AU CINEMA February 2011

Good **

Largo Winch 2 **1/2  (vo French and English)    The James Bond franchise should wish to be as smooth, cool and smart as the Largo Winch films. There are super chases, financial intrigues and political treachery, a serious love affair, a sweet kid and gorgeous locations, especially in the Far East.  Jérôme Salle (who wrote and directed the French film, Anthony Zimmer, which inspired The Tourist) directs it all with respect for our intelligence, and Tomer Sisley (a stand-up comedian from TV with an Israeli/German/French background) is perfect as Winch, the reluctant billionaire. The violence of the fight scenes could be toned down.

Hereafter (Au-delà) **  Matt Damon can hear and see spirits, but does not want to. Cécile de France comes back from death after a tsunami accident, and a shy English boy loses his closest soul mate. In this Clint Eastwood yarn, all these people converge somehow and there is a connection and a raison d’être. Ok, he knows his audience well, but it nevertheless feels concocted, like an overly-intricate puzzle.

Narnia 3 – Voyage of the Dawn Treader **1/2  This is a great one for the kids – inspiring, adventurous and especially fun due to a really nasty cousin paired with a talking monkey on the high seas.  Good to have clean thrills for our kids and some moral lessons in this hazardous world.

The Next 3 Days (Les trois prochains jours) **   A happy couple is torn apart when the wife is accused of murder and jailed for life. When her desperate husband finds no legal recourse, he decides to get her out any way he can. Russell Crowe is intense as usual, but the convoluted scenario and Elizabeth Banks as the wife are too weak to be as convincing as the French original, Pour Elle, despite the fine director Paul Haggis, of the award-winning Crash and In the Valley of Elah.

Tron – the Legacy **  For adolescents and the testosterone crowd, this is a clever futuristic and back-to-the-future action blockbuster that is fun to watch, especially a young Jeff Bridges created by computer graphics, vying against the real Bridges of today. This is quality popcorn stuff.

Burlesque **  GREAT musical numbers, like going to a Broadway show, but the script and acting are so banal that it’s embarrassing, especially for dear old Cher, who is looking mummified. Christina Aguilera sure can move and belt out those numbers, especially the blues!

The Tourist *1/2   It’s like a party – you can have all the right ingredients – best food, guests, locale, but it still falls flat. Same here: there’s top director Florian Henkel von Donnersmarck, from the German Oscar-winning The Life of Others, and Johnny Depp plus Angelina Jolie as protagonists in an international heist film – but it’s boring and lacks chemistry. And it’s so obviously trying to be ultra cool, but doesn’t make the mark. Too bad.  Depp is smooth and above-it-all, though Angelina should put some meat on her bones and lay off the heavy make-up and that lip thing…it’s distracting.

Somewhere *1/2   Here’s another dud. And so empty, though that’s what it’s about – the empty life of a movie star in a cult hotel in Hollywood. The usually brilliant director Sofia Coppola is too minimalist here, but the star’s teenage daughter, played by a radiant Elle Fanning, gives the film its moments of grace.

Neptune Ravar Ingwersen, film critic

AU CINEMA February 2011
Superb ****

Films are not just entertaining.  They are also thought-provoking, stimulate conversations and keep our minds alive.  –  All of which is good for our age esteem.

The King’s Speech ****   This superb film tells the story of the stuttering that plagued King George VI of England (father to Queen Elizabeth II), and the man who helped him overcome it. Each historical figure, from the spunky young Queen Mother (Helena Bonham-Carter) to the abdicating Duke of Windsor (Guy Pierce) and Colin Firth as the central figure, Bertie, shines in this evocative, tightly-wound yet very moving account of the man who did not want to be king, but took the mantle with responsibility and old-fashioned British resolve. Brilliantly directed by Tom Hooper, Firth brings out an amazing array of emotions as the shy king, while Jeffrey Rush is masterful as his speech teacher. Firth fully deserves his Golden Globe (and Oscar?) for best actor.

The Way Back (Les chemins de la liberté) ***1/2   A Peter Weir film is always superlative – Gallipoli, Witness, Dead Poets’ Society, Master and Commander. This latest one, with a strong character-actor cast (including Ed Harris and Colin Farrell), is about the long, harrowing journey on foot to freedom – from Russia to India – of a desperate group that escapes from a Siberian gulag. Fine acting and pacing make this true story a heroic odyssey.

True Grit ***1/2  The Coen brothers are back, once again at the summit of their craft, with a bold and entertaining remake of the 1969 John Wayne classic of the same name. And who else but the versatile Jeff Bridges to fill the Duke’s boots, with no apologies and a huge amount of grimy charm. The other wonder of this film is Hailee Steinfeld, a 14 year-old rising star playing the feisty girl who hires Bridges to find her father’s murderer. And Matt Damon makes a fine third wheel. The cinematography is perfect in its rich tones, both indoors and out, the dialogue is melodious, if one dares call it Shakespearean, while the mood is outrageously campy and tongue-in-cheek. Even if you’re not a fan of Westerns, you’ll be bowled over.

Neptune Ravar Ingwersen, film critic

AT YOUR OWN RISK

Les Petits ruisseaux *1/2 (vo French)   A film about an oldie discovering life after his buddy dies and leaves a collection of funky nude paintings. Pleasant but quickly forgotten.

L’Age de raison *1/2 (vo French) A career woman’s childhood comes back to haunt her in letters arriving from herself as a child. Go figure. If the film were as good as Sophie Marceau, we would have one gorgeous movie.

L’Italien *1/2 (vo French)  Kad Merad is everywhere these days, but is he really that talented or attractive? This repetitive tale of double identity is neither as deep nor as amusing as it wants to be, nor is Merad charismatic enough to carry it.

Insoupçonnable * (vo French)   Two rich brothers; a new girl and her “brother” enter their life; they all live the high life in Geneva. This is supposed to be an elegant thriller; it’s unfortunately only an embarrassing film noir caricature. What is the fine actor, Charles Berling doing here?

Film socialisme –   (vo French)   This is just a collage of badly-filmed banalities masquerading as art and intellect, for Jean-Luc Godard has been riding on his association with the Nouvelle Vague all these years with very little talent. He did have a few novelties in the early 60s (A Bout de Souffle), but few new ideas or emotions since then. Heresy! – I know, but it’s a case of the emperor’s new clothes…

Enter the Void –   If you’re into drugs, psychedelic nightmares or 60s-style abandon, this is your cup of tea. The title says it all – you’ll be entering empty, boring, vulgar garbage. And it’s directed by Gaspar Noé, the man responsible for the ultraviolent, indigestible Irrévérsible. Forget it.

Neptune Ingwersen

Why not?

Tournée (On Tour) ** (vo French and English) Desperately trying for a comeback, a failed entrepreneur (Mathieu Amalric – actor and director) brings a troupe of buxom, feminist showgirls from the U.S. over to France. Going from one sleazy joint to another, they begin to get to know each other better. It’s at times touching and gritty, at other times merely depressing and degrading. Shades of Cassavetes.

The Karate Kid **  This franchised film is simplistically obvious and too long and slow, but Jacky Chan is a cutie and Will Smith’s son, Jaden Smith, is a true and striking talent as the new kid on the block – watch him rise.

Crime d’amour *1/2 (vo French)  With Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier overacting to the hilt, this crime thriller à la All About Eve is entertaining but a bit too slick to be convincing.

Neptune Ingwersen

Movies are good for us.  They help to enhance our Age Esteem.

• Movies allow us to dream,
• To visit far away places,
• To meet new people and join in rare experiences.
• Movies tickle our emotions,
• Challenge our listening skills and enlarge our vocabulary.
• They teach us, train us and entertain us.
• They create social occasions for us to catch a film with friends.
• And they keep us up with new trends.

Why not enjoy a good movie today?

WORTH YOUR WHILE

When you’re Strange ***1/2   Narrated by Johnny Depp, this illuminating documentary by Tom DiCillo (the cool director of such films as Johnny Suede and Living in Oblivion) once again opens up the world of the Doors and their charismatic lead singer Jim Morrison, who played so hard with life, music, women and drugs that he was dead by age 27. It’s as though he wanted to reach for immortality through fame cut-short, like Dean, Hendrix and Joplin. Moving and exhilarating.

Copacabana *** (vo French)    Isabelle Huppert often plays cold, twisted characters, but here she is terribly human and simply fun-loving. A caring but basically irresponsible mother who realizes that she has to change to gain back her daughter’s respect, she decides to take a job up in Belgium, selling apartments in a god-forsaken coastal town. Amusing and touching, Huppert is at her most vulnerable in years in this tongue-in-cheek film by Marc Fitoussi.

Frontier Blues *** (vo Farsi)   This languid, strangely poetic film from Iran features various characters living in the northern Turkman region of that country. With very little dialogue, we encounter an uncle who runs a deserted boutique and his weird nephew who loves a donkey. There’s a photographer from Tehran who has come to capture the mood of area through a local musician and his entourage of four kids. And there’s also a young man who works on a poultry farm and is learning English so he can leave to the city, maybe with the pretty girl he desires but has not yet spoken to nor convinced to marry him. Slow, contemplative and quite hypnotic, Babak Jalali’s film pulls you into this lonely, Jim Jarmusch-like universe with gentle humor. But you must have patience to savor it fully.

Knight and Day **1/2   If you like action, thrills and charm, you can’t miss with this wild and funny ride starring Tom Cruise as a super spy on the run and Cameron Diaz as his unwilling but talented sidekick, directed by James Mangold of Walk the Line. Don’t listen to the sour critics who may still be negative about Cruise – the man has talent, presence and charisma. And these two make an exciting pair.

Inception **1/2   “Pure creation” is what Ellen Page’s character calls these illusions of dreams and reality mixed in various layers. Leonardo DiCaprio, playing an expert at invading others’ dreams – whether planting an idea or stealing one – is on a mission to instill a germ of an idea in a magnate’s mind. But he and his crew may have misjudged the many dream levels and the dangers of descending too deeply into this strange limbo of possibilities… Are you following this? Director Christopher Nolan makes smart, intricate films (such as Memento, in which the story goes backwards, or the powerful Dark Knight) but this one is too convoluted for its own good.  It gets lost in mind-bending special effects which serve no purpose but to inflate the director’s ego and often lose the audience in the process. Do we really need the lengthy James Bond-like snow chases and all those blown-up grocery stores or foldable buildings in Paris? Give me clever mind games rather than exaggerated pyrotechnics any day.

Neptune Ingwersen

****  Superb    *** Very Good ** Good    *  Mediocre     – Forget it

Do Not Miss These.

The Tree (l’Arbre) ****     When the husband and father of a large, happy family dies suddenly at the base of a huge tree adjoining their home, the tree becomes a symbol of their love and their memory of him. Based in northern Australia, this film by French director Julie Bertuccelli (who made the sublime Since Otar Left and has been assistant director to such greats as K. Kieslowski and Bertrand Tavernier) stars the always moving Charlotte Gainsbourg as the widow, and a slew of brilliant little actors as the children. It’s a must-see, for its depth, simplicity and honest look at love, fidelity and family. It will stay with you for quite awhile.

Toy Story 3 ***1/2   Pixar never fails to enchant the audience with their amazing animation, and they don’t miss this time, when it’s the moment to say goodbye to those boisterous toys that have been keeping Andy company throughout his childhood. But now he’s going off to college and they can’t imagine what will happen to them. This is about friendship, loyalty and growing up, and will have you laughing at Buzz Lightyear’s Spanish interlude yet will surely also bring a tear to your eye. I bet on it.

Benda Bilili ***1/2  (vo French)  Remember Wim Wenders’ Buena Vista Social Club from Cuba? Well this is an African version of that joyous celebration of the power of music to overcome misery. Here is a group of destitute, handicapped musicians – most of them in makeshift wheelchairs – in Kinshasa, Congo, who live for making music and becoming famous, someday. Thanks to Renaud Barret and Florent de la Tullaye, the directors of this astounding documentary, the group records their first album and goes on a European tour. They even had the Cannes film festival rocking this year. With this film, they can now reach the world through their contagious music and enthusiasm. Run to it!

Lola ***1/2  (vo Philippine-Tagalog)  Terribly tragic and so real, here is a tale of two Filipina grandmothers (Lolas) seeking justice, one whose grandson has been killed for his cellphone, and the other whose grandson was the killer. This excellent social commentary, done in almost documentary style by director Brillante Mendoza, is not so much about crime as about the social, economic and cultural structure of that country. The love of family and respect for elders is evident throughout as is the poverty, but also the resilience of these good people. Awe-inspiring.

Tamara Drewe ***   Sharp wit, well-drawn characters (from Posy Simmonds’ illustrated novel), perfect casting and acting, and of course the inimitable touch of Stephen Frears’ direction (My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons, The Queen) make for joyous entertainment, as the British can do so well. In a small English hamlet, a peaceful writer’s retreat is turned on its head when a transformed and unrestrained Tamara comes back to town. Literary gatherings, teenage crushes, silly dog chasing cows, rock stars and infidelity are on the menu in this delightful, satisfying yarn.

The Switch ***   Here’s a rarity – a convincing romantic comedy – so it’s definitely in the Unmissables section.  Jennifer Aniston and an excellent Jason Bateman have real chemistry, though they’re only friends. She wants to have a baby by artificial insemination; he’s aghast. They meet again years later and they are now a threesome. The directing duo of Josh Gordon and Will Speck ensures crisp, refreshing dialogue and creates good vibes. The little kid will steal your heart and you’ll leave with a big smile on your face. What more would you want?

Neptune Ingwersen

At The Movies

Superb  ****    Very Good  ***     Good  **      Mediocre   *    Forget It  –

Why Not ?

The Back-up Plan (Le Plan B) ** Jennifer Lopez just can’t find the man of her dreams, so she gets pregnant by artificial insemination. And then she meets Mr. Right (Alex O’Loughlin) – what else? Actually their chemistry is pretty good, but will he commit? Can she hang in there? Romantic comedies are difficult to pull off just right, and some of the side shows here don’t gel – the women’s group is a useless bore – must we constantly hear the “v” word and assist in prolonged births? But Jaylo is lovely and O’Loughlin is surprisingly good.

Imogène   *1/2 (vo French)     Here’s another one of the silly, minor comedies that France keeps grinding out, which is no better than banal TV fare. Such top actors as Catherine Frot and Lambert Wilson are wasted here with all the required overacting. It’s a limp spy farce and no more.

At your own Risk

Camping 2   *1/2 (vo French)     The first one was fresh and such fun – a super summer holiday. Like most sequels, this one falls flat with a silly script and humdrum characters who go nowhere. Too bad, for there are good actors here.

Chaque jour est une fête  *1/2 (vo Arab)     The scenario is everything and this one, about a busload of women going to visit their men in prison, lacks any verve or finesse. The fine actress Hiam Abbas can’t do much without the right structure or direction.

Street Dance  *1/2 Some good dancing, forget the story and wish they would stop with those cumbersome 3D glasses. Who needs it!

Date Night (Crazy Night) * Here’s another foolish, embarrassing dud of a “comedy”. Tiny Fey was wonderful as Sarah Palin, but her range doesn’t go much further – or is it the awful script and direction? The only thing that shines is a moment of Mark Wahlberg, with his amazing body and cool poker face.

Mammuth  * (vo French)      And then there’s this Depardieu “event” that’s gotten lots of positive press. Don’t bother. Like the avant-garde works of the 60s, it’s framed by sloppy, grainy, shaky camerawork that follows the action mainly from behind Depardieu’s head – that’s not the way our eyes see the world, so why should film do it?! This is the story of a loser – un con (excuse my French) – who goes on a road trip looking for documents that he needs for his retirement. But he is utterly inept. What’s the use of glorifying stupidity? Some fine co-stars along the way – Benoît Poelvoorde and Anna Mouglalis – supply moments of respite to the dullness. What a waste of talents such as Depardieu, Adjani and Yolande Moreau!

Neptune Ingwersen

At The Movies

Superb  ****    Very Good  ***     Good  **      Mediocre   *    Forget It  –

Worth your While

Cinco Dias Sin Nora (Nora’s Will) *** (vo Spanish)     Mexican director Mariana Chenillo charms and amuses with this wry drama about a woman who plans her own wake. It features a stubborn atheist ex-husband who gets stuck with arranging the funeral while the local rabbi wants to take over the corpse. It’s Passover, the table has been set and the maid is preparing the Seder meal that the woman has left in the fridge. Close friends and the son and his family are arriving while the ex begins to discover some long-hidden facts about their past. Fernando Lujàn is fine as the husband in this revealing gem of a social comedy of errors.

Solutions locales pour un désordre global  *** (vo French)     From the socially-crusading director Coline Serreau, of such films as La Belle Verte, La Crise and Chaos, this documentary is a vital message about the killing of the soil and our atmosphere as a result of pesticides that have been disingenuously forced down the throats of farmers of the world by huge conglomerates (such as Monsanto, the biggest and most ruthless of them all). To put it in a nutshell, when you next sit down at the table, instead of saying good appetite, say good luck! That’s how far we’ve come in this battle between money and common sense. Serreau has a myriad of experts and workers tell of the perils of pesticides and the possible solutions. Both frightening and hopeful, this is an important, informative film for all who care about their health and that of our earth. (The site: www.solutionslocales-lefilm.com.)

Cold Souls (Âmes en Stock) *** Sophie Barthes directs this weird, metaphysical film about a depressed actor (Paul Giamatti playing himself – like Malkovich in the film Being John Malkovich) who decides to store his soul with a specialized company in N.Y that keeps them in vaults. But things get complicated when it is trafficked to Russia (in the shape of a chickpea!) and borrowed by the spoiled wife of an oligarch. Something between a farce and a serious metaphor on the state of our lives in a morally and financially corrupt world, this is both touching and amusing – a tongue-in-cheek change from big Hollywood productions.

Rabia *** (vo Spanish)     Here’s another fine film from the southern hemisphere – this time from Ecuadorian director Sebastian Cordero via Columbia/Spain. A love story between two South American immigrants in Spain turns perilous when the man, who is tired of being treated as a second-class citizen, accidentally kills his foreman and then hides out in the huge house where his girlfriend is working as a maid. This is a torturous study of an upstairs/downstairs situation, with tension that is palpable and an outcome that is like a Greek tragedy still valid in our modern times.

L’amour c’est mieux à deux  **1/2 (vo French)     It’s trés French, it’s a sweet romantic comedy, and it has the always charming Clovis Cornillac (powerful in dramas such as A la petite semaine or hilarious in Brice de Nice) along with an adorable Virginie Efira as the girl he wants to fall in love with, but only accidentally! You’ll see – check it out for a heartwarming feeling…

Neptune Ingwersen

Many of the films for May/June are from around the world: France, Spain, Argentina, Switzerland, Norway, Mexico, United States.  I no longer dare call them foreign films since AgeEsteem readers come from most areas of the globe so many films will be foreign to most.

Films are a wonderful escape into another world and other lives far removed from our own, or perhaps not so different.   They are good for our age-esteem.

• We continue to learn through movies.  They stimulate our minds.
• Going to a theater is a social event, as is watching a DVD with friends.  We share the film and our impressions and reactions.
• Films often make us laugh or cry.  Laughter is a great preventive medicine..  Crying is also a good release that rids us of toxins.
• Films help keep us abreast of what is ‘in’.
• Watching films can be an intergenerational activity.  It offers us the occasion to ask questions and to learn from others, including small children and teens.

Research also shows that to watch a film in another language, whether or not we read subtitles, helps to connect our mental neurons in new ways.