At The Movies
Film Critic, Neptune Ingwersen
Films not to miss!
New York, I Love You ****
First came Paris, je t’aime and after this should come Shanghai, I Love You. It’s a great idea to take top directors and actors and give them free rein to create an homage to a city they love. Here you have such established filmmakers as Mira Nair of India, Yvan Attal of France and Fatih Akin from Germany/Turkey giving their versions of the mood and atmosphere of the Big Apple and its varied faces. There are meetings in bars, grocery stores, strange happenings in a hotel room and a precious old couple going to neighboring Brighton Beach for their anniversary. There are a host of superb actors including John Hurt, Ethan Hawke, Robin Wright Penn, Natalie Portman and an astounding Shia LeBeouf who holds his own against an icon such as Julie Christie. And their stories are all woven seamlessly into a hypnotic tribute to a great city, with haunting music, to boot. Do not miss the experience.
This Is It ***1/2
So many people revered Michael Jackson, while others had questions about him, his strange life and the multitude of charges against him and/or his innocence. We will never know all the truth – there never is only one truth, anyway. But this film will put to rest some of the questions about his artistic intentions and his musical genius. Put together by Kenny Ortega, this compilation of his last months’ rehearsals for his mega-show in London is a final homage to a man of extraordinary talent. In it, he appears vibrant, in complete control, with an exceptional presence and professionalism. Throughout the musical sequences and elaborate preparations there is a sweetness about him, a true caring. It’s a fine tribute to the King of Pop and it may leave you with a lump in your throat for the too sudden, unnecessary loss of such a personality.
2012 ***
It’s strange – This Is It ends on the necessity to save our planet, and this huge blockbuster from German-import Roland(Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) is about how we are actually going to lose our earth as we know it – in 2012! What Emmerich manages in his films is to not only to make them actual and nail-bitingly exciting, but he also zeroes in on the human element, both in the family unit and with dashes of humor that release some of the tremendous tension he loves to create. And there are some amazing chases and flights that will have you careening in your seat along with John Cusack and his family. This is quality blockbuster material, so take the whole tribe. Ok, so it has a schmaltzy, big-time Hollywood ending, but hey, that’s the fun of these popcorn movies!
