2010 – FIRST HALF RECAP

July 14, 2010

Greetings again from the darkness.  Well, it’s July, so 2010 is half over.  Of course, as any movie lover knows, the movie year is only about 40% complete and we always have high hopes for the final 6 months.  Have received a couple of requests to do a recap of the first half, but before I do, I’ll provide a little insight into the structure of a typical movie year:

JANUARY – APRIL:  “Schlock and Seconds”

Those of us not living in NYC or Los Angeles get to play “catch up” on the Oscar contenders that were released just ahead of the deadline the previous year.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that we are also subjected to the latest round of low budget horror films, schlock action films, and weak rom-coms.  Luckily, there are some interesting foreign, independent and documentaries films that hit during this time as well.

MAY – JULY: “Big Ad Movies”

It’s summer blockbuster season … the season for huge advertising budgets, animation and the newest round of computer generated special effects … these films are designed to WOW you with sensory overload (yes, and make LOTS of money)

AUGUST – mid OCTOBER: “The Lost 10 weeks”

Typically, this is the dead season.  Not much going on except for those films with production delays and/or deemed unable to compete with the summer crowd.  This is a great time to catch up on any films you missed during the first half … or do something other than go to a movie, though I have no idea what.

Late OCTOBER – DECEMBER: “My movie is Important.  No really.”

The serious movie period.  The producers of these films tend to believe their films and/or actors are worthy of Oscar consideration.  These films are released at year-end because the producer’s believe that most people can’t remember what they had for breakfast, much less what movies they liked in April! 

OK, so that provides some perspective to the following recap of the first six months of 2010 films.  Please note, none of the films or categories are in any type of order, and if a film deserved to be in two categories, I just picked one.  This way I don’t ruin any surprises for the year-end recap.

FIRST HALF RECAP – 2010 Films

BEST SO FAR:

WINTER’S BONE

TOY STORY 3

THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES

 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

 

BIGGEST SURPRISES:

CYRUS

PLEASE GIVE

CITY ISLAND

GREENBERG

 

MOST DISAPPOINTING:

JONAH HEX

 ROBIN HOOD

BABIES

 

 

WORST SO FAR:

PREDATORS

KNIGHT AND DAY

VALENTINE’S DAY

 

 

Here are a few UPCOMING FILMS that are of interest:

INCEPTION: Director Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending twister starring Leonardo Dicaprio

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (Wall Street sequel with Michael Douglas, Shia LeBeouf

THE EXPENDABLES (all star action cast led by Sylvester Stallone and friends)

EAT PRAY LOVE – best-selling book, with Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 – sequel to the surprise hit of 2009

MACHETE – for Grindhouse lovers only, by Robert Rodriquez

THE OTHER GUYS – Will Ferrell comedy (you just never know)

JACK GOES BOATING – directorial debut of Philip Seymour Hoffman

THE KILLER INSIDE ME – Winterbottom’s creepy murder-drama

GET LOW – offbeat dramedy with Robert Duvall and Bill Murray

BURIED – claustrophobic thriller with Ryan Reynolds and a casket

Thanks for reading and please pass it along to anyone you think might enjoy.

*** SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES!! ***

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE (Sweden, 2009)

July 11, 2010

 Greetings again from the darkness. This is the second of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, though we have a new director for parts two and three. Daniel Alfredson takes a more mainstream approach to filming and story telling and, of course, he loses the element of surprise we enjoyed in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, one of my favorite films of the year so far.

With Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist back as Lisbeth and Mikael Blomkvist respectively, it certainly helps to have seen the first film to fill in the character development that this one assumes. We are treated to a more intricate, complex story line in this one, but the fun research part we enjoyed in part one, comes up a bit short.

Swedish acting veteran/legend Per Oscarsson appears as Lisbeth’s first (and trusted) state assigned officer. He plays a small, but vital role and is quite interesting on screen – even at age 83! The story fills in some of the gaps on Lisbeth’s childhood and background but really leaves her a bit short on screen time despite being suspected of 3 murders.

Lisbeth’s look is somewhat softer in this one and we get full on views of her eyes, which rarely happened in part one. I believe the movie suffers a bit by making it easier to relate to her as a wronged woman. Still, the story is much better than the average thriller and the two lead characters are more interesting than most. I look forward to the final film of the trilogy … The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.

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Posted by David Ferguson

PREDATORS (2010)

July 10, 2010

 Greetings again from the darkness. If you are a fan of the 1987 original film directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard) and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, you couldn’t help but be a bit excited about this new one since Robert Rodriguez is involved. What a letdown.  It plays more like an episode of Lost, or even The Twilight Zone.

With films from Mr. Rodriguez, we have always been able to count on creativity, ingenuity, humor and excitement. This one lacks all. Now to be fair, the director is actually Nimrod Antal, whose resume includes Armored and Vacancy, both of which are as empty as this one.  But Mr. Rodriguez was very involved in the details.

Of course when your cast is minus Arnold, you start with a major handicap. When you replace him with Adrien Brody, you appear to be aiming for disappointment. Sure Mr. Brody did a few sit-ups to prep for this role, but he is no action hero, regardless of how he mimics the Christian Bale Batman voice in order to seem tough.

The rest of the bad luck cast of characters is rounded out by Laurence Fishbourne, Alice Braga, the great Danny Trejo (a Rodriguez staple), Topher Grace and Walton Goggins (so great as Boyd Crowder in Justified, TV’s best new series this past season). Just to add to the misery, the film score is simplistic and a bit of a joke itself. It certainly misses the excellent work of Alan Silvestri from the first film.

Not much need to discuss the lack of any real new material here. The bad guys are pretty much the same. The weapons are pretty much the same.  The cast and script are weaker. The real money with this one lies in a “making of” documentary in which the first “pitch” meeting takes place and the producers are presented with the idea to make a thrilling new action movie … a new Predator movie … starring … Adrien Brody and Topher Grace!

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE (2010)

July 5, 2010

 Greetings again from … GOTCHA!!!  Seriously??  Do you really think I am the target audience for this one?  Just wanted to relay what I thought was a pretty funny story in regards to this already extremely popular sequel.

I was sitting in one of the comfy leather chairs in the Angelika foyer as I waited for seating to begin on my second movie of the day (hey, it was a rainy Saturday in Dallas).  A line began to form for the next Twilight showing and I had a little chuckle at the sight of 20-30 females of varying ages waiting to see part three.  As the doors opened and that group streamed in, I couldn’t help noticing that the wave continued.  So many females pouring through one set of doors that I was certain there must be a double feature of Twilight and a fabulous shoe sale!

Regrettably, I didn’t count, but after 70-100 ladies of varying age (6 to 70+) made their way in, I almost fell out of my comfy chair as the final couple entered.  It was a 16 or 17 yr old girl literally dragging her date by the hand.  This poor fellow had no choice in how to spend his next two hours and his head was hanging as he, with half effort, dug his heels into the carpet on each step.  His girlfriend was not deterred.  She just kept pulling the disenchanted boy until they were out of sight behind the doors.

As I think of that moment, it strikes me that this was a display of true power.  The film has box office power of $162 million in just a few days.  The story and cast are a powerful draw for an incredible number of women – mothers and daughters, sisters, friends … and the movie is such a powerful force that even some boyfriends are no match for their on-a-mission girlfriends.  Hopefully those few males can take solace in the fact that the release date of  The Expendables is right around the corner … and paybacks are hell.

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Posted by David Ferguson

CYRUS (2010)

July 4, 2010

 Greetings again from the darkness. Trying to come up with the best way to describe this one. It seems to be billed and marketed as a comedy, but it’s very dark and only funny in a few places. The drama is pretty weak at times and uncomfortable all of the time. The comedy really stems from the mano y mano of John C Reilly and Jonah Hill. Marisa Tomei is a not so innocent bystander.  The film just doesn’t lend itself to a particular label.

If you have seen the preview, you know the basic story. John C Reilly is a socially inept oaf who gets dragged to a party and makes a fool of himself. Marisa Tomei views him as something of a lost puppy and takes him under her wing. The big reveal occurs when Tomei’s grown son (Hill) shows up at an inopportune time. Yes, he lives with her and they have a very unique and close relationship.

Brothers Jay and Mark Duplass (writer and director) are known as part of the mumblecore movement – they subscribe to the less rehearsal and minimal script school of film-making. Luckily for them, Hill and Reilly take to this beautifully. Their scenes together are very good at creating an inner turmoil and utter frustration. Luckily for the audience, Reilly’s character has two scenes where he can unleash the lines that the viewers are all thinking! It makes for a nice release of tension.

Hill creates Cyrus as the epitome of a “sneaky little devil”. OK, he’s not so little, but the rest fits. His acts of subversion are well thought out and pure acts of passive aggressiveness. These three characters make for quite the odd little group, but there is surely some insight into single parenthood, loneliness and over-protective parenting. Don’t expect a slapstick comedy in the Judd Apatow mold … this one is a bit creepy and dark.  John Malkovich played the role in Con Air, but Jonah Hill is the real Cyrus the Virus.

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION (2009)

July 4, 2010

 Greetings again from the darkness. Most everyone is familiar with the peak of Merchant-Ivory film collaboration which included: A Room With a View, Remains of the Day, and Howard’s End to name a few. Ismail Merchant died a few years ago, but director James Ivory returns with a powerful, yet odd film based on Peter Cameron’s novel.

The film boasts a very nice cast: Anthony Hopkins as the aging, gay man who is the brother of a famous (now dead) novelist; Laura Linney as the widow of the writer; and Charlotte Gainsbourg as the writer’s former mistress. Oh yeah, these three all live together (plus Hopkins’ younger Japanese partner) in a compound in Uruguay on land the writer left behind after his suicide.

The story gets interesting when Omar (played by Omar Metwally) shows up unannounced after receiving a declination of his request to write a biography on the novelist. Hopkins supports the idea as he expects it will generate book sales and revenue for the group. Linney is flat against it thinking it will spill too many secrets. Gainsbourg initially sides with Linney, but changes her vote when she falls for Omar.

On the surface, the story is about Omar’s attempt to win over Linney’s bitter character and change her mind. The much more appealing story is Omar’s awakening to life in this oddball community, now that he is out of the clutches of his domineering type-A girlfriend and co-worker played superbly by Alexandra Maria Lara. Talk about a personality that makes you want to run away to Uruguay! She almost makes Linney’s character seem charming.  Almost.

Mr. Ivory excels in subtlety and he is in fine form here. So many “little” moments make this story really click. It is also beautifully photographed. This is a really good film with interesting characters and a theme of finding one’s self that will probably get lost in the mass confusion of summer giants like Twilight and Toy Story 3. If you get the chance, make the time to see this one.

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Posted by David Ferguson

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (2010)

July 4, 2010

Greetings again from the darkness. Hoax or real? Documentary or Mockumentary? Fiction or Stranger than Fiction? Sorry, but I can’t answer these questions. A quick Google gives the appearance that the characters and story are true – or at least real. I guess the main argument I would make is that, true or not, the film is entertaining and enlightening either way.  Personally, I have never put much thought into graffiti or street art and never once (prior to this film) gave any thought that there could be celebrity graffiti artists.

The film certainly makes a statement regarding the commercialization of art. This includes fads and the power of hype and marketing. I can’t really offer up much commentary on the content of the film other than to say Thierry Gueta is a fascinating character, though I have absolutely no interest in owning his “art”. I did love Banksy‘s line about Thierry being more interesting than his work. Couldn’t agree more.

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Posted by David Ferguson

KNIGHT AND DAY (2010)

June 29, 2010

Greetings again from the darkness. I really liked director James Mangold‘s two most recent films – Walk the Line, and 3:10 to Yuma. Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz both have great smiles and look really good in swim attire. Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine) is well cast as an off-center nerdy scientist. That’s the end of all the positive comments I have for this film.

The negative comments are for just about everything else in this summer “blockbuster”. It is billed as an Action-Comedy. There is plenty of action, though much of it is so far-fetched and ludicrous. There is almost no comedy. The rapid fire banter between Cruise and Diaz would have been much more effective had it been well written, instead of just fast paced.  Even the music is distracting.  Hall & Oates and Christopher Cross are painful enough, but they really should have let the composer watch the film before creating the score.

A quality action movie needs a real force coming from the bad guy. Here, the filmmakers instead provide us with a “is he a good guy or a bad guy” story line with Cruise. Anyone surprised at the real answer? Because of that, we don’t have anyone to root against. Some generic Spainish arms dealer played by Jordi Molla (Blow) and the government agent played generically by Peter Saarsgard. Generic is not a word you want associated with your movie.

This is Cruise and Diaz together for the first time since the far-superior Vanilla Sky. They both deserve better than this slop, though I feel confident they had a good time with the globe-trotting to Spain, Austria, Jamaica and a few U.S. stops in between. The fun they had filming did not translate into fun for me as a viewer. In fact, as they were driving away, I kept hoping for an ending like Thelma and Louise.

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Posted by David Ferguson

I AM LOVE (2009)

June 28, 2010

Greetings again from the darkness. A really good Italian film from writer/director Luca Guadagnino and a terrific performance from Tilda Swinton. The film centers on power and family and trust and self-discovery … and the complexities of each.

As a young, working class Russian, Emma (Tilda Swinton) is whisked away to marriage and life in the aristocracy of Milan. She dutifully raises her kids and organizes huge dinners and parties at their mansion as the Rechhi’s entertain business clients and their own family. It is during these parties that we realize Emma is technically part of the family, but really still an outsider. She escapes to her own space once the events are running smoothly.

Being an avid cook herself, she easily clicks with a brilliant young chef introduced to the family by her own son. Very little doubt where it’s headed at this point as Emma unleashes the pent up energy she has been forced to hide. While we are very aware that the upper crust has learned to look the other way with infidelity, that’s not the case with the Rechhi’s and their Russian wife/mother.

The brilliance in the film is that it shows how the younger generation doesn’t really fit any better than Emma. The difference is that they are part of the fabric and will be allowed more rope than an outsider. Still it is painful to watch Emma with her son, who can’t quite adapt to the family business. Better yet, to watch her with her daughter, who confesses her preference for other women. Emma sees herself in these two, but doesn’t have the same freedom. Her best ally is the caretaker who seems to understand the multiple levels on which this family functions.

Fascinating interactions and complex writing make this a film for film lovers. There is so little dialogue, but much is said with a glance or head nod. Many U.S. writers could learn a thing or two. Must also mention the startling score by John Adams. It is quite operatic, which plays along with the themes of the film.

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Posted by David Ferguson

WINTER’S BONE (2010)

June 28, 2010

Greetings again from the darkness. A double award winner at the Sundance Film Festival, this film is based on Daniel Woodrell’s novel and is directed by Debra Granik. It’s opening sequence slaps the viewer with the bleak unforgivingness of life in the backwoods of the Ozarks. This is land of people that time has passed by – a true community of isolation.

The basic premise of the story is that 17 year old Ree Dolly (played by Jennifer Lawrence) is responsible for raising her brother and sister and caring for her dementia-addled mother while maintaining a mostly positive outlook on the present and future. Reality strikes again when the local sheriff arrives to inform that her missing, meth-lab running father has an upcoming court date. He used their land and house as collateral for his latest bond. If he fails to show, they will lose their home. Instead of breaking down, Ree pledges to find him and starts out on a hazardous journey, unlike we have seen on screen.

This community of mountain people are distrusting of outsiders, but stunningly, are just as paranoid around insiders and even family members. Their way of life seems to depend on pure independence, even though they all seem intertwined in the same illegal activities and daily quest for survival. Some kind of odd code exists – ask nothing, give nothing and get rid of any obstacles.

The driving forces of the story are Ree and her constant hope and courage, and her shaky bond to her dad’s only brother, Teardrop, played chillingly by John Hawkes. Teardrop tries to toughen up Ree and get her to accept her plight, while Ree constantly shows him there is reason to plow forward.

The film is very well written and the local filming brings a harsh reality that was crucial to the film’s success. Additionally, I was stunned at the fierceness displayed by Jennifer Lawrence as Ree. Her performance reminded me of my first exposure to the talents of Meryl Streep (The Deer Hunter) and Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen). Talk about powerful and exciting … what she did with this role vaults her immediately into a very small group of actresses who can carry a movie with their presence. I am anxiously awaiting her next appearance – a Jody Foster project.

I also want to mention the music in the film. The vocalist, Marideth Sisco, is also the vocalist in the living room band who makes an appearance in one scene. Her voice truly captures the balance of hope and acceptance of plight. This is not a movie for everyone, but it is fascinating and truly cuts to the bone.

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Posted by David Ferguson

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