Momma's Man

Azazel Jacob's Momma's Man is a little gem of an indie film. It is a very simple story but one that touches the heart.

Mikey (Matt Boren) comes to New York (from California) on business. He stays with his parents (Ken Jacobs and Flo Jacobs). When the film starts Mikey is on the A train which will take him to Kennedy airport for his flight back home to his wife and child. But before we know it Mikey is back with mom and dad. His explanation is that there is trouble with his airline. He promises that he will leave in a day or two. But each day there is another excuse. And he doesn't return any of his wife's calls. Mikey would rather stay in the house and look through all of his old things. You could say that he is regressing.

The film is done in a no frills style with lots of hand held camera work. There is really no plot to speak of. This is a character study. Jacobs own real life parents play Mikey's parents and I wonder how much of the film is autobiographical. The performances by the three leads are wonderful and very natural. There is a scene towards the end of the film that put tears in my eyes.

Momma's Man is a little film with a big heart. It celebrates the love of parents for the children and vice versa. I recommend this film to those of you who like poignant films. If you can't catch it in theaters (it is in limited release) then make sure you rent it when it comes out on DVD.

DVD Mini Review - The Bank Job

The Bank Job is directed (very well, thank you) by Roger Donaldson from a smart script written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

I won't say much about the plot because that would spoil the fun. There are a number of twists and turns. I will say that it is based on a true story that took place in 1971 in swinging London.

Terry (Jason Stratham) owns a car dealership but he has many financial woes. Out of the blue an old friend named Martine (Saffron Burrows) shows up with a financial proposition for him - rob a bank. Of course Terry is reluctant but he needs the money. So he enlists the help of his mates Kevin (Stephen Campbell Moore) and Dave (Daniel Mays). And nothing is as it seems.

The Bank Job is intelligent and entertaining. It really keeps you on your toes. And all the acting is good. If you want to see what an adult entertainment kingpin (David Suchet), a black radical,
government officials and the royal family have in common see this film. I really liked it and I think that you will too.

Elegy

Elegy is Isabel Coixet's moving adaptation of Philip Roth's novel. The screenplay is written by Nicholas Meyer. This is an intelligent adult film that will attract a certain type of audience (and, yes, I am part of that perfect audience - one who is sick of raunchy comedies and super hero movies).

David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) is a professor and minor celebrity (he even appears on The Charlie Rose Show to promote his books). Ever since his divorce he relishes his independence. He has affairs with his former students but ends them when things get too thick. He has a long standing sexual affair with a student from 20 years ago named Carolyn (Patricia Clarkson). He and his friend George (Dennis Hopper) love to talk about their affairs (but George just happens to be married).

One day something different happens. Kepesh is attracted to a student named Consuela
(Penelope Cruz) but after a while he really falls for her. He becomes obsessed and quite jealous. For reasons I will not tell you they eventually break up. It takes Kepesh some time to get over her but he does. During all the while Kepesh tries to mend his relationship with his son Ken (Peter Sarsgaard) who still resents him for leaving the family.

I won't say more about the plot because I don't want to spoil things. I will say that Coixet is a wonderful and sensitive director (I saw her previous films My Life Without Me and The Secret Life of Words). She deals with people who are in either physical or emotional pain - or both. All of the acting is wonderful. Kingsley owns the film. This is a very raw, emotional role for him and he gives it his all. Cruz once again proves what a fine actress she is. Some of her scenes brought tears to my eyes. There are those who say that she is too old for the role but people can go to college when they are older and she is still a lot younger than Kingsley character. The supporting players - Clarkson, Hopper and Sarsgaard are all wonderful as well. This film reminds you of what a great actor Hopper is and I hope he makes more films of this quality in the future. Also good in a very small role is Deborah Harry as George's wife Amy.

So if you like films with an engrossing plot and real characters do yourself a favor and see Elegy.

DVD Mini Review - The Mist

The Mist is directed by Frank Darabont from a novella by Stephen King. I guess you could call it a horror film. I really had to think about whether or not I liked this film. I came to the conclusion that while I liked the film it is really a B movie - but a good one.

Thomas Jane plays David Drayton. He is an artist who lives in a small town in Maine with his wife and son. There is a ferocious storm in which a tree crashes into one of the windows of his house. After things appear to settle down he and his neighbor (Andre Braugher) and his son go to town to stock up on supplies. That is when some strange things start to happen. A mist envelops the area and people who go out into it die. Drayton is shopping in a supermarket when things start to get wild. He and everyone in there decide to stay put, at least for a while. That is all I will tell you about the plot. Jane is good in his role. Marcia Gay Harden is a terrific actress and at the beginning I thought that her portrayal of Mrs. Carmody was quite interesting. But as time on I found shrill as a religious fanatic who whipped most of the people in the store into a frenzy. The rest of the acting is okay but this is not an actor's film. Ronn Schmitt's cinematography is amazing. I must warn you that there are some very bloody scenes.

The Mist is good but it is not nearly as good as some of Darabont's other films (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile). And it is not as good at The Twilight Zone.
But if you like intelligent horror films that might have a message (I've been toying with a few messages myself until I come up with the one that I think might actually be the right one) then you will like this film.

Elsa & Fred

Elsa & Fred is a wonderful film from director Marcos Carnevale. The story takes place in Spain and is about two people who fall in love when they are older.

Fred (Manuel Alexandre) is a recent widower. His daughter Cuca (the wonderful Blanca Portillo) settles him into his new apartment but is still worried about him. Fred keeps to himself (he has a dog named Bonaparte) until his neighbor Elsa (China Zorilla) offers her friendship. At first Fred is resistant but he eventually gives into Elsa's charms. After a while they fall in love.

Elsa's greatest fantasy is to see the Trevi Fountain in Rome. She remembers it from La Dolce Vita and has a picture of Anita Ekberg on her wall (whom she resembled when she was younger).

This is a marvelous film about the fact that it is never to late to find love. It was very moving and gives one a lot of food for thought. Alexandre and Zorilla are terrific as is Federico Luppi in a small role. It is not easy to see this film on the big screen so if you can't then definitely rent it when it comes out on DVD. You will be happy that you did.

A Girl Cut in Two - MOD

Claude Chabrol's new film A Girl Cut in Two opened up in a few theaters yesterday. However, it is also playing on Movies on Demand so I rented it.

I have liked Chabrol's work for a long time. This film is pretty good but it is far from his best.

A young television weatherwoman Gabrielle (Ludivine Sagnier) falls for a much older writer named Charles (Francois Berleand). In the meantime, spoiled rich boy Paul (Benoit Magimel) falls for her. As things don't work out with the married Charles, Gabrielle falls into a deep depression. That is when Paul makes his move.

The truth is, this is an interesting film. It held my attention. And the acting is good. But in end, I tried to figure out why Gabrielle fell so hard for Charles. And why did Paul fall for Gabrielle. These questions are never answered.

If you are a Chabrol fan you might want to check this out. But don't expect more than a decent film (which, when compared with some of the junk that is out there today, is a lot).

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I will see any film that Woody Allen makes. That is because even not so good Woody is better than much of the stuff that is out there today. But his new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona is absolutely fabulous.

Two friends - Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) travel to Barcelona to spend the summer there. They will stay with Vicky's cousin Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her husband Mark. The two women are as different as can be. Vicky is straightlaced and not very adventurous. She likes things that are predictable. She is engaged to nice but rather dull Doug (Chris Messina). Cristina, on the other hand, is a free spirit who ready for anything.

One night while at an art gallery they spot the charismatic painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). Cristina is very intrigued with him and can't help but stare. Later on that night Juan invites them to spend the weekend with him at Oviedo. Vicky is reluctant to go but Cristing is ready. They wind up going.

Many critics tell the whole story of what happens next. I won't. But I will say that things develop between each woman and Juan. After the weekend they go back to Barcelona. Doug decides to come to Barcelona to be with Vicky and Cristina moves in with Juan. But after a while Juan's unstable ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) shows up and she winds up living with them.

That is all I will say about the plot. The film is wonderful. Allen's writing is sharp as a nail. And his directing is spot on. Johansson is doing some of her best work here. The relatively unknown Hall fully captures the emotions of the confused Vicky. Cruz is amazing - she is funny and tragic at the same time. Clarkson does terrific job with her small role. And then there is Bardem. His Juan could have been just some shallow Don Juan. But he is much deeper than that and you can see that when you look into his eyes. Add Javier Aguirresarobe's beautiful cinematography and some wonderful music and you have one of the best films of the year. And it made me even more anxious to visit the city of Barcelona.

There are many laughs in VCB and it is shot in a breezy style. But the subject matter is quite serious. Can we ever be truly happy in love? Or is it not possible.
I am still thinking about the film hours after I left the theater. The best way to describe it in one word is bittersweet. And that is the same word I would use to describe life.

DVD Mini Review - Irina Palm

Irina Palm, which is directed by Sam Garbarski, is a very good film. I understand that it was very well received when it played at the Berlin Film Festival. It had a very limited release here in the US earlier this year and I just had a chance to watch it on DVD.

Maggie (Marianne Faithfull) is a middle aged woman living in a village not too far from London. She is a widow with not much money. Her grandson Ollie (Corey Burke) is very ill. There is one last chance for him but the treatment is only available in Australia. Ollie's father Tom (Kevin Burke) who is Maggie's son and mother Sarah (Siobhan Hewlett) do not have the money for this. So Maggie must find a way to get the cash fast. And find a way she does. When she is in London she notices a club needs a hostess. Ah, but this is a different kind of hostess. As the club's owner Miki (Miki Manojlovic) explains the hostess will have to give hand jobs to customers.
At first Maggie is appalled but she decides to do it because the money is very good.
She becomes an expert in her field and has men lining up for her services. Miki gives her the name Irina Palm because of her great touch.

I won't say more about the plot. I will say that Faithfull is great in the role. You can read all of her emotions on her face. And Mamojlovic is terrific as well. He is not just some sleazy club owner. Things are more complex than that. The film, like the current release Frozen River, shows us that people will try many things when they are desparate for money. And although I don't think that what Maggie did was such a big deal - after all, she was not a criminal - it something that would make many of us uncomfortable.

Anyway, do yourself a favor and rent this film - unless you are a prude. Then I wouldn't bother.

Man on Wire & SIxty Six

Once again, due to limited amount of time and tiredness I will only say a few words about each of these films.

Man on Wire is an excellent documentary directed by James Marsh (who made the terrific feature film The King with Gael Garcia Bernal and William Hurt) about high wire walker Philippe Petit. In 1974 Petit walked the wire several times between the Twin Towers. Of course, this was illegal. But the fact that he did it is amazing.
We learn that Petit always had an adventurous streak. He always liked to climb. He did a lot of this in his native France. He was obsessed with the Towers even before they were built. The film shows a dramatic recreation of a number of events and also talks to those who knew Petit back then and were involved with this in some way.
Sadly, after this famous walk many of Petit's personal relationships suffered. But the film is really beautiful to watch. And the message is loud and clear: rebel against the status quo and follow your passion even though it may carry great risk (and what could be riskier than losing your life?).

Sixty Six is a sweet, charming family comedy set in North London in 1966. Bernie Rubens (Gregg Sulkin) feels that he is a non-entity. He is always overshadowed by his older brother Alvie (Ben Newton). But when it is time for his bar mitzvah he hopes that it is finally his time to shine. The only problem is that his bar mitzvah is scheduled for the same day that England plays in competition for the World Cup.

Bernie's father Manny (Eddie Marsan) is always preoccupied with business and money. And Bernie's mother Esther (Helena Bonham Carter) is always trying to help. It seems that Manny is in a similar situation as Bernie - he is overshadowed by his brother Jimmy (Peter Serafinowicz). Through our time with Bernie we find out that he is really more special than he thinks he is.

The film is directed with a lot of heart by Paul Weiland, who has said that the film is somewhat autobiographical. The screenplay is well written by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan. Carter is totally believable as a Jewish mother. And Marsan is great a the ultra nervous father. Young Sulkin is a real standout as Bernie. The supporting cast is also terrific - this includes Stephen Rea as Bernie's asthma doctor Dr. Barrie, Richard Katz as the blind Rabbi Linov and Sean McGinley as an Irish musician named Mr. O'Connor. Although the film is funny it is also poignant because it is not just about the bar mitzvah and the World Cup. It is about Bernie's relationship with his family, especially his father. This is a truly heartwarming film.

I highly recommend both of these small films. If you can't see them in the theater then make sure your rent them when they come out on DVD.

DVD Mini Review - A King in New York

A King in New York is another wonderful creation of Charles Chaplin. In this film he gives it back to the US who, at the time the film was made, banned him from entering the US (after telling him to leave a few years before that).

In the film Chaplin plays the deposed King Shahdov of Estrovia. He and his faithful companion (played by Jerry Desmonde) flee to the US. Of note, Shahdov was overthrown because he wanted to use atomic energy for good things, not to make bombs.
When he arrives in New York many strange things happen. He is tricked into becoming a television commercial celebrity. And he meets all kinds of strange and pushy people. There are many funny sequences. These include a segment where Shahdov goes through plastic surgery and a segment where he gets his finger stuck in a fire extinguisher. I laughed a lot during that one.

One of the people he meets is a boy named Rupert (played by Chaplin's son Michael). Rupert is wise for his age but very lonely. They take a liking to each other. Rupert's parents are Communists. This leads to Shadhov being forced to testify before the House Unamerican Activities Committee. This is certainly from a chapter in Chaplins own life. I will not tell you how this all turns out. See the film for yourself.

The more I see of Chaplin's films the more confirmation I have of his genius. Today's young filmmakers can learn a thing or two from him. I highly recommend this film to all of you who love good cinema.

Brideshead Revisited

I barely remember the 1981 mini series of Brideshead Revisited and I have never read the book. But after seeing this new film version I definitely want to watch the mini series and read the book. And I intend to do both in the not too distant future.

I liked this version of Brideshead very much and I think that it is too bad that some people are comparing it to the above mentioned mini series and book. It stands on its own. The film is directed by Julian Jarrold (who does a good job) and is well written by Jeremy Brock and Andrew Davies from the novel by Evelyn Waugh.

Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) seems like a lonely chap. He is an only child and his mother died when he was very young. His father is quite indifferent to him. So when he begins his studies at Oxford it is easy to see why he was so taken in by the flamboyant Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw). He is really in awe when Sebastian takes him to the family home known as Brideshead. Charles and Sebastian become very close but something happens Charles when he meets Sebastian's sister Julia (Hayley Atwell).
But the family is ruled by Julia and Sebastian's devout Catholic mother Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson). At some point Charles and Sebastian visit Lord Marchmain
(Michael Gambon) and his mistress Cara (Greta Scacchi) in Venice. And that is all I will say about the plot. But I will say that the film, in part, is about religion and how it can control and even ruin your life - and how when people are on the way out they cling to it even though the gave it up during their life.

The scenery is exquisite and the story draws you in. You want to see how it plays out. And all of the acting is very good. So what else do you need in a film? I highly recommend the film to those of you who love good storytelling and are open enough not to make comaparisons to other versions of the story (or do not listen to those who do).