Style, Style, Style in DVD

I haven't seen any of the movies coming out in DVD this week, but the rental queue is full. Coco Before Chanel and Black Dynamite are at the top of my list. The revenge action movie Law Abiding Citizen is out.The documentary Good Hair will make its way into my DVD player as well.

Il Divo

I watched the Italian film Il Divo because it is nominated for an Oscar for achievement in makeup. I was treated to a poetic film about the Italian Prime Minister, Giulio Andriotti. Depicting the trial for his alleged association with the mafia, murder and kidnapping, this is a dramatic story. Gorgeous cinematography, artistic structure and yes, impressive makeup, this film is worth a look. I wish I had seen it on the big screen.

The Secret of Kells

The opening night of the Providence Children's Film Festival was an ideal setting to see The Secret of Kells. It was the opening night film, the Cable Car was crawling with kids and their parents, the popcorn was free, there were cupcakes, it was a very festive atmosphere. After all the welcomes, thank yous and introductions, the lights went out and the theater went silent. The beautiful animation and a simple, familiar story unfolded. As the credits rolled there was enthusiastic applause, and a little girl in front of me asked her brother, "did you like it?" He said, "yeah, it was scary, but really good." The drama of young Brendan and the Book of Kells impressed the young man. Though I can see why this film is an Oscar nominee, for me Ponyo should be in that slot. The Secret of Kells arrives in NYC on March 5th and goes wider March 16th. Worth a look.

Friday Flick picks 2/12/10

So it's Valentine's weekend and guess what the big release to theaters is? Valentine's Day!! A huge all-star cast is tempting for me. Looks light, but that could mean fun. The Wolfman is a close second to getting my box office dollar. Benicio DelToro the draw there. Also worth a look, these Oscar nominees are in RI theaters: Crazy Heart, Avatar, The Blind Side, An Education, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Hurt Locker, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, The Lovely Bones, The Princess and the Frog, Sherlock Holmes, A Single Man, Up in the Air and The Young Victoria. Enjoy!!

PS Just scored a ticket to see The Secret of Kells at the Providence Children's Film Festival. The Oscar Project goal is once again attainable. woo hoo!!!

Serious Moonlight

In Serious Moonlight, a woman takes extraordinary steps to keep her husband from leaving her. Yes, there is duck tape. Writen by Adrienne Shelly, this film is funny, dark, sweet and surprising. Worth a rental.

Relationships and Resorts in DVD

On the heels of a Best Picture Oscar nomination, A Serious Man is released to DVD this week. Trials and tribulations of a man looking for the answers is true Coen Brothers black humor. In my DVD queue are Serious Moonlight, Peter and Vandy, Bronson and Couples Retreat.

The Princess and the Frog

When The Princess and the Frog came out I was annoyed. I find the "prince will rescue me" stories tiresome and demeaning. Because this film was nominated for three Oscars, I grudgingly put it on my list. Thanks to the Academy, I did not miss out on a beautiful, joyful, intelligent film. I love being wrong in a situation like this. The twist on the classic tale is clever and the setting of New Orleans is well done. The animation is beautiful, the story refreshing, the music toe-tappin' and the experience delightful. Loved it! Color me surprised.

The White Ribbon

At the end of The White Ribbon, the audience I saw it with was angry. An intricate who-done-it, set in pre-WWI Germany, just ends. The last time this happened to me at the movies, I was at the same theater, it was the same director and there was almost a fist fight in the ladies room over the ending of Cache. This is a beautiful film, this is a thoughtful film, this is a disturbing film, this a film worth seeing. Glad I did.

The Messenger

It is never easy to deliver the news that someone has passed away. The Messenger tells the story of two Army officers charged with informing families when a loved one has been killed in Iraq. The drama is powerful and raw, and after establishing several different scenarios, we see how this assignment effects the men themselves. Woody Harrelson has an Oscar nomination for his role as the experienced officer, but Ben Foster's powerful performance really made this film for me.

The Last Station

The Last Station tells the story of Leo Tolstoy at the end of his life. A passionate, interesting, talented man. Though Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer have collected Oscar nominations for their performances as Tolstoy and the Countess, James McAvoy turns in a strong performance as well. An interesting story, well told.

Friday Flick Picks 2//10

RI film selection leans toward the films of 2009 this week. Dear John and From Paris With Love are getting mediocre reviews, so the better choices are the older films. The Oscar nominees were announced on Tuesday and offers a good list for your film consumption. Oscar nominees in RI theaters are Crazy Heart, Avatar, The Blind Side, Coco Before Chanel, An Education, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Hurt Locker, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Inglourious Basterds, The Lovely Bones, Precious, The Princess and the Frog, Sherlock Holmes, A Single Man, Up in the Air and The Young Victoria. I've seen most of these, so I'm off to Boston theaters to make my "Oscar nominees to see" list shorter. Enjoy!

Otherworld in DVD

DVD releases this week have an otherworldly vibe. Zombieland is a road trip story set in a world of zombies. Very funny. Cold Souls takes us to the other side. An interesting look at mortality. In my queue? The House of the Devil, New York, I Love You and Amelia. Oscar nominations announced this week, get your rentals ready.

Broken Embraces

I went to see Broken Embraces at noon. Usually the grandma-matinee. When the lights went out, I was the only person in the small theater. A few minutes into the film, a man walked in and sat right in front of me. I moved down and let the film work it's magic. A well structured story of love, lust, ambition and desperation, I was enthralled. About 3/4 of the way through the film, I heard a strange, but familiar sound. Yes, the man in front of me had fallen asleep and was snoring. Loudly. When the credits rolled I was a bit sad to think this man had slept through the ending of a beautiful film that was passionate and well crafted. I enjoyed my semi-private screening.

The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones is an abstract, disconnected film. It plays like a crime thriller while it yanks hard on the heart strings. Strong performances make the unconventional structure work. Worth a look.

Friday Flick Picks 1/29/10

Thanks to all the crap dumped in theaters this January, it's been pretty easy to finish out the 2009 films as they trickle into RI theaters. I'm convinced that the only reason Avatar is still sitting on top of the box office is that there's not much else to see. I'll be checking out The Lovely Bones and Broken Embraces this weekend. Crazy Heart, A Single Man, The Blind Side, It's Complicated, Sherlock Holmes and Up in the Air are all worth a look. Don't forget, Oscar nominations are announced on Tuesday.

Derby, Dad, Deception and Dedication in DVD

DVD releases are strong this week. Whip It is a sports film about family, dreams and ambition. The Boys are Back is a touching story of grief, parenting and family. Surrogates is an intriguing, sci-fi look at the future. This Is It gives fans a glimpse at Michael Jackson's last rehearsals, and a look at the man and his creative process. In my queue are Bright Star and Little Ashes. Happy viewing!

A Single Man

A Single Man is a gentle study of a man's life and relationship's. In the course of a day, George reflects on his loves, losses and decisions. A pretty film with a poetic pace and poignant performances.

Crazy Heart

After all the praise that has been showered on Jeff Bridges' performance in Crazy Heart, it was our movie of choice this afternoon. This is a story of a man who has enjoyed success and popularity as a country singer who has sunk into the arms of alcoholism and despair. Playing in bowling alleys (homage to he dude?) and sure to have that next bottle of bourbon on hand, Blake drives from gig to gig clinging to survival. Along the way he meets a young reporter and a light comes on. The result is interesting without being cheesy or predictable. The pace of this film is slow, but the performances and the music make the film worthwhile.

Friday Flick Picks 1/22/10

This time of year I become more freakish about my film consumption. My Oscar Project rules my cinema choices from now until March 7th. Living in such a small market, seeing all the nominated films is a lot of fun and requires a bit of strategy. This weekend, I don't care what happens in RI theaters, I'm on my way to NYC. My daughter Liza and her fiance Ryan are taking me to see Fuerza Bruta on Saturday night. For the rest of the weekend, NY movie theaters are my oyster and I'm hoping to knock 1 or 2 films off this list.
A Single Man
Crazy Heart
The Last Station
The Lovely Bones
Fish Tank
Broken Embraces
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
I only say 1 0r 2 because we must leave time for food,drink, shopping, visits and football. Next weekend I'll return to RI theaters and their offerings, but for now, Big Apple here I come!!

Big Fan

Big Fan is a drama that really surprised me. A huge NY Giants fan, lives his days listening to sports radio, planning his calls, studying stats and going to the games (in an interesting way). An on-air rivalry and unfortunate chain of events has us watch this man's life unravel. The unraveling is fascinating, the film goes very dark. The end was shocking and made sense. This is an intense story with performances that make it worth a look. I enjoyed this film.

Science and Sarcasm in DVD

Quiet week in DVD releases for me. I think I'm the only person who doesn't like Ricky Gervais. The Invention of Lying is in DVD and I have no desire to see it. Pandorum is in my DVD queue. Stick with last weeks offerings. Moon, The Hurt Locker, In the Loop and Big Fan well worth a look.

Top 10 of 2009

My serious film consumption began around the year 2000. 2009 marks the end of a huge decade in film for me. As I look at best film lists of the decade, I don't know how people do it. I've seen at least 2000 wonderful films, picking my favorites would be overwhelming. I won't go the best of the decade route.

I'm finally ready to post my favorites of 2009. I don't proclaim these to be the best, they are just the films I enjoyed most this year. Click on the titles to see what I thought.

Moon
District 9
An Education
Coraline
Trick 'r Treat
The Hurt Locker
Up
It Might Get Loud
Star Trek
Where the Wild Things Are
Up in the Air

These are the movies that show you how hard it is for me to pick only 10 favorites:
Ponyo, Inglourious Basterds, Unwigged & Unplugged, Jennifer's Body, Whip It, Paranormal Activity, Precious, Entre Nos, In the Loop, Throw Down Your Heart, The Hangover, The Way We Get By, (500) Days of Summer, Julie & Julia, Drag Me to Hell, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Zombieland, Nine, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus A good year in film.

Space, Scandle and Splodies in DVD

It's a good week for DVD releases. My favorite film of the year, Moon hits DVD. Cool drama with a great performance by Sam Rockwell. Do yourself a favor, see this flick. The Hurt Locker and In the Loop are two other good films out this week. In my rental queue? Big Fan, The Burning Plain and Departures.

The Young Victoria

In The Young Victoria we see a depiction of the years surrounding Victoria becoming Queen of England. She was 18 years old. It is a story of family, royalty and politics. It is also a love story. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were an endearing royal couple. I was surprised when this movie ended, I could have watched more.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

The Imaginarium of Dr.Parnassus tells the tale of a man who has made a deal with the devil and the day of reckoning has arrived. Journeys in and out of his imagination are fanciful. Using four actors to portray the character of Tony works and saved this project for Terry Gilliam. This film met all my expectations for a crazy story and beautiful visuals. The Imaginarium scenes kind of reminded me of my own dreams. My favorite line? "I'm not drunk, I'm grumpy." Really enjoyed this one.

Youth in Revolt

Youth in Revolt is a comedy about a young man who creates a bad boy alter ego to win over the girl of his dreams. Things go wrong in almost every situation. With a dual personality, Michael Cera plays a familiar role and then something a little different. A great supporting cast makes this a strong comedy to kick off the 2010 movie year.

Friday Flick Picks 1/8/10

RI theaters enjoy strong openings this week. Youth in Revolt , Daybreakers and Leap Year arrive to good reviews. Terry Gilliam's Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus will be in town too. Me and Orson Welles and The Young Victoria are on my list, and are still playing locally. The strong holiday films still playing in RI: Avatar, The Blind Side, Invictus, It's Complicated, Nine, The Road, Sherlock Holmes and Up in the Air. The schedule at the Patriot Cinemas is worth a look as well. For $1.99 you can see The Box, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Inglourious Basterds, Julie & Julia, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Paranormal Activity, Where the Wild Things Are, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Zombieland.

Reminder : Moon is out in DVD on Tues, 1/12. woo hoo!

Fondness and Food in DVD

The film Adam is released to DVD this week, well worth a look. In my queue? Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

It's Complicated

Personal experience enhances film for me. If you are divorced, have grown children, own a home, run a business, It's Complicated will resonate for you. It did for me. Performances are great. As much as I love Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and John Krasinski really impressed me in this one. Krasinski has great timing. A story about relationships, family and decisions. Really enjoyed this one.

Avatar

Kudos to the marketing for Avatar. My curiosity finally go the better of me, and I spent the afternoon on Pandora. Visually, the film is satisfying, intellectually, not so much. I don't need rocket science, just a decent story. The characters fell short in their motivations, the battle scenes were way too long and it took a lot for me to care about the good guys and hate the bad guys. I went through levels of boredom I have not experienced at the movies in a long time. Maybe editing would have helped, and the Titanic-esque music at the end just kind of made me mad. Not my cup of tea, but boy what a cash cow.
PS (My 11 and 13 year old nephews loved it.)

Nine

A few words about the new film NINE:
spectacle
dynamic
sexy
luminous
energetic
poignant
Thoroughly enjoyed it!

The Road

I have not had a chance to read The Road yet. When I gave it to my Mother to read, she was appalled at how depressing it was. Going to see the film, I expected a bleak, dark, sad story. What I got was a story of love, survival and compassion. A road trip story of a man and his son trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. I really liked the structure of the film, the messages and the ending. Well done.

Invictus

Cheerleaders are underrated. In Invictus we see how the support of Nelson Mandela helped lead the South African rugby team to win the World Cup in 1995. A good historic sports film. A local note: the costumes were supplied by Rugby Imports LTD, based right here in East Providence, RI.

2009 My Year in Film

It's too early to name my favorite films of 2009, but I thought the last day of the year was a good time to reflect on my film experiences.

Tribeca Film Festival is still my favorite vacation. I met Paola Mendoza after her screening of Entre Nos. Duncan Jones and Sam Rockwell delighted the audience with a Q&A after the screening of Moon. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Jones, in June, at Newport Film Festival. I also met Jim Capobianco (Pixar, Leonardo), Scott Teems (That Evening Sun), Nick Paley (Picture Day) and Mimi Kennedy (In the Loop).

Twitter has enhanced my movie experience this year. It's fun for me to follow people like Jason Reitman, Duncan Jones, Jon Favreau, Paola Mendoza and Diablo Coady as they share their creative process, their travels and their thoughts.

This year awakened the sci-fi fan in me. Moon, District 9 and Star Trek will all land in my Top 10. Who knew?!!?

People who've joined me at the movies? Randi, Lucy and Liza joined me at TIFF. After seeing Coraline with my nephews there was an intense discussion. They're still talking about it. I'm also enjoying a long distance film-fan connection with my daughter. She lives 200 mile s away, but the last few films she's seen, I've seen after her. I call, we discuss. It's awesome!

2009 was a fun year in film, stay tuned for my favorites and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

DVD Backlog

With the holidays, I have been remiss on posting the weekly DVD releases. Being totally lazy, here they are as a list. Click on the titles to see what I thought when I saw them ..... enjoy!
(500) Days of Summer
District 9
Extract
It Might Get Loud
9
Paranormal Activity
Jennifer's Body

Sherlock Holmes

I'll admit I was a bit disappointed in Sherlock Holmes. The story was fine, the acting very good, but this film was work to watch. Dark, lots of quick-cut shots in the fight scenes, poor use of CGI and garbled dialogue. Even with all of this, it's a good film, just wish it had been sharper and easier on the eyes.

Up in the Air

Up in the Air is a wonderful commentary on life, life choices and lifestyle. At the center of the film is a company that fires people for corporations. These folks spend the majority of their time on the road, or rather, in the air. The job requires a certain amount of emotional detachment, and their superstar is a master of just that. There is a plot line that I did not expect, that throws an emotional wrench in this man's life path. I'll leave it to the viewer to discover. This is a film that will make you think, will make you laugh, will make you cry. Beautifully shot, well acted, well edited, well done Mr Reitman.

Christmas Flick Picks 2009

The Christmas releases in RI are many. I'll list the new ones. Don't forget about Invictus, The Blind Side, Avatar (I hear this is best seen in 3D), Brothers, An Education, The Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog. Looks like a great Christmas season at the cinema, you know where to find me. Merry Christmas!

New releases in RI:
Up in the Air
It's Complicated
Me and Orson Wells
Nine
The Road
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria

Friday Flick picks 12/18/09

For a movie fan, the weeks around Christmas are maddening. Tons of great film in theaters and no time to see them. I'll take family and friends over film. I know, shocking. So I watch all these great films tumble into theaters on and around Christmas, but they will have to wait a bit for me. What films am I talking about? This week it's Avatar and Up in the Air. Technically, Up in the Air is playing in MA, but Seekonk appears to be the new Providence. (what the hell??) Both will get my attention after Christmas. The Damned United is at the Cable Car, hope they hold it over a few weeks, I'd like to see it in the theater. Bad Lieutenant, Men Who Stare at Goats and The Messenger are at the Avon. At the multiplex? There's drama with The Blindside, Invictus, 2012, New Moon, Precious, Brothers and Everybody's Fine. For the family there's A Christmas Carol, The Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog. Lots of good stuff playing in (and around) RI this holiday season!

Men, Monsters and Music in DVD

One of the funniest films I've seen this year is out in DVD. The Hangover made me laugh and it has a solid plot with a few surprises. Inglorious Basterds is a "what if" look at WW II Nazi terrorism. Taking Woodstock is a look at a story that happened on the fringes of Woodstock. In my DVD queue? I'm getting the Basterds to come over and show me some badass.

The Cove

Documentary film makes a statement, exposes situations, educates and informs. The Cove is the most powerful documentary I've seen this year. The subject of dolphin capture and slaughter in Japan is something I knew nothing about. As disturbing and suspenseful as this film is, I'm glad there is an invitation to advocacy, action to be taken. This is a powerful, beautiful film that raises awareness and calls us to action. Well done.

The World's Greatest Dad

Often, parents live their lives through their children. The World's Greatest Dad is an amazing parody of this phenomenon.When Lance's son Kyle dies in an embarrassing accident, Lance creates a lie that raises the kid to celebrity, and satisfies his writing frustrations. Kyle is an unlikeable little prick, but by faking a suicide note and journal, his father attains the popularity and success that had always eluded them both. In the end, the truth frees him, and the pain of his son's death is addressed. Things end up as they should. Very dark comedy, and so worth seeing.

Friday Flick Picks 12/11/09

Arriving in RI theaters this weekend is the latest from Clint Eastwood, Invictus. The title means "unconquered", and from all I've read, this sport film lives up to it. For families, The Princess and the Frog opens. A strong Disney offering. Speaking of Walt, the documentary Walt and El Grupo is at the Cable Car. Bad Lieutenant:Port of Call New Orleans and The Hurt Locker are at the Avon. Bright Star and An Education are at the Jane Pickens. A good selection in RI art houses. At the multiplex? An Education, Brothers, Everbody's Fine, New Moon, Precious, The Blindside, The Fantastic Mr. Fox and A Christmas Carol, a little something for everyone.

Cooks, Crooks and Books in DVD

There is quality film in DVD this week. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is a nice addition to the franchise. Julie & Julia says a lot about food, marriage and life. Public Enemies is a strong crime biopic. New releases in my DVD queue? The Cove and World's Greatest Dad. A little something for everyone in DVD this week.

Brothers

Squeezing in a double feature today, I slipped into my seat for Brothers, just as the opening credits began. It took me a while to settle into the plot, but the story of a man with a young family deployed to Iraq, captured, presumed dead, difficult dealings and drama ensue. In the final act of the film I realised that I was fully immersed. I haven't felt that way in a film in a long time. Intense, lovely, gritty and real, this drama is well worth seeing.

Everybody's Fine

With my mother, no matter what, when asked "how are you?" the answer is always "fine". It has a specific, sarcastic tone. The title of Everybody's Fine struck a chord with me and my upbringing. The last time a movie made me cry in the first 15 minutes, I was watching Up. It happened again in the first 15 minutes of this film. This story of a disjointed family is heartfelt. A father tries to stay connected to his grown children, who keep details of their lives from him, so as not to disappoint him. Performances and cast are outstanding. There is something about Sam Rockwell's smile that gets me every time (though I tend to see Sam Bell when I see him these days). A film worth a look.

Land of the Lost

I watched Land of the Lost because it was recommended by Mike Russell and Dawn Taylor on the Hamfisted Radio podcast. This will do well on cable. Goes well with beer.

Things that made me glad I didn't see it in the theater:
Cheesy costumes
Will Ferell
Poop, pee and boob gags
Bad special effects

Things that made me glad I rented this:
Danny McBride
Clever pop culture gags
Hallucination scene
Goof on Matt Lauer by Matt Lauer
A Chorus Line soundtrack as a running gag
Sid & Marty Kroft back at it
Nimoy voice cameo


Thanks guys, when you talk, I rent, and I've yet to be sorry. This one entertained me!

Friday Flick Picks 12/4/09

Not a bad week for weekend releases here in lil ol' RI. Everybody's Fine and Brothers are on my list for this weekend. The Fantastic Mr. Fox, An Education, Precious , Blind Side, Pirate Radio, New Moon, 2012 and A Christmas Carol are all at the multi-plex for your entertainment. Enjoy!!