DVD Review - The Corpse Bride

Tim Burton has created a marvelous little animated film that just can't help but bring a smile to your face.

Shy Victor is petrified of meeting his fiance Victoria. Their families have arranged for them to be married the following day. When they meet they happen to fall in love and everything looks very rosy. Victor takes a walk and is rehearsing his wedding vows when a Corpse Bride overhears him and thinks that he has married her. Before you can blink Victor gets swept into the underworld with his new "bride." Victor is torn. On the one hand he really wants to get back to the world of the living so that he can marry his beloved Victoria. On the other hand, he is fascinated by the underworld. It certainly seems like a more lively place than the world of the living. There are singing skeletons, a feisty worm and even Victor's dear, departed dog (in skeleton form) to have fun with. But, the problem is that the Corpse Bride cannot remain with Victor unless he becomes like her. So, up to the world of the living they go so they can find a way to make Victor die. In the meantime, Victoria's parents have found someone else for her to marry because they want the wedding to go on.

There is no need to tell you what else happens. You can find out for yourself if you see this film. The voices are provided by Johnny Depp as Victor, Emily Watson as Victoria and Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Tracey Ullman and Christopher Lee as various characters. Best of all is Helena Bonham Carter as The Corpse Bride. The film does not have a very complicated plot and it is only 77 minutes long. But, it does have wonderful animation and Danny Elfman's terrific original music. I had a very good time watching this film and I highly recommend it for children of all ages.

Twelve and Holding

I saw this film as a preview (it is being released on May 19th) and I must say that it is one of the better films I've seen on the stress of being an adolescent.

The film focuses on four tightly knit friends. Rudy and Jacob are twins. Rudy is the more outgoing one because Jacob has a big purple birthmark across his face which makes him a bit shy. Leonard is an overweight boy who comes from a family that takes the love of eating to a new level. Rounding out the foursome is Maylee, a smart as a whip girl who lives with her self absorbed mother (her parents are divorced). They like to hang out in a treehouse but because of development the tree and the treehouse are going to be destroyed. Some older boys set fire to the treehouse not knowing that Rudy and Leonard are in it. Leonard survives but Rudy dies and this event sets the tone of the film.

Rudy's parents are devastated, as they should be. But, as time passes on Rudy's mother's bitterness and anger only get worse. She wishes death on the two boys who torched the treehouse (they are spending a year in prison). The fact that she has Jacob brings her no comfort. She can't hide the fact that she always preferred Rudy to Jacob. Jacob's father is extremely passive. Because of his mother's comments Jacob visits the prison where the boys are staying. He brings pictures of his dead brother and threatens them with death.

Leonard has sustained a head injury but recovers and leaves the hospital. His mother lavishes him with a huge amount of food. One day he runs into his gym coach who gives him two books to read - one is on nutrition and one is on exercise. Much to his parents' dismay Leonard embarks on an exercise routine and changes his eating habits. You would think that his parents would be happy but they are not.

While Maylee is sitting in her mother's waiting room (her mother is a therapist) she meets one of her mother's patients who is named Gus. She develops a crush on him which leads her to do many strange things. It is obvious that Maylee is a very lonely girl. Her father doesn't go out of his way to see her and her mother all but ignores her. It is no wonder that she seeks out this man who has been kind to her.

Jacob, Leonard and Maylee are dealing with their grief in different ways. What is obvious is how much the actions of their parents influence the way they feel about themselves and the world around them. In the end it is the family that seemed the most "normal" that turns out to be the most dysfunctional.

Michael Cuesta (who directed L.I.E) does a fine job directing this dark and disturbing film. And, Anthony Cipriano has written a sharp screenplay that allows you to get inside the heads of these tormented pre-teens. The only actors that I recognized were Linus Roache, who played Rudy and Jacob's father and Annabella Sciorra, who played Maylee's mother. But, that doesn't matter. The performances by Conor Donovan (Jacob/Rudy), Jesse Camaho (Leonard) and Zoe Weizenbaum (Maylee) are wonderful and carry the film to its full potential. This film should be seen by everyone who is a parent of a young or adolescent child because it shows just how important they are to their child's mental and emotional well-being.

United 93

Even though I like the work of director Paul Greengrass I had no intention of seeing United 93. I live in New York City and I was about a mile from where the World Trade Center went up in flames. I saw the Towers burning. But, as an avid fan of cinema I could not ignore the rave reviews that the film was garnering and decided to see it.

It is a good film but not a great one (many of the critics lead me to believe that it was great). Greengrass tells the story from the heart and that is what makes the film a success. It is told in real time and you feel like you are actually in the plane or on the ground working with the air traffic controllers trying to figure out what was going on.

I like the idea that Greengrass decided to use unknown actors. There was not a trace of Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts or Brangelina. The actors looked like ordinary people and that made the film all the more real. Some of the air traffic controllers who were on duty that day played themselves.

The problem that I had with the film was that not all parts were equal. The beginning of movie, which shows us people boarding the plane and the flight getting ready for takeoff, drags a bit. Some of the scenes that showed us what was happening on the ground could have been trimmed and tightened up. But, the last forty minutes or so was outstanding filmmaking. This is where the passengers decide to take on the terrorists. Although we know what happens we are on the edge of our seats hoping that, somehow, the outcome will be different. These scenes were gut wrenching and one would have to be made of stone not to cry.

There are a number of people who feel that this film is now the frontrunner in the Oscar race. Although I think that it is a good film I disagree with that statement. First of all, it is way too early to say that. There are many great films that will come out within the next few months and only then will be able to tell what is best. Also, the film just didn't feel like great cinema to me. Good does not equal a masterpiece. Still and all, Paul Greengrass is a wonderful filmmaker and he is someone who will do great work in the future. He knows how to take a subject like this and fill it with compassion (I have a feeling that in the future there will be some 9/11 films that will be exploitive).

The bottom line is that I liked United 93 but I cannot recommend it to people because of the subject matter (and I know many people who will not see it). So, decide for yourself if you want to put yourself through the experience of revisiting that horrible day.

The Lost City

I saw this film as a preview and I must say that I was underimpressed.

Andy Garcia spent the last sixteen years trying to make this film. And, it is not hard to see why he had so much trouble getting this film made.

The film takes place in Havana and starts off before Castro's revolution. Batista is still in power but most people are not happy with him and would welcome change. Garcia plays Fico who is a nightclub owner. Fico has a close relationship with his father, mother and two brothers. But, both of Fico's brothers are fed up with the status quo and want to join the revolution. His brother Luis winds up in jail but Fico manages to get him out. Luis and his comrades surround Batista's palace and kill several guards. Luis tries to hide but Batista's men find him and kill him. Before you know it Fico and Luis's widow Aurora fall in love!! Fico's other brother Ricardo goes into the mountains to work with Castro and Che Guevera. Batista leaves the country, Castro takes over and the people are happy. But, every revolution has its price and after a while Fico is forced to close his nightclub. He winds up leaving Aurora, who is committed to the revolution, and goes to New York. Throw into this mix an eggcream loving Meyer Lansky (played by Dustin Hoffman) who makes a pre-revolution offer to become Fico's business partner and a nameless writer (played by Bill Murray) who befriends Fico and cracks jokes in the most inappropriate places and what do you have? You have a holy mess!!!

The film is forty five minutes to one hour too long. I read that director Garcia did not want to cut one minute of this film. That was a big mistake because the movie dragged on and on. Murray's character should have been entirely cut from the film and Hoffman's Lansky should have been more than just a caricature. And, having Fico fall in love with his widowed sister-in-law seemed a bit contrived. The screenplay by G. Cabrera Infante is best described as muddled. I would have at least expected a smoldering performance by Garcia since this film represents his point of view on Cuba but he came across quite muted. As expected, Che was portrayed as a cold hearted killer. But, many besides Garcia hold that point of view so I can't say anything against that. The best thing about the film is the music. It is sensational as are the magnificent dance number. Maybe Garcia should direct music videos!!

If you want to see a great film on oppression in Cuba rent Julian Schnabel's terrific Before Night Falls which has an outstanding performance by Javier Bardem. Steven Soderbergh is set to direct Guerrilla (being released in 2007) which will star Benicio del Toro as Che. I don't know how Che will be portrayed in that film but I hope that is neither saint nor sinner. Bardem is rumored to be playing Castro but that has not been confirmed. I read that originally both de Toro and Bardem were going to be in The Lost City. They were wise to avoid any involvement with this film as would you.

DVD Review - El Bola

El Bola is a Spanish film that won several Goya awards (Spanish Oscars) in 2000. It is a powerful story that focuses on the friendship between two boys. Pablo, who is also known as Pellet (El Bola in Spanish) has a very bad home life. His father, who runs a hardware store, is always filled with rage. His mother is apparently afraid of his father and she has good reason to be. Pablo's father Mariano has a violent temper and takes everything out on Pablo by beating him. Pablo's favored older brother died in a car accident and this is something that his father can't come to terms with. Pablo's friends have no depth so he doesn't have anyone he can confide in.

Enter Alfredo, the new kid in school. Alfredo stands apart from the other boys as someone who does not follow the crowd. Alfredo has a happy, stable home life with his father, mother, younger brother and dog. His father Jose is kind and understanding, everything that Pablo's father is not. It is no wonder that Pablo likes to spend time with Alfredo and his family. But, Pablo's father doesn't like Pablo spending so much time with his new found friend and forbids Pablo to see Alfredo. But, Pablo manages to get around that new rule. At one point, Pablo is so disgusted with his father that he tells him how much he hates him. Pablo is in for the beating of his life. His father is unrelenting but after a while he manages to escape and runs off to Alfredo's house. In the end he confesses everything to the police and one can only hope that he never has to go back to live with his viscous father.

Director Achero Manas does an excellent job of directing all of his actors and he has a special knack for working with young actors. Juan Jose Ballesta is outstanding as Pablo. Pablo Galan as Alfredo is also very good as is Alberto Jimenez as the kindly Jose and Manuel Moron as the hateful Mariano. The film has no fat as its running time is only 87 minutes but it manages to say everything that it needs to say in that amount of time. I felt my anger level rising every time Mariano laid his hands on Pablo and great sadness looking at that poor boy's bruised body.

It seems that child abuse is rampant in Spain. This film, along with the recently released Goya winner Take My Eyes (which dealt with spousal abuse) shows that while Spain has its problems their filmmakers are not shying away from speaking out about them. I highly recommend this film to everyone who loves good cinema.

Cannes Film Festival announces its lineup

Here is the official lineup for the Cannes Film Festival. This post will be updated as more films and juries are added. During the festival I will also post comments on the films from people who are at the festival.

Opening filmThe Da Vinci Code (Ron Howard)

Closing filmTransylvania (Tony Gatlif)

In competition

Flandres (Bruno Dumont)
Selon Charlie (Nicole Garcia)
Quand j’etais Chaunteur aka When I was a Singer (Xavier Giannoli)
Volver (Pedro Almodovar)
Red Road (Andrea Arnold)
La Raison Du Plus Faible aka The Weakest Is Always Right (Lucas Belvaux)
Indegenes aka Days Of Glory (Rachid Bouchareb)
Iklimer aka Climates (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)
Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola)
Juventude em Marcha (Pedro Costa)
Pan’s Labyrinth (Guillermo Del Toro)
Babel (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)
Lights In The Dusk (Aki Kaurismaki)
Southland Tales (Richard Kelly)
Fast Food Nation (Richard Linklater)
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Ken Loach)
Summer Palace (Lou Ye)
The Caiman (Nanni Moretti)
L’Amico del Famiglia aka Friend Of The Family (Paolo Sorrentino)

Competition Jury

President - Wong Kar-wai
Monical Belluci
Helena Bonham Carter
Samuel L. Jackson
Patrice Leconte
Lucrecia Martel
Tim Roth
Elia Suleiman
Zizi Zhang


Official selection - Out Of Competition special screenings
United 93 (Paul Greengrass)
X-Men 3: The Last Stand (Brett Ratner)
Over The Hedge (Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick)

Official selection: Midnight screenings
Shortbus (John Cameron Mitchell)
Election 2 (Johnnie To)
Silk (Su Chao-pin)
Salle (Bunuel) (Out of competition)
Volevo Solo Vivere (Mimo Calopresti)
Boffo: Tinsel Town's Bombs and Blockbusters (Bill Couturie)
An Inconvenient Truth (Davis Guggenheim)
Zidane, Un Portrait du 21eme Siecle (Phillipe Parreno, Douglas Gordon)
El-Banate Dol (Tahani Rached)
Bamako (Abderrahmane Sissako)
Avida (Benoit Delepine)
Ici Najac, a Vous la Terre (Jean-Henri Meunier)

Un Certain Regard

Opening film Paris Je T'Aime

Bled Number One, Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
Il Registra Di Matrimoni, Marco Bellocchio
Cronica De Una Fuga, Israel Adrian Caetano
Ten Canoes, Rolf De Heer
Hamaca Paraguaya, Paz Encina, (first film)
Uro, Stefan Faldbakken (first film)
Suburban Mayhem, Paul Goldman
Z Odzysku, Slawomir Fabicki (first film)
Salvador Puig Antich, Manuel Huerga
977, Nikolay Khomeriki (first film)
Cum Mi-Am Petrecut Sfarsiful Lumii, Catalin Mitulescu (first film)
Serambi, Garin Nugroho
Taxidermie, Gyorgy Palfi
Gwai Wik, Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang
Bihisht Faqat Baroi Murdagon, Djamshed Usmonov
El Violon, Francisco Vargas (first film)
You Am I, Kristijonas Vildziunas
Luxury Car," Wang Chao
The Unforgiven, Yoon Jong-bin (first film)
La Tourneuse De Pages, Denis Dercourt
La Californie, Jacques Fieschi (first film)
Meurtrieres, Patrickc Grandperret
A Scanner Darkly, Richard Linklater

Cannes 45th Critics Week announces:
Under the "patronage" of Gaspar Noé who will present his latest film We Fuck Alone, segment of DestrictedSelection:

Closing film:Free Jimmy*(Christopher Nielsen)
Competition:

Long features:Ana, sonhos de peixe (Kirill Mikhanovsky)
Drama/Mex (Gerardo Naranjo)
Fresh Air (¢gnes Kocsis)
Komma (Martine Doyen)
Les Amitiés maléfiques (Emmanuel Bourdieu)
Pingpong (Matthias Luthardt)
The Bothersome Man (Jens Lien)

Short films:

Iron (Les pressor) (Hiroyuki Nakano)
Kristall (Christoph Girardet, Matthias Müller)
L'Ecluse (Olivier Ciechelski)
News (Ursula Ferrara)
Printed Rainbow (Gitangali Rao)
Something Like That (Esmir Filho)
Woman & Grammophone (Johannes Stjarne Nilsson, Ola Simonsson)

Special screening chosen by Gaspar Noé:Destricted (Sam Taylor Wood, Larry Clark, Gaspar Noé, Richard Price, Marina Abramovic, Matthew Barney, Marco Brambilla)

Documentary:

Kigali, des images contre un massacre (Jean-Christophe Klotz)
Moyens métragesCharell (Mikhaël Hers)
Les Deux vies du serpent(Hélier Cisterne)
Marinela de la P7 (Cristian Nemescu)
Screening "trés spécial" ("very special"):L'Âme accablée(Yannis Economidis)
Fipresci Revelation of the year:Look both ways (Sarah Watt)

Camera d'Or (First Film) Jury

Presidents - Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardennes

Short Film Jury

President - Andrei Konchalovsky

DIRECTORS FORTNIGHT

Feature films:

A Fost sau n-a Fost? (Was it or Was it Not?)Director: Corneliu Porumboiu, Romania
Anche Libero va Bene (Free is Fine, Too)Director: Kim Rossi Stuart, Italy
Les Anges Exterminateurs (Exterminating Angels)Director: Jean-Claude Brisseau, France
Azur and Asmar Director: Michel Ocelot, France/Belgium/Italy/Spain
Bug Director: William Friedkin, U.S.
Ca Brule (It Burns)Director: Claire Simon, France/Switzerland
Changement d'Adresse (Change of Address)Director: Emmanuel Mouret, France
Congorama Director: Philippe Falardeau, Canada/Belgium/France
Daft Punk's Electroma Directors: Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas BangalterDans Paris (In Paris)Director: Christophe Honore, France
Day Night Day NightDirector: Julia Loktev, U.S./Germany/France
Feher Tenyer (White Palms) Director: Szabolcs Hadju, Hungary/France
The Hawk is DyingDirector: Julian Goldberger, U.S.
Honor de Cavalleria (The Honor of Chivalry)Director: Albert Serra, Spain
The HostDirector: Bong Joon-Ho, South Korea
Jindabyne Director: Ray Lawrence, Australia
Lying Director: M. Blash, U.S.
On Ne Devrait Pas Exister (We Shouldn't Exist)Director: HPG, France
Princess Director: Anders Morgenthaler, Denmark/Germany
Sommer 04 An Der Schlei (Summer '04)Director: Stefan Krohmer, Germany
Transe Director: Teresa Villaverde, Portugal/France/Italy
Yureru Director: Nishikawa Miwa, Japan

Special screenings:

Fantasma Director: Lisandro Alonso, Argentina/France/Holland
MelvilDirector: Melvil Poupaud, France
Mala Noche (Bad Night)Director: Gus Van Sant, U.S.

Short films:

Program 1

The Aluminum FowlDirector: James Clauer, U.S.
Le Soleil et la Mort Voyagent Ensemble (The Sun and Moon Travel Together)Director: Frank Beauvais, France
By The Kiss Director: Yann Gonzalez, France
A Rat Director: Bosilka Simonovitch, France
Bugcrush Director: Carter Smith, U.S.
Sepohon Rambutan Indah Kepunyaanku Di Tanjung Rambutan (My Beautiful Rambutan Tree in Tanjung Rambutan)Director: U-Wei Bin HajiSaari, Malaysia

Program 2

L'Etoile de Mer (The Starfish)Director: Caroline Deruas, France
Rapace (Robber)Director: Joao Nicolau, Portugal
Dans le Rang (In the Row)Director: Cyprien Vial, France
MengedDirector: Daniel Taye Workou, Ethiopia
Manue BolonaiseDirector: Sophie Letourneur, France

__________________

DVD Reviews

Here are some short reviews of DVDs that I have recently watched.

Good Morning, Night Marco Bellocchio's story of the 1978 Red Brigade kidnapping of Italian President Aldo Moro is quite an intriguing film. The story is told through the eyes of one of the kidnappers Chiara (nicely played by Maya Sansa). By day she seems like a normal person with a regular job. She even pals around with co-workers and visits her aunt on the weekend. But, she is living with three other members of the Red Brigade who want Italy to become a Communist country. They put Moro on trial and sentence him to death. When some of the members start to weaken the group's leader Mariano (splendidly played by Luigi Lo Cascio who plays a very different role in the outstanding The Best of Youth) tells them that there is no going back. Also giving a strong performance is Roberto Herlitzka who plays Moro. Part of the film is told through Chiara's dreams which show the opposite of what is happening in real life. The bottom line is - killing one person is wrong and it will not change anything. Real change comes through knowledge not violence. The film had a brief run in NYC and is definitely a worthwhile rental.

Stormy Monday I am always on the lookout for interesting European cinema so when I saw that this film was being released on DVD I made sure to add it to my Netflix list. Pedro Olea's film is a romantic melodrama and if you like this type of film as I do you then will like this film. Elena (Maribel Verdu) is a successful weather woman on a local channel. Her husband Chus (Jorge Sanz) is not much of a provider and is heavy into drugs. They have a young son. Their marriage is heading for trouble. The second couple that we meet is also having problems. Oscar (Dario Grandinetti) is a record producer and his wife Sara (Maria Barranco) is a former model. Sara is pregnant, unhappy and an alcoholic. Sara has her baby and continues to drink. When their son is a bit older tragedy strikes. Sara's drinking escalates and she winds up in a rehab center. It turns out that Chas is in the same rehab center trying to kick his drug habit. Sara and Chas become friends but little do they know that their partners have become lovers. Elena and Oscar are having an affair which includes love as well as sex. To say any more would be giving away too many plot points. All of the acting is good and, although some of the plot is predictable, I really enjoyed the film. If you like a good melodrama then check this one out.

Wallace & Gromit - The Curse of the Were-Rabbit This Oscar winning animated film is just delightful. It is the story of how an overpopulation of rabbits will hurt the big vegetable competition that takes place every year in a small community. Wallace and his faithful (and silent) dog Gromit run a service that will humanely take care of the problem. However, by trying an experiment on one of the rabbits Wallace turns himself into a giant rabbit that by night ravages the vegetables. When it seems that the humane way is not working Lady Tottington, who runs the competition, agrees that Victor Quartermaine (who happens to be after the Lady's hand in marriage or, rather, her money) can take down the beast with his gun. In the end, Gromit comes to the rescue and no violence is used. The Lady winds up making her home a rabbit sanctuary and all is well. The animation in this film is stunning and it is easy to see why it won the Oscar. The vegetables look good enough to eat. The Lady's voice is supplied by Helena Bonham Carter, Quartermaine is voiced by Ralph Fiennes and Wallace/Hutch is voiced by Peter Sallis. As in his previous film Chicken Run, Nick Park promotes the humane treatment of animals. And, for a devout vegetarian like me that is a good enough reason to like this film.

Friends with Money

I really loved Nicole Holofcener's previous film Lovely and Amazing so I had some expectations from Friends with Money. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met by a longshot.

The film focuses on the friendship between four women. Jennifer Aniston plays Olivia, the only
one of the four who is not married and who is not well off. Her character is very wishy-washy
and is quite dull. Catherine Keener plays Christine who is a screenwriter and is currently working on a script with her husband David (played by Jason Isaacs). Right from the beginning you can tell that there is something wrong with their marriage despite the fact that they are building an extension to their house. Frances McDormand is Jane, who has a successful career as a clothing designer but reeks of bitterness. She has gotten to the point in her life that even washing her hair is a chore. Her husband Aaron (played by Simon McBurney) also has his own successful business. Many people think he is gay but we get no proof of this one way or the other. The fourth friend is Franny (played by an anorexic looking Joan Cusack) who doesn't work because she doesn't have to. Her husband Mike (played by Scott Caan) makes enough money for her to stay at home and think about what charities they can give their money to.

I can't tell you much about the plot because there really isn't one. Oh, a few things do happen. Christine and David eventually split up. Olivia meets a few men who (of course) don't seem to have their acts together. Jane even washes her hair before she goes to a charity event planned by Franny and Mike. And that's about it.

McDormand and Keener give very good performances. Aniston's role isn't that well developed but it has been obvious for some time that she is an actress of limited talent. And, Cusack has what is known as a throwaway role. All of the male characters are boring. It is too bad that this film turned out this way. It could have been a much better film if Holofcener put a bit more thought into the writing of this script and the development of the characters. But, with or without money, these are not people I would want to have as friends.

Water

A few nights ago I saw a preview of this film and I was emotionally shaken by it. This is the third in Deepa Mehta's trilogy using the elements of the planet as the title. The first two were Fire and Earth and all three films have forbidden love as one of its themes.

When Water starts we see pretty young Chuyia traveling with her family to an as of yet unknown destination. Although Chuyia is not even eight she is already married. Her husband, who is much older, is dying. Before they reach where they are going he is gone. This makes Chuyia a very young widow. Because the "holy books" dictate it, Chuyia has to live in a widow's colony and will not be allowed to remarry because half of her body and soul has left the earth plane and is with her husband.

Upon arriving at the widow's colony Chuyia's head is shaved and she puts on a simple sari of widow's white. She meets many other widows, some of whom have been there since they were her age. She turns out to be a handful for some of the other widows but she is, after all, only a child.

One of the other widows that she meets is the beautiful Kalyani who does not shave her head. It turns out that Kalyani often goes to the house of a rich Brahmin to have sex with him. He feels that since he is a Brahmin he is entitled to have sex outside of his marriage and his wife goes along with it. The money that she gets paid helps the widow's colony or at least that is what she is told.

One day Chuyia and Kalyani meet a handsome young man named Narayana. He and Kalyani lock eyes. With some manipulation they manage to meet again and again and they fall in love.
It turns out that Narayana is the son of the Brahmin that Kalyani is having sex with. To say more about the plot would be to give away too much and I do not want to do that.

Mehta does a fine job of directing the film. You feel like you are on the inside of the widow's colony and you can read the thoughts of some of the women that you meet just by looking at their faces. Young actress Sarala is outstanding as Chuyia. Your heart goes out to her when she cries for her mother. Lisa Ray and John Abraham are also fine as Kalyani and Narayana.

Mehta tried to make the film a number of years ago but the Indian government managed to shut down the production. The film was eventually made in Sri Lanka. It is hard to believe that this story took place in 1938 because that is not so long ago. Just thinking about how these women and girls were treated makes my blood boil. Thanks to Mahatma Gandhi and others the laws have been changed but there are still some people in India, especially in the villages, who believe in and practice this barbaric ritual. A lot of people think that religion makes human beings more civilized. I would say that in some ways that can be true depending on how sincere one is. But, any religion that is fundamentalist will view women as the inferior sex. And, I say, that any religion that does not see women as equals to men is not worth practicing.

AMPAS announces date for next year's Oscar Ceremony

It is never too early to think about next year's Oscars so here is the official announcement from AMPAS regarding all the key dates leading up to the big event.

AMPAS Releases Dates for the 79th
Key Dates Announced for 79th Academy Awards®
Beverly Hills, CA - The 79th Annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 25, 2007, Academy President Sid Ganis announced today.
The telecast will again originate from the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.
Key dates currently scheduled are:
Friday, December 1, 2006: Official Screen Credits Forms Due
Tuesday, December 26, 2006: Nominations ballots mailed.
Saturday, January 13, 2007: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PST.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PST, Samuel Goldwyn Theater
Wednesday, January 31, 2007: Final ballots mailed.
Monday, February 5, 2007: Nominees Luncheon
Saturday, February 10, 2007: Scientific and Technical Awards Dinner
Tuesday, February 20, 2007: Final polls close 5 p.m. PST.
Sunday, February 25, 2007: 79th Annual Academy Awards Presentation

L'Enfant

L'Enfant won last year's Palm D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and it is easy to see why it did.

The story is a simple one - Bruno and Sonia are lovers who live from hand to mouth. They have an apartment (which seems to belong to Sonia) but they have to spend the night in a homeless shelter when Bruno rents the apartment to make some cash. Work is something that is beneath him and his primary source of income is stealing.

Things get a bit complicated when Sonia gives birth to a baby boy. She really loves little Jimmy but Bruno doesn't share her feelings. He didn't even visit her at the hospital after she gave birth. Bruno finds out that there is good money to be made in black market adoptions so when Sonia isn't around he sells little Jimmy. When Sonia finds out that Jimmy has been sold she collapses and has to go to the hospital. Bruno manages to get Jimmy back but he has to pay a high price in order to do so. I don't want to say more because to do so would be giving too much away.

The film is above all a character study. We don't find out why Bruno is the way he is. We know that he and his mother are not on good terms but we never find out what transpired between them. He has no respect for anyone, least of all himself. In the end he finally takes responsibility for his actions.

The film is beautifully written and directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne who specialize in making films about people who are down and out. Both Deborah Francois as Sonia and Jeremie Segard as Steve, a fourteen year old boy who sometimes helps Bruno steal, are excellent. But, the film belongs to Jeremie Renier who plays Bruno. He first appeared in an earlier Dardenne film La Promesse and this film shows how he has grown as an actor. You just have to look at his face to know exactly what is going on in his mind. Despite the fact that he is a common thief he had the power to make me feel sorry for him. I look forward to seeing what this talented young actor will do in the future and I also look forward to the next creation from the wonderful Brothers Dardenne.

DVD Review - Little Fish

Back in February of this year, Little Fish had a very limited release. That is too bad because it is a good film. Now that it is on DVD people will get a chance to see it.

Tracy Heart (played by Cate Blanchett) is a rehabilitated heroin addict who has gotten her life back on track. For the past four years she has been employed at a video store and has worked herself up to a managerial position. She would like to become partners with the owner and, perhaps later on, be the sole owner of the store. She applies to the bank for a loan but, because of what happened in her past, is rejected.

Further complicating things is the return of her former boyfriend Jonny (played Dustin Nguyen) who is Vietnamese and has issues of his own. Jonny is a stockbroker who has lived in Vancouver for a few years but has decided to come back to Australia because he was offered a job.

Tracy's brother Ray (played by Martin Henderson) was severely injured in a car accident a number of years ago. The driver of the car was Jonny which explains why he left for Vancouver. Ray and Jonny decide to go into the drug dealing business because it seems like an easy way to make a buck. They think that things run smoothly because of a rumor that drug kingpin Brad (played by Sam Neill) is retiring.

Ray and Tracy live with their mother Janelle (Noni Hazlehurst) because they cannot afford to live on their own. Janelle appears to be the strongest character in the film because she is holding everything together but there are a number of times when we can feel her pain.

Lionel Dawson (Hugo Weaving) is a longtime family friend who Janelle has issues with. A former professional soccer player Lionel is now an addict and he is the person who gave Tracy her first taste of heroin. Lionel has vowed to kick his habit but that is easier said than done. Lionel also happens to be gay but that aspect of his life is only touched upon.

As you can see, there are many characters in this film but all their stories are intertwined. The film deals with people who have made bad choices in their lives and are trying to turn things around. They are trying to find their place in the world. On some level, this can apply to each and every one of us. The film worked for me because I could really put myself in some of the character's shoes and you don't have to be involved in drugs to feel that way.

The film is well directed by Rowan Woods and Jacqueline Perske's screenplay is sharp. The cinematography is wonderful and I got the sense of what it would feel like to be in Australia. However, the film is a tad too long and I think that a ten minute trim would really tighten things up. But the best thing about the film is the acting which is uniformly good with the standouts being Blanchett and Weaving. Weaving's character can be funny and sad but in the end he breaks your heart. This is a small film that should not be ignored.

Kinky Boots

I had the opportunity to see this lovely little film at a preview a few days before it is released in the US. The film centers on the city of Northampton in the UK. It is there that Charlie Price's family has owned and operated a shoe factory for many generations. However, Charlie wants to break the cycle and he decides working in marketing is better suited for him. In addition, he and his fiancee Nicola will move to London after they are married.

Things don't go as planned because Charlie's father passes away. For a number of reasons the factory isn't doing so well and Charlie has the agonizing task of having to lay off people. Lauren, who is one of those being laid off, challenges Charlie to come up with an idea to move the factory forward. During one of Charlie's trips to London he accidentally meets Lola, who takes care of him after he is injured during a brawl. Lola just happens to be a drag queen who loves to wear very high boots with skinny heels. In time, they come up with the idea of Lola designing boots for men who dress as women. This is something that might help the factory get out of the hole that it is in. Charlie discusses the idea with Lauren, rehires her and starts moving the factory in a new direction.

Of course, Lola (real name Simon) creates quite a stir when he moves to Northampton to work in the factory. Some people have a hard time accepting him because Northampton is not as progressive as London. Things also start to sour between Charlie and Nicola, which is no big surprise since the differences between them are crystal clear even at the beginning of the film. As time goes on, Charlie and company will be able to display their wares at a fashion show in Milan with great success.

The film is nicely directed by Julian Jarrold and the writing credits go to Geoff Deane and Tim Firth. During the last decade or so there have been a number of good films focusing on working people that have come out of the UK and this one is no exception. The film has the feel of The Full Monty and if you enjoyed that film you will certainly like this one. The fact the film is based on reality makes it even more endearing. Although the film is in part about Charlie and how he helps the factory get back on its feet it is also about the friendship between Charlie and Lola. They come to realize that they have more in common with each other than one would expect. They both have always felt like outsiders looking for their place in the world and this fact helps to bring them closer. Joel Edgerton is fine as Charlie but the real standout here is Chiwetel Ejiofer as Lola. He gives a powerful and moving performance and I for one can't wait to see what he does next.

Kinky Boots may not be a masterpiece in filmmaking but it is funny and heartfelt and will leave you walking out of the theater with a smile on your face.

DVD Review - Lord of War

Writer/Director Andrew Niccol has crafted a fine character study of a gun runner on his way to the top (which happens to be based on a true story). Nicolas Cage is perfectly cast as Yuri Orlav, a refuge from the Ukraine. Yuri and his family got permission to come to the US because they pretend to be Jews. They settle in Little Odessa (Brighton Beach) and open up a Kosher restaurant so that no one would suspect that they are impostors. From early on, Yuri is very impressed with the Russian mob and decides that his future lies in the world of firearms. His younger Vitaly (nicely played by Jared Leto) looks up to him and decides that he wants to join his older brother's business.

When Yuri gets started he faces some stiff competition from top gun runner Simon Weitz (fiercely played by Ian Holm) but this only makes Yuri want to achieve more. Some of the scenes are hard to watch. We see Yuri and Vitaly in the Middle East as they watch the execution of two young boys who are shot with guns that they have sold. Vitaly finds this hard to take but Yuri explains to him that this is not their war.

In the middle of all this, Yuri meets Ava Fontaine, (played by Bridget Moynahan) a woman he has had his eye on since he was much younger. He wines and dines her but never tells her what he really does for a living. They eventually get married and have a son. But, Yuri is so consumed with his business that he often ignores Ava and their son, which will eventually lead to her becoming suspicious.

Vitaly decides that he has had enough of this business so Yuri goes it alone. He meets all sorts of dictators and madmen. One of his best customers is the head of the Liberian government. There is no strongman too evil for Yuri to deal with. To him it is just a job. But, there are people who want to put a stop to him and Jack Valentine (played by Ethan Hawke) is one of them. Valentine is on Yuri's tail and hopes to catch him so he can put a stop to Yuri's evil trade.

To say more about the film would be giving away too many plot points so I will refrain from doing that. I did not have any sympathy for Yuri and I certainly don't know how he could be so blase about selling weapons that kill people. But, the film makes the point that, yes, while what Yuri does is bad he is just a small fry in a pond of big fish. The US, UK, France, Russia and China are leading sellers of weapons and this is something we need to look at. Yes, Yuri is dangerous but how much more so are the leaders of the above mentioned countries.

Lord of War didn't do great business at the box office but I hope that people will see it now that it is on DVD. It is a well made film and it just might open your eyes to something that you don't really want to think about but should.

When Do We Eat?

I saw this film as a preview and, boy, am I glad that I didn't have to pay for it. The story, which was written by director Salvador Litvak and his wife Nina Davidovich, is supposed to be funny but most of the film borders on the ridiculous.

Michael Lerner plays Ira, the head of the family who earns his living selling Christmas decorations. A Holocaust survivor, he got into the business to honor the Christian who hid him during the war. Lesley Ann Warren plays his long suffering wife Peggy. Between them they have four children - one son who just became an ultra-Orthodox Hassid; one son who is a drug addict; another son who is autistic and a daughter who is a sexual surrogate. There is also daughter from Ira's first marriage who is a lesbian and has a black girlfriend.

Almost the entire film takes place around the Seder table at Passover time. Besides all of the above mentioned characters add in Ira's elderly father (played by Jack Klugman), Peggy's sexy cousin and a rugged Israeli who put up the special tent for Passover and has an eye on Peggy and what do you get? A big fat Jewish mess!!! Every character has a story. There is not one positive person amongst the bunch. The plot really goes over the top when the druggie son slips Ira a tab of ecstasy. Ira starts to imagine many things including the three wise men who are there to lend a hand. Oy vey, what schmaltz!!

I wonder what this couple were thinking of when they wrote the screenplay. The film is filled with enough stereotypes to make people who don't know any Jews wonder if all of us are like that. I will say that towards the end there are some touching moments but, all in all, this Seder left me with indigestion.

DVD Review - Red Eye

Red Eye is Wes Craven's neat, tight and very short psychological thriller from the summer of 2005. The film had the feel of a good B or television movie and works very well on the small screen.

Rachel McAdams turns in a fine performance as Lisa, a driven hotel employee living in Miami. Her aim is to please the customer at any cost. She is on her way back from Dallas where she attended the funeral of her grandmother. Because of bad weather her flight has been delayed. While she is waiting on line to check in her baggage she strikes up a conversation with a "charming" young man devilishly played by Cillian Murphy. While waiting to board the flight Lisa decides to have a drink and who should she meet at the bar - you guessed it - Murphy's character who just happens to be named Jackson Rippner. When Lisa finally boards the plane guess who just happens to be sitting next to her - I don't even have to tell you because I am sure that you know who it is.

If all of this seems like a coincidence then you haven't seen many thriller movies. Jack is part of a network that wants the Deputy Chief of Homeland Security assassinated. The Deputy Chief and his family are scheduled to be at the hotel that Lisa works at at the same time the flight lands in Miami. Jack wants Lisa to change the room the Deputy Chief and his family are staying in so it will be easier for the assassination to take place. If Lisa doesn't comply then someone will kill her father.

There is no need to go further into the plot because that would spoil things for anyone who might read this. The character development is nil and we barely find out why Lisa has a scar on her chest. Although the plot is quite predictable I still found the film entertaining because of the action sequences and the acting of McAdams and Murphy. Brian Cox is wasted as Lisa's father in an almost throw away role. This is a movie that is like junk food- enjoyable while you are watching (or eating) it but very soon forgotten. But, it is a very tasty morsel.