TMI (2-21-12)

February 21, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 QUENTIN TARANTINO … his first full-length feature, Reservoir Dogs, received rave reviews at the Sundance Festival in 1992. Tarantino’s second feature exploded into Hollywood, as Pulp Fiction (1994) garnered Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and winning for Best Screenplay. While it may seen that Tarantino is a cinematic fixture, he has actually only directed 7 full length features to date. His eighth film, Django Unchained, is due for release on Christmas Day 2012. Tarantino is known for his encyclopedic knowledge of film and TV history, and each of his films features a tribute or nod to a film, TV series and/or song that influenced his work.  He also writes his own movies, and has a small group of confidants that he allows to read his drafts. He is quoted as saying “When people ask me if I went to film school, I tell them, ‘no, I went to films’”.

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Posted by David Ferguson

THIS MEANS WAR

February 20, 2012

 Greetings again from the darkness. Well it’s mid-February and the hope is that this is the worst movie I will sit through all year. It’s a waste of talent and utterly senseless … which would be fine if it happened to be funny. Somehow the writers and director manage to mash-up a spy thriller, action film, buddy film, and romantic comedy into something that is none of those and a slap in the face of the viewers.

This one is directed by McG, whose first two theatrical films were Charlie’s Angels and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, both of which had more and better action sequences than this (that says plenty). It stars three very attractive people in Chris Pine, Tom Hardy and Reese Witherspoon. Their job is to continue to look attractive, sparkly eyes and all, in each progressively more absurd scene. Chelsea Handler is tossed in as Witherspoon’s married friend, who doles out horrible and trashy dating advice in what sounds like a lousy stand-up comedy routine. Angela Bassett, a normally fine actress, is totally out of place in her couple of scenes as the always-angry boss. Til Schweiger (Inglourious Basterds) is totally wasted as the generic bad guy.

 The movie bookends two lackluster action sequences that make little sense and are not much to look at. In between, we have two best buddy co-worker spies competing for the affections of the same girl, who is taking advice from her nasty, jealous friend. All of that is done with little action, no suspense, minimal comedy and absolutely no logical sense. Did I mention that the three leads are all very attractive? One of the minor details that really irritated me was a scene in a giant video store where Pine and Witherspoon are debating the hierarchy of Hitchcock films. In and of itself, that would be fine. But this conversation takes place in front of a display of multiple copies of Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes. Multiple copies. In a video store. Probably more copies than Amazon has in stock. Throw in an escalating series of outlandish dates, a multi-million dollar bachelor pad for Pine (what is the salary for a 30 yr old spy?), buddy dialogue that makes Riggs & Murtaugh or Tango & Cash sound like Lincoln and Douglas.

This is evidently supposed to be an action flick for chicks. There is gunfire, muscles and childlike banter coming from two attractive spies who both love the attractive woman who is desperate to be loved. This means flop.

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you don’t believe it could be this bad

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you prefer not to pay $9 for a nap

watch the trailer (knowing that these are the “good” parts):

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (2-19-12)

February 19, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 PEDRO ALMODOVAR was born, raised and lives in Spain.  He was unable to attend Film School because Franco had closed them all during his regime. Instead, he saved his money and bought a Super 8 camera, and taught himself how to direct by making short films. Pedro is known for writing strong, complex female characters for his films and often casts his mother and/or brother in supporting roles.  He has admitted that much of his writing comes from personal experiences … though not actually autobiographical in nature.  Pedro has become the most influential director from Spain since Luis Bunuel, and he frequently works with his country’s best actors: Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, and Gael Garcia Bernal. His history with Academy Awards is a bit mystifying: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2002, nominated for Best Foreign Language Film), All About my Mother (1999, won for Best Foreign Language Film), Talk to Her (2002, won for Best Screenplay, nominated for Best Director).  At least two other Almodovar films probably deserved nominations. On his reasons for making movies he once said “Cinema can fill in the empty spaces of your life and your loneliness.”  He recently announced that his next film will be the 2013 comedy, Los amantes pasajeros.

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (2-18-12)

February 18, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

ORSON WELLES (1915-1985) directed what many consider to be the greatest film ever, Citizen Kane (1941). Amazingly, it was his first feature film and he was only 26 years old. He won the Oscar for Best Screenplay, but the Best Picture went to How Green Was My Valley … and not Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon or Suspicion.  Welles is one of the few writer/directors whose work has become more appreciated over time … many of his films were box office failures. He was also a prolific actor and radio personality, and is still remembered for his Halloween prank gone bad … the radio rendition of “The War of the Worlds”, in which many listening actually thought aliens had invaded earth.  Welles was also a talented musician, painter and magician. His other must-see film is Touch of Evil (1958). He turned down the offer to be the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars (James Earl Jones accepted).  Commenting on his early career success, he said “I started at the top and worked down.”  In the late 70’s and early 80’s, Welles became the commercial spokesperson for Paul Masson wine … his “we shall sell no wine before it’s time” became the stuff of advertising legend.  Watch one of the ads:

 

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (2-17-12)

February 17, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 MEL BROOKS has directed only eleven feature films.  Both of his acknowledged classics were released in 1974: Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.  Brooks got his start as a TV writer on such shows as “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour”. His career took off in 1965 as he created, produced, wrote and directed the hit TV series “Get Smart”.  He then transitioned into films with The Producers (1968) … his satire of Broadway, involving the scam to produce a sure fire flop called “Hitler in Springtime”. It won him an Oscar for Best Screenplay. Brooks later took the film to Broadway where it became a smash hit.  He once said “I’m the only Jew who ever made a buck offa Hitler.” His knack for parody and sense of humor is certainly not for everyone, but Brooks put together a very successful career to go with his 41 year marriage to actress Anne Bancroft. (Bancroft passed away in 2005, but will always be remembered as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate).

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (2-16-12)

February 16, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 CHRISTOPHER NOLAN is about to release his seventh full-length feature film: The Dark Knight Rises (July 2012). This will be the third film in his trilogy of the re-imagined Batman series.  The first two films (Batman Begins, 2005 and The Dark Knight, 2008) have grossed almost $1.4 billion worldwide. The success of those films, plus his 2010 masterpiece Inception ($825 million worldwide, and two Oscar nominations), have placed him among the most powerful people in Hollywood.  On the flipside, his first full-length feature film Memento (2000) garnered him an Oscar nomination and quite a cult following, so Nolan is one of the few to be hailed in the indie world and then also reach box office peaks with studio blockbusters. Insomnia (2002) is his only film in which he didn’t write the script. He often writes with his brother Jonathan Nolan (the creator of the TV series “Person of Interest”) … including next year’s Man of Steel (the next Superman movie).  When discussing his recent experience with filmmaking, Nolan said, “Superheroes fill a gap in the pop culture psyche, similar to the role of Greek mythology. There isn’t really anything else that does the job in modern terms.”

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Posted by David Ferguson

OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS – Live Action and Animated (2011)

February 15, 2012

Greetings again from the darkness. Every year I mention how the Magnolia Theatre in Dallas presents one of my favorite movie events … the Oscar nominated short films. Three hours of quality filmmaking! It’s also a reminder of just how frustrating it is that so few people actually get to see these interesting short films.  Why aren’t they screened periodically throughout the year in association with major film releases?  Pixar manages to do this successfully, so it only makes sense that others could follow suit.  With all of that being said, I must regrettably report that this year’s batch didn’t light the fire for me the way past years have.  The quality of the filmmaking was present, but the creative storytelling fell a bit short.

Below is my recap by category, and in order of preference:

LIVE ACTION

 THE SHORE (Ireland) directed by Terry George.  This one is probably the most mainstream/accessible because it tells a story that is easily relatable.  Ciaran Hinds stars as a man returning home to Ireland after 25 years.  He has his grown daughter (Kerry Condon) in tow, and she is much more anxious than he to reassemble the pieces of his past. As he reconnects with his former best friend and fiancé, we learn they have each harbored secrets and guilt since last they saw each other.  Watching how it plays out is actually quite touching, and includes some humorous moments as well.

TUBA ATLANTIC (Norway) directed by Hallvar Witzo.  Our lead character is an elderly man who has been told by his doctor that he has six days to live.  He is then visited by a self-described Angel of Death – a teenage girl volunteering to spend time with him, and help him through the stages of dying.  Their time together involves her causing him to lose one of his six days thanks to sleeping pills.  She also joins in on his personal vendetta against the local sea gulls, who clearly have been a menace for years. We also see the giant tuba that brings him some peace.

TIME FREAK (USA) directed by Andrew Bowler. One of the two characters has invented a time travel machine for the purpose of realizing his dream of visiting ancient Rome. Instead of visiting Caesar, he jumps off-track due to his inability to get over the minutae of life.  We also get the best Oceanography reference since “Seinfeld”.

PENTECOST (Ireland) directed by Peter McDaniel. We are dropped into 1977 Ireland as a young alter boy makes a critical mistake during mass.  His punishment forces him to miss his beloved futbol team’s big game. Given a second chance, we witness quite a funny pep talk by the local priest.  The sports analogy is impossible to miss, but the young man proves he may be a bit more hard-headed than first thought.

RAJU (Germany) directed by Max Zahle. A young couple travel to India to adopt an orphan boy. What they soon discover is that they are mere bit players in a human trafficking scam.  We see how differently the two people react and how self-interest can sometimes cloud one’s judgment.

ANIMATION

 THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR MORRIS LESSMORE (USA) directed by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg. Despite a title that is impossible to remember, this little film was my favorite of the day. In a pretty creative way, it touts the impact that books can have on our lives. It has a tribute to Hurricane Katrina and The Wizard of Oz while it reminds us of the role books can play in providing hopes and dreams.  Humpty Dumpty and Pop Goes the Weasel both play a key role as we see books spring to life, and bring color to the world of kids and adults.

LA LUNA (USA) directed by Enrico Casarosa. This category wouldn’t be complete without the latest gem from Pixar. We see a young boy being introduced to a most unusual family business run by his father and grandfather. His real challenge is finding a way to keep them happy while still making his own mark. He succeeds in very dramatic fashion.

A MORNING STROLL (UK) directed by Grant Orchard. A NYC street scene plays out in three widely different eras: 1959, 2009, 2059.  The twist here is we see a chicken doing the same thing in all 3 time periods, while the people he confronts, and the environment, shift each time.

DIMANCHE / SUNDAY (Canada) directed by Patrick Doyon. A boy is searching for something interesting to do while his family carries on with their Sunday visit.  Things involved include a house-rattling train, 3 crows that mimic the old men, a “mounted” bear and a bunny rabbit.

WILD LIFE (Canada) directed by Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby. An English gentleman settles into a simple cabin in the harsh Alberta frontier in 1909.  His letters home paint a rosier picture than what reality dishes. The film compares his plight to that of a comet, replete with burnout.

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (2-15-12)

February 15, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 SIDNEY LUMET (1924-2011) made one of the most remarkable feature film directorial debuts in history with the still powerful Twelve Angry Men (1957). The first half of the 1960’s brought some of Lumet’s best work.  This included: Long Day’s Journey Into the Night (1962), Fail-Safe (1964), The Pawnbroker (1964), The Hill (1965), The Deadly Affair (1966).  Lumet got on another roll in the 70’s with Serpico (1973), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1974), Network (1976).  In 1982 he directed another tense courtroom drama, The Verdict, which won Paul Newman an Oscar.  Though he would go on to direct a dozen watchable movies over the next 25 years, it wasn’t until 2007 (50 years after his first film) when he again achieved near-unanimous critical acclaim with Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.  It would be his final film. Lumet loved New York City and filmed there whenever possible. He was once married to Gloria Vanderbilt for 7 years. Incredibly, Lumet was nominated for five Academy Awards, but never won … though he was presented with an honorary Oscar in 2005.  Having studied acting, he was considered an actor’s director. He once said “There’s no such thing as a small part.  There are just small actors.”

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (2-14-12)

February 14, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 STANLEY KUBRICK (1928-1999) only made 12 full length feature films, but 11 of them could be considered classics. His 1956 The Killing is still considered one of the best of the Film Noir genre, and Paths of Glory (1957) is a staple in Film Classes for war films. Spartacus (1960) and Lolita (1962) provided true insight into his filmmaking genius, and the turning point in his career was the critical acclaim and box office success of his war/political black comedy Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). After that, Kubrick had the power that only a handful of directors ever achieve – he was free to choose what movies he wanted to make, when he would make them, how he would make them, and with whom he would make them. In 1968 he collaborated with Arthur C Clarke to create what many still consider the best sci-fi film ever, 2001: A Space Odyssey.  In the 70’s came his ultra-violent masterpiece A Clockwork Orange (1971) and also Barry Lyndon (1975).  For many film lovers the classic modern horror film is Kubrick’s The Shining (1980), based on Stephen King’s novel (though King despised the adaptation).  In 1987, Kubrick explored the dark psychological damage caused by war in Full Metal Jacket.  His final film was Eyes Wide Shut (1999), which received very mixed critical reviews (he claimed it was his best film).  Kubrick died in his sleep in while working on another sci-fi film.  His friend, Steven Spielberg, finished the film and dedicated AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001) to Stanley Kubrick.  Over his career, Kubrick received 13 Oscar nominations, winning for Best Special Effects for “2001”. Since he gave so few interviews, he was often described as a recluse. Kubrick scoffed at the label saying “I have a wife, three children, three dogs, seven cats.  I’m not a Franz Kafka sitting alone and suffering.”

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Posted by David Ferguson

TMI (2-13-12)

February 13, 2012

TMI (Today’s Movie Info)

February: Director’s Month

 PETER JACKSON … his favorite movie is King Kong (1933), which he re-made in 2005, with Naomi Watts in the Fay Wray role.  Jackson has also been greatly inspired by George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead (1978).  He always co-writes his scripts with his wife, Fran Walsh, and his big breakthrough came in 1994 with Heavenly Creatures, starring a 19 year old relative newcomer named Kate Winslet. Jackson is one of 7 filmmakers to win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay for the same film (Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, 2003) … he also has six other Oscar nominations. Already thought of as a cinematic genius thanks to his Lord of the Rings trilogy, Jackson is currently at work filming his two part film based on “The Hobbit” by JRR Tolkien.  Expected release date for part one is December 14, 2012.

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Posted by David Ferguson

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