DVD Mini Review - Heartbeat Detector

Nicolas Klotz has directed a most interesting and complicated film. This is not an easy one. But it is certainly worth the effort.

Mathieu Amalric plays Simon Kessler, a psychologist who works in the human resources department of a large, German owned corporation. Simon has been known to help terminate people and was part of a major reconstructing of the corporation. One day he is asked to investigate the CEO Mathias Just (Michael Lonsdale). Along the way he discovers many unpleasant facts. There are strange letters that are sent and many references to the Nazis. In fact, there are many correlations between the Nazis and the big corporations that run the world. While all this is happening Simon is having a meltdown and Just is coming apart at the seams. I won't tell you any more (except we get to know what a heartbeat detector is). Both Amalric and Lonsdale are terrific in their roles and the film is quite suspenseful.

This film is not for everyone. But for those of you who want a challenge I recommend it to you. I rented the disc from Netflix but I just noticed that I can play it online any time I want to because of my membership. So when I have some extra time (which I don't right now) I might have another look at the film to see if I discover more pieces to the puzzle.

The Visitor

One thing I can say about The Visitor is that at the end of April it is certainly the best film of 2008. But there are many other things to say about the film as well.

Thomas McCarthy (who wrote and directed another film that I love - The Station Agent)
has created a wonderful, heartfelt film that has something to say about the world (and country) we live in. Walter Vale (a marvelous Richard Jenkins) is a professor living in Connecticut. He is a widower and leads a very dull, lonely life. When his colleagues insist that he goes to New York to attend a conference and present a paper he reluctantly consents. He has an apartment there so he doesn't have to worry about a place to stay. But to his surprise he finds a couple - Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) for Syria and Zaineb (Daini Guira) from Senegal. Someone had rented them the apartment without Walter's permission. But he lets them stay and that proves to be a life changing experience.

The Visitor delves into the problems that illegal immigrants have in the US. Most of them just want a better life but if caught they are treated like criminals. I hope that we can find a good way to help these people and not continue to use the solution that is offered up in the film. But the film is not just an issues film. It is a film of the heart. We see Walter transformed from a man who has no passion to one who is brimming with life. And Jenkins makes him so very real. If there is any justice Jenkins will not be forgotten come next year's awards season. Also fantastic is Hiam Abbass as Tarek's mother Mouna. When you look into her eyes you can feel her pain. Sleiman and Guira are also fantastic.

I urge people to see this film. It is not something that you will soon forget. I went with a friend who also loved it. And when we were in the bathroom everyone there was in agreement. Highly recommended.

DVD Mini Review - Death of a Cyclist

Juan Antonio Bardem (yes, uncle of Javier) this interesting, suspenseful film in
1955. It won an award at Cannes while Bardem was in jail. He was a staunch Communist in Franco's Spain.

The story begins with university professor Juan (Alberto Closas) and his married lover Maria Jose (Lucia Bose) driving along at a high speed. They are too wrapped up in each other to notice a cyclist. They hit him head on. They stop the car and Juan goes out to check on him. He is still alive but Maria Jose is too worried about her reputation to be bothered trying to save this man. So they drive back to Madrid and the man dies. We see why Maria is so concerned. Her husband Miguel (Otello Toso) is loaded with money. She surely wouldn't want to give that up. But Juan is having problems and he can't concentrate on work. He is so upset that he insults one of his students, Matilde (Bruna Corra) in front of the whole class. On top of anything the slimy Rafa (Carlos Casaravilla) seems to know about Juan and Maria and just might blackmail them. As the cyclist was a poor man the police don't go out of their way to find out what happened to him.

The film is Hitchcockian in the way it show the unraveling of Juan and Maria's relationship. It also shows the hypocrisy of the ruling class in Franco's Spain. The film is beautifully directed and the actors are wonderful. Bardem had to make the film's ending in such a way that the Spanish censors would allow it to be released. I wonder what his preferred would have been like. But despite that fact this is still a very powerful film. So, if you want to see classic Spanish cinema at its best then check this film out. Senor Bardem has two more films listed on Netflix and at some point I intend to see them.

Shine a Light

I already knew that Martin Scorsese was a master when it came to films about music.
The Last Waltz and No Direction Home are fantastic. And the same is to be said about Shine a Light, which documents The Rolling Stones when they performed two benefit concerts last year at New York's Beacon Theater.

The concerts were benefits for the Clinton Foundation. And, yes, Bill is there as is Hillary and Chelsea. But who cares because the concerts are terrific. It is a wonder to see Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood still rocking and rolling after all these years. They sang well and lesser known songs. They had a few guests too - Jack White, Buddy Guy and Christian Aguilera. I wonder where Mick gets all of his energy from

The film is beautifully shot. You feel as if you are actually there. I was exhilerated when I walked out of the theater. If you love the Rolling Stones (as I do) then this is a must.

My Blueberry Nights

Wong Kar Wai's English language debut is much better than I thought it would be (he co-wrote the screenplay with Lawrence Block). It is a romantic tale of searching for oneself and I generally like these kind of films.

Elizabeth (Norah Jones) is in the middle of a bad breakup with her boyfriend. She stumbles into a cafe where her boyfriend goes to with his new girlfriend. She takes comfort in the cafe's manager Jeremy (Jude Law). But one day Elizabeth disappears.
She winds up in Memphis working two jobs. She gets to know a drunken police officer named Arnie (David Strathairn) and his floozy-ish ex-wife Sue Lynne (Rachel Weisz). This becomes a learning experience. Her next stop is Arizona where she meets a tough young gambler named Leslie (Natalie Portman) and this experience also helps Elizabeth sort things out. All the while she writes to Jeremy back in New York.

I liked this film. There is a certain sensitivity to it. I understood where Elizabeth was coming from. Jones may not be a great thespian but there is a natural quality to her performance and I believed in the innocence of her character.
Portman, Weisz, Law and especially Strathairn were wonderful. I found the ending quite satisfying. The film is also beautiful to look at.

I don't know why the critics didn't like this film. They urge filmmakers to be creative but when they are the critics don't seem to get it. In any case, I recommend this film to those of you who want something a bit different as well as intelligent.

The Flight of the Red Balloon

I saw Hsiao-hsien Hou's The Flight of the Red Balloon on movies on demand. And although I am sure it looks wonderful on the big screen it was still lovely to watch on my television (it just started at a neighborhood theater but there isn't time to see every film in the theater this weekend). I have not loved Mr. Hou's films like some of the critics have. But I quite liked this film and think it is his best one to date. It is also, in its own way, a tribute to Albert Lamorisse's 1956 classic The Red Balloon.

Juliette Binoche stars as Suzanne, a busy, frazzled single mother. Suzanne works with puppeteers and has other projects. Her seven year old son Simon (Simon Iteanu) is just darling. But he needs looking after so Suzanne hires a film student named Song (Fang Song) to be his nanny. While walking the beautiful streets of Paris Simon and Song are "followed" by a red balloon. Both of them are eager to capture it in one way or another. All of the acting is good and Binoche is terrific. And the film is beautifully shot.

We don't find out too much about the characters but that doesn't matter. We know that Suzanne's husband has left her and that she has a daughter who lives in Brussels. Suzanne is also in a legal battle with a tenant whom she wants to leave.
Song has a calming effect on her. And that is the point of the film - a zen-like calming. The film does not have a strong narrative thread. But I liked it. I have a lot on my mind these days and the film made me forget about these things during its two hours. I felt totally relaxed. This film is for a specialized audience. A friend of mine who loves cinema couldn't stand this film. But I am the type of person who loves to sometimes do nothing. In fact, people should do more of that because the crazy frenetic pace of this modern world. I do not recommend The Flight of the Red Balloon to all. But for those of you who like a leisurely paced slice of life film that will leave you feeling mellow this film is a must.

DVD Mini Review - Enchanted

Enchanted, directed by Kevin Lima, is a very well told fairy tale. The beginning of the film is animated. There are all sorts of wonderful creatures who surround Giselle, a fair maiden who lives in the kingdom of Andalasia. She is convinced that she will find her true love. And she does in the form of Prince Edward. Shortly after they meet they plan to wed. But Edward's mother, Princess Narissa will have none of this as she does not want to give up her crown. So she banishes Giselle to cruel New York City.

This is where the film becomes live action. Poor Giselle (Amy Adams) finds herself transported through a manhole. And she is certainly way too innocent for this city.
After being ripped off and ignored Giselle meets a divorce lawyer named Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). They give her a helping hand. But Robert's girlfriend Nancy (Idina Menzel) is quite suspicious. In the meantime the Prince (James Marsden) arrives in New York in order to find his Giselle.
Now Narissa sends her underling Nathaniel (Timothy Spall) to find Giselle as well and finish her off.

And that is all I will tell you about the plot. There are lots of magical things about the film and the songs and music were pleasant. Adams is very good at doing wide eyed innocence. Dempsey - well, to me he is not much of an actor (and I don't go nuts over his looks but that is a matter of taste). But Marsden certainly is very much an actor. He was terrific in this. And Spall is wonderful in whatever he does. I also liked Susan Sarandon as the wicked Narissa. There is also a marvelous chipmunk named Pip in the cast of characters. And Julie Andrews adds a touch of class as the narrator.

I always loved fairy tales and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed Enchanted. But even though it is a fairy tale it does say something about opening up your heart and being kind. So do yourself a favor and see this likable film. You will have a smile on your face when it is over.

My Brother is an Only Child

Director Daniele Luchetti has created a wonderful look at small town Italy in the early 60s. The script, written by Sandro Petraglia and Stefano Rolli (The Best of Youth), gives a light touch to a rather heavy subject.

Young Accio (Vittorio Emanuele Propizio) feels like an outsider in his family. He thinks that his parents and sister Violette favor his older brother Manrico (Ricardo Scamarcio). So he looks for comfort elsewhere (by the way, Accio is a nickname and means bully). He befriends a bus driver and becomes involved in the Fascist movement. Now, this story takes place in the 60s and Mussolini is still fresh in the minds of most people. Needless to say, his family is upset - especially the Communist Manrico. As a teenager Accio (now played by Elio Germano) becomes more involved in the movement - as well as other things.

I won't say more about the plot because I don't want to give away anything. One or two plot points were predictable but that doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the film. Germano is wonderful as Accio and Scamarcio is also terrific as Manrico (he is also quite a winner in the looks department as well!!). I loved watching the scenes when people were arguing. They did it with so much passion.

My Brother is an Only Child does not have any answers in regard to the various political movements. But it does make us think and ponder. And the last scenes of the film were just right - they made me feel that justice was finally served. If you love foreign films and feel a bit sad that we don't see too many from Italy these days then do yourself a favor and see this one before it leaves the theaters (or rent it if you can't get to one). You won't be sorry that you did.

DVD Mini Review - Reservation Road

This time last year Terry George's Reservation Road was considered a top candiate to garner many Oscar nominations. And that might be what did the film in. Based on a novel byy John Burnham Schwartz (who also co-wrote the screenplay with George) Resevation is a good film but not on the same level as No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, etc. But I think that the critics were too harsh on the film. Instead of expanding around the country it died a few weeks after it was released.

The story is a familiar one. Ethan (Joaquin Phoenix) and Grace (Jennifer Connelly) Learner seem to have a perfect life. He is a university professor and she is into landscaping. They have two children - Emma (Elle Fanning) and Josh (Sean Curley). One night they are driving back from a concert that Josh performed in and they make a stop. Josh gets out of the car and is hit by a hit and run driver. He dies almost immediately. The film examines what this does to his family. But it also examines what it does to the driver. The driver is Dwight Arno (Mark Ruffalo) and he was on his way home from a Red Sox game with his son Lucas (Eddie Adelson). The incident has a great impact on him and throws his life into complete disarray.

Although the story is one we have seen before it focuses on some aspects that are not usually shown. It parallels the anguish of both Ethan and Dwight. Both of these men have great love for their sons. The film also explores the philosophy of "an eye for an eye" and comes up with a conclusion that I agree with. One fault with the film is that some of coincidences seem too convenient - the one involving Dwight's ex-wife Ruth (Mira Sorvino) in particular. I watched the deleted scenes and there is one beautiful scene that I think they should have left in. It says so much about two of the characters.

The acting is good across the board. The kids are terrific and Sorvino does the best she can with her limited role. Connelly does a good job conveying a mother's grief. Phoenix is great as a man who is like a pressure cooker ready to explode. However, in his last scene there are a few minutes where I think he goes a bit over the top. Best of all is Ruffalo as a man who doesn't know what to do with himself.
At first you can't stand him but later on you have pity on him when you realize why he did what he did.

Reservation Road may not be outstanding cinema. But it is good and I think that it should be seen. So give it a chance.

Priceless

Pierre Salvadori has whipped up another entertaining confection (he also made The Valet). Once again this one stars the very funny Gad Elmaleh as Jean. Jean works in a hotel bar but he does anything that he is asked to do including walking dogs.
One night an attractive golddigger named Irene (Audrey Tautou). She mistakes him for someone rich and they have a fling. When her rich, older fiance dumps her she blames Jean. She goes off to find another one and he, by accident, finds an older woman to take care of him. Well, I am not going to say more about the plot.

This is a very charming film that will put you in a good mood - that is for sure. Tautou is very talented and she has proven that in many films. And Elmaleh is a find. He started out as a standup comic in France but there is no doubt that he has a future in cinema. And Salvadori certainly knows how to make a good comedy.

I highly recommend this film to those of you who want to walk out of the theater with a smile on your face.

DVD Mini Review - The Cranes Are Flying

I rented this film because several people in an Awards Daily forum raved about it. And am I glad that I did. It is one fabulous film!!

Mikhail Kalatzov directed this masterpiece with a screenplay written by Viktor Rozov
(from his play). The story takes place at the beginning of World War II. Boris (Aleksey Batalov) and Veronica (Tatyana Samojlova) are very much in love. It seems like they might even get married. But war has broken out and Boris must go off to fight. Veronica is heartbroken. The story is about what happens to both of them during a certain time frame. I will not say more about the plot. But I will say that things are very difficult for both of them.

This film was way ahead of its time. The cinematography is absolutely amazing and all of it is done without any computer generated special effects (after all, the film was made in 1957). Batalov and the rest of the cast give wonderful performances. But Samojlova is the real standout here. Her face conveys what she is feeling - she cannot hide her emotions.

The Cranes Are Flying is as sad as it is beautiful. It most certainly deserved the Palm D'or that it won at Cannes. The message in a nutshell - war is hell and will always bring tragedy. Do yourself a favor and rent this film. It is a must see for anyone who loves cinema.

Note: I loved Burnt By the Sun - another great Russian film. It won an Oscar in
1994. I would like to see that one again. And at some point I must see Alexandra. Russia has made some great films.