Iron Man

May 2, 2008. There are summer block busters that live up to hype (Pirates of the Caribbean) and those that do not (Spider Man III). And then there is Iron Man, which exceeds even my unreasonably high expectations. To say that it was the role that Robert Downy was born to play doesn't do credit to his work in KISS KISS BANG BANG but it does indicate the depth he brings to the Bruce Wayne of the modern age. The crackling repartee between Tony Stark and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is actually interesting and somewhat reminiscent of Nick and Nora (of THIN MAN fame). But now that superheroes are big and every franchise from the Green Arrow to Captain America will get his time on the silver screen, I have become disenchanted and I will be much more discrimination in my future choices. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/

The Hunting Party

September 14, 2007. Written and directed by Richard Shepard, who also directed OXYGEN (about a masochistic cop) and THE MATADOR (about a hit man and a businessman who experience a crisis of conscious). I love movies that are based on fact and so when the movie starts with "Only the most ridiculous parts of this story are true" my expectations are peaked. In terms of stylistic elements I enjoyed the "As for me" in neon above our protagonists head as he utters the words. The close up of a very pregnant woman who has been shot in the belly five times was quite disturbing, especially as one remembers that this is based on a war where atrocities were commonplace. Some of the lines that I love are "ethnically cleansed for your protection, nice vibe right?" and "being that close to death and alive is completely addictive". The use of what one assumes is indigenous music is masterful. The addition of actual footage from actual war correspondents to underscore points is well done and not abused. Especially poignant was showing the war torn Olympics symbols. I like the contrast between "The Fox" they are hunting and the actual fox hunt. However, the scene where "The Fox" is caught is highly improbable, if morally satisfying. The fact versus fiction sequence at the end did not disappoint. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455782/