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Reviews
Running with Scissors (2006)
Strange But Funny
This has to be one of the strangest films of the year, yet irresistibly funny. Annette Bening and Brian Cox deliver quite superb performances. It was good that I knew the movie is based on a memoir or I would have thought it far too far-fetched to take seriously! What a strange family. One of the funniest moments for me was when Brian Cox showed his room - his masturbatorium - to Annette Bening and her son. Not only was this funny in the movie, there was so much more to laugh at when about one quarter of the audience walked out at that point! I appreciate this is a movie not to everyone's taste (about half walked out before the end) but for me it was such a change to see that a film company has the courage to make something a little different. The introduction to the real life characters at the end, with summaries of their future paths was a nice touch.
The Departed (2006)
Nicholson At His Best
What is it about Jack that endears us all to him? He's an absolute genius and an entertainer without a peer. For me, this is the best movie of the year so far. It is fast paced, exciting and a thrill a minute. Wonderful performances from a superb cast - Leonardo Di Caprio, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg to name but a few. Scorsese has another fabulous movie to add to his repertoire. Apparently, Nicholson insisted on making his character more evil than Scorsese had in mind, and it was his (Nicholson's) idea to bring in the drug usage, the porn movie theater and the rubber penis. The man's a genius - and deserves an Oscar nomination just for his facial impression of a rat. The entire audience laughed at that.
Bobby (2006)
Emilio Estevez Delivers!
I saw this last night and not having read any detailed reviews, found myself completely taken by surprise. I expected a political drama along the lines of JFK, and was delighted at the style and approach that Estevez chose. The movie focuses on the relational aspects of numerous people at the Ambassador hotel, while at the same time giving us a powerful insight into Bobby Kennedy's beliefs. It was a delight too, to see such a fine cast - Martin Sheen, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Harry Belafonte - take smaller roles that when taken together deliver a powerful and moving piece of theatre. Hopkins thoughtful facial expressions allow him to act wordlessly - sublime, a master craftsman at work. A few years and tears ago, I visited the JFK Memorial Library in Boston. There was a showing of a documentary on Bobby Kennedy's campaign that I believe won an Oscar for Best Documentary. As a non-American, I was enormously moved by the tearful, silent audience as the credits rolled. Truly this was a great American, so tragically snatched away. Estevez has delivered a beautiful piece of craftsmanship with this movie.
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
One of the Best Movies of 2006
I went to the movie theater with quite some anticipation for Clint Eastwood's latest work, after what has been for me, an awful year for good movies. I like a good war movie and especially one that is historically accurate and true to the tale. Flags of our Fathers didn't disappoint. Although this movie didn't overwhelm me in the way that say, Dances With Wolves or Brokeback Mountain did, I enjoyed the clever way in which Eastwood chose to tell the story - from three different, interwoven perspectives. He didn't make me work hard to follow the weave. The powerful themes that I took away from the movie were a) the innocence of such young men sent off to war, b) the necessary cynicism of politicians desperate for funds, c) the guilt felt by anyone labelled a hero, and d) the despair of mothers and family members of those lost in battle. As the father of two sons aged 18 and 20, the thought of them going off to war is just unimaginable to me, much less the possibility of losing them.
I've only really come to appreciate Eastwood's gift in the last five years or so. He's a genius, so understated and matter-of-fact. To witness his creativity at the age of 76 is an honor. I hope there are another three or four major movies left in him! As a non-American, my only regret about the movie is the possibility that more praise than it deserves will be heaped upon it because of the sentimentality of the American public to war, war heroes and the emotions brought about by any reference to the flag. This movie showed us that there is no glory in war, nor are there any winners.
Trust the Man (2005)
Fun Movie On Relationships
I was surprised to see that this movie was being screened at only one theater in my region. When I arrived, it was not named on the electronic display board. I asked if I had made a mistake and was cheerfully told that it was being shown in theater no.12! I bought a ticket and sat alone, unsurprisingly, I guess.
I thought the movie was pretty good. It explores the complexity of feeling in relationships that have become stale and habituated - a common occurrence these days. It reminded me of a goofy version of Woody Allen's Hannah And Her Sisters. I thought the scene of Duchovny attending the sex addicts' therapy group for the first time was truly hilarious. Not often that I laugh out loud at the cinema. (Odd that the fox Mulder character enjoyed watching porn.) Sadly, I was disappointed by the ending, which just stretched the imagination too far, for me.
In these days of blockbuster-obsessed America though, it's great to see a small budget movie like this, even if I had to hunt it down.
Crank (2006)
Crank Raises Blood Pressure
At last Jason Steatham is given a role he deserves after several fine performances in, among others, Lock, Stock and Snatch. The role is perfect for Steatham who plays a hit-man wanting to reform and leave the business. As usual, the motivation for this is the love he has met. I watched this movie through a similar lens to Pulp Fiction, Snatch, and Lock Stock because this allows me to catch the black humor. As a non-American, I'm always amused to see the US audience reaction to sex and violence - and how different are the reactions that those two provoke. Both are delivered with style and wit in this movie. After a disastrous summer for good movies, it was refreshing to leave the theater with a smile. Final Note - poor final scene in which Steatham falls from a helicopter at about a thousand feet and then is seen to plummet about thirty thousand!
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Streep Excels Again
A fun movie that finds the right blend of comedy and drama, without ever letting the comedy stoop to crassness, nor letting the drama get too serious. A very believable story and although Hathaway plays with authenticity (how can anyone have such big, beautiful eyes?!), Streep steals the show with another excellent performance. Try as you might as a viewer to dislike this woman, Streep never quite lets you get away with it that easily. There is a constant undercurrent that although she needs to be professionally ruthless to be successful, there lurks a vulnerable woman underneath. Toward the end, that vulnerability is seen, to shocked gasps from the audience. The pace was brisk and once or twice I laughed out loud, which is unusual for me. A fine movie, well made, and artistically shot - Paris was photographed perfectly.
Munich (2005)
Spielberg delivers again
Steven Spielberg delivers another fine movie to add to his impressive repertoire. He captures the 1970s feel with clever use of archive footage, and mixes this brilliantly with recreated footage. The film grabs its authenticity from the simple ordinariness of the assassination team. There is no 'day of the jackal'-type reporting, just a group of people gathered together to do a job. Admittedly Bana plays his role well but for me, Geoffrey Rush steals the show. Every scene that he's in, he dominates. A fine performance. This is without doubt a war film, and one that eloquently shows us both the futility of war and the shifting nature of it too. Perhaps it's an indictment to man's efforts in the region that we seem hardly to have moved on at all when it comes to peace and tolerance between these two nations. As usual, Spielberg gives me food for thought for many days.