You Don't Mess with the Zohan

June 6, 2008. It manages to be both better and worse than you expect. Happy Gilmore meets Munich meets Romeo and Juliet. The call to Hezbollah is the highlight of the film. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0960144/

Interview

May 10, 2007. The casting of Steve Buscemi as the political journalist, slumming on a celebrity assignment and Sienna Miller as the B-list pop tart, the kind that ends up on the red carpet sans underwear, is nearly perfect. This is a tribute piece to Theo Van Gogh, a remake with numerous references to the original. More like a stage play that has a battle of wits where the winner is often unexpected. You root for one and then the other and then realize that each is more complex than expected. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480269/

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/

Sleuth

October 11, 2007. This movie presents a mental chess game between two deceptive and manipulative Brits. Ostensibly, the object of contention is Wyke’s (played by Michael Caine) wife, but Tindle (played by Jude Law) needs to prove himself to the clearly superior Wyke. It is interesting that this remake of the 1972 film of the same title featured Michael Caine as Tindle. I was surprised to see Kenneth Branagh as the director because it bares no indication of his style. It is clearly based on an adapted stage play (Anthony Shaffer's Tony Award-winning work) with exceptionally limited setting and only two characters. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857265/

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

March 27, 2008. Frances McDormand is perfect as the frumpy yet charming freshly unemployed governess. I continue to be enchanted with Amy Adams, fresh from a movie of the same description. She manages to make gold digger an acceptable profession. And I have never seen anyone who needed a social secretary more. The movie conforms to the title in that it takes place in a single, frantic and event filled day. There is a wonderful tension between the sweet and tender versus the comedic versus the undercurrent of sadness and impending disaster. As a period piece the costumes are an integral part of the movie and they do not disappoint. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/

Lars and the Real Girl

October 14, 2007. Ryan Gosling stars as Lars Lindstrom, an extremely shy young man living in a small town where he is a popular fellow. He purchases a sex doll online and proceeds to introduce her to his brother and sister-in-law as his girlfriend. Despite the concerns of his friends and relatives, a local doctor notes that since Lars otherwise has a highly functional personality that threatens no one, this delusion is a sign that he is working through some personal issues and his loved ones should play along in the meantime. With some persuasion, the entire town eventually participates as well with growing enthusiasm for this unusual, but enjoyable, activity as Lars continues to pursue what he perceives as a deep and meaningful relationship with the doll. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/

Dan in Real Life

October 26, 2007. You have to love a movie that pits Steve Carell versus Dane Cook (who is his slimy and smarmy best). Juliette Binoche is lovely as the object of their contention. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480242/

Nancy Drew

June 15, 2007. Andrew Fleming directed DICK, THE CRAFT and some random TV shows. Emma Roberts (niece of Julia Roberts) is completely charming as Nancy Drew. There is a passing similarity to VERONICA MARS in terms of the wit and charm and grace under pressure, to say nothing of the raw sleuthing powers, of the title characters. However, Veronica has an iconic anti-hero vibe that Nancy only aspires to in a mild way. There is a “fight the power structure” and “over turn the Queen Bee” element to both characters. There is also a passing similarity to the BLACK DALIA. I was fascinated by Nancy’s fashion sense and part it plays in the story line. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479500/

Revolver

December 7, 2007. Guy Ritchie won my attention and affection for SNATCH and LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS. REVOLVER is clearly, and perhaps unfortunately, different than those movies. The comparisons to USUAL SUSPECTS and FIGHT CLUB are de rigueur but fail to capture the spirit of any of the three films. While it is easy to see how some people might fail to appreciate the narration, I found it engaging in the same way that I like Deckard’s voice in BLADE RUNNER. It is not an accident that it is a movie about a con and it feels like you are being setup. “In every game and con there is always an opponent and there is always a victim, the trick is to know when you are the later so you can become the former.” The simple con, like three-card Monte, and unpretentious slight of hand magic, both require distractions and accomplices. “The opponent simply distracts the victim by getting them consumed with their own consumption.” Revolver has both of these ingredients in spades. The revenge elements are reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo. The editing, especially the action scenes, which are delightfully plentiful, is energetic and engaging. Ray Liotta, the casino owner and antagonist, is brave for his weeping demand for respect, wardrobe choices and blue tinted sequences. As a long time player, I enjoyed the use of chess as a metaphor for war and life. The visual sequences of the chess games were among my favorite. “You can only get smarter by playing a smarter opponent.” “You do all the hard work and I just help you along. The art is for me to feed pieces to you and make you believe that you took those pieces because you’re smarter and I am dumber.” The animated sequences were interesting but did not appreciably add to the narrative. One dominant theme is that every man is his own worst enemy. “Every man has a weakness.” “Use your perceived enemy to destroy your real enemy.” The theme of greed is reinforced with opulent backgrounds, massive frescoes, bags of cash, huge stacks of casino chips and suitcases of assorted currency. The 13th floor dialogue explores inner voices, internal dialogue and William James’ many selves. “You heard the voice for so long that you believe it to be you.” “The greatest trick that he ever pulled was making you believe that he is you.” “The bigger the trick and the older the trick, the easier it is to pull.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365686/

Where the Truth Lies

October 7, 2005. Written and directed by Atom Egoyan, Where the Truth Lies is based on the Rupert Holmes novel of the same name. Atom also directed the sexually charged EXOTICA, with a spectacular performance from Mia Kirshner. I find the title of the movie quite descriptive because it explores the nature of truth and price you can pay when you push for it at all costs. Alison Lohman is excellent as the celebrity journalist who gets in over her head while interviewing a show business team that is reminiscent of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin (played by Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth). Like EXOTICA, the explicit sexual content is integral to the plot. The story takes many twists and turns, both in time and space, but the final scene is rewarding. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373450/