DVD Mini Review - August Evening

I just want to say a few words about this little gem of a film. I got a DVD copy of it when I was a member of IFP (Independent Feature Project) and voting in the Spirit awards. This film arrived to late for me to vote for it. And I hadn't seen any of the other films in its category - for the John Cassavetes awards for films made for under $500,000. But this film won (and its lead Pedro Castaneda was nominated for Best Actor) and it is easy to see why. It is a wonderful little film.

Undocumented immigrant Jaime (Castaneda) lives in a rural Texas town with his wife Maria (Raquel Gavia) and his daughter in law Lupe (Veronica Loren). Veronica was married to Jaime and Maria's son Manuel who died in an accident. Jaime works in an egg production farm. When Maria dies suddenly their lives are thrown into a tailspin. In addition, Jaime loses his job because he is getting too old to do it.
They both head for San Antonio which is where Jaime's son Victor (Abel Becerra) and daughter Alice (Sandra Rios) live (I should say that we already met them at their mother's funeral). But Jaime does not get the kind of welcome he was hoping for from his children. While living in San Antonio Lupe meets Luis (Walter Peres), a young man who fall for her.

I won't say much else about the film. It is about ordinary day to day things that happen to ordinary people. Chris Eska wrote, directed and edited the film all by himself for about $40,000. Now that is quite an achievement for a first time filmmaker. The cinematography by Yasu Tanida is amazing. And the whole cast is wonderful. This is a film of emotions, feelings, quiet moments. It takes its unfolding. If you only like fast paced action films then this is not a film for you.
But I would take this film over every superhero movie out there.

The film is in very limited release right now so if you can't see it in the theater then make sure you catch on DVD.

DVD Mini Review - An American Crime

Tommy O'Haver's An American Crime could not get theatrical distribution so it landed on cable's Showtime channel. I saw it on DVD. To say that it is disturbing is an understatement. It is based on the real life story of Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener), a troubled woman with six children and no husband. One day she takes in two more kids as borders. Their parents travel with the circus and decide to leave them with Gertrude.

It is obvious that Gertrude is mentally disturbed. But she is also viscious and violent. She takes out all of her demons on poor Sylvia (Ellen Page). There are a number of scenes that are very difficult to watch. Gertrudes children and some other kids participate in the torture of Sylvia. What is most disturbing to me is that no one, not even Sylvia's sister, reported this to the authorities. It just boggles the mind.

The film is well made and both Keener and Page give good performances (Keener earned an Emmy nomination). The other actors are also good. But the film sometimes puts Gertrude in a sympathetic light and I had no sympathy for her. Yes, she was poor. That doesn't give the right to torture this poor girl. And if ever there was a case for using birth control this is it. The real life Gertrude was even worse. But why try to make us feel something for her when she doesn't deserve it.

Although An American Crime is a good (but not great) film I can't recommend it to many people because of the nature of the story. On the other hand, people should know about this so maybe they should see the film in the hopes that we will know the signs of child abuse and do something about it before it is too late like it was with poor Sylvia.

DVD Mini Review - Anne of the Thousand Days

I love history and I love historical films, books, etc. There are certainly many fine films that deal with the history of the British monarchy and Charles Jarrott's Anne of the Thousand Days is one of them.

This film deals mainly with King Henry VIII's (Richard Burton)love affair with Anne Boleyn (Genevieve Bujold). He was crazy for her but she was very cool for him. But he eventually won her over but their love didn't last. We all know the story but seeing it retold in this wonderful film makes the story even more interesting.

The film is beautifully shot and has gorgeous costumers (it won an Oscar in that category). It boasts a terrific supporting cast including Anthony Quayle as Cardinal Woolsey and Irene Papas as Henry's first wife Queen Katherine. Burton, who was one of the greatest actors who ever lived, is a marvelous (and cruel) Henry. And Bujold is just sensational as Anne. What a sharp tongue that woman had!! I just loved it.

So if you like this type of film and you haven't seen it yet then you must rent it. You will be very happy that you did.

I Served the King of England & Burn After Reading

I saw two good films today. And I laughed at both of them.

I Served the King of England is directed by Czech filmmaker Jiri Menzel (Closely Watched Trains). It tells the story of Jan Dite (played as a young man by Ivan Barney and as an older man by Oldrich Kaiser).

From early on in his life Jan wants to be a millionaire. He works at several jobs in the hotel business and each time he has some type of good luck. And when that happens he moves on. When the Nazis occupy Czecheslovakia things start to change for him. He meets Lisa (Julia Jentsch) who is German and a Nazi supporter. Jan really has no political thoughts at all. But he loves Liza so he goes along with her. Many things happen and eventually Jan gets his wish. He is rich and owns a hotel. But in the not too distant future Communism comes in and there are more changes.

More than anything this film is a character study and is one man's realization that what he wanted as a young man was not, in the end, really worth it. Both actors who play Jan are very good as is Jentsch and the supporting cast. You might think that a film like this would be oh so serious. But it was done with a lot of humor. I found myself laughing quite a bit. But at the same time there is a lesson in all of this. You might wish for something really hard but when you get it the price you have to pay is not worth is.

Burn After Reading is the Coen Brothers follow up to there masterpiece (and awards winning) No Country for Old Men. This film is a comedy but a very dark one.

Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) works for the CIA. He has trouble at work and at home with his cold as ice wife Katie (Tilda Swinton). When he leaves his job she decides to seek a divorce. She is having an affair with the married Harry (George Clooney) who works for the Treasury (the film takes place in Washington DC).

In the meantime, a CD belonging to Osborne falls into the hands of two employees at a local gym - Linda (Frances McDormand) and Chad (Brad Pitt). They decided to try to get money out of Osborne by exchanging the CD for cash. Linda is really desperate for cosmetic surgery and needs money for that. She is also looking for love online and one of the men she meets is....you will have to see for yourself.

The film is very funny and also a bit violent. But it all works. All of the actors are very good as are Richard Jenkins as the gym manager Ted and J.K. Simmons as a CIA superior. The Coen Brothers once again what great filmmakers they are and that they are also very versatile. Burn After Reading isn't as good as No Country for Old Men but I wasn't expecting that. However, it is very good but it is definitely not for every taste - which is the case for their films in general.

There you have it - two very good films in one day. Ah, I just love cinema!!

DVD Mini Review - Vantage Point

One of the things that intrigued me about Vantage Point was the plot. The other thing was that it was filmed in Spain and there are a few parts of the film that is in Spanish.

The film is directed by first time director Pete Travis. For the most part it held my interest but with a more experienced director it would have been a better film.

We see the same story told several times through the eyes of different people including two Secret Service agents (Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox), a tourist (Forest Whitaker), a television reporter (Sigourney Weaver in a very underwritten role), the President of the US (William Hurt) and a Spanish cop (?) (Eduardo Noriega).

At times the film is suspenseful. But there are two chase scenes that go on for too long and are quite unbelievable. The bottome line is - not a bad film at all and worth seeing on DVD or cable.

Transsiberian, My Mexican Shivah and Un Secret

I saw three good films this past weekend and I will say a few words (and I do mean a few because of my lack of time) about each of them.

I saw Brad Anderson's Transsiberian at my local arthouse. It is quite a suspenseful film. At the beginning of the film we see a murder victim in Russia and police inspector Grinko (Ben Kingsley) is on the scene. Fast forward to Beijing and we meet married couple Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer) who have been in China for a church sponsered humanitarian trip. Before they fly home Roy and Jesse will take the train from Beijing to Moscow. All seems well, right? They are soon joined by their new cabin mates Abby (Kate Mara) and Carlos (Eduardo Noreiga). Shortly thereafter things start getting a little strange. That is all I will say about the film. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the story kept me on my toes. And all of the acting was very good.

The other two films I saw on MOD (Movies on Demand) which is a good way to see films that are currently playing in theaters - but because there are so many films you want to see out there you can see these films right in your home.

My Mexican Shivah, directed by Alejandro Springall, tells the story of the week following the sudden death of the lively Moishe (Sergio Kleiner). Everyone gathers at his daughter Esther's (Raquel Pankowsky) house for the period of mourning. This includes Moishe's womanizing son Ricardo (David Ostrosky), Ricardo's ultra Orthodox son Nicolas (Emilio Savini) and Esther's free spirited daughter Galia (Sharon Zandel). There are many other colorful characters as well. This mix of characters, an interesting story and wonderful klezmer music (provided by the Klezmatics) make this an enjoyable film watching experience. And, by the way, this film is produced by John Sayles and Maggie Renzi.

Claude Miller's Un Secret is an intense story of a Jewish family during and after World War II. The film is based on Phillipe Grimbert's book (which is a true story).
Young Francois (Valentin Vigourt) is a sensitive child. He doesn't seem to please his father Maxime (Patrick Bruel) who wanted a more athletic child. But his mother Tania (Cecile De France), who is a terrific swimmer, doesn't seem to mind a bit. As Francois (and I wonder why Miller changed his name from Phillipe to Francois) gets older (he is now played by Quentin Dubuis) is suspicious. He knows that there is something that is being kept from him. So he asks Louise (Julie Depardieu), who is his confidante, to tell him the truth about his parents. And that my friends is all I will tell you about this film. All of the acting is wonderful. And this also includes Ludvine Sagnier as Hannah (I will not tell you who she is) and Mathieu Amalric as the grown up Francois. The film is beautifully shot and gives you a real sense of place and time. And, once again, here is a film that gives you just a little taste of how many people's lives were damaged because of The Holocaust. Let us never forget that.

DVD Mini Reviews - Before I Forget

Jacques Nolot wrote, directed and stars in this portrait of a gay man with HIV as he approaches 60. The story takes place in Paris. Pierre (Nolot) has lost his long time lover and doesn't feel that great. He is offered a new treatment but doesn't know if he wants to take it (he has HIV for 24 years). Pierre goes to young hustlers but that doesn't really do the trick for him.

This film is a very honest portrayal not only of a gay man but an honest portrayal of aging in society. The characters in the film are all very believable. And the film is beautifully shot.

If you are looking for a film that is frank and doesn't beat around the bush then you will like this film (as I did).