Movie Reviews from the Dark

OUTSIDE THE LAW (Algeria)

February 26, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. I am certainly not qualified to offer an expert opinion as to the historical accuracy of the film, but I can say that it provides a seemingly realistic view of the horrible situation and struggles endured by the Algerians during their fight for independence from France during WWII.

The story is a sequential sequel to director Rachid Bouchareb‘s film Paths of Glory and centers around 3 brothers who are separated during the horrible massacre at Setif. Messaoud (Roschdy Zem, who was the best thing about The Girl from Monaco) goes off to fight as a soldier for France; Said (Jamel Debbouze) takes his mother and moves to Shantytown in France and becomes quite the street hustler; while Abdelkadar (Sami Bouajila) is imprisoned and absorbs all that he sees.

Each of the brothers endures much hardship until circumstances serve to reunite them in Shantytown. That’s when the real mission begins. Abdelkadar becomes the driving force behind the Algerian’s FLN movement. He is the local figurehead and brains, while his brother Messaoud acts as the muscle and bodyguard. Brother Said continues his pursuit of money through shady night clubs and as a boxing promoter, but he is never far from his brothers’ sides – even if he isn’t quite as politically motivated.

I found all three brothers interesting in their own right, but the film is just so downbeat as it tells this story, that I just never felt engaged. That’s not to say the mission of the Algerian people during this two decade period isn’t amazing, because it certainly is. It’s just this film doesn’t really offer much in the form of telling the story. This one is nominated by the Academy for Best Foreign Film, so obviously many thought better of it than I.

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you want to keep your streak intact of seeing ALL Oscar nominated movies (yes, that’s me)

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: a downbeat movie about the Algerian struggle during WWII is not the pick-me-up you are seeking right now.

Leave a Comment » | Drama, War, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: Jamel Debbouze, Rachid Bouchareb, Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

OSCAR PREDICTIONS (2011)

February 23, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. Since I jumped on the soapbox in my intro for last year’s Oscar Predictions, I shall remain firmly planted on the ground for this year’s edition. I do love movies and I have a real affinity for the Academy Awards … despite the fact that many/most winners will not be aligned with my personal preference. No matter – it’s a glamorous event dedicated to an art form I appreciate.

With Anne Hathaway and James Franco entrusted to host the show, I believe it is the first time that a Lead Actor nominee will serve as host in the same year as their nomination. It will be interesting to see what they do with Mr. Franco (127 Hours) during the presentation of his category. These two young actors are immensely and diversely talented, and should bring a refreshing edge to the show.

Now for my disclaimer: Over the past 21 years, I have quite an impressive track record of predicting the winners. However, this year, I am at a loss as to who and what are the real front-runners in some of the big categories. The “warm-up” awards events have varied widely and provide very little hint as to what Academy voters have decided. Below, I have recapped the main categories and offered up my predictions as well as my preferences. I have (mostly) resisted the urge to comment if my true preference did not even receive a nomination (aka, snub). So following are my best guesses …. Let me know yours! (I apologize for the formatting issues)

BEST PICTURE – It would be no shocker if the evening turned into a sweep for either The King’s Speech or The Social Network. Since I am hanging my hat on the stuttering King, my sterling record will be trashed if the Facebook movie gets on a roll.

PREDICTION: The King’s Speech – very well made historical and personal drama

PREFERENCE: Toy Story 3 – no chance of a win in this category, but it deserves to be here and was my favorite movie of 2010.

BEST DIRECTOR

PREDICTION: David Fincher (The Social Network) –I am predicting an Oscar rarity: Best Director will not have directed the Best Picture.

PREFERENCE: Darren Aronfsky (Black Swan) – since Christopher Nolan was snubbed, my meaningless vote would go to the creative force behind my number 2 movie of 2010

BEST ACTOR

PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) – not the strongest year for this category but Mr. Firth is deservedly a heavy favorite.

BEST ACTRESS

PREDICTION: Natalie Portman (Black Swan) – Annette Bening could slip in, but I hope not. Last year was bad enough when media darling Sandra Bullock stole the prize from the great Meryl Streep.

PREFERENCE: Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) – no chance to win, but easily my favorite lead actress performance of 2010. Plus, she knows how to properly prepare squirrel stew!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

PREDICTION: Christian Bale (The Fighter) – very close race between he and Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech). Not sure Mr. Rush received enough credit for providing much of the interest and entertainment value for his movie.

PREFERENCE: John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone) – Bale and Rush were superb, but Mr. Hawkes was incredible as the mysterious uncle who was both friend and foe.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – my favorite category this year!

PREDICTION: Melissa Leo (The Fighter) – it could be argued that Amy Adams gave a better performance, but Ms. Leo’s character best exemplified Micky Ward’s plight.

PREFERENCE: I struggle with this because Hailee Steinfeld was remarkable in True Grit, but I consider it to be a Lead role. As for true supporting expertise, Jacki Weaver in the little seen Animal Kingdom was the most frightening onscreen mother since Faye Dunaway wielded a coat hanger!

ANIMATED FEATURE

PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: Toy Story 3. All three nominations are strong, but TS3 is the best movie of the year, animated or not.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

PREDICTION: In a Better World (Denmark) – seems to be the lead horse by winning some early awards.

PREFERENCE: This is a very frustrating category for me this year since I have only seen Biutiful (Mexico). As often occurs, most of the films in this category will obtain limited U.S. distribution later this year.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

PREDICTION: The King’s Speech by David Seidler

PREFERENCE: Inception by Christopher Nolan

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

PREDICTION: The Social Network – by Aaron Sorkin (slam dunk)

PREFERENCE: Toy Story 3 – actually an original story with familiar characters

CINEMATOGRAPHY

PREDICTION: True Grit, Roger Deakins – a mild upset

PREFERENCE: Black Swan, Matthew Libatique – the onstage dancing was brilliantly shot

COSTUME DESIGN

PREDICTION: The King’s Speech

PREFERENCE: I Am Love – the fabrics and colors compliment the setting

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: Day & Night – not winning would be due to Pixar backlash

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

PREDICTION: Wish 143

PREFERENCE: The Crush

ORIGINAL SCORE

PREDICTION: The Social Network – Trent Reznor onstage at the Oscars!

PREFERENCE: Inception – startling piece by Hans Zimmer

ORIGINAL SONG

PREDICTION and PREFERENCE: “We Belong Together” (Toy Story 3) Dear Academy: please don’t subject us to Gwyneth Paltrow singing that dang Country Strong song.

DOCUMENTARY

PREDICTION AND PREFERENCE – This is a very strong category full of work that deserves to win. The only thing that would eclipse Trent Reznor onstage at the Oscars would be an appearance by the reclusive Banksy should his film Exit Through the Gift Shop win. If I must predict a winner, I’ll go with Restrepo, but it could be that Academy voters are just as intrigued by Bansky as I am.

If you would like to see my Best of 2010 list:

https://moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com/annual-bests-2/best-of-2010/

If you would like to see my recap of the Nominated Shorts:

https://moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/oscar-nominate…-animated-2010/

Leave a Comment » | Articles | Tagged: Academy Awards, Oscars | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

CEDAR RAPIDS

February 21, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. I have said many times that comedies are the most difficult of all film genres since no two people have the same sense of humor, and everyone considers themselves to be funny. While many people laughed til they cried during The Hangover, others walked out of the theatre or simply had no interest at all. The same can be said for just about any Mel Brooks movie, as well as his contemporary, Judd Apatow. What we do know, is that a comedy’s chance for success comes down to its characters, and in this area, Cedar Rapids works like a charm.

Ed Helms (Andy in “The Office”) stars as Tim Lippe, the most sheltered, naive mid-western insurance agent ever captured on film. Lippe lives and works in Brown Valley, Wisconsin … the most sheltered, naive mid-western town ever captured on film. He truly believes insurance salesmen serve a higher cause. His only real excitement is found through his “pre-engagement” to his 7th grade teacher played well by Sigourney Weaver (probably the most worldly person in Brown Valley). When an embarrassing accident claims the life of their hot shot agent, the agency owner (Stephen Root) sends Lippe to the annual convention in Cedar Rapids. His mission: to win the coveted 2-Diamond Award presented by industry legend Orin Helgesson (a pious Kurtwood Smith).

Since a lone character can’t generate many laughs, circumstances at the convention cause Lippe to find himself roommates with a very noble Ronald Wilkes (Isiah Whitlock, Jr from “The Wire”) and fast-talking poacher Dean Ziegler (John C Reilly). These 3 are joined together by Nebraska agent Joan Ostrowski-Fox (Anne Heche). Lippe is quickly introduced to the “real world” (heavy drinking, sexual inneuendo, pranks, etc) by his new friends and after the first 20 minutes of set-up, the lines and settings get funnier and funnier.

As with most comedies these days, the trailer gives away much more than it should; but, unlike most, it leaves plenty of laughs and situations for the film. What really makes this work is that all characters are actually very nice people … they are just a bit exaggerated in their traits. Lippe is a bit too naive. Wilkes is a bit too uptight. Ziegler is a bit too obnoxious, and Fox is just a little too lonely and adventurous. Still, their earnestness is what keeps the film grounded. One of the best parts of the gag is that somehow Cedar Rapids, Iowa is cast as sin city! We aren’t talking Vegas, NYC or Paris … but CEDAR RAPIDS!

Mr. Helms is really a comic force. He has the extraordinary ability to never hold back or worry that he might not look cool. Even as the lead character, he knows when scene-stealer John C Reilly should have the spotlight. This is a tremendous asset for a comic. Mr. Whitlock spouts some funny lines in homage to “The Wire” and Ms. Heche refuses to overplay the lonely wife out for a good time.

I won’t give away much, but will warn that some of the humor is crude … especially most of Riley’s rapid-fire zingers. If you appreciate a balance of outlandish one-liners with humorous real people, then you might want to check this one out. I have only previously known this director, Miguel Arteta, as the guy responsible for Jennifer Aniston‘s best screen performance (The Good Girl). Now I look forward to his next project.

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you could use a few good laughs here in the middle of winter

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you prefer your comedies to be a bit more highbrow

2 Comments | Comedy | Tagged: Alia Shawkat, Anne Heche, Ed Helms, Isiah Whitlock Jr, John C Reilly, Kurtwood Smith, Miguel Arteta, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Root | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS – Live Action and Animated (2010)

February 13, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. The Dallas Magnolia Theatre again presented showings of all Oscar nominated short films. This has become one of my favorite movie events of the year. Short films are quite a different art form than feature length films. Connections with characters must be made so quickly and interest in the story must be gained within the first couple of minutes, or all is lost.

It’s really a shame more short films don’t get distributed with mainstream movies. It would be a nice bonus for the viewers and the filmmakers. You know what I mean if you saw Toy Story 3 at the theatre this year. Below is a quick recap of this year’s nominees. They are by category and in order of my preference.

LIVE ACTION

THE CRUSH (Ireland) by Michael Creagh. It’s the age old tale of schoolboy crush on his teacher. Only this one has quite a twist. When Ardal discovers that his teacher is engaged to be married, he decides to save her from a marriage to this less-than-admirable character by challenging him to a duel. This one makes a couple of really good statements in a short period of time and would have been even better if a real actor, rather than the director’s son, had been chosen to play Ardal.

WISH 143 (UK) by Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite. A teenage terminally ill cancer patient tells the make-a-wish representative that his wish is to lose his virginity before he dies. When his story hits the newspaper, it doesn’t go as he wished. With a little help from a Priest and a very thoughtful young lady played by the very talented Jodie Whittaker (Venus), the boy’s dreams are surpassed in a warm and surprising manner.

THE CONFESSION (UK) by Tanel Toom. Two young catholic school boys are on the verge of their first confession. Being a bit confused on just what to confess, they stage a prank that inevitably goes horribly wrong. Their response to this tragedy leads to yet another tragedy that is surely to scar for life. Not very uplifting, but very well done.

GOD OF LOVE (USA) by Luke Matheny. The director plays a love song crooner who also happens to be an expert at darts, while terribly misguided on love. His prayers are answered by the Olympus Foundation in a box of love darts. Yes, these darts ignite the openness required for two people to fall in love. While it doesn’t turn out exactly as he had hoped, Olympus rewards his efforts with a promotion to full Cupid status.

NA WEWE (Belgium) by Ivan Goldschmidt. This is mid 90’s Burundi and a war between the Hutus and Tutsis is waging. The similarites to Don Cheadle‘s film Hotel Rwanda are inescapable, but this is limited to one incident where a van full of passengers is stopped and the frightening process of sorting out begins.

ANIMATION

DAY AND NIGHT (USA) by Teddy Newton. I feel a bit guilty selecting this Pixar production as my favorite, but it is simply another example of the genius we have come to expect from these people. Sunny dispositioned “Day” stumbles into the dark, gloomy “Night” and the battle begins. It’s only when they see the world through each other’s eyes that they began to celebrate their similarities and differences. Whatever you do, don’t mistake this for the lame Tom Cruise movie, Knight and Day.

THE GRUFFALO (Germany) by Jakob Schuh and Max Lang. This probably would have been my favorite had it been original instead of based on the children’s book by Julia Donaldson. The story, message and animation are all superb and it even has hints of Dr. Seuss! Care for any Owl Ice Cream?

LET’S POLLUTE (USA) by Geefwee Boedoe. Created by a Disney animator, this brilliant work is done in the style of a 1960’s educational film … only with top notch satire that instructs the viewer on how to be a better polluter! The voice-over is tremendous and the lessons can’t be missed. Want it. Waste it.

MADAGASCAR, A JOURNEY DIARY (French) by Bastien Dubois. This is the most artfully drawn of the nominees. The watercolors are beautiful and the movements are unique and eye-catching. Even the music is terrific and unusual. Presented to us as scrapbook pages describing a trip, we experience many people and the culture, and even the affect on the artist. This one just needed a bit more substance and it could have jumped to the top of the list.

THE LOST THING (Australia) by Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann. A guy discovers a most unusual creature just by being a bit more observant than the masses who seem to be lost in their own world. He helps the thing find it’s place in the world and proves the point that we all belong somewhere … oh yeah, and pay attention to your surroundings!

Leave a Comment » | Articles, Short film | Tagged: Academy Awards, Oscars | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

TAXI DRIVER (1976) revisited

February 11, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. I was excited to hear Dallas Morning News film critic Chris Vognar put together a monthly film series focusing on the 1970’s. The first showing was last night and, of course, I attended … Martin Scorcese’s 1976 film Taxi Driver. The biggest surprise of the evening came when Mr. Vognar asked for a show of hands from those who had not previously seen the film … approximately HALF admitted it was their first time.

Now I have seen the film 12-15 times, and last night made the third time on the big screen – counting the first time which was at a Drive-In! The surprising thing about the first timers was that they were somehow drawn to it 35 years after release, but had never felt strongly enough to rent the video or include on their NetFlix list. Maybe it was the lure of the Q&A with a noted film critic or maybe they just wanted it in a theatre setting. Either way, it was very interesting to hear crowd reactions from so many who were witnessing the Schrader/Scorcese work for the first time.

Whether you have seen the film or not, chances are good that you are familiar with the “You talking to me?” scene. Robert DeNiro improvised the scene including the key line “Well I’m the only one here.” That line goes straight to the theme of isolation and alienation that runs throughout. Another interesting aspect to consider is the similarity between this film and John Ford’s classic The Searchers. Both include no-holds-barred rescue missions (by war veterans losing their grip) to save a girl who may or may not want to be rescued. In The Searchers, it’s Natalie Wood with the Comanche Indians; and here it’s 12 year old Jodie Foster with her pimp, played by Harvey Keitel.

Taxi Driver certainly takes on a different look today, than it did when it was first released. It was surely not endorsed by the New York Chamber of Commerce as we spend two hours in the filthiest, most crime-addled areas of the city. Of course, today, much of that same area is touristy and revenue-producing (in a legal way!). The campaigning by the slick politician and his idealistic supporters (Albert Brooks, Cybill Shepherd) ring as true today as then … kind of sad more progress hasn’t been made.

This is a very tough film about one man’s slow descent from sanity caused by a seemingly impossible dream of cleaning up the streets of the city and the morals of its inhabitants. The isolation and alienation themes hold up well today, and though it may not be Scorcese’s absolute best, it could be DeNiro’s rawest performance. For a chuckle (you’ll need it after watching it), imagine the film directed by Brian DePalma (Scarface) and starring Dustin Hoffman … it almost happened!

Next month’s showing is the underrated Hal Ashby/Robert Towne 1973 film The Last Detail, which features a 35 year old Jack Nicholson in full scene-chewing glory … one of my all-time favorites!

Leave a Comment » | Articles, Classics | Tagged: Albert Brooks, Chris Vognar, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Jodie Foster, Martin Scorsese, Paul Schrader, Robert Deniro | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE ILLUSIONIST (L’illusionniste)

February 6, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. While this animated feature absolutely stands on its own, a little background makes it even more interesting.

Jacques Tati is legendary among cinephiles. He is responsible for a small, but fascinating clump of films that span 25+ years. His best known are Mr. Hulot’s Holiday and Mon Oncle, the latter of which makes a quick appearance in this film. Tati wrote the original script in the 1950’s just prior to his career exploding in popularity. He intended the script to be filmed as a live action production, but he died in 1982 without ever getting around to making the film. Instead, his daughter held onto the script and eventually gave it to filmmaker Sylvain Chomet, who is responsible for the fantastic 2003 animated film The Triplets of Belleville.

Mr. Chomet’s animated version is quite the tribute to Tatis. The lead character shares not only Tatis’ birth name (Tatischeff) but also his look and mannerisms. He is a technically adept magician whose time has come and gone … his sly skills and popularity replaced by the obnoxious noise of rock stars. He is now confined to run down music halls and finally a department store showroom window. A true relic on display … ironically hocking the hottest items of the day.

Along the way “down” he meets a girl who seems to worship what magic he has left. She cooks and cleans and caters to him. Her attention leads him to spend what little money he has on buying her new shoes and clothes. A sad spectacle played out in real life entirely too many times. The girl’s presence does give him a reason to go on … if for no other reason that to keep up with her whims.

Of course, nothing last forever. Neither the magician, nor the girl’s adoration. The details of Edinburgh and the characters are a tribute to both the Tatis script and the brilliant eye of Chomet. It is a rather sad and bleak story told with a most unusual pace and nearly no dialogue. The characters movements and the beautiful score leave little doubt what is occurring with each character and in each scene. This is wonderful animated filmmaking and it certainly deserves it’s Oscar nomination.

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you have an appreciation for animated world cinema OR (like me) you believe The Triplets of Belleville to be one of the finest animated films ever made.

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you believe animated films need to be very wild, noisy and colorful to hold attention

Leave a Comment » | Animation, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: Jacques Tati, Sylvain Chomet | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

ANOTHER YEAR

January 30, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. How DARE he? Mike Leigh is such a non-compliant filmmaker. He just refuses to follow the rules … and film goers are the benefactors of his daring. Mind you, his daring is not in the regards of special effects, stunt work or trick photography. No sir. His daring is with the subject, theme, tone and characters. He is … GASP … unafraid of real people! If you have seen Mr. Leigh’s work in Happy-Go-Lucky or Vera Drake, you understand that his films can be simplistic on the surface, while carrying multiple layers of commentary and observations. He also has the classic British sense of humor in that very few “punchlines” exist. Instead the humor comes in allowing the viewer to recognize the characters as someone they know, or God forbid, even their own self!

Mr. Leigh has a history of making films without a script … only broad based outlines for the characters. The actors then work to fill in the details of the individuals, which in turn, forms a story. This explains why the story does not follow the traditional arc. In fact, the story has no real beginning or ending. What we see are the interactions of people who are friends, relatives, co-workers, acquaintances and strangers.

The foundation of the film, as well as the foundation for most of the other characters in the film, is the happily married couple of Tom and Gerri, played by the terrific Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen. This is a couple who not only love and respect each other, but also enjoy being together. Their friends and family come in and out of their lives, but their bond is strong.

Key amongst this group is their friend, and Gerri’s co-worker, Mary (Lesley Manville). Mary is someone we all recognize. She is single, not getting any younger, desperately trying to avoid loneliness (too often with a bottle), masking her fear through fake excitement, and latched onto the security blanket offered by Tom and Gerri’s friendship. Many felt Ms. Manville deserved an Oscar nom for this role, and I will say she is outstanding.

When family friend Ken (Peter Wight) makes a move on Mary, she shuns him because of his lack of perfection. She always thinks she can do better. When she begins fixating on Tom and Gerri’s son Joe (Oliver Maltman), we really feel her pain but just want to slap some sense into her. The relationships all take a hit when Mary shows up for dinner and is introduced to Joe’s new girlfriend … a wonderfully charming and talented Katie (Karina Fernandez). Mary acts the selfish fool and it drives a wedge between she and Gerri. There is even a line of dialogue earlier on … “never come between a mother and her son“! Another character we are witness to includes the great Imelda Staunton as a depressed middle-aged woman who comes to Gerri for professional guidance. We also meet David Bradley as Tom’s older brother, Ronnie, whose wife has recently passed. Mr. Bradley will be recognized as Argus Filch from the Harry Potter movies.

All of these situations and personalities are balanced by Tom and Gerri as they provide a stable environment … it’s as if they are a fountain of sanity from which everyone wishes to drink. As an added touch, none of the characters are Hollywood beauties. Broadbent and Ms. Sheen would never be mistaken for Brad and Angelina. Rather they are more likely to look like someone you know … and better yet, their characters live like people you WANT to know. So again I ask … How dare he?

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you don’t mind a quick glance at characters who probably mirror you and your friends OR you can appreciate the British way of squeezing some humor out of someone’s pain

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you prefer fantastical stories and “big” Hollywood films to the intimacy of characters who could actually exist.

Leave a Comment » | Comedy, Drama, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: David Bradley, Imelda Staunton, Jim Broadbent, Karina Fernandez, Lesley Manville, Mike Leigh, Oliver Maltman, Peter Wight, Ruth Sheen | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

BIUTIFUL

January 30, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. If anyone tells you this film is a bit of a downer, never trust them again. It may be the bleakest, most dismal film I have ever seen (and that’s saying a lot!). A bit of downer does not do it justice. Still, I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. Javier Bardem is captivating and truly encompasses the character of Uxbal – a father of two, who has a connection to the dead, and is headed there himself (quickly).

Already I am sure many are turned off by the subject matter and the fact that it’s not an inspirational, feel-good movie. I would make the point that despite the despair, it does show the journey of a man seeking redemption and trying, with everything he has, to do right by his kids.

Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is a master filmmaker as evidenced by his work in 21 Grams and Babel. He gives us a real feel for the grungy and claustrophobic world that these people inhabit. We absolutely feel their pain and resolve and desperation and panic. We feel it for the entire 2 and a half hours running time. I should also mention that the film has what may be the most unusual score/soundtrack of any film in recent memory. There is no real continuity, it’s as if music was written for individual scenes, rather than for the entire film. Very effective, but very non-traditional.

If you can take the filmed depression, the pay off is watching Bardem work. I have often recommended his fascinating work in The Sea Inside, but as much as it pains me to agree with Julia Roberts, his performance here is somehow better. It’s no wonder why he felt the need to escape with Eat Pray Love after filming this one. It should be noted that Bardem is the first ever Lead Actor nominee for a full Spanish speaking role.

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you want to see a masterful performance by Javier Bardem OR you thought 21 Grams and Babel were just a bit too funny and light-hearted.

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you couldn’t care less about acting proficiency and just want your movies to be feel good and uplifting

Leave a Comment » | Drama, World Cinema/Foreign | Tagged: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Javier Bardem | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

GASLAND

January 29, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. This is Josh Fox‘s Oscar nominated documentary on the effects of natural gas drilling known as fracking. The film deserves your attention because it is a frightening look at how huge companies and the government can work in conjunction on projects that clearly put citizens at risk. I realize that last sentence sounds like Chicken Little yelling “conspiracy”, but the details of the film will give you pause.

Can you light your tap water on fire? If so, chances are good that you are within range of natural gas drilling. Our government somehow agreed to allow this practice to remain exempt from the clean air and clean water laws. If brown water comes out of your faucet, then you already know what I am talking about.

Mr. Fox is from Pennsylvannia and that’s where the cross-country story begins. He is concerned about his neighbors, the environment and our drinking supply. Clearly an enormous amount of chemicals are used in this drilling process. Clearly these chemicals seep into the wetlands and water supply of neighboring areas. Clearly too many people are looking the other way. The only thing not clear? The water near these drilling sites.

No mystery why this is allowed. The almighty dollar. It is cheaper for these companies to “pay off” the backwoods citizens than it is to not drill. Not sure how you decide the payoff when your kids are being poisoned and the damage to the water sources continues.

The film itself is a bit amateurish and sometimes the camera work is downright awful. But the point here is not to make a beautiful film. It is to educate … to awaken people on just what is at stake with these dangerous procedures and lack of regulation and safety requirements.

The most painful piece was when the EPA executive was interviewed and he said that his agency must be directed by the government to check into allegations made by citizens. They have no authority to move on their own. If this is true, it’s just one more instance of a bass-ackwards policy that needs to be reviewed. I encourage everyone to see this. If they aren’t drilling in your area currently, it won’t be long now.

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: natural gas drilling is already occurring in your area OR you drink water

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you prefer to stick your head in the sand and pretend the government will take care of you OR you believe companies can be trusted to put the good of people over the drive for profit.

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: Josh Fox | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

REACTION: OSCAR NOMS (2011)

January 25, 2011

Greetings again from the darkness. Announcement Day for the Oscars is always fun! Arguing about who got a nom that they didn’t deserve? Who was snubbed? Were politics involved? (Yes, always). Pleasant Surprises? Disappointments? All that makes for indigestion-inducing lunchtime banter … and the ceremony (the 83rd) is still 33 days away! So below are just a few of my observations and reactions to today’s announcements … these are NOT my predictions. At the end, there are two links. One to my Best of 2010 list, and the other to a full list of nominations.

1. BEST PICTURE: thrilled to see Winter’s Bone get a nom (4 in total). It’s a shame more people didn’t see this little film (box office less than $7 million) during it’s theatrical run. It’s very compelling and features two of the best performances of the year. Toy Story 3 (my favorite film of the year) got nominated for both Best Picture and Best Animated Feature … and it deserves both. Other than that, I just don’t have much to say about this category as it was pretty easy to predict (except for Winter’s Bone vs. The Town). Not a year for great movies, but there were plenty of good ones!

2. DIRECTOR: OK, this one actually bothers me. How does Christopher Nolan (pictured) get snubbed AGAIN? I certainly understand how some people don’t like his movie Inception, but it was nominated for Best Picture and it, more than any other film on the list, is clearly a director’s film. Mr. Nolan is an amazing filmmaker who has somehow ended up on the “naughty” list for Academy voters. With ten Best Pic nominees and only five Best Director nominees, there will always be some terrific directors who are left out. Nolan should not have been one. If you ask me who should have been left off for Nolan, my answer is David O. Russell for The Fighter. It is a terrific movie, but we all know this has been Mark Wahlberg’s pet project for almost a decade.

3. LEAD ACTOR: Two rarities here: a Lead Actor nomination for a non-English speaking role (Javier Bardem) and back-to-back years (Jeff Bridges). Bardem’s film Biutiful will just start gaining release this upcoming weekend, and Bridges was terrific in the Rooster Cogburn role that won John Wayne his only Oscar. While this is not a list of my predictions, it seems pretty clear that Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) is the lead horse in this race. I had hoped Robert Duvall (Get Low) might sneak in, but the buzz of The Social Network got Jesse Eisenberg some recognition. It will also be interesting to see how they handle James Franco’s (127 Hours) nomination since he is also one of this year’s co-hosts!

4. LEAD ACTRESS: Was relieved that Julianne Moore did not get a nomination. I thought both she and Annette Bening overacted in their roles as lesbian parents in The Kids Are All Right. Ms. Bening did get a nom and may get the win (vs Natalie Portman) since she has been wrongfully overlooked in the past. The other three nominees were all fantastic, but in movies very few people actually saw.   Jennifer Lawrence (pictured, Winter’s Bone) is my breakout star of the year.

5. SUPPORTING ACTOR AND ACTRESS: Along with Jennifer Lawrence, three of my six favorite performances this year all belong to women in this category – Melissa Leo (The Fighter), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), and Jacki Weaver (pictured Animal Kingdom).   My other two favorite performances are also noted in this category for the men – Christian Bale (The Fighter) and John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone). I would not have picked Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech), but it is her best work since A Room with a View.

6. FILM EDITING. I know … you don’t realy care about this category, but I must mention the major snub of Inception (Lee Smith). Whether you like the film or not, there is no argument to how well it is edited. Not only should have been nominated, but should have been the clear front runner. Bah.

7. SCREENPLAY : only oddity is that Black Swan was not nominated, and in it’s place was Mike Leigh’s Another Year. The rest of the nominations followed the Best Picture list.

8. DOCUMENTARY: some will argue that Waiting for Superman should have been nominated. I believe that argument is based on the importance of the topic, rather than the quality of the film. Very cool that Exit Through the Gift Shop scored a nomination. Banksy.

9. VISUAL EFFECTS: the third biggest snub belongs to Tron: Legacy. The tidal wave opening scene in Hereafter was amazing, but the entire Tron film was a study in spectacular special effects. I believe the Academy voters took it’s brilliant production for granted.

Sure there are some minor quibbles, but for the most part, this year’s nominations were pretty easy to predict. That said, the eventual winners might not be so clear cut. I will post my Oscar predictions as we get closer to the ceremony. In the meantime, let me know what you think. Did your favorite get snubbed? Did one you hated get nominated? This is much more fun to complain about than your job!!