Films For January 2010
**** Superb *** Very Good ** Good * Mediocre
UNMISSABLES
Océans **** (vo French) This spectacular documentary by Jacques Perrin (Le Peuple Migrateur) is absolute poetry in motion, and a visual gift depicting the beauties and peculiarities of the myriad marine species in our precious waters. It’s a must-see on the giant screen for the full effect of its glorious images and music. Simply breathtaking!
Sin Nombre **** (vo Spanish) Along with an incongruous love that develops atop a transport train, this violent and harrowing yet moving film shows the desperate ordeal of emigrants from Central America trying to reach the borders of the U.S. A powerful first film by Cary Joji Fukunaga, it has won awards at both the Sundance and Deauville festivals.
The Little Fugitive **** This entrancing B&W, multi-awarded film from 1953 will be showing at the CAC Voltaire and should NOT be missed! It’s Brooklyn in the summer and boys will be naughty. When a widowed mother leaves to visit an ailing grandmother, her two sons are left alone for two days. And because little Joey is a pest for his older brother, they play a prank on him, turning Joey into a scared fugitive. A boy’s day out, the innocence yet gumption of a smart kid, and a holiday atmosphere on Coney Island – it’s all here in this independent American forerunner of the French Nouvelle Vague. Cunningly photographed and timeless in its simplicity and universality.
The Road **** Not for the faint-hearted, here’s yet another end-of-the-world story, but one which is done with a sobriety and depth of feeling that will shake you to the core. The grayness of the desolate earth is given life through the overpowering acting of Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee as a father and son trying to survive in the barren wasteland that is left of the world. This tour-de-force which deals with the struggle between brutal survival and remaining “one of the good ones” is based on the celebrated novel by Cormac McCarthy (of No Country for Old Men) and directed by Australian/Canadian John Hillcoat.
Where the Wild Things Are (Max et les Maximonstres) ***1/2 Based on the beloved children’s book, this Spike Jonze film is about a boy who feels no one really listens to him, so he creates his own strange kingdom with quirky and delightful creatures where he can rule and be heard. Superbly played by little Max Records and Catherine Keener as his mother, this charming tale is for those with heart, from 5 to 95.
Le Concert ***1/2 (vo Russian/French) A renowned but politically-damaged Russian conductor gets a chance after 30 years to reunite his orchestra and give an impromptu concert in Paris. Can he manage against all odds, and get to perform with the young violin virtuoso with whom he has a connection from long ago? This delightfully constructed adventure by the Romanian Radu Mihaileanu has some silly and unnecessary moments, but as an old-fashioned crowd-pleaser it is saved by its heartwarming story and characters, and especially the lovely Melanie Laurent (last in Inglourious Basterds) as the violin soloist. The rousing concert finale will have you wanting an encore!
It’s Complicated (Pas si simple) **1/2 Here’s a film not to miss – first because it’s a love story about mature adults, second because it’s got such super actors as Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin and third, because a good romantic comedy is a rare thing. But director Nancy Meyers is an expert at the entertaining ones – such as What Women Want and Something’s Gotta’ Give. It’s a delight for the eyes and for many a belly laugh and it all makes giddy sense until the ending, which I personally did not like. But that’s only me – you and others may think it should end in such an American, equalitarian way…
WORTH YOUR WHILE
Bright Star *** This beautifully-filmed period piece by Australia’s Jane Campion (The Piano) is about the difficult love story between the poet John Keats and his muse, Fanny Brawne. It truly conveys its era and the delicacy and discretion of feelings back then, when emotions hung on rapturous words and silences..
Loup **1/2 (vo Russian) Nicolas Vanier (Le Dernier trappeur) takes us once again into the wild, this time to oriental Siberia. This saga of a young man, who has to take care of his troop of reindeer and also protect the family of wolves with whom he has become entranced, is an amazing feat of animal and nature photography.
Kérity, la maison des contes **1/2 (vo French) Here’s a beautifully animated tale of a little boy who can’t read but is bequeathed a precious collection of books by his late auntie, narrated by Jeanne Moreau. Watch the classics come alive.
Mères et Filles **1/2 (vo French) The tension between three generations of mothers and daughters is magnified by some dark family secrets. This melodrama is enhanced by the fine acting of Catherine Deneuve, Marina Hinds and Marie-Josée Croze.
WHY NOT ?
Le Siffleur ** (vo French) What makes this film is its setting – the marvelous Côte d’Azur, and the light touch with which it presents its crooked cast of characters, played by the likes of Thierry Lhermitte, Alain Chabat and the indefatigable François Berléand, doubling as his own twin. They all seem to be having such fun down there, in that radiant climate and all the luxury….
Baba’s Song *1/2 (vo English and German) This uneven mishmash about musicians in Africa, destitute orphans and a shady adoption deal even grapples with Aids. Wolfgang Panzer of the brilliant Broken Silence just can’t seem to recapture the magic of his earlier film. Some of the acting and dialogue is painfully amateur, but the saving grace is Baba and his wily little side-kick.
AT YOUR OWN RISK
Le père de mes enfants *1/2 (vo French) This is a story that ends tragically about a film producer burdened by bankruptcy and depression. None of the drama will make a dent in your emotions, methinks. (One wonders if those intellos would feel better if they washed their hair…)
Le Dernier vol *1/2 (vo French) Don’t bother with this endless search through the dunes of the Sahara. Even though it tries to emulate The English Patient, it doesn’t come close to the latter’s quality or intensity. And neither Marion Cotillard nor Guillaume Canet can save the dull scenario.
Limits of Control *1/2 What’s happened to the brilliant Jim Jarmusch (Night on Earth, Ghost Dog) here? A hit-man goes from locale to locale and meets some strange characters. To what end? And who cares finally? It should be called The Limits of Patience.
Bazar * (vo French) This tale of an autumn/spring romance between an older woman and her new young beau, filmed here in Geneva, would have been more interesting if it hadn’t succumbed to clichés and superficial solutions. A pity.
Paranormal Activity * You and I could also make such a home movie, with slamming doors and moving sheets, about a possible entity in a young couple’s home. It’s not scary, just a creepy wool-over-your-eyes stunt. Don’t fall for the hype from the U.S.
Neptune Ingwersen
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