a major plot.
 
The Conspirator is an excellent film in and of itself. The acting is great and the subject matter is compelling. But what makes this film even greater is that is will enlighten you as well. After seeing this movie I have become intrigued and want to learn more about that night. That is the sign of a good movie. You carry it with you and think about it long after. There is so much more to Abraham Lincoln than what we learned in elementary school. This film just scratches the surface. What an exciting provocative story. And as far as its parallels as to what is happening today, I only hope that we have more people like Frederick Aiken. I challenge you to read his defense of Mary Surratt and not be moved. (http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/lincolnconspiracy/defenseofsurratt.html)

Rating: First Run An important film in many ways

Wrecked

A man opens his eyes (Adrien Brody) and he finds himself at the bottom of a ravine. He is strapped to his seat by a seatbelt and he is in tremendous pain. Through the broken glass he blinks and attempts to focus, another man lies dead just beyond in the woods. He must have gone through the windshield. As his gaze now travels to the rearview mirror, the man is shocked by what he sees. Not only is his face cut and bruised, the man does not recognize himself, nor does he remember his name or how he got there. There is another dead body in the backseat. The man groans and passes out.
 
When the man awakens again, he tries to take inventory of his situation. He is thirsty, hungry, in pain and cold. His vision is compromised and his memory is still gone. He tries to free himself but he is trapped. His leg is pinned by the dashboard. He tries to pull it out but he doesn’t have the strength. Then he spots a piece of candy on the floor. He reaches for it but it is just beyond his grasp. In frustration he slams his body against the passenger side door. No luck, he sleeps again. Who is he and how did he get there?
 
As we journey with this solitary man in and out of consciousness, we struggle with him to discover the truth of his puzzling situation. His memory comes back in little flashes, but his mind is also playing tricks on him. At times he is delirious, at other times he dreams. What is real, what is fantasy, and why has no one come? Both the man and the viewer are in the dark. Together we will solve this mystery.
 
Wrecked is a fascinating tale of survival by first-time feature director Michael Greenspan. Like 127 Hours the story revolves around a solitary man trapped in a confining situation, but unlike that movie we know nothing about this man or how he got there. Like a film noir, there is a sinister element here, and a dark menacing quality. Should we care about this character or has he gotten what he deserves? Your eyes will search for every detail.
 
This film is executed with a languid pace, yet it draws you in and can be very thrilling. It is hard to describe the myriad of emotions that you will be going through without giving any of the story away. Suffice it to say that if you enjoy mysteries, puzzles and the fine acting of Adrien Brody, then you’ll love this film. I was fascinated throughout and found the film very exciting. I look forward to what this director will do next.

Rating: First Run An excellent and moody thriller
 
 

Soul Surfer

When you are too close to something it is hard to see things clearly, but when you take a step back and gain some perspective, suddenly things make sense. This is the basic message in Soul Surfer and it tells the story of Bethany Hamilton, a champion surfer who gained international attention when a shark bit off her left arm. With the help of a healthy attitude, a loving family, hard work and an abiding faith, Bethany summands the courage to return to the water and become a professional surfer.
 
Soul Surfer is a faith-based film but it tries so hard to be mainstream that in the beginning I found it bland and watered down. But somewhere in the middle it found its emotional footing and ended up being a decent film. I just wish it could have been stronger from the beginning. Bethany’s recovery was so quick and her success is so amazing that we take for granted all the pain, doubts and insecurities she went through. Faith is a gift, but it must be exercised. I’m afraid that sometimes the film made it look too easy.
 
Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt play a surfing couple that raised their family on the beach in Hawaii. Bethany portrayed by AnnaSophia Robb started surfing at an early age and won her first competition at age eight. At age thirteen and about to go pro, Bethany loses her arm, but within a month, she is back on her surfboard and the following year wins her first national championship.
 
Bethany Hamilton wrote a book about her life, which is fairly straightforward and talks a lot about her Christian faith, but in the film director Sean McNamara when out of his way to find conflict within the family in order to add edge to the production and make it more accessible to a secular audience. But the truth is that this is a Christian family with Christian values and it is this foundation and faith that gives them the strength to endure through this situation. I’m not going to call it a tragedy, because I don’t believe the family ever saw it that way. The fact that their daughter and sister was still alive was a miracle. Learning to live life without an arm was just a challenge.

The film alludes to this by the behavior and attitudes portrayed by the family in the film. Of course there were doubts, flare-ups, and cross words, even Bethany lost her footing a few times, but that is the beauty of the film. The family talked it out, reached out to each other and accepted the support system within their church. They even had a support system within the surfing community. Bethany did not have to go through this alone.

Carrie Underwood makes her film debut as Bethany’s youth pastor and she is an example of someone outside the family that Bethany could share her pain and mis-givings with. The parents had a doctor friend, Craig T. Nelson and Bethany’s surfing coach Kevin Sorbo. All these people contributed to Bethany’s recovery, but I’m sure that Bethany’s relationship with Jesus Christ played the strongest part. Her poise and positive attitude literally saved her life, but it is her faith and courage that got her back on that surfboard. To paraphrase Bethany, “I have learned to embrace more things with one arm than I could ever have with two.” This is a film about victory and a remarkable young woman.

Rating: Bargain Matinee A film about faith and courage

Hop

As an adult the idea of going to see an animated film mixed with live action starring the Easter Bunny and a bunch of yellow chicks was pretty low down on my to do list. But after seeing Universal Studios’ Hop I’m ready to jump on the bandwagon and tell you, you must see this film. Hop is terrific. With a smart script, witty dialogue, charming performances and a Willy Wonka-esque atmosphere, Hop is going to become a perennial Easter favorite.

Beginning on Easter Island, E.B. voiced by Russell Brand is poised to inherit the title of Easter Bunny succeeding his father played by Hugh Laurie. But E.B. has other plans. His dream is to be a drummer so he runs away and heads for Hollywood. Here he is destined to cross paths with Fred O’Hare (James Marsden) who is being pressured by his father (Gary Cole) to live up to his expectations. After a rocky start, Fred agrees to help E.B. and these two kindred spirits learn a lesson in responsibility.

Director Tim Hill has done a wonderful job guiding the delicate balance between the animation and live action sequences. With James Marsden’s commitment to the process you believe the relationship between these two. Russell Brand’s voice work is equally important and when you add in the rest of the cast, you have a truly delightful film.

Every good film needs a good villain and in Hop we have Carlos, the Easter Bunny’s second in command. Tired of being number two, Carlos, voiced by Hank Azaria, wants to be number one. When E.B. runs away he plots to take his place, if not by persuasion, then by force. Imagine a fat diabolical chick with hundreds of chick minions and you’ll get the idea. This film is funny and refreshingly original.

Rounding out the cast of Hop is Kaley Cuoco as Fred’s sister, Elizabeth Perkins as Fred’s mom and Tiffany Espersen as Fred’s adopted little sister. The entire cast is rising to the occasion on this one and even David Hasselhoff puts in a wonderful performance satirizing himself. But the real star here is James Marsden. His reactions and connection to the animated E.B. make the entire film. Like his role in Enchanted his innocence allows you to follow him down this rabbit hole. We believe because he does. And I believe that James is a treasure.

Rating: Must See You must hop on down and see it

Paul

I think that Shaun of the Dead is brilliant and I loved Hot Fuzz so I went to see Paul full of eager anticipation, but I have to say that I was a little disappointed. The relationship between Pegg and Frost, that we’ve grown to love was reduced to a running Gay joke. Also, there was an underlying bitterness in the film that I’ve never seen in their other work. I was perplexed why they were bashing rednecks and fundamental Christians. I am going to blame the tone on the director Greg Mottola. Their films with Edgar Wright were much more sweeter.
 
Paul tells the story of two British pals who take a dream vacation to visit Comic-Con and then drive cross-country visiting famous alien hot spots. The Comic-Con sequences were kind of fun, but there is so much comedic gold there that you feel cheated when they move on so quickly. When they take to the road their first stop is at Vasquez Rocks and then they head east to Nevada. By the time they reach New Mexico they have met Paul, a true alien who has made a break from Area 51 and is trying to get home.
 
Graeme and Clive react to Paul with shock and disbelief, but when Paul helps Graeme carry his unconscious friend back into the RV, Paul confides in Graeme and he consents to help him. The trick now is to persuade Clive. As far as aliens go, Paul is a bit of a jerk. He smokes, swears, drops trou and is overall very arrogant. But like all road trips, everyone learns to appreciate each other and becomes a little more tolerant by the end.
 
Along the road, the guys are being chased by a man in black (Jason Bateman), two F.B.I. agents, (Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio) and the father of a girl they took with them (John Carroll Lynch). The girl, portrayed by Kristin Wiig, has grown up in the middle of nowhere and thinks that Paul is a demon. When Paul releases her from her sheltered religious up bringing by filling her brain with the knowledge of the world, her first act is to take up swearing, a strange choice considering the options.
 
The rest of the film is evading capture and trying to get Paul home, but I feel that this film missed the mark. There is so much comic material that was thrown away to concentrate on car chases and blowing things up. The American road, especially the Southwest is full of bizarre tourist spots and roadside attractions. The film barely touches on those and as far as film references go, there is so much that was left out. If I were doing this film I would have waited a little longer before finding Paul. As funny as Seth Rogen is as the voice of Paul I think the film would have been better with more Frost and Pegg. Nice try, but this film goes on the bottom of my list, it is now my 3rd favorite Frost and Pegg film.

Rating: Bargain Matinee Not my favorite Frost and Pegg film

Potiche

In a small provincial town in 1970’s France, a factory owner’s trophy wife must take over the business when her husband has a heart attack. Her family laughs when the idea is suggested; mom has never worked a day in her life. But as the daughter of the factory founder, Suzanne (Catherine Deneuve) has been visiting the umbrella factory since she was a little girl. Cheerful, bright and extremely observant, Suzanne has paid close attention.
 
The source of Robert’s frustration (Fabrice Luchini) and the cause of his heart attack was a general strike, and struggling finances. Whenever Suzanne attempted to offer advice she was quickly shot down and put in her place. But now in the driver’s seat Suzanne takes charge, introduces new products, brings her children in as employees, and settles the strike. In three months she completely turns the company around winning the confidence of the board and earning the trust of the workers.
 
When her ungrateful husband returns from a convalescent cruise to reclaim his position he becomes jealous of Suzanne’s success and plots to kick her out. But she is not the same woman she was before. Suzanne fights to maintain control and prove that she is more than just a housewife. She refuses to go back to the way things were and she is hoping that everyone else will support her.
 
Presented with humor, Potiche tells the story of the women’s movement and highlights the worker’s plight at the same time. Gerard Depardieu plays the mayor and a union sympathizer and he and Suzanne have a past. In his youth, he worked for Suzanne’s father, and he and Suzanne have an intimate connection. He is excited about Suzanne’s new outlook but she isn’t ready to go from serving one man to serving another. It is her time and she is going to take it, for once she is ahead of her time.
 
Rating: First Run Catherine Deneuve as a woman ahead of her time

Queen To Play

A sultry couple sits on the balcony playing chess under the morning Corsican sun. Not hearing the knock, the chambermaid enters and is surprised to discover them there. The lady is wearing a negligee and she shows no signs of modesty. The gentleman is dressed and encourages the maid to go ahead and clean the room. As they continue to play they hold hands, drink wine, and gaze loving at each other. Then the lady beats him while the gentleman crosses to the railing to take in the view and contemplate his loss. The lady enters inside and helps herself to a cigarette. She is beautiful, sexy and very alluring.
 
Helene, the maid (Sandrine Bonnaire) is intrigued by this mysterious woman, but even more so she is fascinated by the game of chess. Having come to this island as a young woman in marriage she now finds her life very dull. Her teenage daughter is embarrassed by her occupation and her husband is taking her for granted. He often leaves her home alone while he goes off to play backgammon with a friend. Helene is looking for something to wake her up.
 
As a second job Helene cleans house for an expatriate American (Kevin Kline). While dusting she discovers his chess set and cannot resist the urge to examine it. When her employer catches her with the set she boldly asks him to teach her the game. Reluctantly he agrees and their weekly lessons turn into a friendship.
 
As Helene spends more and more time at the Kroger house the village suspects that she is having an affair, little do they know that she has fallen in love with the game of chess. It permeates her entire life as she tries to understand the intricacies of the game. Queen to Play is a story about female empowerment. It shows how even housewives need intellectual stimulation and that every woman, no matter who she is, needs some little passion to call her own.
 
I loved this quiet film. Sandrine Bonnaire is exquisite as an unobtrusive housewife slowly evolving into a confident woman of her own. It is feminist, but not in a brash audacious way. It is a personal film about a woman discovering her worth and the people who love her coming to terms with it. Kevin Kline is also lovely as a widower who has locked him self away in grief. In his first French-speaking role, Kevin displays a layered performance which contains melancholy, sorrow, disdain, and a touch of paternal pride. The two of them together are touching. Add in the lovely location and this film is like a vacation for the mind, restful, yet still challenging. This is a mature love story and one you won’t want to miss.

Rating: First Run Your best move is to see this film