With the weekend upon us, here are nine thumbnail reviews. Let me know if you agree or disagree. Some are little indy films, some are studio efforts. Sunday I’ll post nine more, including Black Swan. See you at the theater!
Hunting and Sons. The saddest, sickest, and most depressing film I’ve seen in years, this Dutch story is about a young husband and wife whose juxtaposed emotions flip-flop between expectant joy and pitiful sadness after they learn she is pregnant. Unless you have an iron will and are willing to study a dark side of people we hopefully never see, I will warn against watching. Pass.
Waste Land. Uplifting true story about a successful Brazilian artist who’s found great success in America but chooses to return home to honor and celebrate (through art) more than 3,000 proud workers who scour Rio de Janeiro’s massive trash dump daily in search of recyclable garbage. This is a wonderful effort that champions dignity in all people. Strong recommend for anyone who appreciates boutique stories of happiness.
Fair Game. Sean Penn is far too self-indulgent and Naomi Watts is miscast in this liberal adaptation of the Valerie Plame CIA spy-outing. I didn’t like this film at all. One of my five worst of the year. Pass.
Blue Valentine. Intense dramatic story of a crumbling relationship with two wonderful performances, Ryan Gosling as the husband and Michelle Williams his wife. Together they are superb. This is a no-holds-barred look at the disintegration beyond repair of a formerly happy marriage that has produced a jointly-loved young son but too much pain to persevere. Strong recommend for anyone who appreciates a well crafted, acted, and story-driven motion picture.
Morning Glory. I liked this mainstream comedy about a bunch of newsroom nutcases because of the lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek fun it pokes at TV show people and programming. Harrison Ford is a bit extreme at times but Diane Keaton is wonderful; she stands out in a strong ensemble cast. Rachel McAdams does a nice job in the lead role. The script is good not great but there are laugh-out-loud scenes scattered throughout. Recommend.
Unstoppable. Denzel Washington saves a Pennsylvania town by figuring out how to corral a runaway train. A simple premise, very well executed, we have seen all facets of Denzel’s performance in previous work – he gives us nothing new – and yet the action picture is still an entertaining escape. A good effort worth watching. Recommend.
127 Hours. Director Danny Boyle does a masterful job telling the Aron Ralston story. Actor James Franco will get an Oscar nomination for his compelling work as the young rock climber who loses an arm but not the will to live after becoming hopelessly trapped in a sudden rock-climbing accident. Strong recommend.
Inside Job. This powerful documentary explains how Wall Street’s powerbroking greedy few put millions of innocent Americans out of work and out of their homes. Every American should see it and every American should demand changes to the system. A four-star effort narrated by Matt Damon. Must see.
Love and Other Drugs. I am pretty much convinced that Anne Hathaway is the new Julia Roberts — America’s best choice for a young comedic actress cast in a leading role. This story, about a prettyboy Pfizer drug rep (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his young Parkinson’s-stricken girlfriend (Hathaway) is a bit like a block of Swiss cheese — it has many obvious holes — but despite that I liked the two together. If there’s nothing else you’d rather go see, take a chance. It’s flawed but fun. Recommend.