DVD Mini Review - Alexandra

Alexander Sokurov's wonderful film Alexandra is a meditation on war and the negative consequences that it has on everyone. And it succeeds in doing this without a shot being fired throughout the film.

Alexandra (Galina Vishnevskaya) is a Russian woman who is visiting her soldier grandson Denis (Vasily Shevtsov) in Chechnya. The trip there is not easy and it is very, very hot when she arrives. She gets to talk to a number of soldiers and some Chechens as well.

This is a film of many small moments. There is not one big emotional climax. The film takes its time unfolding and you have to be willing to go along for the ride. I am into these types of films and if you are Alexandra is definitely a must see.

Sokurov does a great job of directing. The landscape is so washed out and dusty that you feel you are there. The washed out colors add to the gloomy feel of the film. Galina is a standout in the title role. She is an amazing actress. You can't take your eyes off of her face. One of my favorite parts of the film is when she meets a Chechen woman named Malika (Raisa Gichaeva). The two have an immediate connection and it doesn't matter that they are supposed to be on opposite sides of the fence.

Alexandra is a must see for those of you who love world cinema. And while you are at it check out some of Sokurov's other works such as Mother and Son, Father and Son and, especially, Russian Ark.

Earth

Disney's Earth is a beautiful filmgoing experience. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield do a fantastic job of capturing nature in all of her beauty.

Three families - polar bears, elephants and whales - are followed. And we see rainforests, the Artic, Antartica and New Guinea are featured and there is so much more. Writing a description doesn't do justice to all of the beautful creatures in the film (and world). You must see it on the big screen to really appreciate it.

This film is highly recommended for children and adults of all ages. You will learn something and you will by hypnotized by the beauty of our planet Earth.

Is Anybody There?

Is Anybody There? is a bittersweet film about the friendship between an elderly magician named Clarence (Michael Caine) and a young boy named Edward (Bill Millner). And because John Crowley is such a good director (he directed Intermission and Boy-A) this film works. It could have been a sappy mess but it turned out very well.

Edward is obsessed with death and what happens after people die. And it is not surprising because his parents (David Morrissey and Anne-Marie Duff) run an home for elderly folks. It is the last stop for them before they pass on. Clarence is sent to live there by the government but he is not happy about it. He and Edward get off on the wrong foot but they eventually become good friends.

This may be a hard film for some to watch but it is really worth it if you are up to it. Besides the good directing there is some very fine acting. Young Millner is very good as are Morrissey and Duff. There are a number of veteran actors playing the residents of the home. Some of them are Rosemary Harris, Sylvia Syms and Peter Vaughan. They all shine in their small roles. But the film belongs to Caine. It is not easy to play a man who knows he is getting closer to the end of his life. But Caine is more than up to the challenge. He just seems to get better with age.

I can relate to some of the themes of the film. I have often questioned what happens when we die. There are no definite answers but I know what I would want.

In any case, it you like quirky British films that have humor but also covers a serious topic then I recommend that you see Is Anybody There? And, yes, you will find out why that is the title of the film.

DVD Mini Review - Maldeamores

This will be a real mini review as I have very little time right now. I must say that I enjoyed Carlos Ruiz Ruiz's take on different types of love.

This film is a Puerto Rican production and has Benicio Del Toro listed as one of its producers. It has no stars and the only actor that is known here is Luis Guzman.

One story is about how a woman finds out that her husband is cheating with her cousin on the day her grandmother dies. Her young son develops a crush on his cousin.

Another story is about how a crazed man insists that his bus driver marries him. She doesn't even know this man and, of course, refuses. He then procedes to hijack the bus at gunpoint.

The last story - and my favorite - involves an elderly woman who lives with her ex-husband. She does so because he has nowhere to go. Enter her first ex-husband who is the father of her children. He also has nowhere to go so the three of them live together. Yes, there is jealous tension. And you will find out which one she prefers.

This is a nice film with a lot of humor. The acting is very good. And it confirms that we are never too young or too old to feel love. Ruiz did a nice job with this film and I hope to see more from him in the future.

State of Play

State of Play, directed by Kevin MacDonald, is based on a BBC mini series of the same name. And while it is not quite the mini series (which was six hours) it is a damn good film.

When a woman named Sonia Baker dies on a DC subway track it causes a scandal. She was assisting Cong. Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) in investigating a corporation conspiracy. She was also having an affair with him. And there are a few murders that seem to have nothing to do with this but do they?

Enter the newspaper the Washington Globe who has been take over by a big corporation and needs a story. Old fashioned reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) is on the case. And so is new paper blogger Della Frye (Rachel McAdams). Overseeing all of this is feisty Editor in Chief Cameron Lynne (Helen Mirren).

State of Play is a first rate political thriller. Due to lack of time I cannot get into more plot details. But it is just as well. Why should I spoil anything for you. And if you saw the mini series I will say that this is still a very good intelligent entertainment.

All of the above mentioned actors do a wonderful job. Well, Affleck was pretty good and the others were great. Also doing fine work are Robin Wright Penn (Anne Collins), Jason Bateman (Dominic Foy), and Jeff Daniels (George Fergus).

So put on your thinking caps and check this one out.

Goodbye Solo and Sugar

Today I saw two very good independent films. The first is directed by Ramin Bahrani.
I am familiar with his work as I saw his other two films Man Push Cart and Chop Shop.

Goodbye Solo is his best work yet. It takes place in Winston-Salem, NC. Solo Souleymane Sy Savane) is a cab driver who aspires to be a flight attendant. He lives with his pregnant wife and step daughter Alex (Diana Franco Galindo). Solo is has an optimistic nature. He strikes up an unusual friendship with one of his passengers William (Red West). But William seems to be on a strange journey in life.
He sells his apartment, moves into a motel and hires Solo to drive him one way on a trip to a mountain on a certain date. It is obvious what William is thinking of doing. And Solo tries his best to help the man change his mind. But does he? You will have to see the film to find out.

The cast is first rate and the cinematography is outstanding. Bahrani is definitely one of the best "new" directors around. I was riveted throughout the film and was on the edge of my seat towards the end.

Sugar is another fine film from the writer/director team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (they were responsible for the wonderful Half Nelson). Sugar is the story of Miguel "Sugar" Santos Algenis Perez Soto). He is known as Sugar because he sweet with the ladies.

Sugar is on a baseball team in his native Dominican Republic. And he is really great at it. When he is chosen to go to American to play in the minor leagues it is like a dream come true. Before we know it he and some of his teammates are in Arizona. Sugar proves himself and winds up on a team that it located in Iowa. He lives with a very white farm family (who like to take in players from different countries). I should add that Sugar is not only Latin but also black. It is very hard for him to adjust. At first things go well but then something happens. The pressure to perform gets to him.

Boden and Fleck are wonderful in their craft. And Soto is terrific as Sugar. They created a character that I really cared about. And, again, I really wanted to see what happens in this film.

Both of these films have great musical scores. I hope people come out and see these films. It is important to support good independent cinema. If you can't see them in the theater then do rent them when they come out on DVD. You won't be sorry that you did.

Lemon Tree (MOD)

Thank goodness for IFC on Demand. You can see movies that are only in a few theaters on television for a small charge.

Lemon Tree is the latest from director Eran Riklis (Syrian Bride). It is the true story of a Palestinian woman's plight to save her lemon orchard from being destroyed by the Israeli secret service.

Salma Zidane (Hiam Abass) is a widow who makes her living from her lemon orchard. It has been in her family for 50 years. She used to help her father when she was a little girl. Her helper Abu Hussan (Tarik Kopty) has been helping with orchard for a very long time. When Israeli Defense Minister Israel Navon moves in things change.
His Secret Service think that the lemon grove must be cut down for security reasons. Salma will not back down and hires young lawyer Ziad Daud (Ali Suliman) to take her case. In the meantime, Navon's wife Mira (Rona Lipaz-Michael) does not agree with what is being done with the lemon grove.

The film deals with an important issue - an issue that not too many films want to address. The issue is about rights. What right does a person have to come along and destroy another person's home. This is a bone of contention I have with Israel (and I say this as a Jew). I certainly understand the need for security in Israel. But sometimes things get out of hand. There has been blood shed on both sides and it must stop.

The two women in the film have an unspoken bond. And the film also deals with their own relationship matters.

Lemon Tree is a terrific film and I like the way in which Riklis tells the story. It is very compelling. All of the actors are fine and Abass is absolutely wonderful.
I think that she is one of the best actresses working today (she will be in Julian Schnabel's next film).

I wish that there would be peace in the Middle East. I wish that Israelis and Palestinians would sit down and talk to each other. I wish that they would live together without any walls or borders. As John Lennon says "some say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one." Well, at least I can imagine.

DVD Mini Review - Johnny Handsome

Walter Hill directed this good B movie. Mickey Rourke plays the disfigured hood John Sedley. When a heist goes wrong Sedley's best friend Mikey (Scott Wilson) is killed. Sedley takes the blame for the crime. However, Rafe (Lance Henrikson) and his girl Sunny (Ellen Barkin) escape with the money.

Sedley is looked after by Lt. Drones (Morgan Freeman). Drones thinks he knows Sedley inside and out. But a prison surgeon named Dr. Fisher (Forest Whitaker) wants to give Sedley a second chance. He performs plastic surgery on him and the result is amazing. With a name change a new job you would think that Sedley (now known as John Mitchell) would want to walk the staight and narrow. He even meets a woman he likes named Donna (Elizabeth McGovern). But does he? See the film to find out.

Hill does a good job in directing the film. Even though the plot is somewhat predictable (there are a few twists) it is still compelling. And that is mainly due to Rourke's outstanding performance. His acting talent didn't just appear with The Wrestler. It has been there all along. The rest of the cast is also very good. I especially liked Freeman as the wise cop.

So, if you are a Mickey Rourke fan this is highly recommended. And if you like good B movies then you should also check this one out.

The Escapist (MOD)

I just saw The Escapist on IFC Movies on Demand. And what a good film it is.

The film is sharply directed by Rupert Wyatt. The marvelous Brian Cox plays Frank Perry, a prison lifer. Perry receives a letter that his daughter is a drug addict who recently overdosed. She nearly died and if she has one more episode she will die. Perry decides that he must escape and see her to set things right. But he will need help in order to make his getaway.

Joining him are Lenny Drake (Joseph Fiennes), Brodie (Liam Cunningham), Viv Batista (Seu Jorge) and Lacey (Dominic Cooper). Each of these men have distintive personalities. They are all wonderful in their roles as are Damian Lewis as Rizza and Steven Mackintosh as Tony, two very vicious brothers.

In addition to all of this the film is beautifully shot and the music is great (loved it that Leonard Cohen's The Partisan played in various parts of the film). The Escapist goes back and forth in time - from the planning stages of the escape to the actual escape itself.

The film is riveting and the last act is a total surprise. It still has me thinking.
But not a word more. Do yourself a favor and see this film. If you can't go to the theater then see it on IFC on Demand (like I did). And I should say bravo to IFC Films for making these movies accessible to one and all.

DVD Mini Review - La Petite Lili

Just a few words about a film that I liked. La Petite Lili is Claude Miller's take on Chekov's The Seagull. Of course, it is update to our modern, tech savvy times.

Actress Mado (Nicole Garcia) and her lover(and filmmaker) Simon (Bernard Giraudeau) are spending some time in the country. After all, it is summer. Mado's older brother Simon (Jean-Pierre Marinelle) is also there. Add her budding filmmaker son Julien (Robinson Stevenson) and his lover Lili (Ludivine Sagnier) into the mix and you have quite a tale.

Julien is about to premiere his new short, experimental film. It features Lili and it is quite lovely. But Julien's mother and her lover are difficult to please. So that really triggers off lots of emotion from Julien. Lili is ambitious and she eventually goes off with Brice, who makes her a star. There are other interesting characters as well - such as Jeanne-Marie (Julie Depardieu) who is secretly in love with Julien.

Miller does a good job of bringing the story to life. The film was always fascinating. The films takes its time with developing the characters - and that is the way it should be. I enjoyed watching the ins and outs of the lives of these people. And the all of the actors were top notch. Oh, I should say the the French countryside was just lovely

If you are looking for a fast Hollywood film then this is not for you. But if you like character driven tales the check out La Petite Lili.

Shall We Kiss?

This charming French film starts out with two strangers meeting by chance. Emilie (Julie Gayet) is lost and needs to find a cab to her hotel. Gabriel (Michael Cohen) can't help her find one but drives her to where she is staying. After a long evening of eating, drinking and talking Gabriel wants to kiss Emilie goodnight. She hesitates and then tells him a most fascinating story about why this might not be such a good idea.

The story involves Judith (Virginie Ledoyen) and her best friend Nicolas (Emmanuel Mouret). Judith is happily married to Claudio (Stefano Accosi). Nicolas has just broken up with someone but he soon meets Caline (Frederique Bel). I don't want to say more about the plot. It is too delicious to give away. But I can tell you that I was totally absorbed and I couldn't wait to see what happens to these people.

Mouret did not only play the male lead in Shall We Kiss? - he also wrote and directed it. He has written and directed several other films but I have never heard of him before. Well, I can tell you that I will be on the lookout for his previous films on DVD (I must check Netflix) as well as what he does in the future. I read that one critic said that he was a cross between Woody Allen and Eric Rohmer. I could see that. Also, all of the actors were very good in their roles.

I highly recommend that you see Shall We Kiss? I think that you will like it as much as I did.

Sin Nombre and The Great Buck Howard

I will say a few words about two very different movies that I saw earlier today. First up is Sin Nombre. This film is a terrific debut by writer/director Cary Fukunaga. The film focuses on people who live in Latin America under very difficult conditions. There are two strands in the story and they meet up midway through the film.

Caspar/Willy (Edgar Flores) is a member of a ruthless gang in Mexico. At the beginning of the film we watch the brutal gang initiation of his protege Smiley (Kristian Ferrer). But something happens to sour Willy's feelings for the gang. He gets into big trouble and finds himself on a train to the USA.

The second strand is about Sayra (Paulina Gaitan), who lives in Honduras. She is reunited with her father who wants to take her to the USA for a better life. It is on the train that she meets Willy. I won't tell you what the circumstances are. You will have to see the film to find out.

Sin Nombre is a very good film. All of the actors are good. The look of the film is realistic. The story is compelling and the direction is spot on. I was riveted throughout. Fukunaga is an exciting new talent to watch. I look forward to seeing what he does next. I should mention that Sin Nombre is very relevant in these difficult times. We get a good look at the lives that these people lead. And it makes us think about the complicated issue of immigration. There are no easy answers.

The Great Buck Howard is a good film but not up the level of Sin Nombre. But it has a lot of laughs and some fine acting and was quite enjoyable.

John Malkovich stars as Howard, a Mentalist (magician if you will) who has seen better days. He was once very popular but now works in smaller venues. But he does have his fans. He hires novice Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) to be his road manager. Howard is not an easy man to work for. Emily Blunt plays a publicist named Valerie brought in to set up interviews for Howard and keep his name in the news.

The plot itself is somewhat predictable. Sean McGinley does a good but not spectacular job of directing the film. Malkovich is wonderful and has once again (see Burn After Reading) proves that he can be a very funny man. Blunt is good as always. There are other good actors in the film - such as Ricky Jay as Howard's associate Gil and Steve Zahn as an overzealous fan. But Hanks is a bit too bland for my taste. He needed to have more umph! Tom Hanks, the real life father of Colin, has a cameo as Troy's father. All in all an entertaining way to spend 90 minutes.

Oh, I should say that the film was inspired by The Amazin Kreskin. I found that to be most interesting.

DVD Mini Review - Saint Clara

I thought that Waltzing with Bashir was the best film of 2008. So when I read that Netflix had another one of his films on DVD I immediately put it in my queue. Before I got the film in the mail I reread the description and I thought that I might have seen this film in the theater. And when I watched it I remembered it. I saw it in the late 90s at the Film Forum with a friend.

However, that doesn't matter. It was good to see the film again because it is a little gem. Folman co-wrote and co-directed the film with Ori Sivan. It takes place in a small Israeli town. The Golda Meir school has several punky youngsters looking for trouble. But along comes Clara (Lucy Dubinchik), who is newly arrived from Russia. She has a gift - she is psychic. And that is the reason that the whole class is getting a hundred on their tests.

The film is both funny and touching. Dubinchik is great and there are many zany, wonderful performances in this odd little film. A standout is Yigal Naor as the school principal. The film has a lovely ending.

This film is very different from Waltz with Bashir. But it already showed Folman's potential. I highly recommend this film to those of you who enjoy unusual foreign films. I must say that I cannot wait to see what Ari Folman will do next. And I can't wait to get my DVD copy of Waltz with Bashir. I sure hope that is has good bonus features.