Duplicity

I see the rare blockbuster in the theater but a friend wanted to see Duplicity and I thought a movie with Clive Owen couldn't be all that bad. And indeed his suave British self exudes sex appeal throughout the movie. And Julia Roberts, who plays the same role in every movie, a sassy in control vamp, is good in the same old role she always plays. Duplicity is an entertaining spy thriller full of twists and turns, and it is enjoyable if not somewhat formulaic.

I Have Loved You So Long/ Sycheadaofjwoe

Guest blogger: N. Huelster
First attempt: Schenechdote(?); I was warned by a professor that this film was trying too hard to be "meta," was pretentious and not worth seeing. Giving it a try, however, proved this to be true. The name is similar to the name of the town in Upstate New York where the film takes place, but is a word meaning "a trope where a part is used to refer to its whole," which is supposed to explain the connection between the play within the film, I think, but frankly, the whole film is so messed up that I couldn't understand what the director was going for. The psyche of the main character is painful to witness from the start of the movie, and after his wife leaves him, and his health begins to deteriorate, it only becomes more and more painful to watch. Not only this, the effects of Kaufman's mixing of the fantastic with the real is lost in this flop, whereas in "Eternal Sunshine" it served the characters and the story to make a superb (and meta) film. Fastforwarded the last hour, it was my favorite part.
Second attempt: Il y'a Longtemps Que Je T'aime; French film starring English actress Kristen Scott Thomas. This was a good film, exploring the reunion of two sisters after one is released from fifteen years in prison for murdering her son. Throughout the film we learn her reason for doing it, and it turns out not to be the horrific act of violence that sustains much of the tension throughout the unfolding story- her introduction into her sister's new family, a new job, and new acquaintances on the other side of the prison wall to face (and to face her guilt). Thomas' character is bleak, and mysterious, and her relationship with her sister and her family reveals in the end what her true guilt really was. I at first liked the story for its sympathetic look at mental illness/ prison, but in the end the twist surrounding Thomas' crime gives the story a new depth. Bien!

Music Within

While Music Within is a made-for-TV-like melodramatic bio pic, it tells about a very important moment in history when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed and how Richard Pimentel was instrumental in educating the public about people with disabilities. Richard Pimentel is played Ron Livingston who is a very likable actor. Pimentel's good friend Art, Michael Sheen (recently in Frost Nixon), is a man with Cerebral Palsy who teaches his friend about living with CP. I found myself drawn in by this movie and I think anyone who is interested in this topic would like this movie.

I also saw Feast of Love this weekend. Dumb ensemble piece with good actors like Greg Kinnear and Morgan Freeman (who plays the same role he always does -- wise mentor). I chose both these movies from seeing previews on a DVD. That usually does not work out so well and Feast of Love proves that.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

I would describe Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist as sweet and occasionally gross. A couple of cute teenagers drive around New York City looking for their favorite band while falling in love. This movie made me nostalgic for my college days when I would drive down to Dinky Town with my pals to hear bands while listening to mix tapes. Of course, in the movie they make mixed CDs and download them onto their iPods, and they are all in high school! So it's a likable movie; however it leaves me with a few posers: In what world are teenagers allowed to go to bars, drink, and stay up all night? Why are there so many movies of late featuring Michael Cera, who plays the same lovable boy in every movie? Why does anyone want to watch someone throwing up in a movie? Or listen to it. Gross! Do some movie goers enjoy this? That's all I got, out.

Brideheads Revisited, the movie

Since I loved the 1981 mini-series Brideheads Revisited based on Evelyn Waugh's novel, I was reluctant to see the 2008 version. And, as to be expected, I was disappointed by the movie which runs at 2 hours and 14 minutes, compared to the 8ish hour mini-series. The barely scratches of the surface of the complex and wonderful characters rife in Waugh's book. What happened to the lovable Sebastian? The movie offers a very superficial version of his character-- Maybe I am disappointed because I miss the wonderful Anthony Andrews Sebastian. (On a side note -- there is only a passing glance of Aloysius, Sebastian's stuffed bear) I liked Matthew Goode who plays as Charles Ryder, and I liked the Julia, Hayley Atwell. But because the movie was trying to do so much so quickly, none of the actors had a chance to delve into their characters. The filmmakers decided to amp up the gay and the catholic in the movie. Make Sebastian more flamboyant and overt in his love for Charles --not too mention the actor is so fey, thin and wispy that he seems like he is going to float away. They also oversimplified the Catholic conflicts throughout the movie, so the movie-goer never really gets why the Flytes are so tortured. Finally, the great Emma Thompson seemed wasted in this movie. She hit one note, dour Catholic mama.

So instead of watching this movie and if you happen to have 8 hours of time on your hands for great TV watching -- watch the 1981 mini-series which I re-watched last summer -- I was entranced all over again. But pass on the the latest movie version.

Check out my list of great min-series too!

The Wackness

"I look at the dopeness in life, and you look at the wackness." During the summer of 1994, 18-year-old dope dealer angst-filled Jeffrey seeks counsel from a psychiatrist in exchange for a gram of pot. It turns out his psychiatrist is more wacked than Jeffery who is just trying to earn the love of Dr. Squire's step-daughter. Jeffery is played by Josh Peck who is charming and likable -- he pushes an ice cart around New York City filled with dime bags while moping about life. The movie centers around his friendship with Dr. Squire played by Ben Kingsley who is hilarious as the depressed man-child. Their conversations about how to make it through troubled times, an unhappy marriage and arguing parents, are well-written and insightful. I really enjoyed The Wackness.

Deb wins 2009 Oscar Challenge! Bummer.

2009 Oscar Picks – The Great Deb V. Mary Challenge
Winners in bold
Mary = X 18/24
Deb = X 20/24
Winner = Deb

BEST PICTURE[ ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] Frost/Nixon[ ] Milk[ ] The Reader[ XX] Slumdog Millionaire

DIRECTOR[ ] David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon[ ] Gus Van Sant, Milk[ ] Stephen Daldry, The Reader[X X] Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY[ ] Frozen River[ ] Happy-Go-Lucky[ X] In Bruges[ X ] Milk[ ] WALL-E

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY[ ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] Doubt[ ] Frost/Nixon[ ] The Reader[ X X] Slumdog Millionaire

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE[ ] Richard Jenkins, The Visitor[ ] Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon[ X ] Sean Penn, Milk[ ] Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[X ] Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE[ ] Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married[ ] Angelina Jolie, Changeling[ ] Melissa Leo, Frozen River[ ] Meryl Streep, Doubt[ XX] Kate Winslet, The Reader

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE[ ] Josh Brolin, Milk[ ] Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder[ ] Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt[ X X] Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight[ ] Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE[ ] Amy Adams, Doubt[ X X] Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona[ ] Viola Davis, Doubt[ ] Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM[ ] The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)[ ] The Class (France) [ ] Departures (Japan)[ ] Revanche (Austria)[ X X ] Waltz with Bashir (Israel)


ANIMATED FEATURE[ ] Bolt[ ] Kung Fu Panda[ X X] WALL-E

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE[ ] The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)[ ] Encounters at the End of the World[ ] The Garden[ X X ] Man on Wire[ ] Trouble the Water

DOCUMENTARY SHORT[ ] The Conscience of Nhem En[ ] The Final Inch[X ] Smile Pinki[ X ] The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

SHORT FILM - ANIMATED[ ] La Maison En Petits Cubes[ ] Lavatory - Lovestory[ ] Oktapodi[ X X ] Presto[ ] This Way Up

SHORT FILM - LIVE ACTION[ ] Auf Der Strecke (On the Line)[ ] Manon on the Asphalt[ ] New Boy[X ] The Pig[ X ] Spielzeugland (Toyland)

ORIGINAL SCORE[ ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] Defiance[ ] Milk[ X X] Slumdog Millionaire[ ] WALL-E

ORIGINAL SONG[ ] "Down to Earth" - WALL-E[ X X] "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire[ ] "O Saya" - Slumdog Millionaire

ART DIRECTION[ ] Changeling[ X X] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] The Dark Knight[ ] The Duchess[ ] Revolutionary Road

CINEMATOGRAPHY[ ] Changeling[ ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] The Dark Knight[ ] The Reader[ X X] Slumdog Millionaire

COSTUME DESIGN[ X ] Australia[ ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[X ] The Duchess[ ] Milk[ ] Revolutionary Road

MAKEUP[ X ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ X] The Dark Knight[ ] Hellboy II: The Golden Army

SOUND MIXING[ ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ X X] The Dark Knight[ ] Slumdog Millionaire[ ] WALL-E[ ] Wanted

SOUND EDITING[ X X] The Dark Knight[ ] Iron Man[ ] Slumdog Millionaire[ ] WALL-E[ ] Wanted

VISUAL EFFECTS[ X X ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] The Dark Knight[ ] Iron Man

FILM EDITING[ ] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[ ] The Dark Knight[ ] Frost/Nixon[ ] Milk[ X X] Slumdog Millionaire