It was by sheer chance that two of the three movies I saw over the weekend dealt with the English Romantic poets; poets whose verses awakened in my youthful soul, fantasies of the perfect love; love that remained for all eternity in full bloom! Part of the romance was anchored in the fact that three of the four major poets died young (Keats, Byron and Shelley) only Wordsworth was able to capitalize on his poetic gift until the ripe age of seventy: in 1850 seventy was considered ancient. With age I realize that their lasting endurance rests with their inimitable power to transform the banal into the celestial.
BRIGHT STAR
Jane Campion (The Piano) recreates the love story between John Keats and Fanny Brawne.
Oh, how I wanted to love this movie. It is beautiful and poetic to look at. Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw
are credible as the young and doomed lovers. But the passion was missing, only the pain was prevalent.
Pain had permeated Keats's life; tuberculosis had robbed him of his mother and brother. At twenty he gave up a promising medical career to devote the rest of his life to poetry.
He meets the avant garde Fanny Brawne in 1818 and she becomes his muse, his bright star and the focal point of the movie. Their youth, their beauty and the magical verses titillate the mind, but only fractionally the soul and heart.
The real "thing of beauty" the brightest star was Edie Martin, playing "Toots", Fanny's younger sister. The screen pulsates with her shining presence and fades with her absence. Definitely a force to watch.
Three Stars!
Without disclosing too much of the story, Fanny Brawne, married, had three children and died at sixty-five.
She had saved all of Keats's letters (none of hers survived); they were discovered by her children after her death.
Almost two hundred years later............
DISGRACE
A fascinating film based on the novel by J. M. Coetzee (1999 Booker Prize winner); depicting post apartheid South Africa. John Malkovich portrays David Luri, a scholar and teacher of Romantic poetry; Lord Byron (not Keats) being his favorite; he secretely identifies with this gorgeous lover and conqueror of the female masses. But unlike Byron he has to purchase or intimidate his conquests, ultimately leading to his disgrace.
This movie is rich on so many levels. Malkovich, never better, paints a portrait of loneliness that was palatable. He moves in with his daughter, Lucy (Jessica Hains) on an isolated farm hours from civilization;
it is here that he commences shedding his illusions, his elitism and dealing with a woman as strong and as determined as any man. We watch as David and Lucy are changed irrecoverably by events that no one is ever prepared for. Out of the detritus emerge two people who chose divergent paths in coping with the aftermath. Slowly the boundaries between man and beast are eliminated; herein lies the success of this
quietly spectacular film. Four and 1/2 Stars!
PARIS
If I have a weakness or a bias it is for foreign films; especially French and Italian. Maybe it is because, not only do we have to see, but have to read what is transpiring on the screen hence our concentrative powers go into high gear.
There is no city that looks better than Paris and it glows in this film.
A simple story revolving around the ubiquitous themes of life, death, love and relationships. Starring Juliette Binoche as Elise and Romain Durais as Pierre (is there a French film without a Pierre?); a brother and sister facing life altering challenges.
The outstanding performance by Fabrice Luchini was the highlight; he performs a dance, so magnificent because of its unexpectedness (Tom Cruise in Risky (Frisky) Business and Hugh Grant in Love, Actually)
that we laugh with joy! His brother, played by Francois Cluzet (Tell No One) , a look alike for a young Dustin Hoffman, is predictably good.
Melanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds) whose beauty is so luminous, so breath taking, so commanding that all else fades when she graces the screen. She plays a small key role and her acting, if possible, transcends her luminosity. Three Stars!
It seems that in the world of film and the real world that relationships are consummated within minutes of meeting, oftentimes without exchanging names; whatever happened to dinner and a movie? Perished, along with the hula hoop in the middle of the last millennium!
For Now...............Peneflix
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Fellow Movie Lovers
First I want to thank you for your words of approbation and encouragement in this my virginal voyage into the world of bloggers; or blogetts, in my case.
Secondly, I particularly appreciated those who shared their opinions and disagreements with some of my ratings; very valid criticisms. The major "bone of contention" was the five stars I gave Julie & Julia; especially the "lightness" or lack of substantially of the Julie role. It was on the second viewing that I concentrated on Julie; Julie, voted most likely to succeed; Julie who was wallowing in a world of mediocrity while her friends were soaring in their professions. Here is where I admired the brilliance of Nora Ephron; by casting Amy Adams (two time Academy Award nominee for Junebug and Doubt) as Julie, she found the one actress, with the strength, knowledge and intelligence to partner with the iconic Meryl Streep, playing the icon Julia Child.
Also, we have to remember the real Julie was only 30 when she turned her life around; Julia Child in her 80's
was "baked" to perfection! Julie is a work in progress; still in her 30's, and still cooking!
Thirdly, without exception everyone liked the mini reviews! In this world of information and instant gratification folks just want to know if they should see the film or not. Movies are the "fluff" of our existence;
our release from "the world is too much with us"! I promise, no gospels and no plot revelations; viewers should be left to discover how the story evolves and concludes on their own! An integral ingredient and major element of the movie experience.
9 (2009 film)
Not to be confused with District 9 (see below)
Animination has always been associated with childhood. This movie should not be seen by children under the age of ten. Produced by, among others, Tim Burton; it is a terrifying account of a world no longer recognizable; a world inhabited by evil machines ( a Louise Bourgeois sculpture come to life) and stitchniks, with heads reminiscent of footballs or baseballs. It is the proverbial contest between good and dark forces. The animination is fascinating; the movie is good; but a better bet would be to rent Wall-E; also animated and one of the best movies of 2008. Two Stars for 9!
District 9
Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings & winner of 3 Academy Awards) creates a gory and glorious futuristic film about the elimination of aliens in South Africa; who have resided there for over 20 years. Aliens who are masters of weaponery destined to be experimented upon. The creation of Wikus van der Merwe, in charge of the roundup and his metamorphosis is the focal point of the movie. Fantastic!
Oh, what I would not give, for one day to wander in the imagination of Peter Jackson!
This movie is not for the squamish! Four Stars!
Amreeka
Wonderful debut film by Cherien Dabis tackleing the universal theme of immigration; fitting into an unknown environment without losing sight of one's roots. Here we have a Palestinian mother and son moving to Chicago in the aftermath of the Iraq war; ordinary people in extraordinary times. Nisreen Faour and
Melkar Muallem give poignant and sensitive performances as the mother and son. Thought provoking, heart warming, and amazingly entertaining; we know these people; we like these people! Four Stars!
For Now..........Peneflix
Secondly, I particularly appreciated those who shared their opinions and disagreements with some of my ratings; very valid criticisms. The major "bone of contention" was the five stars I gave Julie & Julia; especially the "lightness" or lack of substantially of the Julie role. It was on the second viewing that I concentrated on Julie; Julie, voted most likely to succeed; Julie who was wallowing in a world of mediocrity while her friends were soaring in their professions. Here is where I admired the brilliance of Nora Ephron; by casting Amy Adams (two time Academy Award nominee for Junebug and Doubt) as Julie, she found the one actress, with the strength, knowledge and intelligence to partner with the iconic Meryl Streep, playing the icon Julia Child.
Also, we have to remember the real Julie was only 30 when she turned her life around; Julia Child in her 80's
was "baked" to perfection! Julie is a work in progress; still in her 30's, and still cooking!
Thirdly, without exception everyone liked the mini reviews! In this world of information and instant gratification folks just want to know if they should see the film or not. Movies are the "fluff" of our existence;
our release from "the world is too much with us"! I promise, no gospels and no plot revelations; viewers should be left to discover how the story evolves and concludes on their own! An integral ingredient and major element of the movie experience.
9 (2009 film)
Not to be confused with District 9 (see below)
Animination has always been associated with childhood. This movie should not be seen by children under the age of ten. Produced by, among others, Tim Burton; it is a terrifying account of a world no longer recognizable; a world inhabited by evil machines ( a Louise Bourgeois sculpture come to life) and stitchniks, with heads reminiscent of footballs or baseballs. It is the proverbial contest between good and dark forces. The animination is fascinating; the movie is good; but a better bet would be to rent Wall-E; also animated and one of the best movies of 2008. Two Stars for 9!
District 9
Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings & winner of 3 Academy Awards) creates a gory and glorious futuristic film about the elimination of aliens in South Africa; who have resided there for over 20 years. Aliens who are masters of weaponery destined to be experimented upon. The creation of Wikus van der Merwe, in charge of the roundup and his metamorphosis is the focal point of the movie. Fantastic!
Oh, what I would not give, for one day to wander in the imagination of Peter Jackson!
This movie is not for the squamish! Four Stars!
Amreeka
Wonderful debut film by Cherien Dabis tackleing the universal theme of immigration; fitting into an unknown environment without losing sight of one's roots. Here we have a Palestinian mother and son moving to Chicago in the aftermath of the Iraq war; ordinary people in extraordinary times. Nisreen Faour and
Melkar Muallem give poignant and sensitive performances as the mother and son. Thought provoking, heart warming, and amazingly entertaining; we know these people; we like these people! Four Stars!
For Now..........Peneflix
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Hello Fellow Movie Lovers!!!!!!!!!!!
After years of prodding by family and friends I have decided to tread gingerly into the field of nameless, faceless bloggers! Adding to the myriad of individuals posting their thoughts and opinions and hoping that there are some who agree and fewer that do not!
I LOVE movies!!!!!!!!! Millions of us do. Where does this love come from? From childhood bedtime stories that transport our young, untainted and impressionable minds into a world of make-believe and fantasy? A world that might or might not exist. From the desire to escape the mundane and sometimes
monotony of our daily existence? Searching on the screen for answers to our questions; questions about our choices our ambitions our goals, our loves? Or is our passion for film just an intricate part of our DNA?
For me it is still a question or a quest that remains unanswered.
I do not go to the movies because of the director, producer or even the actors (although I do have my favorites); I go for the story, whether based on fact or fiction; nothing pleases me more than meeting someone or something on the screen that I have never encountered before. Naturally, the success of the story relies on the talents of the above mentioned.
Each movie must be judged on its own!
It is also natural that the "stars" become our "friends" and we tend to lionize them on and off the screen; but as paying customers we should realize that they need us more than we them. Hence, I want to keep them on the screen and admire their inimitable transformative powers. I do not want to know who they sleep with, who they vote for and most importantly I do not want them to tell me who I should vote for!
That being said, my reviews will be based on a five star system:
Five Stars, the movie has to be flawless in all categories.
Four Stars, almost perfect.
Three Stars, good but not great.
Two Stars, go if you have absolutely nothing else to do.
One Star, the movie should not have been made.
Due to the length of my introduction these mini reviews of recent releases are listed below:
Inglorious Basterds: Quentin Tarantino's ultimate WWII fantasy. It is worth the price of admission to see the
stunning performance of Christoph Waltz; the most charming portrayal of evil visited upon the screen in recent memory. He is definitely worthy of an Academy Award nominatoin! Four Stars!
The Informant: Matt Damon's characterization of the brilliant savant Mark Whitacre is breathtaking; he is at the pinnacle of his acting career; my guess, an Academy Award performance. Steven Soderbergh's adapation of the true tale of the demise of Archer Daniels Midland is riveting. Four Stars
The Burning Plain: panned by some, I thoroughly relished the intricacy of the story woven by director
Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu and screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros); the remarkable and gorgeous Charlize Theron and the still breathtaking Kim Basinger give performances worthy of their previous Academy Awards. Three Stars.
The September Issue: Unlike The Devil Wears Prada or The Last Emperor, left me cold. The only interesting and successful aspect of the film was the very real depiction of the pressure and the stress of making their September deadline. Fashion addicts will enjoy the clothes; travelers, the scenes from Paris, New York, Rome and London. Two Stars.
The Baader Meinhof Complex: great German film! A fair and unbalanced look at the real life gang and their march from idealism to anarchy. What I loved about this movie was that we, the viewer,could draw our own conclusions. The motives of the Baader Meinhof gang and their demise have been the subject of debate and scrutiny since its inception in the late 60's to the present. The famed German painter, Gerhard Richter, has immortalized them in some monumental works. Four Stars.
Extract: from commencement to conclusion my fervent wish was to "extract" myself from this film. It was a total waste of talent, with the exception of Ben Affleck (whose talent has always been questionable) who does a fine job as "stoned" bar owner. The 25-40 audience might be able to educate me in the subtleties
and humor that totally escaped my observations. Two Stars...............and I am being generous!
My One and Only; a gem of a film starring Renee Zellweger, about the formative travails of George Hamilton. A sensitive, real and delightful flick, just fun, easy on the eye and mind. Three Stars.
Saved the best for last:
Julie and Julia; from the first delicious minute this mouth-watering inspirational film was a pure unmitigated
joy to experience. Due to the inimitable talents of Meryl Streep, Julia Child once again reigns in our kitchens!
Ms. Streep is the Midas in the world of celluloid; every role she embraces turns to gold. Her genius will once again be recognized on Academy Award night. Also, Amy Adams deserves accolades for her performance as a frustrated writer whose passion for food saves her soul! Horrah for Nora Ephron for giving us this fabulous love story! Five Stars.
For Now..........
Penelope
I LOVE movies!!!!!!!!! Millions of us do. Where does this love come from? From childhood bedtime stories that transport our young, untainted and impressionable minds into a world of make-believe and fantasy? A world that might or might not exist. From the desire to escape the mundane and sometimes
monotony of our daily existence? Searching on the screen for answers to our questions; questions about our choices our ambitions our goals, our loves? Or is our passion for film just an intricate part of our DNA?
For me it is still a question or a quest that remains unanswered.
I do not go to the movies because of the director, producer or even the actors (although I do have my favorites); I go for the story, whether based on fact or fiction; nothing pleases me more than meeting someone or something on the screen that I have never encountered before. Naturally, the success of the story relies on the talents of the above mentioned.
Each movie must be judged on its own!
It is also natural that the "stars" become our "friends" and we tend to lionize them on and off the screen; but as paying customers we should realize that they need us more than we them. Hence, I want to keep them on the screen and admire their inimitable transformative powers. I do not want to know who they sleep with, who they vote for and most importantly I do not want them to tell me who I should vote for!
That being said, my reviews will be based on a five star system:
Five Stars, the movie has to be flawless in all categories.
Four Stars, almost perfect.
Three Stars, good but not great.
Two Stars, go if you have absolutely nothing else to do.
One Star, the movie should not have been made.
Due to the length of my introduction these mini reviews of recent releases are listed below:
Inglorious Basterds: Quentin Tarantino's ultimate WWII fantasy. It is worth the price of admission to see the
stunning performance of Christoph Waltz; the most charming portrayal of evil visited upon the screen in recent memory. He is definitely worthy of an Academy Award nominatoin! Four Stars!
The Informant: Matt Damon's characterization of the brilliant savant Mark Whitacre is breathtaking; he is at the pinnacle of his acting career; my guess, an Academy Award performance. Steven Soderbergh's adapation of the true tale of the demise of Archer Daniels Midland is riveting. Four Stars
The Burning Plain: panned by some, I thoroughly relished the intricacy of the story woven by director
Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu and screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros); the remarkable and gorgeous Charlize Theron and the still breathtaking Kim Basinger give performances worthy of their previous Academy Awards. Three Stars.
The September Issue: Unlike The Devil Wears Prada or The Last Emperor, left me cold. The only interesting and successful aspect of the film was the very real depiction of the pressure and the stress of making their September deadline. Fashion addicts will enjoy the clothes; travelers, the scenes from Paris, New York, Rome and London. Two Stars.
The Baader Meinhof Complex: great German film! A fair and unbalanced look at the real life gang and their march from idealism to anarchy. What I loved about this movie was that we, the viewer,could draw our own conclusions. The motives of the Baader Meinhof gang and their demise have been the subject of debate and scrutiny since its inception in the late 60's to the present. The famed German painter, Gerhard Richter, has immortalized them in some monumental works. Four Stars.
Extract: from commencement to conclusion my fervent wish was to "extract" myself from this film. It was a total waste of talent, with the exception of Ben Affleck (whose talent has always been questionable) who does a fine job as "stoned" bar owner. The 25-40 audience might be able to educate me in the subtleties
and humor that totally escaped my observations. Two Stars...............and I am being generous!
My One and Only; a gem of a film starring Renee Zellweger, about the formative travails of George Hamilton. A sensitive, real and delightful flick, just fun, easy on the eye and mind. Three Stars.
Saved the best for last:
Julie and Julia; from the first delicious minute this mouth-watering inspirational film was a pure unmitigated
joy to experience. Due to the inimitable talents of Meryl Streep, Julia Child once again reigns in our kitchens!
Ms. Streep is the Midas in the world of celluloid; every role she embraces turns to gold. Her genius will once again be recognized on Academy Award night. Also, Amy Adams deserves accolades for her performance as a frustrated writer whose passion for food saves her soul! Horrah for Nora Ephron for giving us this fabulous love story! Five Stars.
For Now..........
Penelope
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