skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are two of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood today. Save for Cate Blanchett they might be my two favourites. They have both given Oscar-worthy performances, Annette Bening in American Beauty and Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven. Bening lost to Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry in 1999 while Moore lost to Nicole Kidman in The Hours in 2002. The Kids Are All Right pairs these two majestic actresses together as a married couple. Thankfully the film is promoted without having to explicitly state that they are lesbians. It is a film about a modern family and Annette Bening owns the screen throughout the entire film giving a performance worthy of an Academy Award. The film is written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko who two previous feature length films are High Art (1998) and Lauren Canyon (2002). I have only seen Lauren Canyon but The Kids Are All Right is proof that she has matured as a writer and director. The Kids Are All Right is tremendously well written and features fantastic performances by all five of the lead actors. This is not a film about a lesbian couple. It is about a real family with honest issues. I have been waiting to see this film since it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010 and it did not disappoint. The Kids Are All Right is more touching and heartwarming than I had anticipated. It is the best film that I have seen this year.
Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore) are married with two teenage children. Joni (Mia Wasikowska) is eighteen and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) is fifteen, both the product of artificial insemination from the same sperm donor. Nic is a doctor and is the dominant personality in the house while Jules is starting a new landscaping business after a series of career changes. Joni has recently turned eighteen and is heading off to college at the end of the summer and Laser has pressured her into contacting their biological father. Without telling their moms they have an awkward first meeting with Paul (Mark Ruffalo). Nic and Jules are upset when they learn that their kids have gone behind their backs to meet Paul and try to welcome him into their life while keeping a distance. Joni's relationship with her biological father begins instantly while Laser is more hesitant. Eager to make peace with the two women Paul hires Jules to do some landscaping in his backyard. Nic feels that her kids are straying from her and spending too much time with Paul and her jealousy begins to hinder her relationship with Jules. Jules, feeling under appreciated at home, becomes closer to Paul and their relationship threatens her whole family.
It is hard for a film that is so deeply emotional to succeed so wonderfully as a comedy. The screenplay is so well written with near-perfect dialogue that the characters and their choices seem realistic. Julianne Moore and Annette Bening are so comfortable and at ease in their roles that we believe they are a married couple and not two actresses playing gay on screen (contrary to how Jules defines lesbian porn in the film!). It is great to see a film that depicts this type of modern family without having to constantly remind us that they are gay. Nic and Jules have the same issues and problems as any couple and it would be reasonable to believe that a straight couple with children conceived via artificial insemination could find themselves in a similar dilemma. The Kids Are All Right is a comedy with heart. There are genuine laughs and there are some tear jerking scenes. Annette Bening is brilliant as Jules and she shines on screen as a woman losing control of her family. It is easy to see why this film garnered the most attention at Sundance. The Kids Are All Right is smart, amazingly well acted, and incredibly funny while being a heartwarming portrait of a real family.
My rating: 4 stars out of 4.
Since seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I have devoured all three of Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy novels. I even saw the first film for a second time and it was just as powerful and shocking. The Girl Who Played with Fire is the second film in the saga and it comes to theatres when Seieg Larsson's novels have become even more popular. I was fortunate enough to get to see the film at a screening the night before it officially opened on Friday, July 9, 2010. The second film retains the principle cast from the first film and once again Noomi Rapace is mesmerizing as Lisbeth Salander. She embodies the heroine with so much power and conviction that the film's lack of intensity, compared to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, is less pronounced. The second novel is just as powerful and provocative as the first and I feel that the blame for The Girl Who Played with Fire's lack of punch should be attributed to the change in director. Daniel Alfredson has taken over from Niels Arden Oplev and the novel's dark themes and the manhunt for Lisbeth Salander are absent from the film. While The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was aimed at those who had read the original novel The Girl Who Played with Fire seems more directed towards those who have seen the first film and not read the novels.
Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) has not been in contact with Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) since the end of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She has traveled around the world and we meet up with her in the Caribbean as she finalizes the purchase of an expensive new apartment in Stockholm. She returns and reconnects with her former lover Miriam Wu (Yasmine Garbi) and offers Miriam her old apartment rent free. She visits her guardian, Niels Bjurman (Peter Andersson), the sadistic man who once raped her and reminds her of their agreement. Bjurman, anxious to get revenge, contacts an acquaintance and demands that Lisbeth be killed. Meanwhile Blomkvist and Millennium magazine have become involved with a freelance journalist named Dag Svensson (Hans Christian Thulin) who is working on a major expose of sex trafficking in Sweden. Dag and his girlfriend Mia are soon murdered and the murder weapon, a gun belonging to Bjurman, has Lisbeth's fingerprints on it. The police soon find that Bjurman has been murdered too and Lisbeth becomes the prime suspect. Blomkvist believes that she is innocent and their online friendship resumes, albeit sporadically, and she tells him to find a man named Zala. The police hunt for Lisbeth Salander puts Miriam's life in jeopardy and she is kidnapped by associates of Zala who are also hunting for Lisbeth. Blomkvist keeps certain information away from the police, including Jan Bublanksi (Johan Kylen) and Sonja Modig (Tanja Lorentzon), who are reluctant to believe that Lisbeth is innocent. The film unfolds with Lisbeth and Blomkvist trying to uncover the whereabouts of Zala separately and eventually Lisbeth's stubbornness puts her life in jeopardy.
The Girl Who Played with Fire is a fantastic novel full of great details and background information. Obviously the film The Girl Who Played with Fire cannot include every detail and the screenwriters and director have chosen to change facts and remove most of the background information. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was so powerful because the central elements and themes from the novel were present in the film, but I feel that The Girl Who Played with Fire becomes a thriller when Lisbeth Salander becomes a fugitive on the run. I did not feel that the film explored the manhunt with the same effect. Noomi Rapace is brilliant as Lisbeth Salander. She is such an introverted character that her most brilliant moments exist in her silence. I talked about the Hollywood remake of the trilogy in my review of the first film and since then there have been reports that Carey Mulligan has been cast as Lisbeth Salander. She is a tremendously talented young actress (who should have won the Oscar for An Education), but the film adaptations of the Millennium Trilogy owe every bit of its success to Noomi Rapace. The films, not just the novels, have become a worldwide phenomenon and it is ridiculous that an American film studio thinks that American audiences need an English-language version because it is unreasonable for people to see a Swedish film, even when the novels are of Swedish origin! The Girl Who Played with Fire lacks the tremendous intensity of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but it is still a good thriller with an amazing heroine that takes the audience on a great adventure.
My rating: 3 stars out of 4.
A lot has been said about Winter's Bone since it won the Grand Jury Prize for drama at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The film has received glowing praise from critics and currently has a 94 rating on RottenTomatoes. I first saw a preview for the film after rushing in late to see Agora and did not know much about the film. While finally watching Winter's Bone I was struck by how similar it felt to Down to the Bone, a 2005 film that starred Vera Farmiga. It turns out both films were directed by the same woman, Debra Granik. Granik adapted the film from the novel Winter's Bone (2006) by Daniel Woodrell, whose earlier novel Woe to Live On (1987) was the basis for Ang Lee's 1999 film Ride with the Devil. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Ree Dolly, a seventeen year old girl living in rural Missouri who is looking for her deadbeat father. Her performance is breathtaking and the film is worth seeing for her alone. I was not as enamoured with the film as some critics have been. My principal complaints are that secondary characters are introduced too haphazardly and their importance feels rushed, and I found the camera work to be very clumsy. In Down to the Bone the camera work was rocky and made to feel realistic, but Winter's Bone has much better production to make this excusable. Winter's Bone is a good thriller with a standout performance by Jennifer Lawrence and while it may not be amongst the year's best films (as some have stated) it is certainly better than most films in theatres right now.
Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) is a seventeen year old girl living in rural Missouri. She has a lot of responsibilities. Her mother is sick and unable to maintain the household. Ree has two younger siblings, twelve year-old Sonny (Isaiah Stone) and six year-old Ashlee (Ashlee Thompson). She has taken charge of the young children and takes them to school each morning, feeds them and puts them to bed. She has dropped out of school to chores at home, which include chopping wood for the fire. Her father has a court date approaching and the sheriff (Garrett Dillahunt) informs Ree that her father was unable to cover his bond and put up the family home as collateral. Her father is known to operate a meth lab with members of his family and she visits his relatives hoping to find information. There is a code of silence amongst these violent men and women and Ree finds herself in one tough situation after another. Her uncle Teardrop (John Hawkes) refuses to help her and her father's cousin Merab (Dale Dickey) threatens her violently. Ree works diligently to keep her family intact while also risking her own life to find her father before their home is taken away.
Winter's Bone is a good film and a decent thriller. Jennifer Lawrence does a fantastic job of Ree Dolly even though the film's emotional core rests on her shoulders. I still think that the film introduces secondary characters too quickly without purpose. Gail (Lauren Sweester), a friend of Ree's, becomes involved when Ree wants to borrow Gail's husband's vehicle and eventually seems to be living at Ree's house. It did not seem reasonable to me. If her husband was so reluctant to give up his truck then why does he not appear after Gail stole it? It could have been the heatwave that kept me from fully enjoying the film, or the bright blinding light from the projection booth behind me, or the man who decided it was a good idea to answer his phone. I do not think a lot of people saw Down to the Bone (even I only saw it because I fell in love with Vera Farmiga after seeing The Departed) and I felt like I was seeing parts of the same movie, or at least themes that were common. I do not want to bash Winter's Bone because it is a good film and many people will love it. Jennifer Lawrence's performance alone is worthy of viewing the film.
My rating: 3 stars out of 4.
In the midst of this heatwave and with the lack of air conditioning it seemed like the best idea was to hide in the cool basement and watch some Woody Allen films.
The first film I watched was Radio Days. The 1987 film is about the Golden Age of Radio during the late 1930s and 1940s. Radio Days, narrated by an unseen Woody Allen and played on screen by Seth Green, focuses on one family in Queens. The film unfolds with small scenes involving the favourite radio shows of family members. We see Joe's (Seth Green) exploits as a young boy, his aunt Bea's (Dianne Wiest) attempts to find love, and the behind-the-scenes story of Sally White (Mia Farrow), an aspiring radio star.
Radio Days does not have a narrative from beginning to end. The film is about how radio affected the world during the period and the stories are woven together to make a beautiful film.
Woody Allen filmed September twice. He constructed a small cottage on a sound stage and shot the film and then decided to recast certain roles and reshoot the whole film. The film stars Mia Farrow, Elaine Strich, Dianne Wiest, Jack Warden, Denholm Elliott, and Sam Waterston (originally played by Christopher Walken, then Sam Shepard).
Lane (Farrow) moved to her summer house to recuperate after attempting suicide. Her best friend Stephanie (Wiest) is staying with her for the summer. They are joined by Lane's mother Diane (Strich) and her husband Lloyd (Jack Warden). Lane and Diane have a strained relationship because of events in the past. Lane's two neighbours, Peter (Waterston) and Howard (Elliott), are frequent guests in her house. Howard is in love with Lane, who is hopelessly in love with Peter, who is in love with Stephanie, who is married. This causes much tension in the house. To add to Lane's fragile state, Diane has asked Peter to write her memoirs, including painful events from Lane's past. The film explores the pain and the secrets that have ravaged Lane for most of her adult life.
September is not a terrible film but I think it is one of Woody Allen's weakest. The film unfolds too quickly and it takes place over such a short time span with too many events occurring. The film would have been better served, in my opinion, if it had transpired over a longer time period.
Out of all Woody Allen films I feel that Another Woman is unjustly forgotten. It is a terrific film starring Gena Rowlands and Mia Farrow. I am always drawn to this film and it is because of Gena Rowlands. She is captivating on screen and emotes so much with her eyes. We watch films to watch lives unfold. It is very voyeuristic and Another Woman gives us a character who is a voyeur herself. It is a fascinating film, one of Woody Allen's most mysterious.
Marion (Rowlands) is a 50 year old philosophy professor. She is taking a sabbatical to write a book and has rented and apartment so that she can work in peace. Through a vent in the apartment she can clearly hear the confessions of patients of her psychiatrist neighbour. At first she attempts to block the sound using pillows but she events gives in and becomes engrossed. She is deeply affected by one patient in particular, a pregnant woman named Hope (Farrow). Hope's revelations startle Marion and Marion begins to reflect on her own life. She questions her relationships with her husband Ken (Ian Holm), her father (John Houseman), her brother and sister-in-law (Harris Yulin and Frances Conroy), an old friend Claire (Sandy Dennis) and her stepdaughter Laura (Martha Plimpton). She is also reminded of her former lover Larry (Gene Hackman).
Next up: New York Stories.
My list:
1. Hannah and Her Sisters
2. Manhattan
3. Annie Hall
4. Radio Days
5. Another Woman
6. The Purple Rose of Cairo
7. Broadway Danny Rose
8. Love and Death
9. Interiors
10. Sleeper
11. Zelig
12. Stardust Memories
13. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
14. Take the Money and Run
15. Bananas
16. What's Up, Tiger Lily?
17. September
18. A Midsummer Night's Sexy Comedy
The Purple Rose of Cairo is a hidden gem amongst Woody Allen films. It is also the first of his films to not feature Woody Allen himself and the first to feature Dianne Wiest. The film is set during the Great Depression and Cecilia (Mia Farrow) has an abusive husband (Danny Aiello) and wants more out of life. She is a frequent patron of the movie theatre and often sees the same film more than once. The Purple Rose of Cairo is this week's feature and Cecilia sees the film five times. During one screening Tom Baxter, the character played by Gil Sheperd (both played by Jeff Daniels), seems to notice Cecilia in the audience and begins a conversation with her. Tom eventually steps from the screen into the real world and soon wants to run away with Cecilia. This causes a huge controversy in the town and Gil Sheperd and the film's producer arrive to lure Tom back into the film.
The Purple Rose of Cairo is a great film but it is often forgotten due to the fantastic film that followed it.
It is no secret that Hannah and Her Sisters is my absolute favourite Woody Allen film. Each section of the film begins with a quotation or statement written in white text against black and it unifies the storyline of the film. Hannah and Her Sisters is an ensemble and features a terrific cast, with Dianne Wiest and Michael Caine winning Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
See my original review of the film here.
Next up: Radio Days.
My list:
1. Hannah and Her Sisters
2. Manhattan
3. Annie Hall
4. The Purple Rose of Cairo
5. Broadway Danny Rose
6. Love and Death
7. Interiors
8. Sleeper
9. Zelig
10. Stardust Memories
11. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
12. Take the Money and Run
13. Bananas
14. What's Up, Tiger Lily?
15. A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
Broadway Danny Rose is centred around a conversation at a New York deli. A group of men are discussing Danny Rose, a Broadway talent agent, and their memories are seen through flashbacks. Like Stardust Memories and Manhattan, Broadway Danny Rose is shot entirely in black and white. It is a great comedy about affection and friendship. Though the group fondly remembers many anecdotes, it is the story involving Lou Canova (Nick Apollo Forte) and Tina Vitale (Mia Farrow). Lou, a former client, is now a washed-up singer who returns to Danny hoping for more success. Danny has arranged for Lou to perform in front of Milton Berle and needs Danny to bring his girlfriend Tina and pose as her date. Mia Farrow is incredible in the film. She is beautiful and charming as the stylish former Mafia wife.
Broadway Danny Rose is a great Woody Allen film that is well crafted and well acted. It can be considered a career resurgence for the director whose next few films were very well received after the disappointments of Stardust Memories and A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy.
Next up: The Purple Rose of Cairo.
My list:
1. Manhattan
2. Annie Hall
3. Broadway Danny Rose
4. Love and Death
5. Interiors
6. Sleeper
7. Zelig
8. Stardust Memories
9. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
10. Take the Money and Run
11. Bananas
12. What's Up, Tiger Lily?
13. A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
Zelig is reminiscent of Take the Money and Run, Woody Allen's 1969 film presented as a documentary. It is the story about a man named Leonard Zelig, a man capable of changing his physical appearance and thus nicknamed the human chameleon. The film features an off-camera narrator and newsreel footage of Zelig, played by Woody Allen. It also uses a lot of special effects that have cleverly interwoven Woody Allen's character into stock footage. The film's best moments are the many reenactments and parodies of historical moments. Woody Allen has cleverly employed a great number of techniques in the film and has created a comedy so ingenious that it is comparable to his earlier films. I wonder what the special effects would look like today with the great advances in technology since 1983.
I would not put Zelig amongst my favourite Woody Allen films but it is consistently funny. And rest assured, Mia Farrow does a much better job alongside Woody Allen than she did in A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy. It is easy to get wrapped up in the effects of the film but there is an interesting social commentary presented in the film that gives Zelig another layer.
Next up: Broadway Danny Rose.
My list:
1. Manhattan
2. Annie Hall
3. Love and Death
4. Interiors
5. Sleeper
6. Zelig
7. Stardust Memories
8. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
9. Take the Money and Run
10. Bananas
11. What's Up, Tiger Lily?
12. A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are two of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood today. Save for Cate Blanchett they might be my two favourites. They have both given Oscar-worthy performances, Annette Bening in American Beauty and Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven. Bening lost to Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry in 1999 while Moore lost to Nicole Kidman in The Hours in 2002. The Kids Are All Right pairs these two majestic actresses together as a married couple. Thankfully the film is promoted without having to explicitly state that they are lesbians. It is a film about a modern family and Annette Bening owns the screen throughout the entire film giving a performance worthy of an Academy Award. The film is written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko who two previous feature length films are High Art (1998) and Lauren Canyon (2002). I have only seen Lauren Canyon but The Kids Are All Right is proof that she has matured as a writer and director. The Kids Are All Right is tremendously well written and features fantastic performances by all five of the lead actors. This is not a film about a lesbian couple. It is about a real family with honest issues. I have been waiting to see this film since it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010 and it did not disappoint. The Kids Are All Right is more touching and heartwarming than I had anticipated. It is the best film that I have seen this year.
