MILLIONS

Family movie of the week:
MILLIONS

"Family" movie doesn't necessarily mean "kids" movie. What it does mean, is that it is suitable for viewing by, and will appeal to, all family members, without insulting anyone's intelligence. For example:

The new Lindsay Lohan movie "Just My Luck", while it is suitable for viewing by all ages, would appeal only to teenage girls and probably no one else (NOT a family movie).

The film "United 93", ought to be watched by everybody, but would probably only appeal to adults (also, NOT a family movie).

Last year's so-called "family" movie, "Son of the Mask". Not suitable to be view by anybody, as it is an insult to the intelligence at any age (definitely, NOT a family movie).

Kids are quite capable of grasping advanced concepts in films. Show them something that will not turn their brains to mush. Instead, show them a good movie that will stimulate their imagination.

This week's movie will do just that. The hero of the movie is 5 years old. They don't insult you by having him outsmart the adults. They don't endow him with superhuman abilities, just an imagination and normal curiosity. Kids will identify with him and his older brother. Adults will find humor in the way that events fall into place, and in the depiction of Damian's imaginings. Made by the director of "Trainspotting" and "28 Days Later", this is definitely a departure from those. You can read more about it at the IMDB site by clicking on the movie title (the underlined one) above.

Enjoy.

THE STATION AGENT

From the Archive: 6/30/2004
THE STATION AGENT

Suppose for a moment that you're a big Hollywood producer. Your job is to ensure that your studio takes in about $500 million this year. You're looking for huge blockbusters, with big names, to invest the studio's money. Somebody (initials TM) comes to pitch you his movie idea. The conversation goes something like this:

TM: I've written a screenplay. I think it'll make a great movie.
YOU: So, tell me about this movie. You've got exactly (you look at your watch) 83 seconds. Go.
TM: A midget, with a fetish for trains, inherits an abandoned train station out in the sticks. Along the way he meets up with a latino hot dog vendor and a middle-aged woman.
YOU: .....and
TM: well, you see, they're all lonely in their own way, and they lean on each other for support.
YOU: So, it's a love/sex triangle?
TM: No. They develop a deep friendship that helps them cope with their underlying problems.
YOU: Do any of these underlying problems involve a secret government plot to take over the world?
TM: No.
YOU: One of them is a serial murderer?
TM: No.
YOU: Do things get blown up? A volcano under the train station, maybe? Giant rats? bugs? something?
TM: NO. NO. None of that. It's a character study. It's dramatic and funny and uplifting all at the same time. A feel-good movie.
YOU: (glance at your watch again) OK, tell me about the midget. Can we make him a secret agent and get, say, Tom Cruise to play him? Can we make the middle-aged woman 20-something, and get Jessica Alba as a Russian operative. Now, the hot dog vendor, (you think for a moment) Jim Carey, you know, for comedy relief. We'll call it, "The Station Double Agent". How soon can you have the rewrites?
TM: No. I want it keep it just as it is.
YOU: But ....... who would go to see it? Sorry, you're 58 seconds are up.
TM: But .... you said I had 83 seconds.
YOU: Time is faster here in Hollywood. Next!

...........

Thank goodness for the brave people who are willing to put up their own money on a risky venture like this. Otherwise we wouldn't have had such an interesting and memorable movie. The Station Agent, not much action, but a film you'll remember for a long time.

Enjoy.

BEFORE SUNRISE / BEFORE SUNSET

Romance double feature of the week:
BEFORE SUNRISE
BEFORE SUNSET

BEFORE SUNRISE:
Since its release in 1995, this has become the benchmark for romantic films. It has a simple premise. A young man and woman meet on a train to Vienna (don't worry, it's in English ........ sheeeesh). They strike up a conversation, they're getting on .......

But HE has to get off in Vienna to catch a plane, and SHE is going on to Paris. So he convinces her to get off in Vienna and catch a later train to Paris. That way they can spend a couple extra hours together. She goes for it (otherwise there would be no movie).

Now, if you only have a couple hours, what do you say to make someone fall in love with you? Since the movie is just under two hours, the story takes place in near-real time. The long unbroken camera shots intensify this effect and add to the urgency of the romance.

No sex, not much action, but lots of great writing and great acting. It won universal critical acclaim when it was released, so why haven't you heard about it? Don't get me started.

BEFORE SUNSET:
The sequel. Features the same two actors playing the same two characters. When this movie was released, fans of the first movie were skeptical. They wanted to know what happened next to the characters, but were certain that it couldn't possibly compare to the first film. They were wrong.

This film was released 9 years after the first. In the story, it's 9 years later. I won't tell you what happens because I don't want to spoil the first movie for you. Like the first, it takes place in almost real time. And like the first, the story is driven mostly by dialog.

So, in summary:

• These ARE date flicks (as opposed to "chick" flicks) . So watch them with your date.
• This is about as realistic a romance as you will find in movies.
• You missed them when they came out at the theater, don't miss them now.
  
• Watching them both together is a little bit of an overload. For best results, watch them about a week apart.
  
• Good diversion from movies like POSEIDON, or DA VINCI CODE, or movies you have to watch because your small kids are around. Send them to bed and watch these. Maybe you'll get some tonight.
  

Enjoy.

THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE

From the Archive: 5/17/2004
THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE

This is one of the most visually creative animated movies ever. Although officially a French language film, there's so little dialog that it doesn't matter. The are no subtitles because it doesn't need them. It works more like a silent film, but with sound and music (the main song was nominated for an Oscar). It's reminiscent of the old style cartoons from the 40's, where actions and sound told the story. These could then be shown overseas without revision.

A young boy receives a tricycle from his grandmother. He later grows up to compete in the Tour de France. But alas, there are obstacles, and they have to enlist the help of the triplets of Belleville to save the day. Here's why you'll want to see it:

• There's a lot of stuff packed into every frame. You may want to see this film more than once.
  
• Very "atmospheric". Evokes a completely different world.
  
• Funny, smart, exciting, etc... All the stuff that makes movies fun to watch.
  
• You'll be surprised that you'll understand everything that's happening, even without dialog.
• Impress your friends by telling them all about it.
  
• High probability that it will be "in" at your video store.
  
• Suitable for the whole family (yes, even the dog can watch).
  

Enjoy.

PS: Although it is suitable for the whole family, it's definitely NOT a "kids" movie. For adults, it may be a vastly different movie than for children. If there are no kids around, an "altered" state of mind is unnecessary.

LOVE SERENADE

Romance movie of the week:
LOVE SERENADE

Lots of people have been asking me about romance movies. I'm not quite sure what that means. If a romance is a movie in which two people court each other or otherwise has romantic encounters, then many of the movies I've already recommended have that. If you're referring to movies in which romance is the main focus, then I've got a few recommendations.

LOVE SERENADE is a cute story of two sisters who compete for the attentions of a mysterious stranger who moves in next door. This plot sounds simple enough, but don't think for a minute that this is your ordinary movie.

Enjoy.

RED

Foreign movie of the week:
RED

This is the final installment in Krzysztof Kieslowski's (say that three times fast) "Three Colors" trilogy. See the discussions for WHITE and BLUE below. The films in this trilogy are each self contained and may be view independently of each other, but they take on extra significance as three parts of a whole.

RED is so good, that I hardly know what to say about it. All I know is that when you're done, you know you've seen something great. Since I'm at a loss, check out the discussions at RottenTomatoes. RED garnered a very rare 100% on the tomato-meter (that means that NOBODY panned it).

Warning:

• If you are looking for a movie to entertain you while you sit and vegetate, save this film for another time. Don't watch it. This movie requires you to think, it will challenge you.
• If you are looking for a movie with gratuitous sex and carnage, don't watch it (contact me, I have lots of stuff like that).
• If you are looking for a movie in which clowns go on a murderous rampage, then THIS IS THE MOVIE FOR YOU!!!!!! ........ just kidding, see Killer Klowns from Outer Space - a classic.

Rent RED and enjoy.

BUG

From the Archive: 2/25/2005
BUG

This film reminds of the chaos principle of the butterfly effect. How a seemingly inconsequential thing like a butterfly flapping it's wings causes hurricanes on the other side of the world. It's not literally about that. Not butterflies and no hurricanes, sorry. But the same kind of cause and effect occurs throughout the movie. Once you begin, you can't stop watching.

This film has a lot of funny little sequences. One of my favorites involves the "boy in the bubble". The Rotten Tomatoes website lists the genre of this movie as "Comedies, Comedy, Bugs, Comedy".

Very funny. Squash a bug. Enjoy.

FLIRTING

Movie of the week:
FLIRTING

What? Never heard of this movie? Get out! That's because this movie never got wide release in this country (don't worry, it's from Australia - so it's in English). That's because it doesn't fit the Hollywood mold for this genre of movie. That's because the film maker had a mind of his own, and doesn't have to answer to Hollywood, on the other side of the world. That's because some people make the movies they want to make and the money works itself out (I heard that this director earned 10 quid and two cases of "beeah" - I think it was the beer that sealed the deal).

What is the genre for this movie? Is it a romantic comedy with a serious dramatic undertone? Is it a drama with a serious comedic overtone? Is it a romantic dramady. You decide.

At the risk of losing most potential viewers, here is a brief plot overview:
There is a private all-boys high school on a lake. On the other side of the lake is a private all-girls school . The main character meets a girl from the girl's school and attempts to carry on a courtship. This sounds soooooo close to fitting the Hollywood mold - but it doesn't. It doesn't have all the typical cliche's you would expect from a teenage comedy. It doesn't have

• The ugly pretty girl: you know - the one that every body thinks she's ugly - but then at the end she lets her hair down and takes off her glasses, and she's gorgeous. That one! Not in this movie.
• The "My Fair Lady" bet: The one where the jock makes a bet that he can take the nerdiest girl to the prom and make her into the most popular girl in school. Then he really likes her, but then she finds out about the bet, and she breaks up with him, but then he wins her back.
  
• Drunken orgies: .................. damn!
• The mean cheerleader posse
  
• the super computer genius
• Frat boys
  
• The token black: ................oh, wait. It does.
  
• The HOT foreign exchange student: ................ shoot! It has that too.
  
• Aliens: Right! no aliens, I think.
  

This film will appeal to almost anybody, not just teenagers. It features some really great early career performances by Thandie Newton and Nicole Kidman. It's rated R because it has some sensuality in it (although not nearly as much as most teenage comedies your kids are watching).

Rent it this week and let me know if you liked it.

Enjoy.

WHITE

Foreign movie of the week:
WHITE

This is the second in the "Three Colors" trilogy by Krzysztof Kieslowski. See the description for "Blue" from last week below.

Of the three, this is the "funny" one. Don't misunderstand me, it's not anything even remotely approaching hysterical. It's just not as heavy as the other two.

If you really need to know all the details about this movie, the link above will take you to the imdb site where you will learn everything there is to know about it. I feel that it's best if you go into the movie not knowing anything about it. Any attempt to give away the plot really wouldn't do it justice because there's an awful lot going on in this movie besides the plot. Therefore I will absolutely, positively NOT give even a brief plot overview So, don't even ask.

A brief plot overview:
A Polish man meets and marries a beautiful French woman. He thinks that he is not good enough for her. She thinks so too.

Enjoy.


PS: The internet movie database (imdb) really is a great resource for this type of movie. Because it has such international appeal, people from all over the world leave their reviews and comments. It truly gives you the sense that film is a universal expression.

LAST NIGHT

From the Archive: 2/14/2005
LAST NIGHT

The world is going to end at exactly midnight. What do you do?

This movie follows a group of people through the last 6 hours of their existence. The film doesn't care why or how the world is ending (or why "exactly" at midnight). I think it has something to do with the sun (it was still daylight out just before midnight). It's not filled with all that annoying panic and people running around screaming and stuff. It's not filled with the typical upheaval of the earth - earthquakes, floods, meteors, etc, etc, etc.... usually associated with the end of the world. The coming of the end has apparently been known well in advance and people have gotten all that out of their system before the movie begins. Now it's just acceptance, and how do you spend your last few hours?

Try an experiment. Watch a movie like "Armageddon", then watch "Last Night". Now I would never suggest anyone actually watch a movie like Armageddon, except to then compare it to Last Night. The difference is: in Armageddon, you sorta hope they fail just so everybody dies.

So - why should you watch this movie? Let's recap:

• The world is gonna end
  
• They don't insult your intelligence by suggesting that last minute heroics can save the day.
• better than any other end-of-the-world movie except "Dr. Strangelove"
• fodder for the imagination - what would you do in this case?
• it's good - funny - sad, all at once.
  
• which old high school teacher would you look up?
• party like there's no tomorrow - because there isn't.
  

Enjoy.

THE RED VIOLIN

This week's movie:
THE RED VIOLIN

A sweeping epic about the "single most perfect acoustical machine" ever constructed. Built by a master violin-maker in 17th century Italy. The man's wife dies in childbirth, and it's believed that the woman's soul entered the instrument. The movie follows the violin as it passes from one owner to another, from one continent to another. In so doing, you see the history of the violin played out in a number of shorter stories. Along the way, there are flash forwards to modern day Montreal, where the violin is up for auction.

I came upon this movie completely by accident, several years ago. I wasn't expecting much and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. As a bonus, if you enjoy music, this film features some spectacular solos.

Technically, I suppose you could call this a foreign language movie. It is spoken in several different languages, including English, depending on where the story takes you. Suck it up and read the subtitles already.

Enjoy.

BLUE

Foreign movie of the week:
BLUE

I've been looking foward to recommending this movie. I've put it off this long because I wanted to wait until I could think of something eloquent to write about it that would do it justice, but I can't. So, I'm putting it out there so that you can watch it and then you can post your own comments and reflections about it, here on this site.

Krzysztof Kieslowski made three films in the early 90's (Blue, White, and Red) dealing with contemporary French society. Quite simply, these films are among the best ever made. It's not just me saying this, either. Every film school worth its salt offers a course on the "Three Colors Trilogy". It has received wide acclaim throughout the world, winning countless awards, and yet, most Americans have never heard of them.

Blue is the first in the series. The plot outline is simple. A woman, who has just lost her husband and child in a car accident, has to deal with her grief. Sounds simple (sad - and simple). No stuff blowing up. No political intrigue. No sex (well, maybe a little bit). But if you watch this film, then say, "What was that about? Nothing happens.", then you've missed it. Go back and look closer. There's a lot going on below the surface if you care to look.

That's all I'm going to say. I liked the film a lot. If you really need to know more, you can read Roger Ebert's review (link below). You can also check out other reviews and discussions at Rotten Tomatoes. BLUE registered a very rare 100% on the TOMATOMETER (that means good).

Jouissez.
(that means "Enjoy")


link to film critic Roger Ebert's review of BLUE

link to the BLUE page at www.rottentomatoes.com

RAY

From the Archives: 2/10/2005
RAY

I don't usually recommend main-stream Hollywood movies here, but this is an exception. It's as good as everybody says, even if you don't (for some unexplainable reason) like Ray Charles.