The Rich Chen! Guide to the Movies
June 25th, 2004
THE BIG ONE!
Fahrenheit 9/11
Directed by: Michael Moore
Starring: Michael Moore, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney
Plot:
The Buzz:
Bottom Line:
Other Movies to Check Out (as well):
One to Watch – Bollywood
Kagaar
Directed by: N. Chandra
Starring: Om Puri, Nandita Das, Amitabh Dayal
Plot: An idealistic young man becomes a police office after going to Bombay to search for his long-lost brother. He is put in a difficult spot, however, when the most dangerous criminal he has faced turns out to be his closest childhood friend.
The Buzz:
Bottom Line: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well/instead):
One to Watch - Independents
Kaena: The Prophecy
Directed by: Chris Delaporte and Pascal Pinon
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Anjelica Huston, Richard Harris
Plot:
Bottom Line:
Other Movies to Check Out (as well/instead):
New Movies (Opened Wednesday, June 23rd)
White Chicks
Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Starring: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans
Plot:
The Buzz:
Bottom Line: Me:
Other Movies to Check Out (as well/instead):
Other New Movies
The Notebook
Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Joan Allen
The Buzz:
Bottom Line:
Other Movies to Check Out:
Two Brothers
Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Starring: Guy Pearce
The Buzz:
Bottom Line:
Other Movies to Check Out:
DVD To Watch (releasing June 29th)
Blazing Saddles: 30th Anniversary Special Edition
Directed by: Mel Brooks
Starring: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks
Plot:
The Buzz:
Bottom Line:
Other Movies to Check Out (as well/instead):
Other Topics
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame Rich, For Shame)
The weekly movie guide to beat all movie guides. Let me know what you think: email me: basublog@gmail.com
Friday, June 25, 2004
The basu! Guide to the Movies
June 18th, 2004
One to Watch – Tollywood (Independent)
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer
Directed by: Aparna Sen
Starring: Rahul Bose, Konkona Sen Sharma
Plot: A married Hindu woman and a Muslim man come to each other’s aid while traveling on a bus that is attacked by Hindu fundamentalists. The two have to stay together while the roads are closed off due to ethnic riots. Romantic-longing-across-religions type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: I was as skeptical as you before I saw this movie. But after the initial plot mechanics get out of the way, the film settles down into a gentle rhythm with a keen eye for human relationships. Sen Sharma (the director’s daughter) is incredible as the titular wife – never for a second did I think she was anything but a married South Indian woman. Bose does not fare quite as well, though his amusing ego does fit with his character. Their slowly evolving relationship is handled beautifully, and feels absolutely authentic given the context. Of course, this is an Indian film, so instead of a graceful, ambiguous ending (which happens before the actual end), the film goes on a little too long, and almost spoils everything with an emotionally over-the-top ending. Man, but isn’t it good to see Sen, the grand dame of Bengali films, still going strong after all these years? And man oh man oh man oh man, ain’t it grand that we are right in the middle of another Bengali film renaissance. Now, if only we could find someone with the aesthetics of Bengali cinema, but the technical training of Hollywood who is at home with both mainstream, populist films, and their more obtuse, independent cousins. Hmm…..
Bottom Line: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): 36 Chowringhee Lane
Two to Watch - Independents
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
Directed by: Mike Hodges
Starring: Clive Owen, Malcolm McDowell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Charlotte Rampling
Plot: A former criminal (Owen) has to revisit the trespasses of his youth when he investigates his brother’s murder. Deadpan-minimalist-classic-British-criminal-drama type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: The incredible Owen (already being upstaged as the title character in the upcoming King Arthur) first came to prominence in director Hodges’s Croupier – a tasty little film noir indeed. Even though the story here is little more than a rehashing of the director’s seminal Get Carter, the 72-year-old Hodges still manages to surprise us with his nifty stylistic flourishes. McDowell, as usual, is in fine form as the scenery-chewing villain, and the ageless Rampling still manages to get pulses running. Owen is in incredible form here – brooding, vicious, magnetic – and should be well on his way to stardom (hopefully) with the upcoming summer blockbuster King Arthur and Mike Nichol’s sure-fire Oscar heavyweight Closer (in which he outshines the likes of Julia Roberts, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman). While his profile is not going to be raised by this small film, it is still a fine showcase for him to strut his stuff, and prove that he truly is one of the few true leading men out there still.
Bottom Line: Those Lucky Few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Croupier
The Hunting of the President
Directed by: Nickolas Perry and Harry Thomason
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Bill Clinton
Plot: A documentary that details the concentrated effort to bring down former President Clinton. I-can’t-believe-they-spent-million-of-taxpayer-dollars-on-this-rubbish type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: Remember the good old days, when all Presidents lied about were some marital indiscretions? Well this film certainly does. Based on the book of the same name, this earnest, doggedly researched, methodical film neatly lays out the vast coordinated efforts to bring down the presidency of Bill Clinton by any means necessary. Of course, a lot of the details are familiar to most people who have watched Fox News, but it is refreshing to get the perspective from the other side. Freeman’s terse, dignified narration goes a long way towards establishing the tone of the film. The filmmakers condemn Clinton for his infidelities, but make it clear that there was no way he deserved the attacks he had to weather throughout his tenure in the White House. The film does come close to veering out of control though, with its investigation of a shadowy organization, and mysterious figures straight out of Oliver Stone-land. Luckily the rest of this smart, absorbing film more than makes up for this. While it is obvious that those from the Right side of the political spectrum will dismiss it without ever having seen it, you will be well served by watching the film – especially since President Clinton’s own autobiography is due out next week.
Bottom Line: Those Lucky Few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Primary Colors
New Movies (Opened Wednesday, June 16th)
Around the World in 80 Days
Directed by: Frank Coraci
Starring: Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Jim Broadbent, and tons of cameos
Plot: An eccentric inventor (Coogan) must enlist the help of a common thief (Chan) in order to win his bet and get around the world in a mere 80 days. Harmless-family-fun-with-some-cool-cameos-especially-by-a-certain-former-Mr. Universe-turned-Guh-verninator type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: I think that Chan has always been much more comfortable in this milieu than the Rush Hour type films that catapulted him into the American consciousness. His nimble physicality has always been more Buster Keaton than Bruce Lee, and he gets to indulge those singular gifts in a big way here. Of course, saying that this remake is better than the original is the very definition of damning it with faint praise (the 1956 film is considered to be the worst films ever to win the Best Picture Oscar). Still, the laughs are plentiful, the cinematography is fine, the acting is competent, Coogan is a lot of fun, the cameos are enjoyable, and Chan does what he does best – and boy, is that fun to watch. So, forget about the narrative inconsistencies, the wooden dialogue, and the third-act problems; instead, grab your kids, pop open some milk, grab some cookies, and have a fine afternoon when this comes out on DVD.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – Eventually; Other, More Sensible People: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Shanghai Knights
New Movies
The Terminal
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chi McBride, Stanley Tucci, Diego Luna, Kumar Pallana
Plot: A Balkan traveler (Hanks) is forced to live in an American airport when his country is no longer officially recognized. While there he falls in love with a beautiful flight attendant (Zeta-Jones). Sentimental-romantic-longing-with-that-patented-sappy-Tom Hanks-stare type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: My love for Spielberg is as irrational as the love that people still have for a certain ex-president who died recently. And I’ll be d**ned, but I just can’t let go. I’ve sat through abject failures (1942), career-defining triumphs (E. T.: The Extraterrestrial), films that I loved even though I should have known better (Empire of the Sun), and unlikely films that mostly succeeded (Minority Report) or mostly failed (A. I.: Artificial Intelligence). This film, unfortunately, plays to his worst flaws (sentimentality) and not to many of his strengths (that incredibly visual story-telling ability). The director irons out any of the real-world complications that could plausibly sully this fairy tale, and after a while this benign utopia begins to blur around the edges. Hanks gives another one of his “fine” performances – but, at this point, it has become an old trick that simply does not excite any more. Tucci is stuck in heartless-villain mode, while the rest of the sterling cast (including Pallana, on loan from Wes Anderson) manage to make the most of what is given to them. Zeta-Jones is sparkling in her limited role, and manages to coax some life into Hanks’s bland everyman persona. Still, just when you are ready to write him off, Spielberg manages to surprise you with his innate ability as a filmmaker. Nobody, and I can say this with complete confidence, nobody can put together a movie like Spielberg. And it is to his eternal credit that no matter how sugary this little confection becomes, he still keeps you watching, and wanting to find out what happens next. And, just to put things into perspective: Spielberg was 26 when he directed Jaws. Think about that! 20-bloody-6!
Bottom Line: Me, and Other Spielberg Lovers Like Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Jet Lag
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Starring: Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Vince Vaughn, Rip Torn, Stephen Root
Plot: The beleaguered owner of a small gym (Vaughn) must win a dodgeball tournament in order to avoid a takeover bid by the owner of a giant fitness center conglomerate (Stiller). Inspired-wackiness type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: So, director Thurber was the guy behind those great Reebok Terry Tate Office Linebacker commercials, and the short film those were based on (and yes, apparently that fax coversheet line was an “homage” to Office Space, not a rip-off). And he brings that same absurdist lunacy to this delightful little film. Yes, it loses steam towards the end, yes it’s little more than a series of comic set-pieces, and yes there are some fairly obvious jokes – but man, it sure is funny. Stiller, much more at home here than in his bland, put-upon Everyman mode (Meet the Parents, Something About Mary, Along Came Polly, etc.), is great as the monomaniacal owner of the fitness conglomerate trying to obliterate the competition, and you absolutely love to hate him. Vaughn is his casually cool self, and once again shows just how much Hollywood is missing. I don’t know about you, but I just played dodgeball for the first time during training last week, and the sight of almost middle-aged corporate soldiers fiercely trying to dismember their colleagues with rubber balls was an absurd sight to say the least – and boy, it kinda makes this whole thing worth it, don’t it?
Bottom Line: Theatres – Eventually
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Zoolander
Facing Windows
Directed by: Ferzan Ozpetek
Starring: Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Massimo Girotti, Raoul Bova
Plot: A woman stuck in a dead-end marriage is given a new lease on life when her husband brings home a holocaust survivor. Piecing together his story, she must decide whether she will indulge her interest in the handsome neighbor who lives across from her. Languid-and-heartbreaking-with-some-melodramatic-flourishes type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: This swept the Italian Oscars last year, and it is easy to see why. The film is lushly photographed, stars impossibly beautiful people dealing with the unrequited love, romantic longing, the sage-like advice from a mysterious stranger, and even a Holocaust angle to boot. While Ozpetek keeps the melodrama to a minimum, the plot does begin to strain credulity as the film wears on. Whether you forgive the film as it begins to crack at the edges, will completely depend on whether you buy into the swoon-ey romanticism of its central message, and whether you buy into the notion that no matter how happy you are with where you are in your life, the idea in your mind of the “other” is what will always pique your interest. The actors all inhabit their roles with rare gusto, including the impossibly handsome Bova – so familiar to American audiences from Under the Tuscan Sun. Unlike the postcard cheeriness of that movie, Bova gets to explore the intricacies of his character quietly and subtly here – and go a long way towards proving that he might, after all, be more than just a pretty face.
Bottom Line: Those Lucky Few in Manhattan: Theatres – Eventually; Others: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Three Colors: Red
DVD You Must Watch You Absolutely Have To – (releasing June 22nd)
Bad Santa
Directed by: Terry Zwigoff
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac, John Ritter
Plot: A conman poses as a mall Santa Claus in order to rob the stores on Christmas Eve. His plans hit a bump, however, when he befriends a troubled kid. This-is-not-your-mother’s-Christmas-film type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: I really hope you didn’t miss this gem when it came out in theatres last year, but in case you did, here is your chance to catch it on DVD. Thornton is an absolute revelation here – believe me I was shocked as well. Funny, profane, miserable, wretched – insert your adjective here man, it all works. Zwigoff beats the dreaded sophomore jinx in his second outing as a fiction director, and just when you think things are going to become impossibly cute with the introduction of the Kid, he switches things up on you. The supporting cast here is great – Cox as his diminutive sidekick, Kelly as the Kid, Mac as the store detective, and Ritter as the mall manager (pity he was never given the credit he deserved while he was alive). Only Graham is the weak link, and perhaps it’s not her fault since the women in the movie are the ones that come off the worst. Still, if you have ever been overloaded on the Hallmark-sweet Hmovies out there (everything from Home Alone to Miracle on 34th Street), and on the corporate-mandated Holiday “spirit” in general, then this is the perfect antidote. Yes, unfortunately there is a cloying moral at the end of the film (probably mandated by the studio – after all, this is a Disney film), but the trip up to that point is so bracingly misanthropic that you are more than willing to forgive the film at that point. After all, a sequel wouldn’t be such a bad thing now would it Mr. Eisner?
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): The Ref
Why Did I Like Shrek 2 So Much?
Jennifer Saunders and Antonio Banderas (as the Fairy Godmother and Puss in Boots respectively. Saunders proves that there is life after Absolutely Fabulous, and is so gleefully amoral that you actually feel sorry for her when she gets hers at the end. Banderas sends up his own Zorro-inspired matinee idol persona as the fey, manipulative, insatiable assassin – and shows heretofore undiscovered comedic chops.)
What’s Up With All These Political Documentaries?
The Hunting of the President, The Corporation, Orwell Rolls in His Grave, Fahrenheit 9/11 (It’s about bloody time man, good to know that there is some semblance of free speech still out there.)
The Great Stephen Root
Root (the immortal Milton from Office Space) is one of the best character actors I have ever seen, and hopefully he will start to carve a niche for himself (I personally could see him play endless variations of his Jimmy James character from Newsradio – which I’m tellin’ ya, is better than Seinfeld!).
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Baadasssss!
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Bukowski: Born Into This
Control Room
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Mean Girls
Carandiru
The Passion of the Christ
The Stepford Wives
The Chronicles of Riddick
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Super Size Me
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Ripley’s Game *
Shrek 2
Miracle
Starsky and Hutch
Hellboy
The Day After Tomorrow
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
June 18th, 2004
One to Watch – Tollywood (Independent)
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer
Directed by: Aparna Sen
Starring: Rahul Bose, Konkona Sen Sharma
Plot: A married Hindu woman and a Muslim man come to each other’s aid while traveling on a bus that is attacked by Hindu fundamentalists. The two have to stay together while the roads are closed off due to ethnic riots. Romantic-longing-across-religions type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: I was as skeptical as you before I saw this movie. But after the initial plot mechanics get out of the way, the film settles down into a gentle rhythm with a keen eye for human relationships. Sen Sharma (the director’s daughter) is incredible as the titular wife – never for a second did I think she was anything but a married South Indian woman. Bose does not fare quite as well, though his amusing ego does fit with his character. Their slowly evolving relationship is handled beautifully, and feels absolutely authentic given the context. Of course, this is an Indian film, so instead of a graceful, ambiguous ending (which happens before the actual end), the film goes on a little too long, and almost spoils everything with an emotionally over-the-top ending. Man, but isn’t it good to see Sen, the grand dame of Bengali films, still going strong after all these years? And man oh man oh man oh man, ain’t it grand that we are right in the middle of another Bengali film renaissance. Now, if only we could find someone with the aesthetics of Bengali cinema, but the technical training of Hollywood who is at home with both mainstream, populist films, and their more obtuse, independent cousins. Hmm…..
Bottom Line: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): 36 Chowringhee Lane
Two to Watch - Independents
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
Directed by: Mike Hodges
Starring: Clive Owen, Malcolm McDowell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Charlotte Rampling
Plot: A former criminal (Owen) has to revisit the trespasses of his youth when he investigates his brother’s murder. Deadpan-minimalist-classic-British-criminal-drama type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: The incredible Owen (already being upstaged as the title character in the upcoming King Arthur) first came to prominence in director Hodges’s Croupier – a tasty little film noir indeed. Even though the story here is little more than a rehashing of the director’s seminal Get Carter, the 72-year-old Hodges still manages to surprise us with his nifty stylistic flourishes. McDowell, as usual, is in fine form as the scenery-chewing villain, and the ageless Rampling still manages to get pulses running. Owen is in incredible form here – brooding, vicious, magnetic – and should be well on his way to stardom (hopefully) with the upcoming summer blockbuster King Arthur and Mike Nichol’s sure-fire Oscar heavyweight Closer (in which he outshines the likes of Julia Roberts, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman). While his profile is not going to be raised by this small film, it is still a fine showcase for him to strut his stuff, and prove that he truly is one of the few true leading men out there still.
Bottom Line: Those Lucky Few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Croupier
The Hunting of the President
Directed by: Nickolas Perry and Harry Thomason
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Bill Clinton
Plot: A documentary that details the concentrated effort to bring down former President Clinton. I-can’t-believe-they-spent-million-of-taxpayer-dollars-on-this-rubbish type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: Remember the good old days, when all Presidents lied about were some marital indiscretions? Well this film certainly does. Based on the book of the same name, this earnest, doggedly researched, methodical film neatly lays out the vast coordinated efforts to bring down the presidency of Bill Clinton by any means necessary. Of course, a lot of the details are familiar to most people who have watched Fox News, but it is refreshing to get the perspective from the other side. Freeman’s terse, dignified narration goes a long way towards establishing the tone of the film. The filmmakers condemn Clinton for his infidelities, but make it clear that there was no way he deserved the attacks he had to weather throughout his tenure in the White House. The film does come close to veering out of control though, with its investigation of a shadowy organization, and mysterious figures straight out of Oliver Stone-land. Luckily the rest of this smart, absorbing film more than makes up for this. While it is obvious that those from the Right side of the political spectrum will dismiss it without ever having seen it, you will be well served by watching the film – especially since President Clinton’s own autobiography is due out next week.
Bottom Line: Those Lucky Few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Primary Colors
New Movies (Opened Wednesday, June 16th)
Around the World in 80 Days
Directed by: Frank Coraci
Starring: Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Jim Broadbent, and tons of cameos
Plot: An eccentric inventor (Coogan) must enlist the help of a common thief (Chan) in order to win his bet and get around the world in a mere 80 days. Harmless-family-fun-with-some-cool-cameos-especially-by-a-certain-former-Mr. Universe-turned-Guh-verninator type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: I think that Chan has always been much more comfortable in this milieu than the Rush Hour type films that catapulted him into the American consciousness. His nimble physicality has always been more Buster Keaton than Bruce Lee, and he gets to indulge those singular gifts in a big way here. Of course, saying that this remake is better than the original is the very definition of damning it with faint praise (the 1956 film is considered to be the worst films ever to win the Best Picture Oscar). Still, the laughs are plentiful, the cinematography is fine, the acting is competent, Coogan is a lot of fun, the cameos are enjoyable, and Chan does what he does best – and boy, is that fun to watch. So, forget about the narrative inconsistencies, the wooden dialogue, and the third-act problems; instead, grab your kids, pop open some milk, grab some cookies, and have a fine afternoon when this comes out on DVD.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – Eventually; Other, More Sensible People: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Shanghai Knights
New Movies
The Terminal
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chi McBride, Stanley Tucci, Diego Luna, Kumar Pallana
Plot: A Balkan traveler (Hanks) is forced to live in an American airport when his country is no longer officially recognized. While there he falls in love with a beautiful flight attendant (Zeta-Jones). Sentimental-romantic-longing-with-that-patented-sappy-Tom Hanks-stare type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: My love for Spielberg is as irrational as the love that people still have for a certain ex-president who died recently. And I’ll be d**ned, but I just can’t let go. I’ve sat through abject failures (1942), career-defining triumphs (E. T.: The Extraterrestrial), films that I loved even though I should have known better (Empire of the Sun), and unlikely films that mostly succeeded (Minority Report) or mostly failed (A. I.: Artificial Intelligence). This film, unfortunately, plays to his worst flaws (sentimentality) and not to many of his strengths (that incredibly visual story-telling ability). The director irons out any of the real-world complications that could plausibly sully this fairy tale, and after a while this benign utopia begins to blur around the edges. Hanks gives another one of his “fine” performances – but, at this point, it has become an old trick that simply does not excite any more. Tucci is stuck in heartless-villain mode, while the rest of the sterling cast (including Pallana, on loan from Wes Anderson) manage to make the most of what is given to them. Zeta-Jones is sparkling in her limited role, and manages to coax some life into Hanks’s bland everyman persona. Still, just when you are ready to write him off, Spielberg manages to surprise you with his innate ability as a filmmaker. Nobody, and I can say this with complete confidence, nobody can put together a movie like Spielberg. And it is to his eternal credit that no matter how sugary this little confection becomes, he still keeps you watching, and wanting to find out what happens next. And, just to put things into perspective: Spielberg was 26 when he directed Jaws. Think about that! 20-bloody-6!
Bottom Line: Me, and Other Spielberg Lovers Like Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Jet Lag
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Starring: Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Vince Vaughn, Rip Torn, Stephen Root
Plot: The beleaguered owner of a small gym (Vaughn) must win a dodgeball tournament in order to avoid a takeover bid by the owner of a giant fitness center conglomerate (Stiller). Inspired-wackiness type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: So, director Thurber was the guy behind those great Reebok Terry Tate Office Linebacker commercials, and the short film those were based on (and yes, apparently that fax coversheet line was an “homage” to Office Space, not a rip-off). And he brings that same absurdist lunacy to this delightful little film. Yes, it loses steam towards the end, yes it’s little more than a series of comic set-pieces, and yes there are some fairly obvious jokes – but man, it sure is funny. Stiller, much more at home here than in his bland, put-upon Everyman mode (Meet the Parents, Something About Mary, Along Came Polly, etc.), is great as the monomaniacal owner of the fitness conglomerate trying to obliterate the competition, and you absolutely love to hate him. Vaughn is his casually cool self, and once again shows just how much Hollywood is missing. I don’t know about you, but I just played dodgeball for the first time during training last week, and the sight of almost middle-aged corporate soldiers fiercely trying to dismember their colleagues with rubber balls was an absurd sight to say the least – and boy, it kinda makes this whole thing worth it, don’t it?
Bottom Line: Theatres – Eventually
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Zoolander
Facing Windows
Directed by: Ferzan Ozpetek
Starring: Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Massimo Girotti, Raoul Bova
Plot: A woman stuck in a dead-end marriage is given a new lease on life when her husband brings home a holocaust survivor. Piecing together his story, she must decide whether she will indulge her interest in the handsome neighbor who lives across from her. Languid-and-heartbreaking-with-some-melodramatic-flourishes type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: This swept the Italian Oscars last year, and it is easy to see why. The film is lushly photographed, stars impossibly beautiful people dealing with the unrequited love, romantic longing, the sage-like advice from a mysterious stranger, and even a Holocaust angle to boot. While Ozpetek keeps the melodrama to a minimum, the plot does begin to strain credulity as the film wears on. Whether you forgive the film as it begins to crack at the edges, will completely depend on whether you buy into the swoon-ey romanticism of its central message, and whether you buy into the notion that no matter how happy you are with where you are in your life, the idea in your mind of the “other” is what will always pique your interest. The actors all inhabit their roles with rare gusto, including the impossibly handsome Bova – so familiar to American audiences from Under the Tuscan Sun. Unlike the postcard cheeriness of that movie, Bova gets to explore the intricacies of his character quietly and subtly here – and go a long way towards proving that he might, after all, be more than just a pretty face.
Bottom Line: Those Lucky Few in Manhattan: Theatres – Eventually; Others: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Three Colors: Red
DVD You Must Watch You Absolutely Have To – (releasing June 22nd)
Bad Santa
Directed by: Terry Zwigoff
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac, John Ritter
Plot: A conman poses as a mall Santa Claus in order to rob the stores on Christmas Eve. His plans hit a bump, however, when he befriends a troubled kid. This-is-not-your-mother’s-Christmas-film type confusions ensue.
The Buzz: I really hope you didn’t miss this gem when it came out in theatres last year, but in case you did, here is your chance to catch it on DVD. Thornton is an absolute revelation here – believe me I was shocked as well. Funny, profane, miserable, wretched – insert your adjective here man, it all works. Zwigoff beats the dreaded sophomore jinx in his second outing as a fiction director, and just when you think things are going to become impossibly cute with the introduction of the Kid, he switches things up on you. The supporting cast here is great – Cox as his diminutive sidekick, Kelly as the Kid, Mac as the store detective, and Ritter as the mall manager (pity he was never given the credit he deserved while he was alive). Only Graham is the weak link, and perhaps it’s not her fault since the women in the movie are the ones that come off the worst. Still, if you have ever been overloaded on the Hallmark-sweet Hmovies out there (everything from Home Alone to Miracle on 34th Street), and on the corporate-mandated Holiday “spirit” in general, then this is the perfect antidote. Yes, unfortunately there is a cloying moral at the end of the film (probably mandated by the studio – after all, this is a Disney film), but the trip up to that point is so bracingly misanthropic that you are more than willing to forgive the film at that point. After all, a sequel wouldn’t be such a bad thing now would it Mr. Eisner?
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): The Ref
Why Did I Like Shrek 2 So Much?
Jennifer Saunders and Antonio Banderas (as the Fairy Godmother and Puss in Boots respectively. Saunders proves that there is life after Absolutely Fabulous, and is so gleefully amoral that you actually feel sorry for her when she gets hers at the end. Banderas sends up his own Zorro-inspired matinee idol persona as the fey, manipulative, insatiable assassin – and shows heretofore undiscovered comedic chops.)
What’s Up With All These Political Documentaries?
The Hunting of the President, The Corporation, Orwell Rolls in His Grave, Fahrenheit 9/11 (It’s about bloody time man, good to know that there is some semblance of free speech still out there.)
The Great Stephen Root
Root (the immortal Milton from Office Space) is one of the best character actors I have ever seen, and hopefully he will start to carve a niche for himself (I personally could see him play endless variations of his Jimmy James character from Newsradio – which I’m tellin’ ya, is better than Seinfeld!).
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Baadasssss!
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Bukowski: Born Into This
Control Room
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Mean Girls
Carandiru
The Passion of the Christ
The Stepford Wives
The Chronicles of Riddick
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Super Size Me
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Ripley’s Game *
Shrek 2
Miracle
Starsky and Hutch
Hellboy
The Day After Tomorrow
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
The basu! Guide to the Movies
June 11th, 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Dhoop
Directed by: Ashwini Chaudhary
Starring: Om Puri, Revathi
Plot: A father has to cope with the death of his son in battle. Given a petrol pump as compensation, he struggles against corrupt bureaucrats to make it work. Thank-god-for-Om-Puri type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: My friend Ani brought this one to my attention. Chaudhary’s second film after the award-winning Ladoo; this film contains all his strengths – keen observation of small details, believable characters, engaging premise – as well weakness – poor camerawork, lapses in the narrative, unconvincing ending. However, given that his reach does not exceed his grasp, Chaudhary makes all of it work for the most part. The great Puri is in fine form here as the grieving father, whose internal rage makes him a difficult person to be with. Sparkling performances are turned in by the entire supporting cast, and the whole thing seems organic. Unfortunately, the familiarity of the milieu, as well as the last act, detract from the film – but by that point it has built up enough of a reservoir of goodwill that you are willing to forgive it for its minor faults. Om-bloody-Puri!
Bottom Line: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Ardh Satya
One to Watch - Independents
Napoleon Dynamite
Directed b y: Jared Hess
Starring: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries
Plot: A nerdy high school student in Preston, ID, struggles to convince those around of him of his inherent greatness. I-can’t-believe-Fox-Searchlight-picked-up-this-quirky-little-film-at-Sundance-for-$3 million-and-then-barely-advertised-it type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: 24 years old! That’s how old the director is – 24! I can’t believe it, twenty-bloody-four! Here I am, an MFA from apparently the best film school in the country, toiling over spreadsheets for ten hours a day, and this kid has one of the most buzzed about Sundance films at 24! Then again, maybe talent, hard work, tenacity, drive, ambition, tenacity, creativity, originality, and finally, tenacity (again) may have had something to do with it. In that case, I am extremely lucky to be getting paid for doing anything at all – especially since these are all qualities that I most definitely lack. But, we are here to talk about a small, original little film that may not ultimately manage to sustain its premise, but still charms us with its honesty and verve. Heder is a complete revelation as the titular hero, refusing to let his universally-known character stoop into caricature. The acting, story, cinematography, pacing – none of it is polished, or even consistent. Yet, somehow (the generic happy ending notwithstanding) it all manages to be affecting at the end of the film. This signals the arrival of a major new talent – at 24 man! Twenty-bloody-four!
Bottom Line: Theatres – Eventually
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): The beautiful little Tully – thanks Rosanne for pointing this one out.
New Movies
The Stepford Wives
Directed by: Frank Oz
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken
Plot: A fired network executive (Kidman) moves to Stepford, CT, only to find that the frightening monotonic efficiency of suburban America extends to the wives as well. Massaged-by-studio-executives-to-the-point-of-incomprehensibility type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: Oh boy – the story behind the scenes is so much juicier than the film itself. First, both John and Joan Cusack drop out of the film. Then, Kidman is not happy with her replacement husband – the uber-dweeby Broderick. Then director Oz (a long, long, long way from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and What About Bob?) gets ill, and has a subsequent falling out with his cast. Then Midler and Close can’t stand to be near each other during filming. Then two endings are shot. Then the film tanks during test screenings. Then there are reshoots just one month before the release date. To begin with dark comedy is so hard to do – let alone for an expensive, star-heavy film for studio working hard to regain its reputation. Predictably, the movie is an incoherent mess most of the time – what little glimmer of pointed satire may have been in it has been buffed out by nervous studio executives. Kidman, of course, is the perfect woman to play the epitome of male-techno-fetishism (her striking physicality, unfortunately, is subverted pointlessly for most of the film), and does what she can in this mess. Close, unusually, gives a tone deaf performance that is matched only by Midler’s hamming. As always, and you know I am going to say this, it’s left up to the great, great Walken to make things bearable. Christopher-bloody-Walken!
Bottom Line: Other, more sensible people: Pass; Me: Theatres – Eventually
Other Movies to Check Out (instead): Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – yes Oz could actually direct at one time.
The Chronicles of Riddick
Directed by: David Twohy
Starring: Vin Diesel, Judi Dench, Colm Feore, Thandie Newton
Plot: When the all-conquering Nercomongers descend on their newest planet to conquer and enslave, the residents turn to Riddick – a convicted murder with the ability to see in the dark – to save them. I-can’t-believe-that-this-CGI behemoth-is-the-sequel-to-the-small-but-good-Pitch Black type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: Pitch Black first caused a stir when it was featured in a Super Bowl commercial after a big-budget movie from the studio failed to finish a trailer in time. It then went on to become a surprise hit at the box office, followed by a healthy run on DVD. A modest, strange hybrid of sci-fi, horror, suspense thriller, and finally, action, it managed to evoke genuine dread and terror. It also featured a breakthrough performance by Diesel – who undercut his usual stolid machismo with some real menace. However, the follow-up is everything that the original was not – big, dumb, loud, mind-numbing, and ultimately (worst of all) boring. Dench is obviously collecting a big, dumb, loud paycheck and the lovely Newton does what she can with a miniscule role. Feore revels in the role of the main villain, and brings some verve to the film. Diesel’s performance is a series of glowering, and the occasional squinting of the eyes. His terrible on-set behavior and tremendous ego have become the stuff of legend; too bad he doesn’t bother to inform his performance with these potentially interesting elements. Big-bloody-dumb!
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: Pass
Other Movies to Check Out (instead): Pitch Black.
Garfield: The Movie
Directed by: Peter Hewitt
Starring: Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Bill Murray
Plot: Our favorite comic strip cat steps into live action, and learns a lesson when he has to rescue the always clueless Odie. Nervous-Fox-executives type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: Oh Scooby-Doo (the movies, not the show), what hath thou wrought? The newspaper strip is not that funny to begin, and to stretch it into a feature length film is ludicrous. But such is the age we live in – where, bereft of any truly original ideas, studios leave no synergistic stone unturned in trying to earn the extra very quick buck. This film is only the latest odious confirmation of this. Thuddingly obviously, it is, however, mercifully brief. Murray is an inspired choice as the voice of the self-absorbed, self-loving, staggeringly selfish titular cat (I guess, in retrospect, it is an obvious choice), and brings the only spark to the film. The 3-D animation is crude and distracting, while the whole operation is over before you can say: Fox-bloody-executives!
Bottom Line: Me: DVD; Other, More Sensible People: Pass
Other Movies to Check Out (instead): The Black Stallion – a much superior kid’s film that also featured an animal in a major role.
Imelda
Directed by: Ramona S. Diaz
Starring: Imelda Marcos
Plot: A documentary that chronicles the rise and eventual fall of the wife of the former Filipino dictator. How-many-shoes?! type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: Yes, apparently she did own a few too many shoes, and yes, she did apparently siphon off about $600 million from the government into her own Swiss bank accounts. While the documentary does not reveal much about her history that we may not already know, it does however paint a frightening portrait of an unapologetic, arrogant, deluded woman who either has no idea of the pain and suffering she caused amongst her own people, or she simply does not care. Either way, the effect is chilling, and she is revealed over the course of the film to be a woman of considerable charm, intelligence, manipulative prowess and political savvy. Hidden behind all those stories of sartorial decadence lies the story of a calculating, driven, street-smart woman, who practically willed her way into the highest echelons of power only to become one of the most enduring images of moral corruption the world has ever seen. No, the Devil does not wear Prada, she sometimes wears one of her 1,200 pairs of shoes. Imelda-bloody-Marcos!
Bottom Line: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Hearts & Minds – a bold, uncompromising look at American values during the Vietnam War (perhaps more timely than ever).
DVD to Watch (releasing June 15th)
The Station Agent
Directed by: Tom McCarthy
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale
Plot: A dwarf (Dinklage) inherits an old train depot and befriends two other loners (Clarkson and Dinklage). I-can’t-believe-this-got-ignored type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: A beautiful, beautiful film that wowed at Sundance, but never quite found an audience in the theatres. In some ways, this unpretentious little gem is probably better suited for home viewing, where you are able to pay more attention to its subtle flavors. A film with a dwarf at its centre can easily slip into bathos; however this never happens in the film. The incredibly Dinklage (you’d have probably seen his great cameo as the prima donna children’s author in Elf) brings such world-weary dignity to his role, that his diminutive stature never propels his performance. Cannavale has never had a showcase like this and he takes full advantage. He does not let his character devolve into simple loutishness; instead he displays a knowing, layered sensibility that keeps things always interesting. For the longest time, it must be remembered, this film was being mentioned for the performance by Patricia Clarkson (who had previously always been in the ranks of “scene-stealing” character actors). Though the film eventually lost the which-movie-will-Patricia-Clarkson-be-Oscar-nominated-for sweepstakes to the decidedly more crowd-pleasing Pieces of April, it nonetheless cemented Clarkson’s place as one of the best screen actresses working in Hollywood today. If the cinematic summer onslaught is becoming too much to bear (and we are not even halfway through it!), then do yourselves a favor and pop this into your DVD player, invite your best friends over, put some tea on the boil, and let the fun begin. Station-bloody-Agent!
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Frankie Starlight
Mani Ratnam Does Not Have It Anymore…
Yuva (Abhishek Bachchan was great – who knew? – and it’s always nice to see Calcutta on screen, but the story devolves into a head-shaking amalgamation of the worst clichés of all Bollywood movies. Whose idea was it cast Ajay Devgan as a college student? I still don’t understand Vivek Oberoi’s appeal. Rani Mukherji – shorn of her usual glamour – is very good, though, and should be well served by a few more of these types of roles in better movies.)
…But Quentin Tarantino Still Does
Kill Bill Vol. 2 (The action scenes snapped, the story crackled, and Uma Thurman popped – boy did she pop! She looks great, acts great, and most importantly, fights great. Smaller in scope than the all-over-the-map-and-much-too-graphic-for-this-old-man’s-tastes Vol. 1, this one keeps the focus squarely on the characters, and the tragic story that binds them all together. David Carradine is the real eye-opener here, as the sinister title character Thurman has sworn to kill. Oozing menace, familial comfort, and plain weirdness; I am really hoping that this role catapults him into that very small space currently occupied by the likes of Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper – and by perhaps Val Kilmer in the future? One can only hope.)
Good Bye Gipper
Knute Rockne All American
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shrek 2
Baadasssss!
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Bukowski: Born Into This
Control Room
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Mean Girls
Carandiru
The Passion of the Christ
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Super Size Me
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Ripley’s Game *
Miracle
Starsky and Hutch
Hellboy
The Day After Tomorrow
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
June 11th, 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Dhoop
Directed by: Ashwini Chaudhary
Starring: Om Puri, Revathi
Plot: A father has to cope with the death of his son in battle. Given a petrol pump as compensation, he struggles against corrupt bureaucrats to make it work. Thank-god-for-Om-Puri type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: My friend Ani brought this one to my attention. Chaudhary’s second film after the award-winning Ladoo; this film contains all his strengths – keen observation of small details, believable characters, engaging premise – as well weakness – poor camerawork, lapses in the narrative, unconvincing ending. However, given that his reach does not exceed his grasp, Chaudhary makes all of it work for the most part. The great Puri is in fine form here as the grieving father, whose internal rage makes him a difficult person to be with. Sparkling performances are turned in by the entire supporting cast, and the whole thing seems organic. Unfortunately, the familiarity of the milieu, as well as the last act, detract from the film – but by that point it has built up enough of a reservoir of goodwill that you are willing to forgive it for its minor faults. Om-bloody-Puri!
Bottom Line: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Ardh Satya
One to Watch - Independents
Napoleon Dynamite
Directed b y: Jared Hess
Starring: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries
Plot: A nerdy high school student in Preston, ID, struggles to convince those around of him of his inherent greatness. I-can’t-believe-Fox-Searchlight-picked-up-this-quirky-little-film-at-Sundance-for-$3 million-and-then-barely-advertised-it type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: 24 years old! That’s how old the director is – 24! I can’t believe it, twenty-bloody-four! Here I am, an MFA from apparently the best film school in the country, toiling over spreadsheets for ten hours a day, and this kid has one of the most buzzed about Sundance films at 24! Then again, maybe talent, hard work, tenacity, drive, ambition, tenacity, creativity, originality, and finally, tenacity (again) may have had something to do with it. In that case, I am extremely lucky to be getting paid for doing anything at all – especially since these are all qualities that I most definitely lack. But, we are here to talk about a small, original little film that may not ultimately manage to sustain its premise, but still charms us with its honesty and verve. Heder is a complete revelation as the titular hero, refusing to let his universally-known character stoop into caricature. The acting, story, cinematography, pacing – none of it is polished, or even consistent. Yet, somehow (the generic happy ending notwithstanding) it all manages to be affecting at the end of the film. This signals the arrival of a major new talent – at 24 man! Twenty-bloody-four!
Bottom Line: Theatres – Eventually
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): The beautiful little Tully – thanks Rosanne for pointing this one out.
New Movies
The Stepford Wives
Directed by: Frank Oz
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken
Plot: A fired network executive (Kidman) moves to Stepford, CT, only to find that the frightening monotonic efficiency of suburban America extends to the wives as well. Massaged-by-studio-executives-to-the-point-of-incomprehensibility type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: Oh boy – the story behind the scenes is so much juicier than the film itself. First, both John and Joan Cusack drop out of the film. Then, Kidman is not happy with her replacement husband – the uber-dweeby Broderick. Then director Oz (a long, long, long way from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and What About Bob?) gets ill, and has a subsequent falling out with his cast. Then Midler and Close can’t stand to be near each other during filming. Then two endings are shot. Then the film tanks during test screenings. Then there are reshoots just one month before the release date. To begin with dark comedy is so hard to do – let alone for an expensive, star-heavy film for studio working hard to regain its reputation. Predictably, the movie is an incoherent mess most of the time – what little glimmer of pointed satire may have been in it has been buffed out by nervous studio executives. Kidman, of course, is the perfect woman to play the epitome of male-techno-fetishism (her striking physicality, unfortunately, is subverted pointlessly for most of the film), and does what she can in this mess. Close, unusually, gives a tone deaf performance that is matched only by Midler’s hamming. As always, and you know I am going to say this, it’s left up to the great, great Walken to make things bearable. Christopher-bloody-Walken!
Bottom Line: Other, more sensible people: Pass; Me: Theatres – Eventually
Other Movies to Check Out (instead): Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – yes Oz could actually direct at one time.
The Chronicles of Riddick
Directed by: David Twohy
Starring: Vin Diesel, Judi Dench, Colm Feore, Thandie Newton
Plot: When the all-conquering Nercomongers descend on their newest planet to conquer and enslave, the residents turn to Riddick – a convicted murder with the ability to see in the dark – to save them. I-can’t-believe-that-this-CGI behemoth-is-the-sequel-to-the-small-but-good-Pitch Black type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: Pitch Black first caused a stir when it was featured in a Super Bowl commercial after a big-budget movie from the studio failed to finish a trailer in time. It then went on to become a surprise hit at the box office, followed by a healthy run on DVD. A modest, strange hybrid of sci-fi, horror, suspense thriller, and finally, action, it managed to evoke genuine dread and terror. It also featured a breakthrough performance by Diesel – who undercut his usual stolid machismo with some real menace. However, the follow-up is everything that the original was not – big, dumb, loud, mind-numbing, and ultimately (worst of all) boring. Dench is obviously collecting a big, dumb, loud paycheck and the lovely Newton does what she can with a miniscule role. Feore revels in the role of the main villain, and brings some verve to the film. Diesel’s performance is a series of glowering, and the occasional squinting of the eyes. His terrible on-set behavior and tremendous ego have become the stuff of legend; too bad he doesn’t bother to inform his performance with these potentially interesting elements. Big-bloody-dumb!
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: Pass
Other Movies to Check Out (instead): Pitch Black.
Garfield: The Movie
Directed by: Peter Hewitt
Starring: Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Bill Murray
Plot: Our favorite comic strip cat steps into live action, and learns a lesson when he has to rescue the always clueless Odie. Nervous-Fox-executives type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: Oh Scooby-Doo (the movies, not the show), what hath thou wrought? The newspaper strip is not that funny to begin, and to stretch it into a feature length film is ludicrous. But such is the age we live in – where, bereft of any truly original ideas, studios leave no synergistic stone unturned in trying to earn the extra very quick buck. This film is only the latest odious confirmation of this. Thuddingly obviously, it is, however, mercifully brief. Murray is an inspired choice as the voice of the self-absorbed, self-loving, staggeringly selfish titular cat (I guess, in retrospect, it is an obvious choice), and brings the only spark to the film. The 3-D animation is crude and distracting, while the whole operation is over before you can say: Fox-bloody-executives!
Bottom Line: Me: DVD; Other, More Sensible People: Pass
Other Movies to Check Out (instead): The Black Stallion – a much superior kid’s film that also featured an animal in a major role.
Imelda
Directed by: Ramona S. Diaz
Starring: Imelda Marcos
Plot: A documentary that chronicles the rise and eventual fall of the wife of the former Filipino dictator. How-many-shoes?! type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: Yes, apparently she did own a few too many shoes, and yes, she did apparently siphon off about $600 million from the government into her own Swiss bank accounts. While the documentary does not reveal much about her history that we may not already know, it does however paint a frightening portrait of an unapologetic, arrogant, deluded woman who either has no idea of the pain and suffering she caused amongst her own people, or she simply does not care. Either way, the effect is chilling, and she is revealed over the course of the film to be a woman of considerable charm, intelligence, manipulative prowess and political savvy. Hidden behind all those stories of sartorial decadence lies the story of a calculating, driven, street-smart woman, who practically willed her way into the highest echelons of power only to become one of the most enduring images of moral corruption the world has ever seen. No, the Devil does not wear Prada, she sometimes wears one of her 1,200 pairs of shoes. Imelda-bloody-Marcos!
Bottom Line: DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Hearts & Minds – a bold, uncompromising look at American values during the Vietnam War (perhaps more timely than ever).
DVD to Watch (releasing June 15th)
The Station Agent
Directed by: Tom McCarthy
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale
Plot: A dwarf (Dinklage) inherits an old train depot and befriends two other loners (Clarkson and Dinklage). I-can’t-believe-this-got-ignored type dilemmas ensue.
The Buzz: A beautiful, beautiful film that wowed at Sundance, but never quite found an audience in the theatres. In some ways, this unpretentious little gem is probably better suited for home viewing, where you are able to pay more attention to its subtle flavors. A film with a dwarf at its centre can easily slip into bathos; however this never happens in the film. The incredibly Dinklage (you’d have probably seen his great cameo as the prima donna children’s author in Elf) brings such world-weary dignity to his role, that his diminutive stature never propels his performance. Cannavale has never had a showcase like this and he takes full advantage. He does not let his character devolve into simple loutishness; instead he displays a knowing, layered sensibility that keeps things always interesting. For the longest time, it must be remembered, this film was being mentioned for the performance by Patricia Clarkson (who had previously always been in the ranks of “scene-stealing” character actors). Though the film eventually lost the which-movie-will-Patricia-Clarkson-be-Oscar-nominated-for sweepstakes to the decidedly more crowd-pleasing Pieces of April, it nonetheless cemented Clarkson’s place as one of the best screen actresses working in Hollywood today. If the cinematic summer onslaught is becoming too much to bear (and we are not even halfway through it!), then do yourselves a favor and pop this into your DVD player, invite your best friends over, put some tea on the boil, and let the fun begin. Station-bloody-Agent!
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Other Movies to Check Out (as well): Frankie Starlight
Mani Ratnam Does Not Have It Anymore…
Yuva (Abhishek Bachchan was great – who knew? – and it’s always nice to see Calcutta on screen, but the story devolves into a head-shaking amalgamation of the worst clichés of all Bollywood movies. Whose idea was it cast Ajay Devgan as a college student? I still don’t understand Vivek Oberoi’s appeal. Rani Mukherji – shorn of her usual glamour – is very good, though, and should be well served by a few more of these types of roles in better movies.)
…But Quentin Tarantino Still Does
Kill Bill Vol. 2 (The action scenes snapped, the story crackled, and Uma Thurman popped – boy did she pop! She looks great, acts great, and most importantly, fights great. Smaller in scope than the all-over-the-map-and-much-too-graphic-for-this-old-man’s-tastes Vol. 1, this one keeps the focus squarely on the characters, and the tragic story that binds them all together. David Carradine is the real eye-opener here, as the sinister title character Thurman has sworn to kill. Oozing menace, familial comfort, and plain weirdness; I am really hoping that this role catapults him into that very small space currently occupied by the likes of Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper – and by perhaps Val Kilmer in the future? One can only hope.)
Good Bye Gipper
Knute Rockne All American
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shrek 2
Baadasssss!
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Bukowski: Born Into This
Control Room
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Mean Girls
Carandiru
The Passion of the Christ
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Super Size Me
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Ripley’s Game *
Miracle
Starsky and Hutch
Hellboy
The Day After Tomorrow
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
The basu! Guide to the Movies
June 4th 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Hum Tum
Directed by: Kunal Kohli
Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Rishi Kapoor, Rati Agnihotri, Kiron Kher
Plot: Two lifelong friends realize that they were ultimately meant for each other. If this sounds familiar, well, it is…that’s right, this is the Bollywood remake of When Harry Met Sally.
The Buzz: Yes, Bollywood continues its fine tradition of ripping off Hollywood films. Of course, there is always that extra layer of masala added, and here it actually adds something new. Kohli, bless his heart, tries out a few different tricks – including an animated Indian “Greek” chorus. Khan continues his winning streak, while the lovely Mukerji proves, once again, that she is one of the more capable heroines in Bollywood. The surprise here is that the golden oldies – Agnihotri, Kher, and my mother’s old favorite Kapoor – completely steal the show. Displaying a light touch, and an easy confidence that typified the best films from the 1970s and 80s, the trio shows the youngsters how it’s done, and reminds us of the past Golden age of Bollywood films. The film ends badly, as it must, but has built up enough goodwill up to that point so you are ready to forgive it for this minor trespass. Rock on Golden Oldies, rock on!
Bottom Line: DVD
One to Watch - Independents
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Directed by: Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni
Starring: Janchiv Ayurzana, Chimed Ohin
Plot: A tribe in Mongolia tries to reunite a rejected camel calf with its mother.
The Buzz: My friend Dave told me about this – and he usually hates these cute third-world films. And he’s right about this one. A tender little film, its very simplicity is what makes it so satisfying. An ambitious mix of documentary and fiction, the film builds a moving portrait of a dying breed of people, managing to survive as a community against the ever-increasing encroachment of modernity. The images are stunning, the story heartwarming, and the characters are always engaging. Take my advice and skip that other movie opening this weekend – the real magic is in this one.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
New Movies
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon
Plot: Harry and Ron undertake a road trip with an older teacher as they discover life outside of Hogwarts, and really grow up… wait, sorry, wrong movie. Got confused by Cuarón’s presence. Umm, Harry is put on alert when the man responsible for his parent’s death escapes from prison and heads his way.
The Buzz: Cuarón is an especially inspired choice to take over the reins from the spectacularly insipid Chris Columbus – a decision I was surprised that the normally risk-averse Warner Bros. would make. Darker, scarier, and more ambitious, the director signals his intent from the very first grainy, washed-out frame. Thompson joins the spectacular cast of adults, and dives into her role with gusto, enjoying the experience of playing against type (though, truth be told, it’s a sad indication of how far this great actress’s star has fallen in Hollywood that she has to resort to being in a Harry Potter film). The kids look older, and as the story moves in a more complex direction, it becomes increasingly clear that the children are very limited as actors. The exceptions here are Watson, who continues to develop Hermione into a fully realized spark plug of a young girl; and Tom Felton, who’s odious Malfoy becomes a splendid foil to the insufferably bland Harry Potter. The adults do what they can with what little they have to do – Thompson, Maggie Smith and Rickman are all uniformly good; while Gambon, stepping in for the late, great Richard Harris, makes his Dumbledore a more imposing presence than he had previously been. The books have become longer, and this poses a unique problem for the writers here; ultimately the narrative begins to lose its coherence as the film wears on. However, given the way the series has reinvented itself, this is a small price to pay. After all, it’s not every day that you get the director of the biggest kid’s film franchise in the world comparing the villains of his film to Bush and Cheney. Rock on Cuarón, rock on!
Bottom Line: Crazy, dedicated, refusing-to-grow-up fans: Theatres – First Week; Other, More Sensible People: DVD
Bukowski: Born Into This
Directed by: John Dullaghan
Starring: Charles Bukowski
Plot: A documentary portrait of the great American writer.
The Buzz: An absorbing, not-too-reverential, illuminating film that never puts its subject on too high a pedestal. This is probably the closest you will ever come to getting to know the real Bukowski, and it is a fascinating study. His hard-scrabble youth is never sentimentalized, and his own volatile behavior is never glossed over. The film, ultimately, is like Bukowski’s writing – lean, unsentimental, tough, with just that little hint of melancholy leaking through. Rock on Bukowski, rock on!
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – Eventually; Others: DVD
DVD to Watch (releasing June 8th)
Cidade de Deus (City of God)
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen
Plot: An intrepid photojournalist follows the intersecting lives of people living in the largest slum in Rio de Janeiro.
The Buzz: I approached the film with a healthy dose of skepticism – after all, a film set in a third world slum, prettied up with the visual panache of an ad-film director reeked of exploitation (which, of course, I would do in a heartbeat). Then I actually went to watch the film, and after I saw the shell-shocked expressions on Rich and Oliver’s faces as we walked out of the theatre (poor kids – I had forgotten that not everyone is as jaded and desensitized as me), I knew that we had seen something extraordinary. Bursting at the seams with visual trickery, violence, love, jealousy, politics, fear, courage, and all the vagaries of human behavior – this film is truly worthy of that infamous cliché: it grabs you from the very first frame, and never lets you go. The most tragic element in the film has to be Bené, the sweet hood – played by Haagensen – who tries to get out of the cycle of violence he finds himself in, and comes so tantalizingly close that it breaks your heart. This really is an unbelievable film, and if you missed it in the theatres, do yourself a favor and catch it on DVD. I promise you, this one will stay with you for a while. Rock on Meirelles, rock on!
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Not Bad At All
The Day After Tomorrow (That first hour was incredible! Just incredible! Unfortunately, once we get into the teen survival story, things begin to slow down. However, you have to give the filmmakers credit for coming up with such an open-ended, and almost elegiac, ending for such a big-budget summer film. And the fact that the Vice President looking exactly like Cheney is no accident earns the film extra points in my book!)
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shrek 2
Baadasssss!
Control Room
Super Size Me
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Mean Girls
Carandiru
The Passion
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Starsky and Hutch
Ripley’s Game *
Hellboy
Miracle
The Day After Tomorrow
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
June 4th 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Hum Tum
Directed by: Kunal Kohli
Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Rishi Kapoor, Rati Agnihotri, Kiron Kher
Plot: Two lifelong friends realize that they were ultimately meant for each other. If this sounds familiar, well, it is…that’s right, this is the Bollywood remake of When Harry Met Sally.
The Buzz: Yes, Bollywood continues its fine tradition of ripping off Hollywood films. Of course, there is always that extra layer of masala added, and here it actually adds something new. Kohli, bless his heart, tries out a few different tricks – including an animated Indian “Greek” chorus. Khan continues his winning streak, while the lovely Mukerji proves, once again, that she is one of the more capable heroines in Bollywood. The surprise here is that the golden oldies – Agnihotri, Kher, and my mother’s old favorite Kapoor – completely steal the show. Displaying a light touch, and an easy confidence that typified the best films from the 1970s and 80s, the trio shows the youngsters how it’s done, and reminds us of the past Golden age of Bollywood films. The film ends badly, as it must, but has built up enough goodwill up to that point so you are ready to forgive it for this minor trespass. Rock on Golden Oldies, rock on!
Bottom Line: DVD
One to Watch - Independents
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Directed by: Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni
Starring: Janchiv Ayurzana, Chimed Ohin
Plot: A tribe in Mongolia tries to reunite a rejected camel calf with its mother.
The Buzz: My friend Dave told me about this – and he usually hates these cute third-world films. And he’s right about this one. A tender little film, its very simplicity is what makes it so satisfying. An ambitious mix of documentary and fiction, the film builds a moving portrait of a dying breed of people, managing to survive as a community against the ever-increasing encroachment of modernity. The images are stunning, the story heartwarming, and the characters are always engaging. Take my advice and skip that other movie opening this weekend – the real magic is in this one.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
New Movies
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon
Plot: Harry and Ron undertake a road trip with an older teacher as they discover life outside of Hogwarts, and really grow up… wait, sorry, wrong movie. Got confused by Cuarón’s presence. Umm, Harry is put on alert when the man responsible for his parent’s death escapes from prison and heads his way.
The Buzz: Cuarón is an especially inspired choice to take over the reins from the spectacularly insipid Chris Columbus – a decision I was surprised that the normally risk-averse Warner Bros. would make. Darker, scarier, and more ambitious, the director signals his intent from the very first grainy, washed-out frame. Thompson joins the spectacular cast of adults, and dives into her role with gusto, enjoying the experience of playing against type (though, truth be told, it’s a sad indication of how far this great actress’s star has fallen in Hollywood that she has to resort to being in a Harry Potter film). The kids look older, and as the story moves in a more complex direction, it becomes increasingly clear that the children are very limited as actors. The exceptions here are Watson, who continues to develop Hermione into a fully realized spark plug of a young girl; and Tom Felton, who’s odious Malfoy becomes a splendid foil to the insufferably bland Harry Potter. The adults do what they can with what little they have to do – Thompson, Maggie Smith and Rickman are all uniformly good; while Gambon, stepping in for the late, great Richard Harris, makes his Dumbledore a more imposing presence than he had previously been. The books have become longer, and this poses a unique problem for the writers here; ultimately the narrative begins to lose its coherence as the film wears on. However, given the way the series has reinvented itself, this is a small price to pay. After all, it’s not every day that you get the director of the biggest kid’s film franchise in the world comparing the villains of his film to Bush and Cheney. Rock on Cuarón, rock on!
Bottom Line: Crazy, dedicated, refusing-to-grow-up fans: Theatres – First Week; Other, More Sensible People: DVD
Bukowski: Born Into This
Directed by: John Dullaghan
Starring: Charles Bukowski
Plot: A documentary portrait of the great American writer.
The Buzz: An absorbing, not-too-reverential, illuminating film that never puts its subject on too high a pedestal. This is probably the closest you will ever come to getting to know the real Bukowski, and it is a fascinating study. His hard-scrabble youth is never sentimentalized, and his own volatile behavior is never glossed over. The film, ultimately, is like Bukowski’s writing – lean, unsentimental, tough, with just that little hint of melancholy leaking through. Rock on Bukowski, rock on!
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – Eventually; Others: DVD
DVD to Watch (releasing June 8th)
Cidade de Deus (City of God)
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen
Plot: An intrepid photojournalist follows the intersecting lives of people living in the largest slum in Rio de Janeiro.
The Buzz: I approached the film with a healthy dose of skepticism – after all, a film set in a third world slum, prettied up with the visual panache of an ad-film director reeked of exploitation (which, of course, I would do in a heartbeat). Then I actually went to watch the film, and after I saw the shell-shocked expressions on Rich and Oliver’s faces as we walked out of the theatre (poor kids – I had forgotten that not everyone is as jaded and desensitized as me), I knew that we had seen something extraordinary. Bursting at the seams with visual trickery, violence, love, jealousy, politics, fear, courage, and all the vagaries of human behavior – this film is truly worthy of that infamous cliché: it grabs you from the very first frame, and never lets you go. The most tragic element in the film has to be Bené, the sweet hood – played by Haagensen – who tries to get out of the cycle of violence he finds himself in, and comes so tantalizingly close that it breaks your heart. This really is an unbelievable film, and if you missed it in the theatres, do yourself a favor and catch it on DVD. I promise you, this one will stay with you for a while. Rock on Meirelles, rock on!
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Not Bad At All
The Day After Tomorrow (That first hour was incredible! Just incredible! Unfortunately, once we get into the teen survival story, things begin to slow down. However, you have to give the filmmakers credit for coming up with such an open-ended, and almost elegiac, ending for such a big-budget summer film. And the fact that the Vice President looking exactly like Cheney is no accident earns the film extra points in my book!)
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shrek 2
Baadasssss!
Control Room
Super Size Me
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Mean Girls
Carandiru
The Passion
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Starsky and Hutch
Ripley’s Game *
Hellboy
Miracle
The Day After Tomorrow
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
The basu! Guide to the Movies
May 28th, 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Maqbool
Directed by: Vishal Bharadwaj
Starring: Irfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Tabu
Plot: Shakespeare’s Macbeth is transported to the Mumbai underworld. Indie-Bollywood shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Yes, this is the umpteenth variation of putting the Bard in a contemporary context, but believe me, the teeming world of a contemporary Bollywood film is a context like you’ve never seen before. Of course, this being Bollywood, Macbeth (Khan) is driven by his love for his wife (Tabu), rather a thirst for power, and is painted in much more sympathetic terms. Taut, clever, and appealing from beginning to end, this has to be one of the better Bollywood films to have come out in years. Neophyte Bharadwaj employs all the slick visual signatures that have become de-rigueur for young Indian filmmakers (well all except for yours truly – I don’t have a visual anything…unless you count my formatting of Excel spreadsheets – anyway that’s a story for another day), he nonetheless manages to make these fully realized characters the centerpiece of the story. Khan holds his own against a murderer’s row of great Bollywood supporting actors (Shah, Puri and Kapur), while Tabu turns in a career-defining performance. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for the Indian film industry.
Bottom Line: DVD
One to Watch - Independents
Baadasssss!
Directed by: Mario Van Peebles
Starring: Mario Van Peebles, Nia Long, Joy Bryant, Ossie Davis
Plot: Melvin Van Peebles, a young filmmaker in the 1960s, goes beyond the breaking point while making his seminal blaxploitation film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Film (and familial) history shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: You gotta love the idea of the younger Van Peebles actually playing his father in the movie. The brisk, enjoyable film tells the story of how the relentless tenacity of one man launched a whole new wave of cinema. The telling is fascinating, touching and funny – it’s one of these films that screams for the tagline “only the most amazing things are true,” but there is an extra layer of pathos ingrained with Mario playing his father. His portrayal, whether intentionally or not, points to the complicated relationship between a pioneering father and his talented son unable to step outside his shadow. Complicating matters is Melvin’s decision to cast a then 13-year-old Marion in Sweetback, a decision that still must have its repercussions being felt today. This complex father-son relationship permeates the film; ultimately making it so much more than the fond remembrance of a turning point in film history.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD, then rent Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
The Five Obstructions
Directed by: Jorgen Leth and Lars von Trier
Starring: Jorgen Leth and Lars von Trier
Plot: A semi-documentary that follows what happens when von Trier orders Leth to remake his groundbreaking short The Perfect Human five times, under different restrictions. Generational-battle-of-wills-type shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: We all know about von Trier and his proclivity to make defenseless women suffer humiliation and tragedy, well cinematically speaking at least (Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville). Here the victim is his idol Leth. What follows is an incredibly fascinating battle of wills between the two men – a battle across egos, generations, cinematic styles and personalities. While the younger filmmaker’s intent is to break down the elder statesman, and get behind his icy façade; what ends up happening is that we get a much fuller portrait of the self-styled enfant terrible von Trier. Absorbing up to the bitter end, one finally begins to get a glimpse of the man behind the madness, and it’s an engaging glimpse to say the least.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Saved!
Directed b y: Brian Dannelly
Starring: Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Patrick Fugit, Heather Matarazzo
Plot: The students at a fundamentalist Christian school turn on one of their own after she becomes pregnant with her gay boyfriend. Soul-searching shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Okay, so I know what you’re thinking, and no this doesn’t just blast the wave of Christianity that seems to permeating popular culture like never before. In fact, the film handles the entire thing with really gentle kid gloves, not indulging in any of the mean-spirited satire that could have given it an edge. The premise probably sounded delicious during the pitch meeting, but what we have instead is an absorbing, finely detailed high-school drama, one that just happens to be set against the backdrop of institutionalized religion. No matter though – none of the characters devolve into caricatures, and the narrative is always interesting. Malone gives yet another in a long line of fine performances. While other child stars may have gotten a lot more attention (including a certain someone who does an admirable job as a disabled student here), she has steadily put together a good career and it’s only a matter of time before she breaks through. The adults are all good; including the underappreciated Martin Donovan. But the real surprise here is Moore, who, apparently, is no longer content to just be Andy Roddick’s girlfriend. As the villain, she modulates between smarmy, tight-lipped friendship, and out-and-out hostility at the flip of a switch. If only the movie had followed her lead.
Bottom Line: DVD
New Movies
The Day After Tomorrow
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum
Plot: Global warming causes a catastrophic series of storms to level the entire world – or at least New York and Los Angeles (after all, does the rest of the world really matter?). A scientist is forced to go to New York to save his son. Epic CGI shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Emmerich is the man who brought you Independence Day; only this time instead of battling aliens that can be stopped by a simple Mac laptop (wonder what Steve Jobs puts in those things) the enemy here is Mother Nature – who is mad as hell at Bush’s environmental policy and is not going to take it anymore! The first hour is loads of fun, as the film stays true to its pulpy B-movie roots. The effects are incredible, and they do provide that all-important adrenaline rush. Unfortunately, true to its B-movie roots, the film turns deadly earnest in the second half. And without a charismatic center to liven proceedings (like Will Smith in Independence Day), the energy gets sucked out completely. Quaid, enjoying a welcome mid-career renaissance, is effective as the scientist searching for his son. Unfortunately, that son happens to be Gyllenhaal, the poor man’s Tobey Maguire. Anyway, do you really care about these people? No, what you do want to see is that twister take down the Hollywood sign. I hoping it clears out traffic while it’s at it – commuting in Southern California is a b**ch.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, More Sensible People: Theatres - Eventually
Raising Helen (aka Classic Hollywood Counter-programming)
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Starring: Kate Hudson, John Corbett, Joan Cusack
Plot: A young, upwardly mobile woman in Manhattan is forced to re-evaluate her life after she is forced to take care of her recently-deceased sister’s children. Heart-warming shenanigans ensue
The Buzz: A dumbed-down, quasi-remake of the much superior German Mostly Martha, this film resides in the same “Manhattan” as the one our gang from Friends did. Every little conflict is solved with a sprinkle of fairy dust, thereby allowing Hudson to keep that fake, plastic smile plastered firmly on her face. Now, it’s true that I am not a big fun of Hudson’s (the poor woman’s Goldie Hawn), but I do like director Marhsall quite a bit (I am definitely looking forward to The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement opening in August). Unfortunately, here he lays on too much schmaltz, and not enough of the bracing humor he sneaks into his best films. Though, one has to applaud the fact that a guy his age is still directing movies in Hollywood – though not sure what that statement that sends when other, less mainstream luminaries in his age bracket can barely get work (Sidney Lumet comes to mind). Oh well, that’s a story for another day.
Bottom Line: Pass, rent Mostly Martha instead
Soul Plane
Directed by: Jessy Terrero
Starring: D. L. Hughley, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Mo’Nique, Tom Arnold
Plot: The maiden flight of the first black-owned airlines runs into some problems. Yo mama-type shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Snoop, D. L. Hughley, Method, Mo’Nique – for the love of God, why?
Bottom Line: Pass, rent Friday instead
DVD to Watch (releasing June 2nd)
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer
Directed by: Nick Broomfield and Joan Churchill
Starring: Nick Broomfield, Aileen Wuornos
Plot: A documentary that follows legendary serial killer Wuornos (immortalized by Charlize Theron in Monster) up to and beyond her execution. Piggybacking-on-the-release-of-an-Oscar-winner-on-DVD shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Though not as engaging as the first documentary made by Broomfield on the same subject (1992’s Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer), this is still a fascinating look at the last days of the scarily charismatic killer. Broomfield goes beyond just her story though, and tries to cover the way Governor Jeb Bush exploits her execution for his own political gain. You have to take Broomfield with a grain of salt (he is something of an acquired taste), but he reins in his worst show-boating instincts and lets the sad, tragic life of this woman carry the load.
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Brad Pitt’s Personal Trainer
Troy (Man oh man oh man, no wonder they showed Mr. Jennifer Aniston half-naked more than the women. I gotta get me some of what he’s been having. Brad’s six-pack was the most exciting thing about his leaden performance in the film, so I hope a big cut of that reported $10-$15 million salary goes to his intrepid personal trainer. He/she certainly deserves it more than Brad’s acting coach).
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shrek 2
Control Room
Super Size Me
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Mean Girls
Carandiru
The Passion
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Starsky and Hutch
Ripley’s Game *
Hellboy
Miracle
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
May 28th, 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Maqbool
Directed by: Vishal Bharadwaj
Starring: Irfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Tabu
Plot: Shakespeare’s Macbeth is transported to the Mumbai underworld. Indie-Bollywood shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Yes, this is the umpteenth variation of putting the Bard in a contemporary context, but believe me, the teeming world of a contemporary Bollywood film is a context like you’ve never seen before. Of course, this being Bollywood, Macbeth (Khan) is driven by his love for his wife (Tabu), rather a thirst for power, and is painted in much more sympathetic terms. Taut, clever, and appealing from beginning to end, this has to be one of the better Bollywood films to have come out in years. Neophyte Bharadwaj employs all the slick visual signatures that have become de-rigueur for young Indian filmmakers (well all except for yours truly – I don’t have a visual anything…unless you count my formatting of Excel spreadsheets – anyway that’s a story for another day), he nonetheless manages to make these fully realized characters the centerpiece of the story. Khan holds his own against a murderer’s row of great Bollywood supporting actors (Shah, Puri and Kapur), while Tabu turns in a career-defining performance. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for the Indian film industry.
Bottom Line: DVD
One to Watch - Independents
Baadasssss!
Directed by: Mario Van Peebles
Starring: Mario Van Peebles, Nia Long, Joy Bryant, Ossie Davis
Plot: Melvin Van Peebles, a young filmmaker in the 1960s, goes beyond the breaking point while making his seminal blaxploitation film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Film (and familial) history shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: You gotta love the idea of the younger Van Peebles actually playing his father in the movie. The brisk, enjoyable film tells the story of how the relentless tenacity of one man launched a whole new wave of cinema. The telling is fascinating, touching and funny – it’s one of these films that screams for the tagline “only the most amazing things are true,” but there is an extra layer of pathos ingrained with Mario playing his father. His portrayal, whether intentionally or not, points to the complicated relationship between a pioneering father and his talented son unable to step outside his shadow. Complicating matters is Melvin’s decision to cast a then 13-year-old Marion in Sweetback, a decision that still must have its repercussions being felt today. This complex father-son relationship permeates the film; ultimately making it so much more than the fond remembrance of a turning point in film history.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD, then rent Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
The Five Obstructions
Directed by: Jorgen Leth and Lars von Trier
Starring: Jorgen Leth and Lars von Trier
Plot: A semi-documentary that follows what happens when von Trier orders Leth to remake his groundbreaking short The Perfect Human five times, under different restrictions. Generational-battle-of-wills-type shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: We all know about von Trier and his proclivity to make defenseless women suffer humiliation and tragedy, well cinematically speaking at least (Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville). Here the victim is his idol Leth. What follows is an incredibly fascinating battle of wills between the two men – a battle across egos, generations, cinematic styles and personalities. While the younger filmmaker’s intent is to break down the elder statesman, and get behind his icy façade; what ends up happening is that we get a much fuller portrait of the self-styled enfant terrible von Trier. Absorbing up to the bitter end, one finally begins to get a glimpse of the man behind the madness, and it’s an engaging glimpse to say the least.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Saved!
Directed b y: Brian Dannelly
Starring: Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Patrick Fugit, Heather Matarazzo
Plot: The students at a fundamentalist Christian school turn on one of their own after she becomes pregnant with her gay boyfriend. Soul-searching shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Okay, so I know what you’re thinking, and no this doesn’t just blast the wave of Christianity that seems to permeating popular culture like never before. In fact, the film handles the entire thing with really gentle kid gloves, not indulging in any of the mean-spirited satire that could have given it an edge. The premise probably sounded delicious during the pitch meeting, but what we have instead is an absorbing, finely detailed high-school drama, one that just happens to be set against the backdrop of institutionalized religion. No matter though – none of the characters devolve into caricatures, and the narrative is always interesting. Malone gives yet another in a long line of fine performances. While other child stars may have gotten a lot more attention (including a certain someone who does an admirable job as a disabled student here), she has steadily put together a good career and it’s only a matter of time before she breaks through. The adults are all good; including the underappreciated Martin Donovan. But the real surprise here is Moore, who, apparently, is no longer content to just be Andy Roddick’s girlfriend. As the villain, she modulates between smarmy, tight-lipped friendship, and out-and-out hostility at the flip of a switch. If only the movie had followed her lead.
Bottom Line: DVD
New Movies
The Day After Tomorrow
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum
Plot: Global warming causes a catastrophic series of storms to level the entire world – or at least New York and Los Angeles (after all, does the rest of the world really matter?). A scientist is forced to go to New York to save his son. Epic CGI shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Emmerich is the man who brought you Independence Day; only this time instead of battling aliens that can be stopped by a simple Mac laptop (wonder what Steve Jobs puts in those things) the enemy here is Mother Nature – who is mad as hell at Bush’s environmental policy and is not going to take it anymore! The first hour is loads of fun, as the film stays true to its pulpy B-movie roots. The effects are incredible, and they do provide that all-important adrenaline rush. Unfortunately, true to its B-movie roots, the film turns deadly earnest in the second half. And without a charismatic center to liven proceedings (like Will Smith in Independence Day), the energy gets sucked out completely. Quaid, enjoying a welcome mid-career renaissance, is effective as the scientist searching for his son. Unfortunately, that son happens to be Gyllenhaal, the poor man’s Tobey Maguire. Anyway, do you really care about these people? No, what you do want to see is that twister take down the Hollywood sign. I hoping it clears out traffic while it’s at it – commuting in Southern California is a b**ch.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, More Sensible People: Theatres - Eventually
Raising Helen (aka Classic Hollywood Counter-programming)
Directed by: Garry Marshall
Starring: Kate Hudson, John Corbett, Joan Cusack
Plot: A young, upwardly mobile woman in Manhattan is forced to re-evaluate her life after she is forced to take care of her recently-deceased sister’s children. Heart-warming shenanigans ensue
The Buzz: A dumbed-down, quasi-remake of the much superior German Mostly Martha, this film resides in the same “Manhattan” as the one our gang from Friends did. Every little conflict is solved with a sprinkle of fairy dust, thereby allowing Hudson to keep that fake, plastic smile plastered firmly on her face. Now, it’s true that I am not a big fun of Hudson’s (the poor woman’s Goldie Hawn), but I do like director Marhsall quite a bit (I am definitely looking forward to The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement opening in August). Unfortunately, here he lays on too much schmaltz, and not enough of the bracing humor he sneaks into his best films. Though, one has to applaud the fact that a guy his age is still directing movies in Hollywood – though not sure what that statement that sends when other, less mainstream luminaries in his age bracket can barely get work (Sidney Lumet comes to mind). Oh well, that’s a story for another day.
Bottom Line: Pass, rent Mostly Martha instead
Soul Plane
Directed by: Jessy Terrero
Starring: D. L. Hughley, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Mo’Nique, Tom Arnold
Plot: The maiden flight of the first black-owned airlines runs into some problems. Yo mama-type shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Snoop, D. L. Hughley, Method, Mo’Nique – for the love of God, why?
Bottom Line: Pass, rent Friday instead
DVD to Watch (releasing June 2nd)
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer
Directed by: Nick Broomfield and Joan Churchill
Starring: Nick Broomfield, Aileen Wuornos
Plot: A documentary that follows legendary serial killer Wuornos (immortalized by Charlize Theron in Monster) up to and beyond her execution. Piggybacking-on-the-release-of-an-Oscar-winner-on-DVD shenanigans ensue.
The Buzz: Though not as engaging as the first documentary made by Broomfield on the same subject (1992’s Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer), this is still a fascinating look at the last days of the scarily charismatic killer. Broomfield goes beyond just her story though, and tries to cover the way Governor Jeb Bush exploits her execution for his own political gain. You have to take Broomfield with a grain of salt (he is something of an acquired taste), but he reins in his worst show-boating instincts and lets the sad, tragic life of this woman carry the load.
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Brad Pitt’s Personal Trainer
Troy (Man oh man oh man, no wonder they showed Mr. Jennifer Aniston half-naked more than the women. I gotta get me some of what he’s been having. Brad’s six-pack was the most exciting thing about his leaden performance in the film, so I hope a big cut of that reported $10-$15 million salary goes to his intrepid personal trainer. He/she certainly deserves it more than Brad’s acting coach).
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shrek 2
Control Room
Super Size Me
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Mean Girls
Carandiru
The Passion
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Starsky and Hutch
Ripley’s Game *
Hellboy
Miracle
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
The basu! Guide to the Movies
May 21st, 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Yuva (Youth)
Directed by: Mani Ratnam
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan, Om Puri
Plot: Three young men struggle to find a niche for themselves in modern day Calcutta, er Kolkata (yay! – about the setting, not the new name). Societal entanglements ensue.
The Buzz: I know this term gets bandied around a lot, but Ratnam truly is one of the too-few visionaries of Indian cinema. Unfortunately, he hasn’t met with much success in Hindi, so he usually sticks to his native Tamil (occasionally dubbing these films, or remaking them in Bollywood). So, any film from him is usually a cause for celebration. This one is worth it. More in the vein of the Latin social-realism films that seem to have exploded on to scene that a true Bollywood melodrama, Ratnam expertly creates the overwhelming milieu that is life in my beloved Calcutta/Kolkata. Each character is sharply drawn, and their struggles are absorbing to watch. Of course, the romantic subplots drag the film down, but luckily, not by much. The great, great Puri is in fine form here as a corrupt policeman, but the truly surprising element here is Bachchan the Younger’s performance. I’ve never been much of a fan (though you have to admire his chutzpah in trying to follow in his father’s rather large footsteps) but it seems he is steadily becoming a fine actor himself. His searing portrayal as the thug of the trio is the bolt of energy that drives the film, and has many comparing him favorably to his father’s early turns as the Angry Young Man. Good for him man, good for him.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few close to Artesia and Jackson Heights: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
One to Watch - Vietnam
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine
Directed by: Rithy Panh
Starring: Vann Nath, Chum Mey, Him Houy
Plot: A documentary about an artist (Vann Nath) imprisoned during the Khmer Rouge’s reign in Cambodia, and his return to confront the guards who tortured him (no wisecracks here).
The Buzz: A touching, affecting documentary that wisely lets the situation doing the heavy lifting. The lack of any cheap sentimentality brings the tense, complex situation into bright focus, allowing the audience to digest it at their own pace. And just when you think you have a handle on the film, it unflinchingly explores the lives of the guards at the prison, without condemning them beforehand. Extremely disturbing in its depiction of the almost banal existence of the oppressors and oppressed, the film explores the concept of evil in frighteningly individualistic terms. No longer abstract, nor clearly demarcated, this contributes to film that once watched, will not likely be forgotten.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Opening May 19th
Shrek 2
Directed by: Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Saunders, Rupert Everett
Plot: The lovable ogre has to deal with trying to please his wife’s in-laws. Snarky-but-still-wholesome-Pixar-lite entanglements ensure.
The Buzz: Look, I know you guys enjoyed the first one. It was the proverbial breath of fresh air that blew through the Disney-fied world of animation. Snide, self-aware, mocking and really quite funny, the original provided the spark for DreamWorks that had been missing for so long. There were many instantly quotable scenes (I’m talking to you Torture of the Gingerbread Man), and Murphy’s hyperactive turn as the faithful sidekick Donkey managed to draw the attention away from an uninspired, mostly episodic narrative. The sequel is more of the same – the problem with more-of-the-same is that ultimately it does not add up to much. Luckily, the whole endeavor is buoyed by a terrifically campy performance by Banderas as that lethal hitman Puss in Boots, the why-won’t-Hollywood-please-decide-what-it-wants-to-do-with-him Everett as the surfer-dude-by-way-of-Cambridge Prince Charming, and finally, the wickedly scabrous Saunders as the Fairy Godmother who may not be as kindly as she seems (I wish they had cast Joanna Lumley in a small part – after all, what is Eddy without a little Patsy). Good for them man, good for them.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: DVD
New Movies
Control Room
Directed by: Jehane Noujaim
Starring: Tom Mintier, Sameer Khader, Lt. Josh Rushing
Plot: An incredible documentary that exposes the chaos inside the infamous Al-Jazeera during Gulf War II: The Wrath of the Son. Many human-rights-abuse entanglements ensue.
The Buzz: I don’t think most of us realize how circumspect the coverage here in the US has been. This film shows us everything, warts and all. What could have been a by-the-numbers, sensationalistic look at an incendiary subject, instead becomes a complex, thought-provoking look at the difference between Western and Arab journalists, as well as the ever-existing tension between journalists in general and the military. Even-handed and absorbing, the documentary coolly presents images that were never shown on American television, carefully avoiding the drum roll of lurid melodrama that accompanies American telecasts. This view from the trenches is an especially disturbing one, and something tells me that it is not going to be widely seen in the nation’s theaters. Which, given the state of paranoia gripping the media here, is not surprising. Too bad man, too d**n bad.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Love Me if You Dare
Directed by: Yann Samuell
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Guillaume Canet, Thibault Verhaeghe, Josephine Lebas Joly
Plot: Two lifelong friends engage in game of increasingly dangerous pranks. Surreal, unrequited romantic entanglements ensue (what do you expect, it’s a French film).
The Buzz: On first glance, this would seem to be from the same Gallic kitchen that baked that other “delightful” and whimsical French confection, Amelie. Unlike the other film however, this one moves to much more outré territory, complete with surrealistic animation and so-schmaltzy-it’s-hip soundtrack. As the protagonists move into adulthood, the film becomes disturbingly dark, and acquires a natural edge that was so carefully buffed out of Amelie. Unfortunately though, once the film goes down this route, it becomes increasingly challenging to stay attached to any of the characters, whose irredeemable selfishness becomes a tad too heavy-handed. Canet is too blandly wholesome as Julien t be really effective, while the lovely Cotillard manages to infuse some humanity and verve into the proceedings (Hollywood casting agents – take note!). While the film never lives up to its initial promise, it is still an energetic, all-encompassing, and yes, I shall dare say it, life-affirming look at the most vexing emotion of them all: L-O-V-E. Good for Cotillard man, good for her.
Bottom Line: DVD
Stateside
Directed by: Reverge Anselmo
Starring: Mark Deloach, Val Kilmer, Rachael Leigh Cook, Carrie Fisher, Joe Mantegna, Ed Begley Jr.
Plot: A young marine becomes increasingly unhinged as his relationship with a schizophrenic pop singer spirals out of control. I-couldn’t-make-this-up-if-I-tried entanglements ensue.
The Buzz: This too-precious, uninvolving film is a chore to sit through, so don’t (yes, I said chore – clichés are flying all over the place). You know what the worst kind of film is? The kind that’s completely in love with its own alleged cleverness. Sufficeth to say (and yes, I did say, sufficeth), this one’s a loser. And of course, you know what I am going to say next, but I am going to go ahead and say it anyway – apart from the always reliable Mantegna, the person who manages to rise above the rubble and shine like the underappreciated star that he is, is none other than Kilmer. Good for you ice man, good for you.
Bottom Line: Pass
DVD to Watch (releasing May 25th)
Bubba Ho-Tep
Directed by: Don Coscarelli
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis
Plot: Elvis Presley (Campbell) and President John F. Kennedy (Davis – yes kids, it seems that JFK had to surgically change his race after his, apparently, failed assassination attempt) are not dead. No, they are actually living in a nursing home, and battling an ancient evil. Sweet-sweet-Bruce-Campbell-campy-B-movie complications ensue.
The Buzz: Yeah, okay, so the film does not go much beyond its incredible premise. But come on man, you know you want to see Campbell as an elderly Elvis, and Davis as an undead JFK, battle an ancient mummy in an old age home. I know I want to. Yes, it is a pity that Campbell was never given a chance to expand beyond his seminal role as Ash in the Evil Dead series (I hope Sam Raimi has him do another cameo in Spider-Man 2 – can’t wait!), but kudos to him for keeping on plugging along. Davis, as incredible a dramatic actor as there is, shows a nimble touch with the material, superbly playing JFK. Campbell, however, manages to go beyond the material, layering his performance with a hint of, dare I say it, poignancy, that is, well, unexpected, and extremely welcome. Good for you Ash, I mean Bruce, good for you man.
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Goodnight Tony Randall
Gremlins 2 (No, don’t laugh, I’m serious. The great Tony Randall may forever be tied to his immortal portrayal of Felix Unger on TV’s The Odd Couple, but the multi-talented actor was so much more than that. His incredible voice work on this seriously underrated sequel – hey it’s better than the first, that’s very, very rare – is a made up of a dizzying slew of non sequiturs, one liners, and just plain dumb jokes. It also predated the voice work done by actors such as Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy and Tim Allen, thereby proving that Tony was a man way ahead of his time. His ironic, twinkling portrayals as the best friend in all those Rock Hudson-Doris Day comedies are some of the best comedic performance every put on film. Even his small cameo in the homage Down with Love was a burst of energy, and I wish the film had managed to sustain his wily joi-de-vivre the whole time. So, take my lead, put Lover Come Back and Pillow Talk at top of your Netflix queue, wait 3-5 days for them to arrive, grab a bottle of champagne – or in my case, sparkling cider; there is no place for alcohol in the South Beach diet – and make a toast for dear old Tony. Goodnight Tony Randall, and Godspeed.)
“Everyone thinks I'm a hypochondriac. It makes me sick.” – Tony Randall as Felix Unger
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Super Size Me
Troy
Shaolin Soccer
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
Dawn of the Dead
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Starsky and Hutch
Ripley’s Game *
Hellboy
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
May 21st, 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Yuva (Youth)
Directed by: Mani Ratnam
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan, Om Puri
Plot: Three young men struggle to find a niche for themselves in modern day Calcutta, er Kolkata (yay! – about the setting, not the new name). Societal entanglements ensue.
The Buzz: I know this term gets bandied around a lot, but Ratnam truly is one of the too-few visionaries of Indian cinema. Unfortunately, he hasn’t met with much success in Hindi, so he usually sticks to his native Tamil (occasionally dubbing these films, or remaking them in Bollywood). So, any film from him is usually a cause for celebration. This one is worth it. More in the vein of the Latin social-realism films that seem to have exploded on to scene that a true Bollywood melodrama, Ratnam expertly creates the overwhelming milieu that is life in my beloved Calcutta/Kolkata. Each character is sharply drawn, and their struggles are absorbing to watch. Of course, the romantic subplots drag the film down, but luckily, not by much. The great, great Puri is in fine form here as a corrupt policeman, but the truly surprising element here is Bachchan the Younger’s performance. I’ve never been much of a fan (though you have to admire his chutzpah in trying to follow in his father’s rather large footsteps) but it seems he is steadily becoming a fine actor himself. His searing portrayal as the thug of the trio is the bolt of energy that drives the film, and has many comparing him favorably to his father’s early turns as the Angry Young Man. Good for him man, good for him.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few close to Artesia and Jackson Heights: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
One to Watch - Vietnam
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine
Directed by: Rithy Panh
Starring: Vann Nath, Chum Mey, Him Houy
Plot: A documentary about an artist (Vann Nath) imprisoned during the Khmer Rouge’s reign in Cambodia, and his return to confront the guards who tortured him (no wisecracks here).
The Buzz: A touching, affecting documentary that wisely lets the situation doing the heavy lifting. The lack of any cheap sentimentality brings the tense, complex situation into bright focus, allowing the audience to digest it at their own pace. And just when you think you have a handle on the film, it unflinchingly explores the lives of the guards at the prison, without condemning them beforehand. Extremely disturbing in its depiction of the almost banal existence of the oppressors and oppressed, the film explores the concept of evil in frighteningly individualistic terms. No longer abstract, nor clearly demarcated, this contributes to film that once watched, will not likely be forgotten.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Opening May 19th
Shrek 2
Directed by: Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Saunders, Rupert Everett
Plot: The lovable ogre has to deal with trying to please his wife’s in-laws. Snarky-but-still-wholesome-Pixar-lite entanglements ensure.
The Buzz: Look, I know you guys enjoyed the first one. It was the proverbial breath of fresh air that blew through the Disney-fied world of animation. Snide, self-aware, mocking and really quite funny, the original provided the spark for DreamWorks that had been missing for so long. There were many instantly quotable scenes (I’m talking to you Torture of the Gingerbread Man), and Murphy’s hyperactive turn as the faithful sidekick Donkey managed to draw the attention away from an uninspired, mostly episodic narrative. The sequel is more of the same – the problem with more-of-the-same is that ultimately it does not add up to much. Luckily, the whole endeavor is buoyed by a terrifically campy performance by Banderas as that lethal hitman Puss in Boots, the why-won’t-Hollywood-please-decide-what-it-wants-to-do-with-him Everett as the surfer-dude-by-way-of-Cambridge Prince Charming, and finally, the wickedly scabrous Saunders as the Fairy Godmother who may not be as kindly as she seems (I wish they had cast Joanna Lumley in a small part – after all, what is Eddy without a little Patsy). Good for them man, good for them.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: DVD
New Movies
Control Room
Directed by: Jehane Noujaim
Starring: Tom Mintier, Sameer Khader, Lt. Josh Rushing
Plot: An incredible documentary that exposes the chaos inside the infamous Al-Jazeera during Gulf War II: The Wrath of the Son. Many human-rights-abuse entanglements ensue.
The Buzz: I don’t think most of us realize how circumspect the coverage here in the US has been. This film shows us everything, warts and all. What could have been a by-the-numbers, sensationalistic look at an incendiary subject, instead becomes a complex, thought-provoking look at the difference between Western and Arab journalists, as well as the ever-existing tension between journalists in general and the military. Even-handed and absorbing, the documentary coolly presents images that were never shown on American television, carefully avoiding the drum roll of lurid melodrama that accompanies American telecasts. This view from the trenches is an especially disturbing one, and something tells me that it is not going to be widely seen in the nation’s theaters. Which, given the state of paranoia gripping the media here, is not surprising. Too bad man, too d**n bad.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in Manhattan: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
Love Me if You Dare
Directed by: Yann Samuell
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Guillaume Canet, Thibault Verhaeghe, Josephine Lebas Joly
Plot: Two lifelong friends engage in game of increasingly dangerous pranks. Surreal, unrequited romantic entanglements ensue (what do you expect, it’s a French film).
The Buzz: On first glance, this would seem to be from the same Gallic kitchen that baked that other “delightful” and whimsical French confection, Amelie. Unlike the other film however, this one moves to much more outré territory, complete with surrealistic animation and so-schmaltzy-it’s-hip soundtrack. As the protagonists move into adulthood, the film becomes disturbingly dark, and acquires a natural edge that was so carefully buffed out of Amelie. Unfortunately though, once the film goes down this route, it becomes increasingly challenging to stay attached to any of the characters, whose irredeemable selfishness becomes a tad too heavy-handed. Canet is too blandly wholesome as Julien t be really effective, while the lovely Cotillard manages to infuse some humanity and verve into the proceedings (Hollywood casting agents – take note!). While the film never lives up to its initial promise, it is still an energetic, all-encompassing, and yes, I shall dare say it, life-affirming look at the most vexing emotion of them all: L-O-V-E. Good for Cotillard man, good for her.
Bottom Line: DVD
Stateside
Directed by: Reverge Anselmo
Starring: Mark Deloach, Val Kilmer, Rachael Leigh Cook, Carrie Fisher, Joe Mantegna, Ed Begley Jr.
Plot: A young marine becomes increasingly unhinged as his relationship with a schizophrenic pop singer spirals out of control. I-couldn’t-make-this-up-if-I-tried entanglements ensue.
The Buzz: This too-precious, uninvolving film is a chore to sit through, so don’t (yes, I said chore – clichés are flying all over the place). You know what the worst kind of film is? The kind that’s completely in love with its own alleged cleverness. Sufficeth to say (and yes, I did say, sufficeth), this one’s a loser. And of course, you know what I am going to say next, but I am going to go ahead and say it anyway – apart from the always reliable Mantegna, the person who manages to rise above the rubble and shine like the underappreciated star that he is, is none other than Kilmer. Good for you ice man, good for you.
Bottom Line: Pass
DVD to Watch (releasing May 25th)
Bubba Ho-Tep
Directed by: Don Coscarelli
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis
Plot: Elvis Presley (Campbell) and President John F. Kennedy (Davis – yes kids, it seems that JFK had to surgically change his race after his, apparently, failed assassination attempt) are not dead. No, they are actually living in a nursing home, and battling an ancient evil. Sweet-sweet-Bruce-Campbell-campy-B-movie complications ensue.
The Buzz: Yeah, okay, so the film does not go much beyond its incredible premise. But come on man, you know you want to see Campbell as an elderly Elvis, and Davis as an undead JFK, battle an ancient mummy in an old age home. I know I want to. Yes, it is a pity that Campbell was never given a chance to expand beyond his seminal role as Ash in the Evil Dead series (I hope Sam Raimi has him do another cameo in Spider-Man 2 – can’t wait!), but kudos to him for keeping on plugging along. Davis, as incredible a dramatic actor as there is, shows a nimble touch with the material, superbly playing JFK. Campbell, however, manages to go beyond the material, layering his performance with a hint of, dare I say it, poignancy, that is, well, unexpected, and extremely welcome. Good for you Ash, I mean Bruce, good for you man.
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
Goodnight Tony Randall
Gremlins 2 (No, don’t laugh, I’m serious. The great Tony Randall may forever be tied to his immortal portrayal of Felix Unger on TV’s The Odd Couple, but the multi-talented actor was so much more than that. His incredible voice work on this seriously underrated sequel – hey it’s better than the first, that’s very, very rare – is a made up of a dizzying slew of non sequiturs, one liners, and just plain dumb jokes. It also predated the voice work done by actors such as Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy and Tim Allen, thereby proving that Tony was a man way ahead of his time. His ironic, twinkling portrayals as the best friend in all those Rock Hudson-Doris Day comedies are some of the best comedic performance every put on film. Even his small cameo in the homage Down with Love was a burst of energy, and I wish the film had managed to sustain his wily joi-de-vivre the whole time. So, take my lead, put Lover Come Back and Pillow Talk at top of your Netflix queue, wait 3-5 days for them to arrive, grab a bottle of champagne – or in my case, sparkling cider; there is no place for alcohol in the South Beach diet – and make a toast for dear old Tony. Goodnight Tony Randall, and Godspeed.)
“Everyone thinks I'm a hypochondriac. It makes me sick.” – Tony Randall as Felix Unger
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Super Size Me
Troy
Shaolin Soccer
Man on Fire
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
Dawn of the Dead
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Starsky and Hutch
Ripley’s Game *
Hellboy
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
The basu! Guide to the Movies
May 14th, 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Kal Ho Naa Ho (Tomorrow May Never Come)
Directed by: Nikhil Advani
Starring: Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Rajpal Yadav, Sonali Bendre
Plot: Pretty, studious New Yorker (!) Naina Kapur (Zinta) is best friends with Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan). However, she falls in love with the mysterious Aman Mathur (Shah Rukh Khan).Unfortunately, since Aman is unable to give her what she needs, he convinces Rohit that he loves Naina; and then tries to get Naina to fall in love with Rohit by making him pretend he hates her. Look, just be sure to know that many melodramatic complications ensue.
The Buzz: I cannot stand Shah Rukh Khan. Hate that guy. Yet, it had been a while since I’d seen my grandmother, so the least I could do was to take her to watch this film. Adding to my hesitation was the name Karan Johar on the poster – this literally sent shivers down my spine. Boy was I relieved to learn that the idiot was only the producer and had wisely left directing duties to first-timer Advani. And then the film started; and right from the snazzy opening credit sequence (done by our very own desi Tata XLSI – who knew?) I was hooked. Yes, it was a little disconcerting to see a Bollywood film set entirely in New York; have my mother keep pointing out every single place where she had had lunch; and then seeing the normally insufferable Zinta jog from Manhattan to Queens without breaking a sweat on her pretty little head. Nonetheless, the film starts with such panache, and handles the comedy so well, that I could not believe I was watching something from the house of Johar. Witty set-pieces, funny little asides, snappy camerawork, great chemistry within the ensemble – it all works. That is until Shah Rukh Khan shows up, and well, sure enough, it goes downhill fast. The great Bachchan (Jaya not Amitabh) is wonderful, as is most of the supporting cast. Saif Ali Khan has really blossomed into a fine actor after Dil Chahta Hai (What the Heart Wants), and he really holds his own against his more famous namesake. Yadav, though, steals the whole dang show in a single hilarious scene. And it’s a pity when he shows up briefly in the second half of the film – this little glimpse is so expertly handled, that it only serves to show how badly the film has devolved at that point. My advice: watch the first hour and then listen to the CD at home. Now, if only I my cardiologist looked like Bendre…
Bottom Line: DVD
One to Watch - Brazil
Carandiru
Directed by: Hector Babenco
Starring: Enrique Díaz, Wagner Moura, Caio Blat
Plot: Unsavory behavior threatens to destabilize one of the world’s most notorious prisons. Election-year complications ensue…oh wait, that’s another prison. Never mind.
The Buzz: Incredible, just incredible. Brazil is working hard to atone for the sins of having tripe like Blame it on Rio and Wild Orchid filmed there. Babenco’s (proving that, 19 years after Kiss of the Spider Woman, he still has it) passionate, troubling film takes a hold from the very first frame and does not let you go. The latest in the long line of South American social realism film, this one is set apart with the clear-eyed depiction of the underclass inhabiting the prison, and its unflinching depiction of the violence that erupts swiftly and suddenly. Like most South American films, it wears its heart on its sleeve, and the melodramatic handling of the burgeoning relationships within the film threatens the viewer’s patience. Babenco teeters on the precipice, working hard to keep all the balls in the air, and this effort is very much apparent (in sharp contrast to the blithe slickness of last year’s City of God). The whole enterprise comes to a bloody and inevitable climax that is definitely not for the squeamish. Ultimately though, if you are willing to suspend your resistance, you come away transformed from an incredible movie-going experience.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in New York and Los Angeles: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
New Movies
Troy
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bean, Peter O’Toole, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Diane Kruger
Plot: A small town in upstate New York is shaken to the core when…no, I keed, I keed. You know the story: beautiful queen runs away with a handsome prince; launches a thousand (and then some, judging by the trailer) ships; a battle to end all battles; and finally, an adjective that will either always be associated with USC or, you know…Anyway, epic complications ensue.
The Buzz: Ladies (and certain gentlemen), start your engines, here comes Brad! Impossibly chiseled, gorgeously backlight, Pitt’s sheer physical beauty eclipses almost everything else the second he steps on screen. Unfortunately, the spell is broken the instant he opens his mouth and has to, you know, act. Luckily, he is aided in this endeavor by a veritable who’s who of great British actors, as well as the effortless machismo of Bana (Bruce Banner in Hulk, a noble failure if there ever was one…but that, as you know if you had read my Oscar Guide, is a story for another day). The action scenes are expertly directed by Petersen, but the computer generated imagery does become a little irritating. Kruger, unfortunately, does not fare as well as the legendary Helen; and her puppy-love romance with the wimpy Paris (Bloom – overshadowed yet again) is painful to watch. The final hand-to-hand combat between Achilles and Hector is a cinematic achievement in and of itself, and could be one that stands the test of time…which, considering that this story is already 3000 years old, may not be that hard. Of course, it is the legendary O’Toole who steals the entire film. O’Toole knows a thing or two about true epics, and he rises to the occasion superbly. His scene at the end provides the only real emotional resonance in the film and proves once again that while some stars are ordained by the press and myopic Hollywood execs (e.g. Pitt) the true ones like O’Toole rise to the occasion and uh, shine forever.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: Theatres - eventually
Breakin’ All the Rules
Directed by: Daniel Taplitz
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union
Plot: After being dumped, Quincy Watson (Jamie Gotta-Fire-My-Agent Foxx) writes a how-to manual on breaking up, which becomes a surprise bestseller. Unfortunately, he falls in love, and cannot follow his own rules. Romantic complications ensue.
The Buzz: Okay, so romantic comedies are not meant to be innovative, and this one certainly does not break that mold. However, it does have a certain easy charm, due mostly to the expert performances from the leads. Union (one of the very few recurring minority characters on the dearly departed Friends) makes the most of her wafer-thin role. Chestnut has always been a fine leading man stuck in thankless roles in thankless movies, and just like before, he rises above the fray. Most of the time I would be complaining about how he completely overshadows the leading man, but here the leading man is Foxx, and ain’t nobody overshadowing Foxx. Displaying all the loose, combustible charisma that really should have made him a star by now, Foxx holds this thing together. He shades his performance with more complexity than one has any right to expect. Luckily, he holds center stage with Tom Cruise later in the summer with Michael Mann’s Collateral, so maybe he shouldn’t fire that agent just as yet.
Bottom Line: Me: DVD; Other, more sensible people: Pass
Coffee and Cigarettes
Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Bill Murray, Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni, RZA, Cate Blanchett, Steve Buscemi, Alfred Molina
Plot: Ten short films that explore our fascination with the most favorite of American addictions. Gastronomic complications ensue.
The Buzz: 17 years in the making, this ambitious film from the uber-cool Jarmusch plays like a really good student film – one that actually works. All the actors play variations of their own bad selves, riffing like jazz musicians on a number of subjects, all the while imbibing nicotine and caffeine (or in the cases of the Wu-Tang’s RZA and GZA, decaffeinated herbal teas). The vignettes play fast and loose, and while they ultimately do not add up to all that much, it’s a pleasure just to sit and let it all wash all over you. In a summer that is going to be filled with movies jumping over backwards to win your approval (and hard-earned cash-money), it’s refreshing to see one that challenges you with its self-satisfaction and emotional indolence.
Bottom Line: Those in New York and Los Angeles: Theatres – Eventually; Others: DVD
With all Deliberate Speed
Directed b y: Peter Gilbert
Starring: Vernon Jordan, Thurgood Marshall Jr.
Plot: A documentary that looks at the seminal decision to abolish segregation in public schools. Racial confusion ensues.
The Buzz: Fifty years later, and one could make the very strong argument that nothing has changed. And this is where Gilbert’s film flounders – caught between celebrating history and criticizing the present, it never finds a graceful link between these polarizing elements. However, this elegant, timely film is an important reminder that very little progress has been made in the last half-century. Some surprising details about the case are revealed, and the depiction of its incredible consequences is clear-headed and startling. After all these years, the wounds are still raw, and it is good to be reminded about how far we still have to go.
Bottom Line: Those socially-conscious types: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
DVD to Watch (releasing May 18th)
Miracle
Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
Starring: Kurt Russell, (Oscar nominee) Patricia Clarkson, and a cast of young unknowns
Plot: Pratik manages to hang on in Corporate America for more than five months…No, no. Apparently this film dramatizes the greatest moment in all of sports history. No complications ensue, none – this was the greatest feel-good moment in all of history.
The Buzz: For those unfortunate to have been born outside of the United States, let me qualify this by calling it the greatest moment in American sports history. A bunch of misfit underdogs (are there ever any other kind) come together to upset the heavily-favored behemoth that was the Soviet (ice) hockey team at the 1980 winter Olympics. [Truth be told, this was one of those rare occasions when sports did transcend the playing field (or in this case, the ice hockey rink) and manage to soothe a nation battered by oil shortages, the Iran hostage situation, bad economy, and the downward spiral of the Cold War.] Luckily, Disney went and got themselves a smart, indie director in O’Connor (the lovely Tumbleweeds) who keeps the schmaltz in check as much as he can. Clarkson, fresh off her Oscar nomination for Pieces of April does what she can with her unrewarding role, and the young men who make up the hockey team (a lot of them non-professional actors) are real fun to watch. Of course, it is the terminally under-appreciated, underrated Russell who makes the film worth watching. He gives a real edge to the character, taking him out of the stock, gruff-but-loveable coach that we have seen so often. So, I will be out there with the rest of the guys, cheering my little Indian head off, and then crying like a little girl when Al Michaels makes his immortal call: “Do you believe in miracles?” Yes I do Al, yes I do. I still have a job.
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
CGI Overload
Van Helsing (Oh man, Hugh, please, please, promise never to do this again. I beg you, Hugh, never again!)
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Super Size Me
Shaolin Soccer
Man on Fire
Hellboy
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
Dawn of the Dead
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Starsky and Hutch
Ripley’s Game *
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
May 14th, 2004
One to Watch - Bollywood
Kal Ho Naa Ho (Tomorrow May Never Come)
Directed by: Nikhil Advani
Starring: Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Rajpal Yadav, Sonali Bendre
Plot: Pretty, studious New Yorker (!) Naina Kapur (Zinta) is best friends with Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan). However, she falls in love with the mysterious Aman Mathur (Shah Rukh Khan).Unfortunately, since Aman is unable to give her what she needs, he convinces Rohit that he loves Naina; and then tries to get Naina to fall in love with Rohit by making him pretend he hates her. Look, just be sure to know that many melodramatic complications ensue.
The Buzz: I cannot stand Shah Rukh Khan. Hate that guy. Yet, it had been a while since I’d seen my grandmother, so the least I could do was to take her to watch this film. Adding to my hesitation was the name Karan Johar on the poster – this literally sent shivers down my spine. Boy was I relieved to learn that the idiot was only the producer and had wisely left directing duties to first-timer Advani. And then the film started; and right from the snazzy opening credit sequence (done by our very own desi Tata XLSI – who knew?) I was hooked. Yes, it was a little disconcerting to see a Bollywood film set entirely in New York; have my mother keep pointing out every single place where she had had lunch; and then seeing the normally insufferable Zinta jog from Manhattan to Queens without breaking a sweat on her pretty little head. Nonetheless, the film starts with such panache, and handles the comedy so well, that I could not believe I was watching something from the house of Johar. Witty set-pieces, funny little asides, snappy camerawork, great chemistry within the ensemble – it all works. That is until Shah Rukh Khan shows up, and well, sure enough, it goes downhill fast. The great Bachchan (Jaya not Amitabh) is wonderful, as is most of the supporting cast. Saif Ali Khan has really blossomed into a fine actor after Dil Chahta Hai (What the Heart Wants), and he really holds his own against his more famous namesake. Yadav, though, steals the whole dang show in a single hilarious scene. And it’s a pity when he shows up briefly in the second half of the film – this little glimpse is so expertly handled, that it only serves to show how badly the film has devolved at that point. My advice: watch the first hour and then listen to the CD at home. Now, if only I my cardiologist looked like Bendre…
Bottom Line: DVD
One to Watch - Brazil
Carandiru
Directed by: Hector Babenco
Starring: Enrique Díaz, Wagner Moura, Caio Blat
Plot: Unsavory behavior threatens to destabilize one of the world’s most notorious prisons. Election-year complications ensue…oh wait, that’s another prison. Never mind.
The Buzz: Incredible, just incredible. Brazil is working hard to atone for the sins of having tripe like Blame it on Rio and Wild Orchid filmed there. Babenco’s (proving that, 19 years after Kiss of the Spider Woman, he still has it) passionate, troubling film takes a hold from the very first frame and does not let you go. The latest in the long line of South American social realism film, this one is set apart with the clear-eyed depiction of the underclass inhabiting the prison, and its unflinching depiction of the violence that erupts swiftly and suddenly. Like most South American films, it wears its heart on its sleeve, and the melodramatic handling of the burgeoning relationships within the film threatens the viewer’s patience. Babenco teeters on the precipice, working hard to keep all the balls in the air, and this effort is very much apparent (in sharp contrast to the blithe slickness of last year’s City of God). The whole enterprise comes to a bloody and inevitable climax that is definitely not for the squeamish. Ultimately though, if you are willing to suspend your resistance, you come away transformed from an incredible movie-going experience.
Bottom Line: Those lucky few in New York and Los Angeles: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
New Movies
Troy
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bean, Peter O’Toole, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Diane Kruger
Plot: A small town in upstate New York is shaken to the core when…no, I keed, I keed. You know the story: beautiful queen runs away with a handsome prince; launches a thousand (and then some, judging by the trailer) ships; a battle to end all battles; and finally, an adjective that will either always be associated with USC or, you know…Anyway, epic complications ensue.
The Buzz: Ladies (and certain gentlemen), start your engines, here comes Brad! Impossibly chiseled, gorgeously backlight, Pitt’s sheer physical beauty eclipses almost everything else the second he steps on screen. Unfortunately, the spell is broken the instant he opens his mouth and has to, you know, act. Luckily, he is aided in this endeavor by a veritable who’s who of great British actors, as well as the effortless machismo of Bana (Bruce Banner in Hulk, a noble failure if there ever was one…but that, as you know if you had read my Oscar Guide, is a story for another day). The action scenes are expertly directed by Petersen, but the computer generated imagery does become a little irritating. Kruger, unfortunately, does not fare as well as the legendary Helen; and her puppy-love romance with the wimpy Paris (Bloom – overshadowed yet again) is painful to watch. The final hand-to-hand combat between Achilles and Hector is a cinematic achievement in and of itself, and could be one that stands the test of time…which, considering that this story is already 3000 years old, may not be that hard. Of course, it is the legendary O’Toole who steals the entire film. O’Toole knows a thing or two about true epics, and he rises to the occasion superbly. His scene at the end provides the only real emotional resonance in the film and proves once again that while some stars are ordained by the press and myopic Hollywood execs (e.g. Pitt) the true ones like O’Toole rise to the occasion and uh, shine forever.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: Theatres - eventually
Breakin’ All the Rules
Directed by: Daniel Taplitz
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union
Plot: After being dumped, Quincy Watson (Jamie Gotta-Fire-My-Agent Foxx) writes a how-to manual on breaking up, which becomes a surprise bestseller. Unfortunately, he falls in love, and cannot follow his own rules. Romantic complications ensue.
The Buzz: Okay, so romantic comedies are not meant to be innovative, and this one certainly does not break that mold. However, it does have a certain easy charm, due mostly to the expert performances from the leads. Union (one of the very few recurring minority characters on the dearly departed Friends) makes the most of her wafer-thin role. Chestnut has always been a fine leading man stuck in thankless roles in thankless movies, and just like before, he rises above the fray. Most of the time I would be complaining about how he completely overshadows the leading man, but here the leading man is Foxx, and ain’t nobody overshadowing Foxx. Displaying all the loose, combustible charisma that really should have made him a star by now, Foxx holds this thing together. He shades his performance with more complexity than one has any right to expect. Luckily, he holds center stage with Tom Cruise later in the summer with Michael Mann’s Collateral, so maybe he shouldn’t fire that agent just as yet.
Bottom Line: Me: DVD; Other, more sensible people: Pass
Coffee and Cigarettes
Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Bill Murray, Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni, RZA, Cate Blanchett, Steve Buscemi, Alfred Molina
Plot: Ten short films that explore our fascination with the most favorite of American addictions. Gastronomic complications ensue.
The Buzz: 17 years in the making, this ambitious film from the uber-cool Jarmusch plays like a really good student film – one that actually works. All the actors play variations of their own bad selves, riffing like jazz musicians on a number of subjects, all the while imbibing nicotine and caffeine (or in the cases of the Wu-Tang’s RZA and GZA, decaffeinated herbal teas). The vignettes play fast and loose, and while they ultimately do not add up to all that much, it’s a pleasure just to sit and let it all wash all over you. In a summer that is going to be filled with movies jumping over backwards to win your approval (and hard-earned cash-money), it’s refreshing to see one that challenges you with its self-satisfaction and emotional indolence.
Bottom Line: Those in New York and Los Angeles: Theatres – Eventually; Others: DVD
With all Deliberate Speed
Directed b y: Peter Gilbert
Starring: Vernon Jordan, Thurgood Marshall Jr.
Plot: A documentary that looks at the seminal decision to abolish segregation in public schools. Racial confusion ensues.
The Buzz: Fifty years later, and one could make the very strong argument that nothing has changed. And this is where Gilbert’s film flounders – caught between celebrating history and criticizing the present, it never finds a graceful link between these polarizing elements. However, this elegant, timely film is an important reminder that very little progress has been made in the last half-century. Some surprising details about the case are revealed, and the depiction of its incredible consequences is clear-headed and startling. After all these years, the wounds are still raw, and it is good to be reminded about how far we still have to go.
Bottom Line: Those socially-conscious types: Theatres – First Week; Others: DVD
DVD to Watch (releasing May 18th)
Miracle
Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
Starring: Kurt Russell, (Oscar nominee) Patricia Clarkson, and a cast of young unknowns
Plot: Pratik manages to hang on in Corporate America for more than five months…No, no. Apparently this film dramatizes the greatest moment in all of sports history. No complications ensue, none – this was the greatest feel-good moment in all of history.
The Buzz: For those unfortunate to have been born outside of the United States, let me qualify this by calling it the greatest moment in American sports history. A bunch of misfit underdogs (are there ever any other kind) come together to upset the heavily-favored behemoth that was the Soviet (ice) hockey team at the 1980 winter Olympics. [Truth be told, this was one of those rare occasions when sports did transcend the playing field (or in this case, the ice hockey rink) and manage to soothe a nation battered by oil shortages, the Iran hostage situation, bad economy, and the downward spiral of the Cold War.] Luckily, Disney went and got themselves a smart, indie director in O’Connor (the lovely Tumbleweeds) who keeps the schmaltz in check as much as he can. Clarkson, fresh off her Oscar nomination for Pieces of April does what she can with her unrewarding role, and the young men who make up the hockey team (a lot of them non-professional actors) are real fun to watch. Of course, it is the terminally under-appreciated, underrated Russell who makes the film worth watching. He gives a real edge to the character, taking him out of the stock, gruff-but-loveable coach that we have seen so often. So, I will be out there with the rest of the guys, cheering my little Indian head off, and then crying like a little girl when Al Michaels makes his immortal call: “Do you believe in miracles?” Yes I do Al, yes I do. I still have a job.
Bottom Line: Uh, DVD
CGI Overload
Van Helsing (Oh man, Hugh, please, please, promise never to do this again. I beg you, Hugh, never again!)
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Super Size Me
Shaolin Soccer
Man on Fire
Hellboy
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
Dawn of the Dead
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (so far – as you can see, I haven’t had the time to watch even 10 Movies, For Shame basu!, For Shame)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Starsky and Hutch
Ripley’s Game *
* Of course, since this premiered on DVD, it will not be eligible for my year-end list.
The basu! Guide to the Movies
May 7th, 2004
One to Watch – Most Definitely
Super Size Me
Directed by: Morgan Spurlock
Starring: Morgan Spurlock
Plot: A documentary about a young man (director Spurlock) who decides to eat nothing but McDonald’s food for a month, and the devastating effects this has on his life. Culinary mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: Well on its way to cult status before it’s even opened, this documentary has been riding a wave of must-see buzz since it debuted at Sundance in January. Funny, irreverent and finally, disturbing, the documentary is more of an indictment of the rampant commercialization that has infiltrated almost every aspect of American society. Spurlock’s descent into depression, quasi-liver failure, and all-around hell is handled with the right balance of dark comedy and drama – with less of the hectoring that sometimes makes Michael Moore’s work unpalatable. The surprising thing is that there is some unexpected pathos here that comes from the kids struggling with their weight, and their dependence on McDonald’s.
Bottom Line: Theatres – First Week!
New Movies
Van Helsing
Directed by: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh
Plot: A mercenary (Jackman) is sent by a secret order of monks in the Catholic church to hunt down Dracula. Things became complicated when the Wolfman, Frankenstein and Mr. Hyde decide to crash the party. CGI mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: Sommers (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns) is not known for his subtlety, and you are certainly not going to get it here. After a while, you start to tune out the bombastic soundtrack, the frenetic editing and complete lack of character development, but by that point it is much too late – resistance, as they say, is futile. The usually reliable Beckinsale is saddled with a horrendous mountain of curls, and an even worse accent. Roxburgh plays Dracula with all the menace and none of the charm. However, it’s left to Jackman, one again, to bring a little dignity to the proceedings. Though he is not given any of the emotional baggage of Wolverine from the X-Men movies, Jackman still manages to make a dashing, charismatic, involving figure out of a wafer-thin character. Ultimately though, there is no use debating the merits of films like these – just switch the brain off, grab the popcorn, slather on the fake cancer-causing butter topping and enjoy the unique pleasures of the Summer Movie.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: DVD
New York Minute
Directed by: Dennie Gordon
Starring: Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Eugene Levy
Plot: Two separated-at-birth twins (waddya know, the Olsen’s) are reunited in New York while being chased by an especially dogged truant officer (an especially slumming Levy). Tweeny-bopper mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: Now that Rolling Stone has essentially given the world the go-ahead to ogle at these 17-year-old girls, the filmmakers make sure the Olsen’s are featured in various stages of undress during the film. Yes, I find this as disturbing as you; and no I will not be recommending this terrible, terrible film. I guess Eugene Levy has to eat like the rest of us, and hopefully the impending failure of the film will send the twins back to DVD land.
Bottom Line: Pass
Valentin
Directed by: Alejandro Agresti
Starring: Rodrigo Noya, Alejandro Agresti, Julieta Cardinali
Plot: A young boy in Argentina tries to bring happiness to the troubled adults around him. Emotional mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: This uncomplicated, earnest film fits squarely in the mold of the other feel-good foreign films that have come before it (Kolya). Sentimental and predictable as it may be, the film still manages to surprise – especially in the complex relationship between the boy and his cantankerous grandfather. So, if you are in the mood for a cutesy, uplifting little film that might put a smile on your lips for the rest of the day, then wait for this one to come out on DVD; make yourself a cup of tea; make sure the shortbread cookies are close at hand; and watch it with a loved one.
Bottom Line: DVD
Seeing Other People
Directed by: Wallace Wolodarsky
Starring: Jay Mohr, Julianne Nicholson, Andy Richter
Plot: A couple (Mohr and Nicholson) agree to have one last fling two months before their wedding. Relationship mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: With a cast as eclectic, and a premise as promising as this, you would expect something interesting from this film. Well, you would be wrong. Employing all the verve and wit of an ABC sitcom, the film glosses over the intricate complexities of married life, straining instead to attain a sense of hip detachment. Mohr and Richter somehow manage to rise above this tripe, and one can only wonder what Mohr’s career might have been had Picture Perfect (you know the one with Jennifer Aniston in her first big feature role after the launch of a certain sitcom) clicked with audiences. Too bad man, too d**n bad.
Bottom Line: Pass
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shaolin Soccer
Man on Fire
Hellboy
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
The Ladykillers
Dawn of the Dead
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (2003)
1. Capturing the Friedmans
2. American Splendor
3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
4. My Architect: A Son’s Journey
5. Tully
6. Monster
7. Lost in Translation
8. Swimming Pool
9. Whale Rider
10. Irreversible
May 7th, 2004
One to Watch – Most Definitely
Super Size Me
Directed by: Morgan Spurlock
Starring: Morgan Spurlock
Plot: A documentary about a young man (director Spurlock) who decides to eat nothing but McDonald’s food for a month, and the devastating effects this has on his life. Culinary mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: Well on its way to cult status before it’s even opened, this documentary has been riding a wave of must-see buzz since it debuted at Sundance in January. Funny, irreverent and finally, disturbing, the documentary is more of an indictment of the rampant commercialization that has infiltrated almost every aspect of American society. Spurlock’s descent into depression, quasi-liver failure, and all-around hell is handled with the right balance of dark comedy and drama – with less of the hectoring that sometimes makes Michael Moore’s work unpalatable. The surprising thing is that there is some unexpected pathos here that comes from the kids struggling with their weight, and their dependence on McDonald’s.
Bottom Line: Theatres – First Week!
New Movies
Van Helsing
Directed by: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh
Plot: A mercenary (Jackman) is sent by a secret order of monks in the Catholic church to hunt down Dracula. Things became complicated when the Wolfman, Frankenstein and Mr. Hyde decide to crash the party. CGI mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: Sommers (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns) is not known for his subtlety, and you are certainly not going to get it here. After a while, you start to tune out the bombastic soundtrack, the frenetic editing and complete lack of character development, but by that point it is much too late – resistance, as they say, is futile. The usually reliable Beckinsale is saddled with a horrendous mountain of curls, and an even worse accent. Roxburgh plays Dracula with all the menace and none of the charm. However, it’s left to Jackman, one again, to bring a little dignity to the proceedings. Though he is not given any of the emotional baggage of Wolverine from the X-Men movies, Jackman still manages to make a dashing, charismatic, involving figure out of a wafer-thin character. Ultimately though, there is no use debating the merits of films like these – just switch the brain off, grab the popcorn, slather on the fake cancer-causing butter topping and enjoy the unique pleasures of the Summer Movie.
Bottom Line: Me: Theatres – First Week; Other, more sensible people: DVD
New York Minute
Directed by: Dennie Gordon
Starring: Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Eugene Levy
Plot: Two separated-at-birth twins (waddya know, the Olsen’s) are reunited in New York while being chased by an especially dogged truant officer (an especially slumming Levy). Tweeny-bopper mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: Now that Rolling Stone has essentially given the world the go-ahead to ogle at these 17-year-old girls, the filmmakers make sure the Olsen’s are featured in various stages of undress during the film. Yes, I find this as disturbing as you; and no I will not be recommending this terrible, terrible film. I guess Eugene Levy has to eat like the rest of us, and hopefully the impending failure of the film will send the twins back to DVD land.
Bottom Line: Pass
Valentin
Directed by: Alejandro Agresti
Starring: Rodrigo Noya, Alejandro Agresti, Julieta Cardinali
Plot: A young boy in Argentina tries to bring happiness to the troubled adults around him. Emotional mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: This uncomplicated, earnest film fits squarely in the mold of the other feel-good foreign films that have come before it (Kolya). Sentimental and predictable as it may be, the film still manages to surprise – especially in the complex relationship between the boy and his cantankerous grandfather. So, if you are in the mood for a cutesy, uplifting little film that might put a smile on your lips for the rest of the day, then wait for this one to come out on DVD; make yourself a cup of tea; make sure the shortbread cookies are close at hand; and watch it with a loved one.
Bottom Line: DVD
Seeing Other People
Directed by: Wallace Wolodarsky
Starring: Jay Mohr, Julianne Nicholson, Andy Richter
Plot: A couple (Mohr and Nicholson) agree to have one last fling two months before their wedding. Relationship mayhem ensues.
The Buzz: With a cast as eclectic, and a premise as promising as this, you would expect something interesting from this film. Well, you would be wrong. Employing all the verve and wit of an ABC sitcom, the film glosses over the intricate complexities of married life, straining instead to attain a sense of hip detachment. Mohr and Richter somehow manage to rise above this tripe, and one can only wonder what Mohr’s career might have been had Picture Perfect (you know the one with Jennifer Aniston in her first big feature role after the launch of a certain sitcom) clicked with audiences. Too bad man, too d**n bad.
Bottom Line: Pass
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shaolin Soccer
Man on Fire
Hellboy
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
The Ladykillers
Dawn of the Dead
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (2003)
1. Capturing the Friedmans
2. American Splendor
3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
4. My Architect: A Son’s Journey
5. Tully
6. Monster
7. Lost in Translation
8. Swimming Pool
9. Whale Rider
10. Irreversible
The basu! Guide to the Movies
April 30th, 2004
New Movies
Mean Girls
Directed by: Mark S. Waters
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Lucy Chabert
Plot: The New Girl (Lohan) incurs the wrath of Regina (McAdams) when she falls for the latter’s ex-boyfriend. Cady then realizes that high school girls are not as nice as they seem.
The Buzz: Which, of course, is a lesson I could have easily told her myself. But then we wouldn’t have this intermittently funny smarter-than-your-average teen comedy from the scabrous pen of co-writer and co-star Fey. However, Fey’s background in sketch comedy does not ultimately translate to the big screen. Lohan and director Waters (Freaky Friday) continue their winning streak, and should be well on their way to good careers. Chabert (of the insufferable Party of Five) is the surprise here, giving a winning performance in what was probably a throw-away role. The film ultimately begins to come apart at the seams and lose structural coherence, and ends up being a collection of some witty one-liners, a few funny set pieces, and the final ground-breaking lesson that high school girls are…mean man, real mean.
Bottom Line: DVD
Laws of Attraction
Directed by: Peter Howitt
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey, Frances Fisher, Michael Sheen
Plot: Two opposing divorce lawyers, the raffish, charming Daniel (Brosnan), and the uptight Audra (Moore) fall for each other despite their in-court sparring.
The Buzz: Yes, it’s true, Moore can do comedy. And Brosnan continues to blossom into a fine leading man, proving that The Thomas Crown Affair was no fluke. Unfortunately, the film is not up to the level of the lead pair, and ultimately devolves into a pastiche of clichés and not quite high-enough hi-jinks. Fisher, and the ex-Mr. Kate Beckinsale Sheen give sparkling turns that, like the leads, deserve a better movie. Not quite Adam’s Rib, but there are worse ways you can spend a Friday night, when you are by yourself in your little studio…oh dear, I may have said too much.
Bottom Line: DVD
Godsend
Directed by: Nick Hamm
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
Plot: A seemingly benevolent doctor (DeNiro) offers to clone the recently departed son of a young couple (Kinnear and the ex-Mrs. John Stamos Rebecca Romijn). Things go horribly wrong, however, when their newly improved son proves to be evil…real evil, man.
The Buzz: After an intriguing start, which promises that the movie might transcend its obvious B-movie premise, the movie becomes exactly that: a B-grade thriller/horror film. DeNiro is terrible in role he has played many times before, and Romijn-Stamos cries effectively. Kinnear, meanwhile, turns in a strong, measured performance that points to better things ahead.
Bottom Line: Pass
Envy
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Rachel Weisz, Amy Poehler, Christopher Walken
Plot: When his best buddy Nick (Black) becomes an instant millionaire after inventing a spray that vaporizes dog-poo, Tim (Stiller) turns against him and tries to bring him down.
The Buzz: As the trailers and constantly changing release dates may have already indicated, this one is truly, truly awful. Hard to imagine that this is the same Levinson that directed Diner and Rain Man (among other greats). Stiller is in his patented Everyman mode here, and his distressed mug clearly shows that his agent had not listened to his instructions on avoiding “black” comedies. Black, however, is surprisingly effective as the oblivious object of envy; and Walken enlivens the proceedings (as he is so often wont to do) the moment he appears on screen.
Bottom Line: Pass
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
Directed by: Rowdy Herrington
Starring: James Caviezel, Claire Forlani, Jeremy Northam
Plot: The true life tale of one of the world’s greatest golfers, who wins the Grand Slam and retires at age 28 (then proceeds to set up the most famous golf club in the world, and makes sure that women and minorities are denied access…but that clearly is a story for another film).
The Buzz: This bland, uninteresting film is a must-have for putting (geddit – haw, haw) young ones to sleep. Stultifyingly reverent, it puts its hero on such a pedestal that it is impossible to have a real sense of him as a human being. Only Northam manages to inject some life into the film as the boozing, insouciant Walter Hagen. Interesting trivia: Bobby Jones earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech, another one from Harvard, and even passed the bar…smart man, real smart.
Bottom Line: Pass
The Saddest Music in the World
Directed by: Guy Maddin
Starring: Isabella Rossellini, Mark McKinney
Plot: Musicians from around the world gather to compete in a competition to find the, yup you guessed it, saddest music in the world.
The Buzz: A strange, quasi-musical based on novelist Kazuo Ishiguro’s original screenplay; it’s like nothing you will see in the cinemas this year. The plot is almost beside the point in a film that tries to blend together Charlie Chaplin comedies, 1950’s musicals, Busby Berkeley production numbers and melodrama into one hallucinatory package. Maddin is clearly carving out a career as one of the true visionaries of world cinema, and this film is an important step in the right direction. I would recommended you watch this in the theatres, but the release is so small that it’ll probably be easier just to wait for it on DVD – which is what I will do once I make it through the 419-odd movies on my Netflix queue.
Bottom Line: DVD
The First Great Film of 2004 or Beneath Every Enfant Terrible Video Director and Screenwriter Lives a Weepy Romantic Dying to Get Out
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shaolin Soccer
Man on Fire
Hellboy
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
The Ladykillers
Dawn of the Dead
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (2003)
1. Capturing the Friedmans
2. American Splendor
3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
4. My Architect: A Son’s Journey
5. Tully
6. Monster
7. Lost in Translation
8. Swimming Pool
9. Whale Rider
10. Irreversible
April 30th, 2004
New Movies
Mean Girls
Directed by: Mark S. Waters
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Lucy Chabert
Plot: The New Girl (Lohan) incurs the wrath of Regina (McAdams) when she falls for the latter’s ex-boyfriend. Cady then realizes that high school girls are not as nice as they seem.
The Buzz: Which, of course, is a lesson I could have easily told her myself. But then we wouldn’t have this intermittently funny smarter-than-your-average teen comedy from the scabrous pen of co-writer and co-star Fey. However, Fey’s background in sketch comedy does not ultimately translate to the big screen. Lohan and director Waters (Freaky Friday) continue their winning streak, and should be well on their way to good careers. Chabert (of the insufferable Party of Five) is the surprise here, giving a winning performance in what was probably a throw-away role. The film ultimately begins to come apart at the seams and lose structural coherence, and ends up being a collection of some witty one-liners, a few funny set pieces, and the final ground-breaking lesson that high school girls are…mean man, real mean.
Bottom Line: DVD
Laws of Attraction
Directed by: Peter Howitt
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey, Frances Fisher, Michael Sheen
Plot: Two opposing divorce lawyers, the raffish, charming Daniel (Brosnan), and the uptight Audra (Moore) fall for each other despite their in-court sparring.
The Buzz: Yes, it’s true, Moore can do comedy. And Brosnan continues to blossom into a fine leading man, proving that The Thomas Crown Affair was no fluke. Unfortunately, the film is not up to the level of the lead pair, and ultimately devolves into a pastiche of clichés and not quite high-enough hi-jinks. Fisher, and the ex-Mr. Kate Beckinsale Sheen give sparkling turns that, like the leads, deserve a better movie. Not quite Adam’s Rib, but there are worse ways you can spend a Friday night, when you are by yourself in your little studio…oh dear, I may have said too much.
Bottom Line: DVD
Godsend
Directed by: Nick Hamm
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
Plot: A seemingly benevolent doctor (DeNiro) offers to clone the recently departed son of a young couple (Kinnear and the ex-Mrs. John Stamos Rebecca Romijn). Things go horribly wrong, however, when their newly improved son proves to be evil…real evil, man.
The Buzz: After an intriguing start, which promises that the movie might transcend its obvious B-movie premise, the movie becomes exactly that: a B-grade thriller/horror film. DeNiro is terrible in role he has played many times before, and Romijn-Stamos cries effectively. Kinnear, meanwhile, turns in a strong, measured performance that points to better things ahead.
Bottom Line: Pass
Envy
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Rachel Weisz, Amy Poehler, Christopher Walken
Plot: When his best buddy Nick (Black) becomes an instant millionaire after inventing a spray that vaporizes dog-poo, Tim (Stiller) turns against him and tries to bring him down.
The Buzz: As the trailers and constantly changing release dates may have already indicated, this one is truly, truly awful. Hard to imagine that this is the same Levinson that directed Diner and Rain Man (among other greats). Stiller is in his patented Everyman mode here, and his distressed mug clearly shows that his agent had not listened to his instructions on avoiding “black” comedies. Black, however, is surprisingly effective as the oblivious object of envy; and Walken enlivens the proceedings (as he is so often wont to do) the moment he appears on screen.
Bottom Line: Pass
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
Directed by: Rowdy Herrington
Starring: James Caviezel, Claire Forlani, Jeremy Northam
Plot: The true life tale of one of the world’s greatest golfers, who wins the Grand Slam and retires at age 28 (then proceeds to set up the most famous golf club in the world, and makes sure that women and minorities are denied access…but that clearly is a story for another film).
The Buzz: This bland, uninteresting film is a must-have for putting (geddit – haw, haw) young ones to sleep. Stultifyingly reverent, it puts its hero on such a pedestal that it is impossible to have a real sense of him as a human being. Only Northam manages to inject some life into the film as the boozing, insouciant Walter Hagen. Interesting trivia: Bobby Jones earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech, another one from Harvard, and even passed the bar…smart man, real smart.
Bottom Line: Pass
The Saddest Music in the World
Directed by: Guy Maddin
Starring: Isabella Rossellini, Mark McKinney
Plot: Musicians from around the world gather to compete in a competition to find the, yup you guessed it, saddest music in the world.
The Buzz: A strange, quasi-musical based on novelist Kazuo Ishiguro’s original screenplay; it’s like nothing you will see in the cinemas this year. The plot is almost beside the point in a film that tries to blend together Charlie Chaplin comedies, 1950’s musicals, Busby Berkeley production numbers and melodrama into one hallucinatory package. Maddin is clearly carving out a career as one of the true visionaries of world cinema, and this film is an important step in the right direction. I would recommended you watch this in the theatres, but the release is so small that it’ll probably be easier just to wait for it on DVD – which is what I will do once I make it through the 419-odd movies on my Netflix queue.
Bottom Line: DVD
The First Great Film of 2004 or Beneath Every Enfant Terrible Video Director and Screenwriter Lives a Weepy Romantic Dying to Get Out
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Shaolin Soccer
Man on Fire
Hellboy
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
The Ladykillers
Dawn of the Dead
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (2003)
1. Capturing the Friedmans
2. American Splendor
3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
4. My Architect: A Son’s Journey
5. Tully
6. Monster
7. Lost in Translation
8. Swimming Pool
9. Whale Rider
10. Irreversible
The basu! Guide to the Movies
April 23rd, 2004
One to Watch
Ripley’s Game
Directed by: Liliana Cavani
Starring: John Malkovich, Ray Winstone, Dougray Scott
Plot: A sociopath convinces his friend to convince another man to kill an associate of the sociopath’s friend. And no, I’m not quite sure what this means either, but trust me, you won’t need to.
The Buzz: A movie so good, so well-reviewed that it wasn’t even released in theaters. Ah, welcome to Hollywood; a land where a CGI-dog and his nitwit Teen Scream friends get the full court press while one of the best movies of the year slinks straight to DVD. Winstone (unrecognizable, but brilliant in Cold Mountain) is great as the thuggish, not-too-bright best friend, the cinematography is first-rate and Porter proves that there is life after all for a female director after 35 (clearly evidenced by her economical, confident handling of the film). But the main attraction here is Malkovich, in a role he was, quite simply, born to play. As the titular Ripley he oozes the languid menace, quick-silver charm and elegant manipulation so very absent from Matt Damon’s portrayal in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Yes the film is too long, and yes, the third act is horrid; but there are few things in this world that are as satisfying as watching that thin smile spread across Malkovich’s lips, like a snake slowly baring its fangs, when he realizes that the victim is completely, and utterly, his.
Bottom Line: DVD (which is a pity)
New Movies
Man on Fire
Directed by: Tony Scott
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini
Plot: A bodyguard is forced to take matters into his own hands when his charge, the young daughter of a Mexican industrialist, is kidnapped.
The Buzz: Oh yeah! Denzel once again indulges his dark side; and once again his director is up to the task. Scott’s films have always been accused of being long on style and short on…well you know. And this one is no different. Scott, however, has matured; and this shows through not only in the performances from the excellent cast (especially Fanning, Walken and Giannini), but also in the tender relationship that develops between Washington and Fanning. The film is a little long, and at times too over wrought; but it is so much better than all the other actioners out there (I am talking to you The Punisher), and is always so fun to watch, that I can’t wait.
Bottom Line: Theatre, First week
13 Going on 30
Directed by: Gary Winick
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer
Plot: A 13-year-old girl makes a wish and, wouldn’t you believe it, wakes up the next morning to find that she’s become Jennifer Garner. Lucky girl!
The Buzz: Yes, I know, a distaff, gender-reversal of Big. And yes, it is derivative, mostly unoriginal, and you can see it all coming from a few miles away. Yet, this thing is directed with so much flair by former indie director Winick (late of the overrated Tadpole) and features such an effervescent lead performance from Garner (a real surprise here, a real surprise) that it begs your attention. With so many other truly awful, alleged romantic comedies out there (I’m talking to you Connie and Carla), take the time to spend some money on this one. And when you do, you’ll realize how beautiful and talented both Mark why-won’t-someone-please-make-him-a-star-already Ruffalo and Judy destined-for-second-banana-roles-unless-someone-breaks-the-mold Greer are. And that music you hear in the TV commercials? Well, it’s one of my all-time faves: Billy Idol’s “Dancing with Myself.” Oh yeah!
Bottom Line: Theatre, First week
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Hellboy
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
Ella Enchanted
The Ladykillers
Monsieur Ibrahim
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (2003)
1. Capturing the Friedmans
2. American Splendor
3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
4. My Architect: A Son’s Journey
5. Tully
6. Monster
7. Lost in Translation
8. Swimming Pool
9. Whale Rider
10. Irreversible
April 23rd, 2004
One to Watch
Ripley’s Game
Directed by: Liliana Cavani
Starring: John Malkovich, Ray Winstone, Dougray Scott
Plot: A sociopath convinces his friend to convince another man to kill an associate of the sociopath’s friend. And no, I’m not quite sure what this means either, but trust me, you won’t need to.
The Buzz: A movie so good, so well-reviewed that it wasn’t even released in theaters. Ah, welcome to Hollywood; a land where a CGI-dog and his nitwit Teen Scream friends get the full court press while one of the best movies of the year slinks straight to DVD. Winstone (unrecognizable, but brilliant in Cold Mountain) is great as the thuggish, not-too-bright best friend, the cinematography is first-rate and Porter proves that there is life after all for a female director after 35 (clearly evidenced by her economical, confident handling of the film). But the main attraction here is Malkovich, in a role he was, quite simply, born to play. As the titular Ripley he oozes the languid menace, quick-silver charm and elegant manipulation so very absent from Matt Damon’s portrayal in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Yes the film is too long, and yes, the third act is horrid; but there are few things in this world that are as satisfying as watching that thin smile spread across Malkovich’s lips, like a snake slowly baring its fangs, when he realizes that the victim is completely, and utterly, his.
Bottom Line: DVD (which is a pity)
New Movies
Man on Fire
Directed by: Tony Scott
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini
Plot: A bodyguard is forced to take matters into his own hands when his charge, the young daughter of a Mexican industrialist, is kidnapped.
The Buzz: Oh yeah! Denzel once again indulges his dark side; and once again his director is up to the task. Scott’s films have always been accused of being long on style and short on…well you know. And this one is no different. Scott, however, has matured; and this shows through not only in the performances from the excellent cast (especially Fanning, Walken and Giannini), but also in the tender relationship that develops between Washington and Fanning. The film is a little long, and at times too over wrought; but it is so much better than all the other actioners out there (I am talking to you The Punisher), and is always so fun to watch, that I can’t wait.
Bottom Line: Theatre, First week
13 Going on 30
Directed by: Gary Winick
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer
Plot: A 13-year-old girl makes a wish and, wouldn’t you believe it, wakes up the next morning to find that she’s become Jennifer Garner. Lucky girl!
The Buzz: Yes, I know, a distaff, gender-reversal of Big. And yes, it is derivative, mostly unoriginal, and you can see it all coming from a few miles away. Yet, this thing is directed with so much flair by former indie director Winick (late of the overrated Tadpole) and features such an effervescent lead performance from Garner (a real surprise here, a real surprise) that it begs your attention. With so many other truly awful, alleged romantic comedies out there (I’m talking to you Connie and Carla), take the time to spend some money on this one. And when you do, you’ll realize how beautiful and talented both Mark why-won’t-someone-please-make-him-a-star-already Ruffalo and Judy destined-for-second-banana-roles-unless-someone-breaks-the-mold Greer are. And that music you hear in the TV commercials? Well, it’s one of my all-time faves: Billy Idol’s “Dancing with Myself.” Oh yeah!
Bottom Line: Theatre, First week
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
Hellboy
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Dogville
Ella Enchanted
The Ladykillers
Monsieur Ibrahim
Young Adam
Top 10 Movies of the Year (2003)
1. Capturing the Friedmans
2. American Splendor
3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
4. My Architect: A Son’s Journey
5. Tully
6. Monster
7. Lost in Translation
8. Swimming Pool
9. Whale Rider
10. Irreversible
The basu! Guide to the Movies
February 27th – April 9th, 2004
Now Playing
Starsky & Hutch
Hidalgo
Secret Window
Spartan
March 19th
Taking Lives
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Dawn of the Dead
March 26th
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
The Ladykillers
Jersey Girl
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Never Die Alone
Ned Kelly
April 2nd
Hellboy
The Prince and Me
Home on the Range
The United States of Leland
Dogville
Walking Tall
April 9th
The Alamo
Johnson Family Vacation
The Girl Next Door
The Whole Ten Yards
I’m Not Scared
The Passion of the Christ
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Starring: James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci
Plot: A young Jewish man decides to stand up to his Roman rulers and the rest, as they most decidedly say, is history…
The Buzz: Oh boy! I cannot think of a movie in recent history that has inspired so much self-righteous anger/defense before it even opened. Oh wait, there was that little movie that Martin Scorsese made a few years ago about this very same subject… In any case, with rumblings of anti-Semitism surrounding the film almost from its very first day, it has been awash with the kind of free publicity that most other studios would kill for. Definitely one of the most anticipated movies of all time, this is going to be a huge event, and you might as well get on board for the ride.
Bottom Line: Theatre, First week
New Movies
Welcome to Mooseport
Directed by: Donald Petrie
Starring: Ray Romano, Gene Hackman, Maura Tierney
Plot: An ex-president runs against the local handyman in a small-town Mayoral race. Complicating matters is the fact that they are both in love with the same woman.
The Buzz: A slight, completely predictable comedy, the film coasts by largely on the performances of Hackman and the stellar supporting cast. Romano is probably wise to stick pretty closely to his popular sitcom persona. And, just like on his hit TV show, he leaves the heavy lifting to those that are more talented than him. Smart move, Ray, smart move.
Bottom Line: DVD
Against the Ropes
Directed by: Charles S. Dutton
Starring: Meg Ryan, Omar Epps, Tony Shalhoub, Charles S. Dutton
Plot: Based on a true story. A young woman finds herself way in over her head when she decides to become the first ever female boxing manager.
The Buzz: I can just see the pitch: “Hey, let’s take ‘Erin Brockovich’ and set in the world of boxing, instead of Julia we’ll get Meg Ryan and bam! Box-office gold baby, pure gold!” Unfortunately, this flat, hackneyed movie fails to excite any real rooting interest. Epps, Shalhoub and Dutton (ironic, since he directed the film) are all uniformly good, but Ryan struggles mightily. Dressed in tight blouses, talking in a dis-dem-dose Mid-west-by-way-of-Brooklyn accent, Ryan’s Jackie Kallen is a walking caricature who knows only two modes – annoyingly grating or melodramatically teary-eyed. This is too bad, since there really was a kernel of a good idea here.
Bottom Line: Pass
Eurotrip
Directed by: Jeff Schaffer
Starring: Scott Mechlowicz, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jacob Pitts
Plot: A young boy decides to set things right after blowing of his German e-mail pen-pal, and goes looking for her with his three friends.
The Buzz: As the advertising campaign so succinctly puts it: “No wonder they hate us.” This xenophobic, sexist comedy wears its incompetence on its sleeve, and is still painful to sit through. The film wallows in the worst stereotypes that the producers harbor about people that dare to live outside of this country. Possibly more troubling than this is the fact that the basic crux of most of the alleged comedic situations stem from a deep fear of homosexuality. This coupled with the endless shots of a then 17-year-old Trachtenberg in various stages of undress make it a particularly odious proposition. Don’t be fooled by the “From the producers of ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Old School’” tag line – to paraphrase another critic, those movies may have been dumb, but they certainly weren’t stupid.
Bottom Line: Pass
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Directed by: Sara Sugarman
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Adam Garcia, Glenne Headly
Plot: A young girl suddenly has to fight for her rightful place in the spotlight when her mother moves her form Greenwich Village to, horror of horrors, New Jersey.
The Buzz: The normally charming Lohan (who was absolutely sparkling in last year’s “Freaky Friday”) falls flat in this grating ode to conspicuous consumption. These movies aimed at the tween set are usually shallow showcases for their soon to be multi-hyphenate young stars (Hillary Duff, Amanda Bynes, et al), but every once in a while an intelligent, surprisingly well made film sneaks through (“The Princess Diaries” and “Freaky Friday”). This, unfortunately, is most definitely not one of them.
Bottom Line: Pass
Kitchen Stories
Directed by: Bent Hamer
Starring: Joachim Calmeyer, Tomas Norstrom
Plot: A Norwegian researcher decides to study the kitchen habits of an exceptionally eccentric Norwegian bachelor.
The Buzz: Not sure what happened, but we seem to be caught in the middle of a deadpan-Scandinavian-comedy renaissance (see last week’s “The Seagull’s Laughter”), and this is not a bad thing at all. A finely detailed little tone poem, this odd, extremely original, ingratiating film certainly puts American independent films to shame. Instead of following the patterns of all the other films out there, this one manages to surprise you at almost every turn. Since there is absolutely no hope of it playing down here in the OC, I’ll catch after I make it through the 315-odd films in my Netflix queue.
Bottom Line: New York and LA – Eventually; Everywhere else – DVD
Lost Boys of Sudan
Directed by: Megan Mylan and Jon Shenk
Starring: Peter Kon Dut, Santino Majok Chuor
Plot: This documentary follows the incredible journey taken by two Sudanese refugees from their homeland to the United States.
The Buzz: A sad, sad story about what the promise of America holds for those that dream of coming here, and what the reality turns out to be. The film delicately unfolds the story of these young men, who come carrying with them the hope and dreams of their families back home. What could have been a didactic, heavy handed treatise instead ends up being a bitter-sweet meditation on what is increasingly becoming a universal immigrant experience. Once again, this will never make it down here, so I guess I will have to wait for it on DVD; and I suspect that I might see it before I make it through the 316-odd films in my Netflix queue.
Bottom Line: New York and LA – Theatre, First Week; Everywhere else – DVD
Crying Ladies
Directed by: Mark Meily
Starring: Eric Quizon, Sharon Cuneta
Plot: A comedy about three professional funeral mourners who are called to cry at the funeral of a prominent Filipino businessman.
The Buzz: A slight, if engaging Filipino comedy.
Bottom Line: DVD
DVD That Confirms That This Really is the Best Movie of the Year
Capturing the Friedmans (Be warned that this is a troubling, provocative film about a pretty taboo subject matter. However, if you are willing to take that risk, then I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.)
Yes She Is That Good
Monster (Charlize Theron is so much more than her makeup that it’s scary. After her less-than-stellar turns in pretty forgettable movies, this one is most definitely a shock. The film, though not quite as polished as “Boys Don’t Cry” is nonetheless ultimately heartbreaking. It may not be an easy movie to sit through, but it does mark the incredible debut of the young director Patty Jenkins, fresh out of NYU. Good for her, man, good for her.)
Sometimes the Mark of a Good Director is What They Do with a Genre Piece
In the Cut (Jane Campion brings such verve and style to this film that it almost makes you forget about the ludicrous plot. Lost in the Meg Ryan nudity hullabaloo is another fine performance from co-star Mark Ruffalo. Will someone please make this kid a star already?)
Film I Really Wish I Could Put In My Top 10 List
Freaky Friday
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
The Triplets of Belleville
The Fog of War
City of God
Touching the Void
In America
The Dreamers
Miracle
Osama
The Barbarian Invasions
Monsieur Ibrahim
Top 10 Movies of the Year (2003)
Capturing the Friedmans
American Splendor
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
My Architect: A Son’s Journey
Lost in Translation
Irreversible
Whale Rider
Tully
Swimming Pool
Monster (new entry – what, did you think I would go against conventional wisdom?)
In a Class by Itself
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
February 27th – April 9th, 2004
Now Playing
Starsky & Hutch
Hidalgo
Secret Window
Spartan
March 19th
Taking Lives
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Dawn of the Dead
March 26th
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
The Ladykillers
Jersey Girl
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Never Die Alone
Ned Kelly
April 2nd
Hellboy
The Prince and Me
Home on the Range
The United States of Leland
Dogville
Walking Tall
April 9th
The Alamo
Johnson Family Vacation
The Girl Next Door
The Whole Ten Yards
I’m Not Scared
The Passion of the Christ
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Starring: James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci
Plot: A young Jewish man decides to stand up to his Roman rulers and the rest, as they most decidedly say, is history…
The Buzz: Oh boy! I cannot think of a movie in recent history that has inspired so much self-righteous anger/defense before it even opened. Oh wait, there was that little movie that Martin Scorsese made a few years ago about this very same subject… In any case, with rumblings of anti-Semitism surrounding the film almost from its very first day, it has been awash with the kind of free publicity that most other studios would kill for. Definitely one of the most anticipated movies of all time, this is going to be a huge event, and you might as well get on board for the ride.
Bottom Line: Theatre, First week
New Movies
Welcome to Mooseport
Directed by: Donald Petrie
Starring: Ray Romano, Gene Hackman, Maura Tierney
Plot: An ex-president runs against the local handyman in a small-town Mayoral race. Complicating matters is the fact that they are both in love with the same woman.
The Buzz: A slight, completely predictable comedy, the film coasts by largely on the performances of Hackman and the stellar supporting cast. Romano is probably wise to stick pretty closely to his popular sitcom persona. And, just like on his hit TV show, he leaves the heavy lifting to those that are more talented than him. Smart move, Ray, smart move.
Bottom Line: DVD
Against the Ropes
Directed by: Charles S. Dutton
Starring: Meg Ryan, Omar Epps, Tony Shalhoub, Charles S. Dutton
Plot: Based on a true story. A young woman finds herself way in over her head when she decides to become the first ever female boxing manager.
The Buzz: I can just see the pitch: “Hey, let’s take ‘Erin Brockovich’ and set in the world of boxing, instead of Julia we’ll get Meg Ryan and bam! Box-office gold baby, pure gold!” Unfortunately, this flat, hackneyed movie fails to excite any real rooting interest. Epps, Shalhoub and Dutton (ironic, since he directed the film) are all uniformly good, but Ryan struggles mightily. Dressed in tight blouses, talking in a dis-dem-dose Mid-west-by-way-of-Brooklyn accent, Ryan’s Jackie Kallen is a walking caricature who knows only two modes – annoyingly grating or melodramatically teary-eyed. This is too bad, since there really was a kernel of a good idea here.
Bottom Line: Pass
Eurotrip
Directed by: Jeff Schaffer
Starring: Scott Mechlowicz, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jacob Pitts
Plot: A young boy decides to set things right after blowing of his German e-mail pen-pal, and goes looking for her with his three friends.
The Buzz: As the advertising campaign so succinctly puts it: “No wonder they hate us.” This xenophobic, sexist comedy wears its incompetence on its sleeve, and is still painful to sit through. The film wallows in the worst stereotypes that the producers harbor about people that dare to live outside of this country. Possibly more troubling than this is the fact that the basic crux of most of the alleged comedic situations stem from a deep fear of homosexuality. This coupled with the endless shots of a then 17-year-old Trachtenberg in various stages of undress make it a particularly odious proposition. Don’t be fooled by the “From the producers of ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Old School’” tag line – to paraphrase another critic, those movies may have been dumb, but they certainly weren’t stupid.
Bottom Line: Pass
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Directed by: Sara Sugarman
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Adam Garcia, Glenne Headly
Plot: A young girl suddenly has to fight for her rightful place in the spotlight when her mother moves her form Greenwich Village to, horror of horrors, New Jersey.
The Buzz: The normally charming Lohan (who was absolutely sparkling in last year’s “Freaky Friday”) falls flat in this grating ode to conspicuous consumption. These movies aimed at the tween set are usually shallow showcases for their soon to be multi-hyphenate young stars (Hillary Duff, Amanda Bynes, et al), but every once in a while an intelligent, surprisingly well made film sneaks through (“The Princess Diaries” and “Freaky Friday”). This, unfortunately, is most definitely not one of them.
Bottom Line: Pass
Kitchen Stories
Directed by: Bent Hamer
Starring: Joachim Calmeyer, Tomas Norstrom
Plot: A Norwegian researcher decides to study the kitchen habits of an exceptionally eccentric Norwegian bachelor.
The Buzz: Not sure what happened, but we seem to be caught in the middle of a deadpan-Scandinavian-comedy renaissance (see last week’s “The Seagull’s Laughter”), and this is not a bad thing at all. A finely detailed little tone poem, this odd, extremely original, ingratiating film certainly puts American independent films to shame. Instead of following the patterns of all the other films out there, this one manages to surprise you at almost every turn. Since there is absolutely no hope of it playing down here in the OC, I’ll catch after I make it through the 315-odd films in my Netflix queue.
Bottom Line: New York and LA – Eventually; Everywhere else – DVD
Lost Boys of Sudan
Directed by: Megan Mylan and Jon Shenk
Starring: Peter Kon Dut, Santino Majok Chuor
Plot: This documentary follows the incredible journey taken by two Sudanese refugees from their homeland to the United States.
The Buzz: A sad, sad story about what the promise of America holds for those that dream of coming here, and what the reality turns out to be. The film delicately unfolds the story of these young men, who come carrying with them the hope and dreams of their families back home. What could have been a didactic, heavy handed treatise instead ends up being a bitter-sweet meditation on what is increasingly becoming a universal immigrant experience. Once again, this will never make it down here, so I guess I will have to wait for it on DVD; and I suspect that I might see it before I make it through the 316-odd films in my Netflix queue.
Bottom Line: New York and LA – Theatre, First Week; Everywhere else – DVD
Crying Ladies
Directed by: Mark Meily
Starring: Eric Quizon, Sharon Cuneta
Plot: A comedy about three professional funeral mourners who are called to cry at the funeral of a prominent Filipino businessman.
The Buzz: A slight, if engaging Filipino comedy.
Bottom Line: DVD
DVD That Confirms That This Really is the Best Movie of the Year
Capturing the Friedmans (Be warned that this is a troubling, provocative film about a pretty taboo subject matter. However, if you are willing to take that risk, then I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.)
Yes She Is That Good
Monster (Charlize Theron is so much more than her makeup that it’s scary. After her less-than-stellar turns in pretty forgettable movies, this one is most definitely a shock. The film, though not quite as polished as “Boys Don’t Cry” is nonetheless ultimately heartbreaking. It may not be an easy movie to sit through, but it does mark the incredible debut of the young director Patty Jenkins, fresh out of NYU. Good for her, man, good for her.)
Sometimes the Mark of a Good Director is What They Do with a Genre Piece
In the Cut (Jane Campion brings such verve and style to this film that it almost makes you forget about the ludicrous plot. Lost in the Meg Ryan nudity hullabaloo is another fine performance from co-star Mark Ruffalo. Will someone please make this kid a star already?)
Film I Really Wish I Could Put In My Top 10 List
Freaky Friday
Top 10 Films Out Right Now That I Positively Have to See
The Triplets of Belleville
The Fog of War
City of God
Touching the Void
In America
The Dreamers
Miracle
Osama
The Barbarian Invasions
Monsieur Ibrahim
Top 10 Movies of the Year (2003)
Capturing the Friedmans
American Splendor
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
My Architect: A Son’s Journey
Lost in Translation
Irreversible
Whale Rider
Tully
Swimming Pool
Monster (new entry – what, did you think I would go against conventional wisdom?)
In a Class by Itself
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
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