Sicko

Michael Moore's Sicko is the most important film of the year - and especially for Americans. I came out of the film angry, sad and ready to fight.

In Sicko Moore takes on America's health care industry. We know that fifty million Americans are uninsured. But having insurance does not make one safe.

We see people who are sick not getting proper care. We see 9/11 workers who are denied care.
And we see healthcare systems in other countries - all of which are free.

I am not going to say more about this film. I just think that you owe it to yourself and others to see it. And if you are not an American you can see what we have to go through.

Sicko will make you laugh, it will make you cry and it will make you want to say "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore."

Evening

Evening, directed by Lajos Koltai, is not a great film. But it is not the bomb that many critics have said it is.

Adapted by Susan Minot and Michael Cunningham (The Hours) from Minot's book, Evening is a story about the regrets one might feel before they are about to die.

Vanessa Redgrave plays the older Ann, who is fading in and out of consciousness. She talks about people that her daughters Constance (Natasha Richardson) and Nina (Toni Collette) have never heard of. She speaks of her one true love Harris and mentions someone else named Buddy.

As we flashback to the younger Ann (Claire Danes) we see her arriving in Newport to attend her friend Lila's (Mamie Gummer) wedding. The young Ann is a singer who lives in New York and rather bohemian. It seems that Lila's brother Buddy (Hugh Dancy) has a thing for Ann, but it is a bit more complicated than it appears. Before Lila's wedding she confides in Ann that she does not really love her future husband but instead has always loved Harris (Patrick Wilson) who does not love her back. It turns out that Ann is also quite attracted to Harris.

The film is beautiful to look at. And there is some terrific acting by Redgrave, Eileen Atkins as the nurse Mrs. Brown, Glenn Close as Lila's mother, and Meryl Streep in a cameo as the older Lila. Richardson does her best with an underwritten role as the sister who has it all. But Colette is wonderful as the sister who is still trying to figure out her life. The real find of the film is Gummer who is very good as the young Lila. Dancy is also good as the troubled Buddy. Unfortunately, Danes just doesn't cut it as the young Ann. She is too restrained. And Wilson seems to be miscast as Harris. One critic said that in the book Harris was dark and mysterious.
In the film he is very bland. I was wondering what it was that everyone saw in him.

I thought that the present time worked better than the flashbacks but there were good scenes in both parts of the film. The film held my interest but I did think that it was a tad too long. To me Evening is worth seeing for the fine acting, the beautiful scenery and the fact that it makes us think about regret and mortality.

DVD Review - Maxed Out

Maxed Out is James Scurlock's documentary about how people get trapped into credit card debt and taking out loans that they can't pay back.

The film follows several people who have gotten into this den of quicksand. We also meet some hardened sales people who will do anything to lure the vulnerable into their lair. It seems that the credit card companies and banks like to go after those who are the least likely to be able to pay. They make a lot of their money in the high interest rates and penalties. The credit card companies love to send applications to college students.

We see some people filing for bankruptcy and the toll that it takes on them. And although the film has some dark humor there are a number of sad moments. Some of those with huge debts take the most desperate measure.

I found the film quite informative and I particularly liked listening to Dr. Elizabeth Warren. She is very well versed on how that American Dream has become a nightmare for many people.

I urge people to see this film because it will open your eyes as to what is going on in this country regarding spending. Many people feel that they are entitled to have the newest and best gadgets (I phones anyone?). But they don't think about the consequences of out of control spending. Perhaps Maxed Up can sober them up.

DVD Review - Climates

Climates, written, directed and starring Nuri Bilge Ceylan (who is Turkish), is the story of a breakup between a man and a woman and its aftermath.

Ceylan plays Isa, a weathered college. His partner is Bahar (played by Ceylan's real life wife Ebru Ceylan) a younger television producer. While on vacation Bahar decides that it is time for them to part. Isa reluctantly agrees even though it is obvious that he is not the kind of partner Bahar needs. Most of the rest of the film follows Isa around as he tries to move on with his life.
The big question that is posed is - is it better to be alone and sometimes lonely or be with someone and fight a lot. The question is not answered.

The film is stunning to look at and the two lead actors are very good. Ceylan likes to make things atmospheric as he did in his previous film Distant. The other big question - do Isa and Bahar get together - is answered in the film but you will have to see it to find out what happens.
I liked this film but recommend it only to those who love real "art house cinema."

A Mighty Heart

A Mighty Heart is based on Mariane Pearl's book of the same name. And even though we know the outcome of what happened to her husband Daniel the film is nevertheless riveting. That is not surprising since the film is directed by Michael Winterbottom who knows a thing or two about documentaries and docudramas.

Daniel (Dan Futterman) and Mariane (Angelina Jolie) are both journalists who travel to exotic and dangerous locales in order to understand the people who live in these locales. Mariane is pregnant and they are due to leave Karachi but Daniel has just one more interview to do before their departure. Sadly, we all know how that turns out.

Winterbottom is so good at making this type of film and I felt as if I were standing in the middle of the crowded streets of Karachi. I won't get into the plot because, as I said before, we know it.
But we do get some knowledge as to how the law works in Pakistan.

Jolie is wonderful and there is a good chance that she will get some Oscar consideration. Her performance in powerful and heartfelt. Also turning in a terrific performance is Irfan Khan as the Captain. We was equally wonderful in the Namesake, which I saw earlier this year, and I do hope that he gets some recognition (and roles) in this country.

I left the theater feeling very sad. How could I not? But I was not only sad for the Pearl family and their friends. I am also sad for world where hatred and fanaticism is picking up steam every day. I long for a peaceful and harmonious world but I wonder if I will ever see it during my lifetime. I hope so but I am not so sure.

Lady Chatterley

Pascale Ferran's adaptation of Lady Chatterley is a feast for the senses. This version of the film is based on the second draft of D.H. Lawrence's book (also titled John Thomas and Lady Jane) and not the third one Lady Chatterley's Lover (which is the one that most people have read). I don't know the availability of John Thomas and Lady Jane but after seeing this film I want to read it.

Lady Constance Chatterley (Marina Hands) is married to Sir Clifford (Hippolyte Girardot). She has all the money she could ever want but it is apparent that she is not happy. Clifford was wounded in the war and can't walk. He also cannot have sex with his wife. One day she visits their gamekeeper Parkin (Jean-Louis Coulloc'h) to tell him about certain fowl that is needed for the next day's dinner. She is very impressed with the beauty and peacefulness of his surroundings and she asks him if she could visit from time to time. After a while they get to know each other and one thing leads to another. Connie is introduced to feelings and sensations that she never knew existed.

Ferran has done an amazing job of directing the film. She and her co-writer Roger Bohbot have produced an intelligent screenplay. Hands and Coulloc'h are marvelous and have fantastic chemistry together. I hope that in the future we get to see them in more films (Hands is in the upcoming The Diving Bell and the Butterfly). Girardot is also good in his supporting role. Julien Hirsch's cinematography is gorgeous. The scenery is breathtaking - as I watched the film I imagined myself running through the forest. The sex scenes are sensual and well done. I am still thinking about one amazing scene but I won't say what it is. You must see the film to find out.

The film has one flaw. Since the original story took place in England Ferran decided to have the characters stay English - even though the film is entirely in French. I wonder if it would have been better if she would have made the characters French. But all in all it doesn't matter. This is a story of love and passion and truly a film for adults. I highly recommend this film to all consenting adults.

DVD Review - The Fountain

What can I say about Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain? I liked Pi and Requiem for a Dream. But this film doesn't make the cut. In fact, I found it quite pretentious.

The story (if you want to call it that) revolves around three different men (or are they the same man?) traveling through different time zones. He (they) is trying to find out the secret of eternal life. But there isn't one because life on earth is not eternal. The man (men) is played by Hugh Jackman who gives a good performance. The woman (women) that he loves is played by Rachel Wiesz. In the present time, which is the bulk of the film, she is dying and he is trying find cure for her. In the past he is fighting against the Inquisition and she is a Queen. In the future he is an astronaut and she is....well, I'm not sure. Perhaps a ghost or a spirit. And as an animal lover and vegetarian I was appalled by the animal experimentation in the film.

Ellen Burstyn is in the film but she doesn't have much to do. The film is beautiful to look at but that is not enough. I read some raves on imdb and I assume that these people also liked Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - which is another film that I didn't like. Comparing this film to 2001 is ridiculous. 2001 is a masterpiece. The Fountain is anything but.

If you like this type of film then The Fountain might be for you. I would have loved to see a good time travel love story but that is not what I got. For me it was a muddle that lacked any character development. I hope that in the future we get something better from the talented Aronofsky.

New Javier Bardem website

Javier Bardem is my favorite actor on the planet. And now there is a brand new website devoted just to him. So for those of you who are fans of his (and I am sure that there are many of you out there) here is the address:

http://geocities.com/unofficial_javierbardem_fansite/

Enjoy!

DVD Review - Foreign Land

I found this DVD in the library (it is also available through Netflix) and immediately took it out.
It is directed by Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas. And as someone who has seen most of Salles' films I just couldn't resist.

The story focuses on a young man named Paco (Fernando Alves Pinto). Paco lives with his mother in a run down section of Sao Paulo. He really wants to be an actor but he doesn't get very far. His mother is from San Sebastian in Spain and longs to go home. One day Paco's mother dies unexpectedly. After her funeral he is left with very little money. He meets up with a shady character named Igor (Luis Melo) who tells him to keep in touch. When Paco eventually contacts Igor he is assigned to bring a violin to Lisbon. With the money he gets for the job he will be able to go to San Sebastian (which is his way of paying his respects to his mother).

But when Paco arrives in Lisbon things don't go as planned. He meets up with a raunchy musician Miguel (Alexandre Borges), his ex girlfriend Alex (Fernanda Torres) and a book store owner Pedro (Joao Lagarto). That is all I will tell you about the plot. But it is a very interesting, if sometimes predictable, one. The acting is all good but not great (with the exception of Torres who is very good). The film is nicely shot in black and white.

I definitely think that this film is worth checking out (for fans of world cinema). The film that Salles made after this, the wonderful Central Station, won an Oscar. So if you want to see his progression as a filmmaker then see this film.

Pierrepoint - The Last Hangman

Adrian Shergold's film is the story of hangman Albert Pierrepoint (Timothy Spall). The film starts off during World War II and ends in the 1950s. During that time Pierrepoint hanged over 600 people.

Pierrepoint's father was also a hangman. Pierrepoint prides himself in quick and "humane" deaths. Afterwards he treats the dead with the utmost respect. For Pierrepoint this is a job and he doesn't bring it home with him. He never discusses it with his wife Annie (Juliet Stevenson).

It would seem that this man has nerves of steel. On the outside he seems cool, calm and collected. But inside he is seething. The magnificent Spall conveys all of these feelings through his very expressive face. Stevenson is also excellent as Annie as is Eddie Marsan as Pierrepoint's friend Jimmy "Tisch" Corbitt. This might be a small part but it figures very heavily into the story.

After the war Pierrepoint went to Germany and hanged many Nazis. He was considered a hero.
But as time went on the British people came to realize that capital punishment accomplished nothing but revenge. In time it was banned from the UK. Films like Pierrepoint show just how wrong it is. One can only hope that the US will finally stamp it out as well. More people than ever in the US are against the death penalty so one can only hope.

In the meantime, do yourself a favor and see Pierrepoint. It is a good film and the acting will amaze you.

DVD Review - Seraphim Falls

Seraphim Falls is an interesting revenge western that doesn't always work. However, even though it is uneven it so worth checking out.

David Van Ancken directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Abby Everett Jacques. Van Ancken is a first time director and it shows a bit. The film (and screenplay) could have been tightened. The film is slow moving and you really have to stick with it. I don't mind films that take time to unfold but I think that Seraphim Falls would have been better served if it was trimmed.

The story takes place three years after the Civil War. Former Confederate Col. Moreman Carver (Liam Neeson) hires several men to join him as he hunts for and ex Union officer named Gideon (Pierce Brosnan). Carver is hell bent on finding Gideon and bringing him to justice for something he did during the war. But Gideon also has something terrible happen to him as well.

Both Neeson and Brosnan are great in their roles (they are both Irishmen playing Americans).
The cinematography by John Toll is breathtaking. Most of the time the story is interesting. We do get a heavy dose of symbolism at the end. One example is Angelica Houston's character who happens to be a snake oil saleswoman. And the ending is very strange.

But when all is said and done I think that Seraphim Falls is an anti war movie. All you have to do is see what war has done to these two men and you will understand why.

DVD Review - Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams

Jasmila Zbanic wrote and directed this powerful little film that won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2006.

The story takes place in the Grbavica section of Sarajevo in Bosnia. It is after the war and there are still many people who are missing - who will never be found. Seamstress Esma (Mirjana Karanovic) tries to support herself and her daughter Sara (Luna Mijovic) but it is hard to make ends meet. In order for Sara to go on a costly school trip Esma takes on an extra job as a waitress in a club/bar. But that doesn't turn out the way she wanted it to. I was wondering why she was going to all of the trouble when all she had to do was provide a certificate stating that Sara's father was a war hero and then the trip would be free.

Zbanic made a film that feels very real and her cast (especially the two leads) feel like real human beings. Grbavica gives us a clue as to what it was like trying to pick up the pieces after that terrible war. It also is an excellent look at the tensions that are part of many mother/daughter relationships.

Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams didn't get a very big release over here. But I think that it is a very worth while film to see and I highly recommend that you rent it. And you will also (hopefully) enjoy the wonderful music that is interspersed throughout the film.

A Short DVD Review - Soldier of Orange

After I saw Paul Verhoeven's Black Book earlier this year I was told that it would be a good idea to see an earlier film of his Solider of Orange. Soldier, like Black Book, deals with World War II and the Dutch Resistance, which was released here back in 1979 (I think that it was made in 1977).

The film is based on a true story from a book by Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema. Rutger Hauer plays Erik Lanshof. Erik has just graduated college. Holland is starting to be occupied by the Nazis. Erik and most of his friends decide to join the Resistance. One of these friends is Giuus Le Juene (Jeroen Krabbe). Another one of his friends, Alex (Derek de Lint), joins the Nazis.

Most of the story follows Erik as he goes to London and then back to Holland. We also find out that there is a traitor amongst the ranks. I will not say more about the plot. You will have to see the film to find out what happens. Soldier of Orange is a very powerful film and it is also quite suspenseful. I highly recommend it.

The Golden Door

The Golden Door, written and directed by Emanuele Crialese, is a beautifully made film about Italian immigrants coming to America in the early 20th century.

Salvatore Mancuso (Vincenzo Amato) is a poor widower who wants to start a new life in America. His twin brother has already left Italy. He takes his two sons and his elderly mother (who is quite reluctant to leave) with him. Before boarding the ship he meets an Englishwoman named Lucy Reed (Charlotte Gainsbourg) who also wants to go to America. Lucy is looking for a man to marry her because that is the only way she will be able to stay in the US.

The film shows just how rough the ships crossing was. I can only imagine the physical hardship these people endured in order to come here. I do think that there expectations were too high but they had to find that out for themselves. Once they arrived at Ellis Island things weren't any better. They not only had to go through rigorous physical exams. They also had to take tests to prove that their intelligence level was high enough for them to live here!! It made me think about what my grandparents went through when they arrived.

The cinematography, by Agnes Godard, is breathtaking. The opening sequences are magnificent. There is a scene in which Salvatore and Lucy pass by each other on the boat that is just wonderful. Another scene that I love takes place at Ellis Island. A group of Jews start praying and so the Italians join in with their own prayers.

The film says that it is presented by Martin Scorsese. I understand that he really liked the film and attached his name to it in the hopes that it would attract people to see it. After all, it is a foreign language film with no big stars in it (Ms. Gainsbourg is the only actor in the film that I am familiar with). The Golden Door is a very good film and I do hope that it gains an audience over here. If you can't see it in the theater then by all means see it when it is released on DVD.

DVD Review - Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

Many people disliked this film and I can see why. It is something unusual and it is certainly not commercial or a crowd pleaser. And while I thought that the film had many flaws I still liked it and would recommend it to people who want to see something different.

The film is directed by Steven Shainberg (who made Secretary - a films that I did not like) and he takes great care in presenting an interesting film. And, yes, most of what you will see on the screen was made up. Hence the name. But none of this matters while you are watching it. The film is not a biopic. It is more of a testimony to the life and work of Diane Arbus.

Nicole Kidman plays Arbus. She is her husband's (Ty Burrell) assistant. He is a photographer and she helps set up the models. Her father (Harris Yulin) is a furrier and her mother (the wonderful Jane Alexander) is a stuffy socialite). When she decides that it time to do her own work she meets a mysterious man Lionel (Robert Downey, Jr.), who turns out to be one of her greats inspirations. Lionel has a certain physical problem but that doesn't stop Diane from getting close to him. Lionel introduces Diana to people who are considered to be on the margins of society and they become the subjects for her photos.

The acting is good but not outstanding. I thought that the opening shot of the film was terrific. However, I was quite disturbed by all of the fur in the film. I am hoping that the filmmakers used fake furs but I am not sure about that. The leopard skins had to be fake because it is now against the law to use leopards for fur. This was the late 50s and back then people didn't think about the cruelty of fur like they do today.

Anyway, I am recommending this film to those of you who want to see something unusual and visually stunning.

DVD Review - The Dead Girl

Karen Moncrieff's (Blue Car) latest film is a fascinating character study. Oh yes, it is suspenseful but I wouldn't call it a thriller.

The plot revolves around how one dead woman affects many lives. The film is broken down into five vignettes (chapters) that are all connected because of this death.

The film starts off with Arden (Toni Collette) who seems to have nothing in her life. She is a slave to her demanding mother (Piper Laurie). But Arden is the one who finds the dead girl and with that things start to change for her.

Leah (Rose Byrne) can't get move on with her life because her sister disappeared many years ago. Leah believes that her sister is dead. But her mother (Mary Steenburgen) will never give up hope. When the dead girl appears Leah has hopes of her own.

Ruth (Mary Beth Hurt) has a very strange marriage. You wonder why she is still with this man.
But as time goes on you are wondering about more than that.

Marcia Gay Harden is the dead girl's mother Melora. In order to understand her daughter Melora tries to get to know her roommate Rosetta (Kerry Washington).

And then there is Krista (Brittany Murphy), the dead girl herself. We have a chance to find out a bit about her.

I will not tell you any more about the plot. You should see this film. It is very well written and directed. Ms. Moncrieff certainly knows how to work with her actresses. And, yes, I said actresses. All of the women I mentioned gave terrific performances. You get the feel for their characters in a short amount of time because that is all they are given.

Ms. Moncrieff is certainly a woman to watch and I, for one, am looking forward to what she will do next.

Once

Once is a charming, bittersweet and romantic musical film from Irish writer/director John Carney.

Guy (Glen Hansard) is a street musician on the streets of Dublin. He also works in his father's vacuum repair shop. One day a lovely young woman (Marketa Irglova) stops buy to hear him play. She gives him a small donation and tells him how talented he is. It turns out that she if from the Czech Republic and lives in Dublin with her mother and young daughter. They form a friendship and professionally record some music together. Oddly enough, we never find out either one of their names.

Yes, they fall for each other but things are not so simple. I will not tell you happens between them. You must go and see this wonderful and find out for yourself. But if this film does not move you then you have a heart made of stone.

Both Hansard and Irglova are musicians (he is in a group called The Frames), not actors. And the music in the film is terrific. I want buy the soundtrack. Once, which Carney made for very little money, is one of my favorite films of the year (so far). And while you are at it, check out one of Charney previous films on DVD - On the Edge starring Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea. It is quite a good film.