The Tree of Life

Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life is a visual masterpiece of enormous achievement. A story rich in imagery told through a series of striking cinematography, memories and whispered narration.

The story is a worthy one; we are all struggling to reconcile our pasts with our presents; our childhoods with our adulthoods. It is a creative endeavor that is both impressive in its production and it’s style which lies well outside the norm of the everyday movie going experience – which, let’s face it – is why we go to see the independent films – for something completely different. And in the end, was it a story to be told or was it a backdrop to inspire our own thoughts about our own stories.

Sean Penn is Jack, oldest of three boys growing up in rural Texas in the 1950’s. He is a product of the fathering style of the era and geography – authoritative, heavy handed, and faith based. As an adult in today’s society, he struggles with his past, his complex relationship with his father, the death of his brother;  and the challenge of fitting it into the faith he was raised on versus the science he has come to know.

Jack’s father Mr. O’Brien is Brad Pitt’s 59^th character portrayal of his career. Though not our favorite role of his repertoire, he manages to convey the strict, my-way-or-the-highway approach to parenting and marriage stereotypical of the day.

Glimpses into Jack’s childhood reveal a time and place where kids played with other neighborhood kids and used sticks and rocks to create games out of nothing. Discovering who you were was something you did while you were running around outside waiting for the streetlights to come on and be called for dinner. A child of these times knows more change than any other – baby boomers have witnessed more technological advances than any other so it is not surprising that our attention to all things technical steal us away from engagement in nature, humanity and relationships. Just stand on a street corner and watch how many people are walking and using their cell phones.

A running time of  139 minutes will give you oodles of time to enjoy the visual imagery, the breathtaking music and your own personal thoughts on the relationship of faith and science. We gratefully recognize the opportunity Malick provided for the audience to explore their own life mystery.

A Rave Review was on summer hiatus so a skeleton crew of 2 reviewed this film and rated it 3 1/2 out of 5.

Rabbit Hole

The rabbit hole metaphor is not lost on the viewer as we lay witness to Becca and Howie Corbett’s “venture into the unknown” in our latest independent film experience.

The story begins two years after the couple has lost their young son in a tragic accident. As they drift through days grasping at normalcy, it becomes evident that neither one is moving on and as the world rushes by around them; they stay fixed in their grief.

Most striking to us was the complexities and depths that writer David Lindsay-Abaire was able to develop in each character. Nicole Kidman’s performance as wife Becca is possibly her most convincing yet. She knows she must find a way out of the grief but her husband Howie’s (Aaron Eckhart) strategy isn’t working for her. He opts for the textbook fix and joins a support group. He tries to remove all pictures and toys that remind him of his son. Becca struggles to keep his memory alive by creating a shrine out of his bedroom and visiting it daily; sometimes even sleeping there.

That two people deal with grief very differently is not surprising. What is surprising and heat warming is the way two people dealing with their grief differently can co exist in a marriage and move on independently but stay together and keep their marriage alive. The external forces that are at work make it understandable how grief can tear people apart.

Director John Cameron Mitchell shows us their journey through grief to the other side, with every rest stop on the way being one you will never forget.

Relative newcomer Miles Teller gives us a fabulous performance. Look for him in the upcoming remake of Footloose.

Captivating, touching and beautiful. A Rave Review rated this movie 4 out of 5.

Blue Valentine

“You’ve changed”. A common allegation from one partner to another after several years together. Imagine if we had the benefit of film to capture the essence of who we were when we first fell in love and then now, years later. What would we see? We all acknowledge that a relationship starts out with an almost rocket ship-like power and then starts to level off as time goes by. But for Dean and Cindy – their rocket ship is taking a nosedive. Director Derek Cianfrance has been creating movies since the age of 13. He obviously has a gift and a passion for storytelling.

Ryan Gosling embodies Dean – a simple, honest, working class dad who has never grown up. He has no aspirations to make anything more of himself than he is now. He is “happy” with his shift work, his several drinks a day, the love of his daughter, and his wife. He has an almost child like view of life and a laissez-faire attitude to most days. To the movie viewer – he seems not to have changed much over the years. Cindy (heartbreakingly raw performance by Oscar nominated Michele Williams) on the other hand, has really started to feel the 7 year itch. As she trudges off to work each day as a nurse, you can almost taste the resentment she feels as she closes the door behind her. She has lost the energy her marriage requires to stay afloat and we sit helpless as it falls apart.

The chemistry between Gosling and Williams is so real it will bring tears to your eyes. You feel almost like an intruder in their home watching them from behind the curtains it is so naked in its presentation. One moment in particular stands out among the rest – a stolen moment of togetherness amidst the falling debris of their lives as they spend one night together in a hotel to try to rekindle their flame. Download now the couple’s “song” by Penny and The Quarters – You and Me. This is a rehearsal recording that was found and had never been published. One of the many treasures this film has to offer.

Nominated for several independent film awards, this sad but simply memorable story will stay with you for days.

A Rave Review had conflicting ratings but they ranged from 2 to 4 out of 5.

Beginners

Choosing to move gracefully back and forth through time, Director Mike Mills paints a beautiful picture of love as a father and son both abandon their pasts and the only blueprints they had for intimacy and each discover real love.

The story begins in the middle. Hal (Christopher Plummer) has just revealed to his son Oliver (Ewan McGregor) that he has always been gay and after burying his wife of 40 years, is now joyfully ready (at 75) to live the life he was intended to live. He had known he was gay but agreed with Oliver’s mother to “ignore” it and build a life with her and Oliver. Well, he held up his end of the bargain – 38 years of an emotionless, shell of a marriage that left a confusing model for Oliver to follow. As a result, at 38, Oliver still struggles with hanging on to relationships.

Only after his father Hal discovers love with younger man Andy (a playful gem played by Goran Visnjic)  does Oliver  finally see a side of his father that he never knew existed – an emotional, honest, happy soul  who can now truly love without fear.  Oliver watches closely as his father navigates this new trail. He is like a child making music for the first time on a piano - wide eyed in wonder at the enormity of what lies beyond the door he has just opened. This new man, at 75, proves to be the real model for Oliver to follow. Taking a cue from his father’s newfound “joie de vivre”, Ewan takes the beginner’s baby steps to finding love with Anna (fabulous quirky doll Melanie Laurent).

Christopher Plummer is superb as Hal. He is dignified, playful, vulnerable and witty. His chemistry with Ewan McGregor is genuine and touching. McGregor’s portrayal of a son with an excess of baggage was believable.

So they say a lack of experience can be a drawback? I beg to differ. When you take on something completely new, something you have never tried before or ever seen done, how could you not jump in with both feet and an open mind? Experts encourage us to take on new activities – urge us to be beginners at something because it challenges us to let go and open our minds – an exercise that can only end well.

 For those that think staying married “for the kids” is the right thing to do – see this movie. Our actions speak louder than our words.

A Rave Review loved this story and gave it a 31/2 out of 5.

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Valentino was a quasi-documentary that was intended to profile the colorful life of the fashion genius who has dominated Italian Haute Couture for almost 50 years. It was an interesting look into the Fashion Industry and how the creative mastermind of one man helped to build a Corporate empire. Did you know that each dress Valentino created was a one-of-a-kind? Several seamstresses worked tirelessly to hand sew and hand bead every gown to his incredible standards. He personally drew each piece and went through rounds of re-do’s to arrive at the final work of art. Watching the man at work was fascinating.

There was a lack of emotion to the story that made it drag a little. There were brief moments of diva-like behavior that one would expect to see. We did find it impressive that Valentino managed to maintain his artistic integrity despite pressure from the Corporate side to expand into other more profitable areas of mainstream fashion. His firm resolve to remain focused on evening wear helped elevate his name in Europe and around the world.

The movie’s main thrust was a build up to the incredible production that was his retirement celebration. It was an event produced by his life partner Giancarlo Giametti and it knew no bounds. You have to see the film to appreciate the grandeur of this event.

Though a little long, this is a great movie to see with friends. Dress up, and follow the movie with a nice lunch or dinner in Legacy for a great outing!

We rated this film 2 out of 5

Up In The Air

Consider it another winner for Director Jason Reitman – Up In The Air is a quirky, humorous film with a message. No wonder there have been multiple wins and multiple nominations for both movie and actors – finally, a  different story that hasn’t been told before.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, middle manager at a company that contracts out its workers to do the difficult job of firing employees. One can assume that letting an employee go after several years of service would be difficult because a professional relationship would have been built and the process of ending that relationship would be a personal and emotional one. It makes sense that an outside firm could do the job without the emotional side effects, so the industry is booming.

There are so many wonderful elements to this story. Reitman deserves enormous accolades for really digging into the subject of human connection as it exists in today’s highly technological culture. As Bingham travels the country for his job, he does so with an almost effortless attention to detachment from anything human. He has mastered the art of airport security screening, he has amassed huge quantities of travel rewards – including nearing his ten millionth mile with American Airlines. On the flip side, he has no relationship with his family, has no friends, and can’t sustain a romantic relationship.

When an invitation to his sister’s wedding arrives, Bingham is forced to make a choice to enter the world of human contact or not. His journey is a thoughtful, and humorous look into today’s culture. There is a lot to examine on screen that reflects our own lives and for this, it is a very thought provoking film.

The Rave Review loved the story, though it was surprisingly serious underneath the witty dialogue. Anna Kendrick plays Cornell graduate Natalie Keener who brings another strange layer of human connection to the story as she introduces the firm to the concept of video dismissal as a means of detaching even further from the emotional side of dismissing an employee.

Two Lovers

This week we sat through a weird one. We had put it off long enough and since it was the only new movie at the Plano Angelika Theater – the decision was almost made for us. After seeing Joaquin Phoenix promoting Two Lovers on David Letterman, we could only imagine how much he would entertain us. Maybe the beard is a disguise – he’s taking cover after this performance!

Two Lovers is a depressing drama set in Brooklyn New York. Leonard (Joaquin) is the son of a Russian Jew who helps out (as much as he is emotionally capable of) in the family Dry Cleaning business. It is apparent in the beginning of the film that he is recovering from some kind of mental/emotional breakdown after a breakup and living in his parents apartment while he tests the waters of independence. His mother is played by Isabella Rosselini who masters the portrayal of the loving, concerned and nervous parent of an emotionally, unstable grown man. He is in his mid-thirties, sleeping in a single bed in their two-bedroom apartment. Trying to have a relationship under these circumstances would be almost impossible – especially when the parents are waiting for him to fall and can’t give him an inch of space – peeking under his bedroom door and hovering over his shoulder while he uses the computer. We found Joaquin’s portrayal of Leonard empty and unconvincing and it was frustratingly difficult to understand him whenever he spoke – it almost seemed like he had marbles in his mouth.

So, after discovering a beautiful neighbor through his bedroom window, he falls into a kind of obsessive love with her (Michele - brilliantly presented by Gwyneth Paltrow). Most of the movie is spent watching Leonard spiral into a weird one sided romance with her as she struggles with her own doomed liaison with a married man.

When his father sets him up with a business partner’s daughter, he finds an easy, predictable, safe future lying before him. A nice Jewish wife, a piece of the family business…but which path will he choose?  While we admit to some interesting character insights – the obvious differences between the two women were very well defined – we found the love triangle to be a tired plot.

We rated it 2 out of 5. 

The Last Station

Run, don’t walk to the nearest theater showing The Last Station! This week’s film was one of the most enjoyable we have seen in a long time. It is based on the novel by Jay Parini and directed by Michael Hoffman.

We were captivated right from the beginning – I’m not even sure where to start with all of the praise this movie is due. Most of us know of Leo Tolstoy as the author of War and Peace and Ana Karenina. None of us knew there was a story behind this man that was worthy of the big screen. Hoffman is masterful in his presentation of the tortured Tolstoy as he struggled in later life with his fame, his wealth, and his faith. Christopher Plummer is Leo Tolstoy and suffice it to say – he is Leo Tolstoy. His look, his voice, his gait and even his breathing were riveting elements of a man that lived over a century ago. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and my personal favorite to win.

Helen Mirren plays the Countess Sofya – his wife of almost 50 years. Their love has a depth that goes beyond our imaginations and by the time we meet them, it has already spanned half a century. Mirren’s portrayal of the heartbroken wife of a man who has all but left her for his faith, is astounding. She is an actress that brings an emotional depth to Sofya that has us all thoroughly convinced. Mirren and Plummer almost seem to dance on screen with their chemisty. They had a passionate and volatile romance that struggled to survive Tolstoy’s final years as he embraced a life of celibacy with his newly developed faith and ideals known as the Tolstoyan movement. Even he was challenged by their history and could not ever fully escape their love’s grasp on him.

His friend and confidante was Vladimir Chertkov who was played brilliantly by Paul Giamotti. The intense conflict that exists between he and Sofya for Tolstoy’s attention is palpable.

James McAvoy plays Valentin Bulgakov who joins the estate to be Tolstoy’s assistant. He hopes to learn from the master the fundamentals of the movement that he has already been practicing. He too will discover his own love that will threaten his faith and in the end allow him to be the teacher to the great one.

A must see movie – before the awards show!! We rated it 5 out of 5!!!

The Wrestler

This weeks’ movie was a ”beat down”!! We all agreed that aside from the occasional forced watching of WWF because of an older brother, none of us were real fans of wrestling. But with all the buzz of Mickey Rourke’s performance, we knew we had to see The Wrestler. So, with hands shielding our eyes from some gruesome fight scenes – we watched the story of Randy “The Ram” Robinson directed by Darren Aronofsky.

The film opens with a long, almost silent scene of The Ram discovering he’s been locked out of his trailer due to unpaid rent. As he shuffled around the premises on a bad leg, huffing and puffing with a shortness of breath that begged an oxygen tank, it was apparent that he had lived a rough life. As with any “character” who performs before an audience, The Ram was determined to maintain his image, fighting the inevitable aging trap - continuing to dye his hair, tan his body, pump himself with steroids, and perform – even if it was in banquet halls with other “has-been” wrestling personalities.

The touching moments in the film came when The Ram discovered that after pouring all of his energy into his wrestling career, he was unable to have a real relationship with anyone but his audience. An estranged daughter (Rachel Evan Wood) lurks in the distance. A potential companion simmers on the back burner (expertly played by the still beautiful Marisa Tomei). None of these opportunities pan out for The Ram because he is only capable of feeling fulfilled in the wrestling ring.

This was a depressing story that was lifted by some great acting moments from Mickey Rourke. Rachel Evan Wood played the role of Stephanie with a  truth that brought tears to our eyes. A heart-wrenching look at a girl who just wanted a dad that could be there for her.

In the end, we felt like we had watched a documentary of a real wrestler’s life. It was raw and harsh in many ways. I think it helped that Mickey Rourke had a lot of experience in the ring. He started out as a boxer before entering into acting full time. He was a believable character in the crazy world of wrestling.

Bruce Springsteen’s title track is excellent.

We rated this film 3-4 out of 5.

The Reader

Kate Winslet shines in this dark role. Constantly impressed by her spectrum of characters, we watched in amazement as Winslet embodied aging German Hanna Schmitz in her latest acting win – The Reader directed by Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot).

The Reader is a dark and strange love story boldly set within the larger dark story of the Holocaust. Winslet’s character is an unemotional, middle-aged woman who lives reclusively before and after work as a ticket taker in post-war Berlin. A chance meeting with a 15 year old boy (Michael Berg played expertly by David Kross ) births a chemistry that will draw them together into a bizarre romantic relationship.

When a dark secret in Hanna’s past is revealed, Berg spends most of his adult life coming to terms with it’s meaning and seeking redemption for all involved.

Twists and turns kept us engaged but not wholly entertained. Ralph Fiennes plays the older Berg and does so with a detachment that borders on boring.

We rated this movie 2 or 3 out of 5.

Sunshine Cleaning

Sunshine Cleaning is an impressive and entertaining film. It is directed by New Zealander Christine Jeffs and written by newcomer Megan Holley. Holley’s poignant story of two sisters who struggle to find themselves left us “cinematically satisfied” for the first time in a while!

Rose Lokorski (finally an Amy Adams who isn’t chirping happily!) is a 30 something, unhappy, single mother who earns her living as a cleaning lady. Rose is a grown up High school cheerleader still sleeping with the High School Quarterback (even though he’s married) and relying on positive self-talk written on post-it-notes taped to the bathroom mirror.  When she finds herself in financial trouble, she considers the idea of crime scene cleanup as a way to make big money.

She brings on her deadbeat, broken, but enormously loveable sister Norah (great performance by Emily Blunt), to partner in the business called Sunshine Cleaning. Norah has just been fired from her job as a waitress. The two troubled sisters unknowingly embark on a touching journey of self-discovery while attempting to maintain an emotional distance from each crime scene. This proves difficult for them and provides the basis for the wonderful story that unfolds. 

Watching Rose and Norah develop into strong women (with some hilarious as well as tragic bumps along the way) was very endearing. We loved the outrageous storyline and although some spots were predictable, overall it was a well done movie. We weren’t surprised to learn it was from the producers of Little Miss Sunshine.  It is a film worth seeing. We rated it an average of 3 to 4 out of 5.

Slumdog Millianaire

Slumdog is a RICH experience! Today we entered the movies with no knowledge of the film we were about to experience. This has been difficult since Slumdog has been widely acclaimed and already boasts several awards from Independent Film Festivals around the world. As we have said, we love to view a film without any preconceived opinions or comments.

We found ourselves on a wonderful journey through 18 year old Jamal Maliks life growing up in the slums of Mumbai. Dev Patel plays Jamal beautifully. Told through a series of flashbacks, his life experiences on the street made him a worldly, wise  and unbreakable man – capable of winning millions of dollars on the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. When he is suspected of cheating, his story tells the truth of how he became the “street smart” slum dog.

There are a couple of graphic scenes that required a bit of hand shielding to the eyes, but were definite requirements to the overall story of Jamal’s life. It is directed expertly by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan and is based on the novel by Vikas Swarup. As in reality, sometimes the truth is difficult to see, but remains a necessary ingredient to the truth of who people are and how they arrive there.

We loved the film; we found the story to be very captivating and moving.

We rated it 5 out of 5.

Shall We Kiss?

Shall We Kiss? is a French film with English subtitles directed by Emmanuel Mouret at the Angelika in Plano. Shall We Kiss is a clever, but long, story about the impact a kiss can have. It seemed “tongue-in-cheek” (pardon the pun) at several points during the film, including Emilie’s comment which begins the movie “To make a long story short”. Her short story, as it turns out, is the plotline of the film, and lasts 108 long minutes.

There are basically 6 characters in the movie – Judith who is married to Claudio, Nicholas who is friends with Judith but becomes her lover, Caline who is Nicholas’ ex-girlfriend who they attempt to set up with Claudio, and then Emilie who is telling the story to Gabriel, a man she has just met and who would like to kiss her. His request for a goodnight kiss after they share a ride is what prompts Emilie to tell the story of how a kiss changed several lives forever. The premise being – there is no such thing as a kiss without consequence. Unlike last weeks’ film, we were able to follow the story and with only 4 prominent characters, we had no trouble remembering names!

At its core, the story was about love. Although Judith leaves Claudio for Nicholas, it is because she loves him that she cannot be truly happy until he too finds happiness. She feels her betrayal was an accident – a kiss that proved to be her ultimate connection with Nicholas. She proves that a kiss can be simple but it can also be profoundly intimate – with lasting repercussions.

After it was done, we did agree that it was quirky and entertaining at points.  It is a movie that requires some thought and boasts a good amount of subtle, dry humor. It is a different kind of chick flick that will prompt hours of debate over the importance of the kiss.

We rated this film 2 or 3 out of 5.

September Issue

September issue seems to be an ”I’ll show you!” response to the 2006 hit The Devil Wears Prada. Though it was most definitely not a biography on the editor Anna Wintour. There are many other talented people behind the scenes. If she is the brain center of the American Vogue working body – then the Vogue staff are the other major organs and arteries that bring it to life.

September Issue chronicles the frenzied production of American Vogue’s biggest issue of the year and all of the creative, overworked art directors, fashion editors, photographers, and assistants  involved in the chaos. To many of the people we meet in the film, fashion is the industry they are employed in but not married to. For Anna Wintour, editor of American Vogue – it is her life.

Wintour’s icy, emotionless business approach has left many bodies in her wake. But for those who can see through the hard exterior, there lies a woman with a vision who has helped to lift Vogue out of the past and thrust it forward into a leading position in the magazine world. Despite our cries, “But nobody wears haute couture!!” Vogue continues to be one of the top selling fashion magazines in America. She waltzes into a layout room and with a mere wave of her arm, approves or cuts what has taken teams of people hundreds of hours to produce. She really is the Oprah of the fashion world – like Oprah can take an unknown author and create an overnight bestseller with her magic want, Wintour’s influence on a new fashion designers success is incredible.

A glimpse into the machine at work made it clear to us where their success lies. The real star of the film is Creative Director Grace Coddington. If I can return to my body metaphor –  Anna is the brain, and Grace is most certainly the heart of it all. Here is a woman who has been in the business for 30 plus years. She started as a model for British Vogue when she was a teenager, as a young adult started a 20 year career as fashion editor there and then moved to New York where she has been Creative Director ever since. She is a visionary when it comes to laying out a fashion spread and may just be the genius behind the success of a haute couture magazine in a time where people are watcing pennies and wearing more mainstream affordable clothing. She creates beautiful stories with clothes, fantasy-like and whimsical that upon close examination are as eloquently designed as the art you would hang on your wall.

This film was real and it revealed a behind the scenes look at  a working partnership between Editor Wintour and Creative Director Coddington by showcasing their vastly different styles and  their ability to pursue excellence from different angles, creating an 800+ page fashion bible that sells upwards of 10,000,000 copies a year.

An entertaining and enjoyable movie – right here in the beautiful Shops of Legacy at the Angelika Film Center.

We rated this film 3 out of 5.

Secret Life of Bees

Our afternoon at The Angelika was lovely this week. We were lost in a cinematic paradise for 2 hours as we watched The Secret Life of Bees. It was a story that captivated our emotions from the first scene – we stayed that way until the end -  when it was over we were thoroughly spent.

Dakota Fanning’s performance is Oscar-worthy. She is growing into a beautiful, gifted actress. We felt she was expertly cast as Lily Owens a troubled runaway looking for answers that will satisfy her curiosity about her past. It is set in South Carolina during the mid 60’s civil rights movement. Also notable, was Jennifer Hudson’s outstanding accomplishment as Lily’s nanny Rosaleen Daise. Their beautiful friendship was believable and deep.

Queen Latifah plays the loveable matriarch – Miss August, who nurtures Lily until she is strong enough to believe in her own goodness. As the head of the family honey making business, she is the “Queen Bee” overseeing the care of the family. Alicia Keyes plays her sister June and is obviously both a gifted musician as well as actress.

As an adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s book, it was well done; choosing to focus on parts integral to the overall story without missing details that made it special. Those who have read the book will not be disappointed.

We rated this film 4 out of 5. 

Secret in Their Eyes

This year’s winner for best foreign film was Secret In Their Eyes, written and directed by Argentinian Juan Jose Campanella. We had the pleasure of seeing this movie at the Angelika Theater in Plano.

This film is a complex, multi-layered thriller that requires thinking and concentration. There are several stories brilliantly intertwined and the acting is superb.

Ricardo Darin plays Federal Agent Benjamin Esposito who has been haunted by a closed murder case for 20 years. Certain that the real murderer has escaped without justice, Benjamin proceeds to revisit the case and step back in time to seek closure in other areas too. An unfulfilled romantic connection with his then department chief Irene played by Soledad Villamil has haunted him and as he traces steps he took twenty years ago, is finally able to close the door on not only the murder, but the lost love as well.

The music is wonderful. The story line is fast paced and clever. The sequencing of scenes between twenty years will keep you glued to the story and fully engaged in its unexpected ending.

We loved this film and rated it 4 to 5 out of 5.

Rock n Rolla

Wow!! Another big winner!!! We have had a string of great movies to enjoy at The Angelika Plano Theater. This week’s film was a huge hit with the group – for the first time we all agreed on a rating …

Guy Ritchie’s latest endeavor titled RocknRolla is a loud, witty, fast paced British crime drama that grabs you in the first scene and doesn’t let go. The soundtrack is fantastic and works perfectly with the story. Filmed mostly in London’s west-end; it features a fine collection of mob-style British thugs, drug addicts, and high powered International Real Estate investors.

An all-star cast includes Gerard Butler (playing the loveable One-Two), Veteran Actor Tom Wilkinson (head thug Lenny), and beautiful Thandie Newton (Stella). Nightclub owners Jeremy Priven and Ludicrus flesh out the incredible ensemble.  We were most impressed with newcomer Jamie Campbell Bower who played rock star Johnny Quid.

This film rates high on entertainment value and would impress anyone looking for a highly charged two hours of fun. If you like an exciting mystery, some great witty dialogue, a little violence and some great music – you will love Rock n Rolla. According to Ritchie – this is the first in a trilogy.

We rated this film 5 out of 5.  

Revolutionary Road

Following the excitement of the Golden Globes and Kate Winslet’s award for best actress, we ran to see this film and the wonderful Winslet – who shines as April Wheeler. She is truly incredible!! It is adapted from the novel written by Richard Yates and if you know the story, it stays fairly true to course.  

April and Frank Wheeler (stellar, Oscar-worthy performance by Leonardo DiCaprio) follow the herd in the mid 1950’s and migrate north from the excitement of New York city to the sleepy suburbs of Connecticut to raise their family. Without questioning where this will ultimately lead, they proceed on auto-pilot wth the rest of post-war America – Frank commuting with thousands of suburban husbands and fathers each day to his unfulfilling job in the city, April donning her apron and playing house  from morning to night while he’s gone.

Over the years, a creeping disillusionment seeps into their lives and marriage as they realize they have become like everyone else; her dreams of acting just a blur of a memory. How they handle this realization is what makes this film Oscar material. Both Winslet and DiCaprio present a depth that is both believable and unnerving at times. It is a drama that unfolds with a lot of tension – bolstered by a powerful musical score that promises doom.

Kathy Bates plays realtor June Givings with a 50’s persona we can truly recognize as authentic. It would be remiss of me not to mention the outstanding Michael Shannon who plays the role of her son John. Enough said. Now go and see it!

We could all appreciate the incredible talent that brought the story to life on screen. It is a heavy story line with many layers of truth.

It will not be a movie for everyone as our scores will show – “D” gave it a 2 out of 5, “H” and “S” gave it a 5 out of 5, “P” was in the middle with a 3.

  

Religulous

One doesn’t need to be a fan of Bill Maher to be able to appreciate his latest endeavor – Religulous, now showing at the Angelika Plano.  Maher takes his offbeat, outspoken style all over the world interviewing lay people and religious figures from various organized faiths. Maher challenges the world’s three monotheistic faiths – Islam, Christianity and Judaism by asking followers probing and challenging questions that force them to defend their faith. It becomes apparent that without scientific evidence, Maher has trouble believing.

No one religion is spared his humorous barbs.

We expected to be offended but were not. We give Bill Maher credit for having the courage to ask the questions that unnerved some of his subjects. We felt he treaded carefully on the thin ice that challenging religious discussions can become. Questioning one’s beliefs can either destroy them or strengthen them. We suggest viewing this movie with an open mind and maintaining a sense of humor.

In the end, despite Maher’s stance on organized religion, we agreed that faith is a personal possession that we each own and no one can take away. Our only negative comment would be that the people he chose to interview were his own selection and they unknowingly became the ultimate representatives of those faiths and that may not have been the most fair or accurate presentation of each religion.

This film will ignite conversation which is always good.

We rated this movie 3 to 4 out of 5.

Mother and Child

Despite a strong cast and the best intentions, Rodrigo Garcia failed to create a memorable story in his latest film Mother and Child. Plagued by poor writing, unrealistic dialogue, contrived story lines, and a painfully annoying soundtrack.

Much like the 2004 Academy Award winning film Crash, Mother and Child boldly attempts to intertwine several story lines together but fails to impress us with the clever, obscure connections that distinguished Crash. Instead, we found ourselves predicting scenes about to unfold, throwing our arms up at dialogue that just could not happen, and sighing in utter exasperation as the soundtrack droned on and on with it’s hopelessness.

Although it was an admirable attempt to explore mother daughter relationships of every kind, we felt that Garcia tried too hard to jam too many characters and too many situations into one film. Anette Bening’s portrayal of Karen (can you spell t-h-e-r-a-p-y?) as a woman scarred by the guilt and shame she placed on herself was searing and difficult to watch. Yes, it was well acted but heavy, lingering, belabored and tiresome after a while.

Naomi Watts was Elizabeth, a cold, emotionless lawyer who kept her distance from everyone except the men she conquered in the boardroom and the bedroom. Presumably, her state of mind was the result of (a lack of much needed therapy!) the emotional baggage she dragged around for years after being put up for adoption (in her mind she was rejected) by her teenage mother.

Finally, it takes the attention of men in their lives to spur Karen and Elizabeth to the next level. Jimmy Smits plays Paco who, for what reason on earth we cannot fathom – decides to continue to pursue Karen despite her ongoing negativity and frequent tantrums. Samuel Jackson plays Paul, who, after having an affair with Elizabeth discovers she is incapable of having an emotional relationship with him. He moves on and that forces her to do the same.

Kerry Washington plays Lucy, a motherless, young newly married woman who longs for a baby. After a private adoption through the church falls through – Lucy falls apart, and so does her marriage. Up until this point we were in. (Until the doorbell rang with an unlikely surprise.) Really?

We tried. We really did. We are all mothers and we are all children of mothers. We wanted to like it but found it thoroughly unlikable. It was shameful to watch these broken women on the big screen as they unraveled. Not once did any of them attempt to get help. Years of their lives were lost to these disabling emotional issues. So, it takes a good man to turn things around? Much cheaper I guess. Come on.

The Rave Review rated this film a 1 out of 5. 

Mao's Last Dancer

A wonderful film based on the life of Chinese ballet dancer Li Cunxin who was discovered at the age of 11 in a small village in rural China. He left his family and the only life he knew to live and train in Beijing under a cultural initiative driven by Madame Mao.

Director Bruce Beresford captures the enormous sacrifices made by Li and by his family to allow him the incredible opportunity to perform at an International level. Actor Chi Cao portrayed Li beautifully and with an emotional depth that moved us all. The dancing was spectacular.

The political backdrop of that time adds mystery and intensity. Bruce Greenwood plays real life ballet director Ben Stevenson who discovered Li while guest teaching at the Beijing Dance Academy. His invitation to have Li come to dance for a summer in Houston set in motion the incredible events that became Li’s unbelievable life.

We loved this film and rated it 4 out of 5.

Management

We tried hard to let go of reality and accept the odd premise of this film, but the obstacle in our way was Jennifer Aniston. Unfortunately, we all felt like we were watching Rachel from Friends. This is really a shame because if you could look beyond the obvious, Management could have been a touching, different kind of love story.

Steve Zahn plays a borderline convincing role as Mike,  the weird and wacky son of a couple who own and run a motel in Arizona. He has no life to speak of – outside of the day to day management of the motel, no friends, and no future except the inheritance of the family business. He falls for Aniston’s character – traveling Art Saleswoman Sue Claussen, from the back as she checks into the motel on a business trip. The rest of the movie circles around his stalker-like behavior as he tries to convince Sue that he is the one for her.

We thought the story would have been more effective with a lesser known actress with a somewhat off-beat look. No matter how hard she tries, Aniston just can’t break the mold of that Rachel character from Friends. Lucky for the film, Zahn carries it over the finish line with some much needed humor assisted to him by James Liao (hilarious as Mike’s buddy Al).

Even the addition of Woody Harrelson (ex-punk star turned yogurt king Jango) brought unnecessary star power to the film. It almost seems like the more of a stretch the story line is, the more obscure the actors need to be  - otherwise they stand in the way of our ability to escape reality and enjoy a different kind of movie.

We did chuckle. It is a cute story. We just felt like it missed the mark with poor casting.

We rated this movie a 2 out of 5.

La Mission

La Mission is a touching story of a tough Latino father who is challenged to break down the barriers of the culture and religion that has defined him in order to accept his gay son.

Director Peter Bratt has created a tapestry of modern day Latino life with endless images of traditional culture and historic religious symbols as a backdrop to the local characters that reside in the Mission district of San Fransisco.  He has taken great efforts to present a believable and convincing character in Che Rivera (played brilliantly by Benjamin Bratt) and we take notice and commend him for it.

Che Rivera was a man who was imprisoned by his culture and religion. He couldn’t escape it to accept his son; his only response was to write him off. Kudos to Peter Bratt for creating a character that we could not hate, but rather empathize with. I was heartbroken for Che that he couldn’t accept his son for who he was – but I understood why he couldn’t cross that line. I also knew that with time, he would come to understand why he had to.

This movie will not disappoint. Che’s son Jesse is expertly portrayed by Jeremy Ray Valdez. He represents the next generation that threatens the benchmarks that make his father who he is. Their struggle to find middle ground is believable and heartbreaking.

This movie will open your eyes to the many sides of acceptance. It will illuminate the “other” side and explain the many cultural and religious challenges our parents generations have faced as our society continues to mature.

We rated this movie an average of 3 or 4 out of 5.

Kings Speech

This week the ladies returned to the theater and found themselves lost in the captivating and touching story that is The Kings Speech.

Colin Firth played a masterful King George Vl who struggled with a speech impediment for most of his life. Geoffrey Rush portrays his speech therapist  Lionel Logue, who ultimately crossed all monarchy obstacles to be considered a close friend of the King. Their relationship became a deep and trusting bond and a lot of the movie focused on their journey. In the beginning, the King’s inability to escape his traditional, conservative mind set to discover Logue’s innovative and controversial therapies prevented him from making any progress. Ultimately, the King’s respect for Logue as a therapist and a friend allowed him to let go and explore the non-traditional approach and his progress was an obvious result.

Helena Bonham Carter plays his wife Queen Elizabeth. She was steadfast in her love for him and stood by his side supporting him all of his life. The portrayal of their love is touching.

It is an entertaining story that reveals a behind the scenes look at one of Britain’s most interesting royal families.

The Rave Review rated this film a 4 out of 5.

Its Kind of a Funny Story

Todays offering at the Angelika drew us in with a humorous title and a cast featuring the today’s “it” man in the comedy world… Zach Galafianakis (The Hangover, Dinner with Schmucks) . However, the humor was subtle and Galafianakis’ performance was touching, deep and real.

The story was based on the book written by Ned Vizzini and was directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.  Keir Gilchrist starred in the film as Craig who at 16, takes it upon himself to enter a psychiatric facitlity because he has had suicidal thoughts. He is a high achieving academic student who has struggled to cope under the pressure his father has put on him to succeed and build a college resume.

Once inside the hospital, Craig sees how his mental health compares with the other patients and immediately regrets his decision. Unfortunately, he is under hospital protocol to stay for 5 days and the rest of the film is spent witnessing his journey from scared, anxious, insecure teenager, to a leader of the ward who rallies behind the patients to bring them a sense of togetherness and happiness they haven’t known.

Most memorable scenes include a video fantasy of all of the patients performing the David Bowie-Queen Under Pressure, and the long awaited Psychiatric Unit Pizza Party where Craig is able to draw every last patient out of themselves to come together and dance including the Egyptian Maqtada who had not left his room in months.

Music was a consistent theme as if to say that as a universal language it speaks to us all and gives a commonality when we might not otherwise have one; literally reaching across the divide of age, gender and culture.

The film did seem long, and though there were many moments that moved us, it seemed to run in a random pattern that picked up in the second half.

The Rave Review gave this movie a 2 out of 5.

Greenberg

After a long post-Academy Awards dry spell, we returned to the theater ready for a great film. With open minds and eager hearts, we settled in with our popcorn and candy.

Greenberg written and directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Ben Stiller was a feared disappointment. Critically acclaimed writer and director, Baumbach has a lot of experience with dysfunctional characters and has written two other movies we didn’t like – Margot At The Wedding with Nicole Kidman and The Squid and The Whale with Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney.  Apparently top actors appreciate his work because he seems to have no problem finding quality people to tell his stories. We don’t share their affection for Baumbach so Greenberg was a chore of a movie to endure.

Greenberg is the story of  Roger Greenberg. An ex-musician that fled the industry just as a record contract emerged, leaving his friendships with his bandmates at loose ends. After a move to New York for a fresh start and a stint in a mental facility, he returns to Los Angeles to house sit for his brother’s family. After two decades of emotional and mental turmoil, Greenberg attempts to make contact with his old life only to find that one can never go back. His journey is awkward, unbelievable and depressing. There were very few moments where we could muster any empathy; Baumbach’s characters were two dimensional at best, and almost hazy in their definitions. After two hours with them, we still didn’t understand them at all.

We love to explore the human condition and we are not afraid of dysfunction. But I don’t remember the last time I said to myself, “I’d really like to see a film about a man who has just returned from a stay in a mental hospital and struggles to reconnect with old friends from 20 years ago.” Ben Stiller was an interesting choice and we all tried to have an open mind as we watched him navigate the waters of a serious dramatic role. He did come across as an unstable and somewhat paranoid personality – was that him or Greenberg?

The storyline was like lukewarm milk. The character depth could have saved the story but between Stiller’s boring, awkward display and relative newcomer Greta Gerwig’s equally forgettable role as Florence – it was like watching a train wreck from a safe distance.

It should be said that Baumbach has one win in our minds – he wrote and directed one of the decades classics – Kicking an Screaming starring Wil Ferrel. It remains in a separate universe from the sad, pschyo-dribble that he has been churning out since.

That’s how we REALLY feel about this one.

A Rave Review rated it a 1 out of 5 because we loved Kicking and Screaming and it is somehow connected to this mess by a thin thread.

Going The Distance

This week the Rave Review sat back and enjoyed a fun romantic comedy called Going The Distance starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. After weeks of previews, we lined it up as our feature film and were not disappointed. Although we felt the film was much more suited to mainstream theaters, we were happy to find it at the Angelika with our more offbeat, left of center movies.

Drew Barrymore is Erin, finishing up a summer internship at a newspaper in New York and getting ready to head back to Stanford where she is finishing her final year. She had already been derailed off the academic track with one bad romance and then meets Garrett (adorable Justin Long). Their instant chemistry consumes them and they eat sleep and breathe each other for 6 weeks until she leaves.

The rest of the movie is an often comedic look at the reality of a long distance relationship. Garrett remains in New York at his job as a band promoter at a record label. Erin struggles through school and part time work while living at her sister’s house (hilarious performance by Christina Applegate).

All of the classic elements are there – Garrett has his two classically wacky friends that help him through his loneliness and Erin has her anal-retentive housewife sister and a gorgeous waiter she works with to help her. There is an excessive amount of swearing – sometimes more than is necessary. It is rated R and runs about 20 minutes longer than it needs to.

None of it is new. None of it is clever. It does prove that with good actors, good writing, great dialogue and an excellent soundtrack – you can successfully entertain!!

We rate this movie a 2 to 3 out of 5.

Precious

You may have seen a trailer. Thanks to Oprah, you may have even heard about the story. You can’t imagine yourself sitting through 119 minutes of this tragic tale, but you will. Not only will you sit through it, you will actually be moved by it. You will, believe it or not, emerge from the theater into the brightness of day knowing (maybe for the first time) the power of hope. You will learn that hope can be enough to survive the worst life you can imagine. The problem is, for us, that life is unimaginable.

Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, the film Precious is a story of strength and hope. When the story begins in 1984, overweight, sixteen year old Precious Claireece Jones has already endured a life of physical violence and sexual abuse at the hands of her parents and is pregnant for the second time with her father’s child. She lives in a Harlem apartment with her mother and somehow manages to survive school, (though she can’t read or write) late night cigarette runs and beatings; all while pregnant. Though you won’t feel it in the opening minutes of the film, by the end; Precious has fully embodied her name.

The film is artfully crafted with a documentary style of video that captures the raw honesty that prevails in this story. Juxtaposed with high-tech colorful segments of fantasy sequences; this tapestry reveals the inner workings of Precious’ unyielding spirit. As with many abuse victims, Precious has the mental ability to will herself to another place in her mind when she is being tormented by abusers, bullies, or even her own haunting memories.

Geoffrey Fletcher and Lee Daniels bring this story to its masterful life on the screen.  Debut actress Gaboury Sidibe (Precious) has an acting depth that allowed her to portray this tortured young woman in a painfully real way.  Comedian Mo’nique  shocks us all with her achingly heartbreaking portrayal of  Precious’ mother. Paula Patton plays the ultimate teacher who cares for Precious beyond her school day and personifies the word teach (and reminds us of the same priceless gifts possessed by Sydney Poitier’s character in To Sir With Love). And finally, the nurse we would all enjoy at our bedside, Lenny Kravitz, who, as Nurse John, shows Precious a caring love that she has never seen.

The Rave Review loved this film. We have rated it 5 out of 5.

Everybody's Fine

How about - Everybody’s Crying?? For a movie whose trailer features a series of touching, funny moments; Everybody’s Fine will take you by surprise. Okay, maybe we laughed a few times. But we laughed through tears that started rolling in the first 5 minutes and continued through the credits, out the door, and into a birthday lunch. Seriously, I think we all cried more in Everybody’s Fine than we did in Precious – and that was a tragic tale.

Everybody’s Fine is written and directed by Kirk Davis (who also wrote and directed Nanny McPhee) . Robert DeNiro portrays Frank Goode, a widower who decides to surprise each of his four grown kids after they all cancel a visit to see him. One by one, as he arrives unannounced on each doorstep, his unprepared children have no choice but to reveal the reality of their lives. He soon realizes that his wife, their mother, had spoon fed him only the good news over the years and spared him the true details of each child’s challenges. He had never really truly known and accepted each of them for who they were. He had high expectations for their lives and as they grew older, they didn’t want to disappoint him with the truth that they had not quite reached the heights he had set. Now it’s his turn to learn the truth and love them in spite of it.

Though believable as it is, watching it on the big screen is tough. What begins as a movie ends in a wake-up call for all parents. Accept our kids for who they are. Accept the truth and the real relationship will follow. It is a fine line between encouraging a child to reach for tall heights and setting them up to succeed for your benefit instead of their own. Sometimes we push and we don’t want to see that they are struggling. Often, children are afraid to disappoint their parents.

We didn’t see any of the actors as real standouts. Drew Barrymore was good as daughter Rosy. Kate Beckinsdale was believable as daughter Amy. Sam Rockwell was reasonable as son Robert. Not to mention a different and somber side to the Robert DeNiro we all know.

I think Davis’ story of Frank’s journey was much more important than the people involved in that story. Less developed characters allowed the viewer to put him/herself into the story line very easily and feel fully the impact that Frank felt as a parent. If that was his intention – he was successful. The evidence was the sound of multiple sniffles and nose blowing throughout the entire film.

A Rave Review rated this film 2 out of 5.

Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue is a light, entertaining movie based on the play by Noel Coward and a remake of the movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1928.

Jessica Biel plays Larita, a strong, progressive and extremely glamorous American racecar driver who is ahead of her time. When she falls in love with the young, dashing British John Whitaker, their trip home to England to meet his family turns the stiff aristocracy on their heads.

Larita does everything a good English girl would only dream of and sisters and father alike are cautiously smitten. Their first days in the family manor prove tense and awkward when American and British stereotypes of every nature collide humorously on screen. Larita soon learns that she faces a tough battle if she wants to be accepted.

Kristen Scott Thomas is the uptight matriarch of the Whitaker clan who can hardly stand the concept of an American daughter in law.  Mother desperately loves her son John and is so thankful to have him back under her stifling control that she will stop nowhere until she has him permanently residing in the family manor. Colin Firth plays John’s father who has long been detached from his wife and family following his days as a soldier and his post-war flings in France.

The young marriage is doomed by many things – most especially the two different worlds John and Larita come from. Mother Whitaker has a strange attachment to her son, probably borne out of the insecurity with her own marriage .  But, it is soon obvious that the lovebirds share only a physical chemistry, which cannot sustain them. John is perfectly happy to live under his mother’s oppressive roof with his new wife – he just has to convince Larita. When the Whitaker family’s mistrust of Larita drives them to dig up her past, everything starts to fall apart.

We loved the music – director Stephen Elliot used current day songs and remixed them to suit the era of the film. We thought he did a good job of injecting humor into some of the more serious moments.

Easy Virtue is a fun, light, silly movie that garnered a 3 out of 5 from The Rave Review.

Doubt

Amidst a big holiday crowd, the Rave Review hit the Angelika Theater today to view a much anticipated film – Doubt. Directed by John Patrick Shanley, Doubt tells the story of a Roman Catholic nun (played brilliantly by Meryl Streep) who confronts the pastor (the villainous Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and alleges indiscretions with a student.

If you grew up a Roman Catholic during the 1960’s, you will recognize many familiar personalities of the time in the fictitious St. Nicholaus’ clergy. It was a time when teachers in the Catholic school were relentless in the pursuit of education and manners through fear. Streep’s character Sister Aloysius was a tough disciplinarian with a heart. She was willing to challenge the hierarchy of the Church to save a young boy, and treaded in dangerous waters when she confronted the pastor.

The film is very well done and although 2 hours long, moves quickly. We observed a frequent (over)use of dramatic elements; massive wind gusts, light bulbs burning out, and heart stopping thunder claps that were probably intended to enforce the presence of the Holy Spirit. Though this battle was very much an earthly, human one.

As with all great films we have seen at the Angelika, Doubt left us with a lot to think about. There was no pretty bow to tie up this package.

We rate this film a 4 out of 5.

Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart starring Jeff Bridges as “has-been” Country Singer “Bad” Blake will seem familiar to you if you’ve seen the 2009 movie The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. The two stories are almost interchangeable. Crazy Heart was directed by Scott Cooper and based on the novel by Thomas Cobb.

Jeff Bridges portrayal of a washed up drunk was believable and at times a little too graphic. We felt that the balance was tipped a little too much towards the dark side of “Bad” and the little charm he did reveal was too little, too late. He had a habit of wearing his pants undone when he was alone drinking and so scene after scene of that got a little tiring. We did get the point – he was a drunken mess.

On the light side of the balance was Maggie Gyllenhall who we all could have used a little more of. She plays kdkd dkdkdk, a small town newspaper reporter who interviews “Bad” and falls in love with him. We were thoroughly convinced she had fallen for “Bad” and knew it wasn’t going to work.

It is yet another love story that is doomed from the start but ends with the hope that everyone has a chance at a re-do no matter how old they are or how much they have lost.

Comical highlights include appearances by Irish hunk Colin Farrel as Country heartthrob Tommy Sweet. He manages to almost look like a cowboy and sound like one too! However, his lip syncing needs some work. Robert Duvall delivers his best as buddy Wayne.

I think this one just missed the mark, although we were impressed with Gyllenhall and Bridges’ performances.

The Rave Review rated this film a 2 out of 5.

Cold Souls

If you have recently found yourself bored with the mainstream movie offerings, consider a visit to the Angelika Film Center in Plano. This week, we watched Cold Souls, an offbeat comedy directed by newcomer Sophie Barthes and starring Paul Giamatti.

From start to finish this was a bizarre story, which, although light in humor, provoked deep thought.

Paul Giamotti plays himself, a successful New York stage actor who is struggling with his current role. The play is opening in a week and the weight of his anxiety is prohibiting him from capturing the essence of his character. In an act of desperation, he takes the advice of his manager and visits a company who specializes in soul removal.

He is promised that once  his soul is removed and safely stored in the company’s vast refrigerated storage system, he will feel as if a weight has been lifted and can then resume his regular life without the burden of his anxiety ridden soul.

As he returns to the rehearsal stage in preparation for opening night – actors and director alike sit stunned as they watch him. Without his soul, he has lost the depth of his acting and spews his lines at lightening speed and with no heart. Once he realizes this, he heads back to the clinic to have his soul replaced.

There are problems, and replacing his extracted soul proves to be  frought with obstacles, if not completely impossible. We won’t go into any details but this is where an already strange story starts to get downright weird.

You may find yourself laughing and scratching your head at the absurdity of the action on screen but then later discover you’ve spent several minutes pondering the possibilities of this reality in your own life.

We all felt this film was a welcome change; a refreshing and bizarre story that was thoroughly entertaining. It was quite hilarious to discuss the details as a group and exchange our various interpretations and opinions – something we always look forward to after a good movie. We couldn’t imagine anyone else but Paul Giamatti in this role.

The Rave Review rated this film a 3 out of 5.

Coco Before Chanel

This was an interesting French film with English subtitles directed by Anne Fontain and based on the life of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel (played brilliantly by one of our favorites Audrey Tautou). It is an informative biography based on the book by Edmonde Charles-Roux (Coco avant Chanel) that chronicles the events in her life that helped to inspire her now famous clothing designs. The cinematography is lovely, and the costume design is great.

We were mostly entertained with the story, although there really isn’t a lot of action. Her life is movie-worthy because it is a classic tale of rags to riches.  Parentless and raised in an orphanage in France, Coco was a survivor from the beginning. Her single-mindedness was her survival in the end.

She was a stand-out in the European fashion world of her time. With her unyielding confidence and determined personality she was able to convince post-Victorian women to scale down their flowery affectations, minimize their ruffles, bows and feathers and still be feminine. It was a monumental accomplishment that was the beginning of an elegant and minimal style that has become synonymous with her name.

It was a surprisingly entertaining film.

The Rave Review rated this movie 3 out of 5.

City Island

Yes! Finally, a movie we can sink our teeth into! City Island directed by Raymond de Felitta is a wonderfully entertaining movie about an Italian working class family who could be any of us.

Andy Garcia plays Vince Rizzo, a correctional facility guard in New York’s City Island. He discovers one of the inmates is his son – at 20, he had walked out on his mother before he was born. He is due for release but must be released to family so Vince decides to atone for his past, and bring him into the family. Initially, he doesn’t share the truth about his son, Tony Nardella (played by Stephen Strait) with his family; this being one of many secrets he withholds. Add to this a secret acting class each week because he dreams of becoming an actor, and smoking out the bathroom skylight because his wife doesn’t know he still smokes!

We soon discover that like any normal, mildly dysfunctional family, there are a number of secrets just below the surface of this loveable cast. Julianna Marguiles plays Joyce Rizzo who portrays the tough Italian wife and mother in a tender, vulnerable light that reveals much about her and Vince’s relationship. British actor Emily Mortimer plays Vince’s friend Molly.

Ezra Miller plays Vince Jr. and keeps the laughs coming every time he speaks. A quirky, odd, teenager whose one liners directed at his sister Vivienne (Dominik Garcia-Lorido) were clever and hysterical. When he was in the scene, the dialogue was quick and witty.

This is a wonderful story, much like Little Miss Sunshine in that normally shocking incidents are presented so carefully and by family members that are so loveable, you find yourself laughing anyway. We rooted for the family as the web of secrets got more and more intricate and we knew things would come crashing down.

Eventually, the story plays out as it should, and the secrets are all revealed in a scene that will make you laugh and cry simultaneously. As it came to an end, we realized we had been thoroughly entertained by the Rizzo Family for almost two hours.

The title, City Island is an oxymoron. To us, city implies the busy energy of people intersecting and co-existing, while island evokes images of isolation. The symbolism of this title (City Island really does exist by the way) is very clever – the secrets keep the family members isolated from each other and they all continue their daily lives together but  alone because of their secrets. Once out on the table, the revealed secrets bring them together and they begin their new authentic and crazy lives with an intersecting city-like energy.

A Rave Review loved this movie and rated it 4 out of 5.

The Changeling

Thankfully, the Angelika Theater has comfortable seats and fabulous popcorn. At 2 hours and 40 minutes, this week’s movie was a bit of a marathon. The Changeling (directed by Clint Eastwood) is based on a true story and stars Angelina Jolie as Christine Collins, putting forth a moderately convincing portrayal of a single mother whose son is abducted. It is set in the late 1920’s in Los Angeles and no detail is spared. Impressive streetcar scenes set in a faded color palette feature a glimpse of days gone by. Jolie’s wardrobe is stunning 20’s as is her hair and makeup. We found her performance a bit stiff at times, and her emotional ranges to be less than we had hoped for, but overall, she was good.

John Malkovich plays Reverand Gustav Briegleb who emerges as the strength behind the historic battle Mrs. Collins wages against the LAPD.  Though the reality of this woman’s struggle was incredible, we felt the enormous odds she faced were somehow lost in translation. We didn’t feel a real connection with any of the characters, so as a result, pivotal moments of the story that called for a big reaction went by quietly.

In the end, the movie was engaging and entertaining as a whole experience. Though it is long, we were not checking our watches or getting fidgity which is always a good sign. We rated this movie an average of 3 to 4 out of 5.

Catfish

This weeks film Catfish was a surprise to us all. We try to read as little as possible before we go to the movies to ensure we have open minds. Not everyone does this, but we would like to suggest you do just that for Catfish.

We are not going to tell you anything about the story. But definitely go and see the film. It is thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate. It is a disturbing true story that is revealed piece by piece in a very creative yet pragmatic way. It will stay with you for days after you see it.

Directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost and features a dramatic turn of events in the life of Ariel’s brother Yaniv whose engaging and witty personality gives the movie its very human center.

Everyone will find something to take from this story. The Rave Review loved it and rated it 4 out of 5.

Cairo Time

We have all emerged from our respective summers of fun and re-entered the world of cinema. We were thrilled to be back at the Angelika Film Center in Plano where we dined on our favorite theater snacks - soda and popcorn.

Perhaps we were fidgety after our busy summer activities but Cairo Time starring Patricia Clarkson was a slow moving, quiet film that left us wanting something more.

Written and directed by filmmaker Ruba Nadda, Cairo Time was set against the beautiful backdrop of Cairo Egypt where Nadda allowed the visual and audio delights of the city to seduce the viewer. The loud, hot bustling city was colorful and one could almost smell the street foods wafting through the crowded alleyways.

Patricia Clarkson plays Juliette Grant who arrives in Cairo to meet her husband who is a diplomat so bogged down with work he has to send his friend – Cairo native Tareq to pick her up at the aiport. While waiting for her husband to arrive, Juliet attempts to discover the city on her own. We found it surprising that she, as an educated woman and wife of a career diplomat, wouldn’t know how to dress in a Muslim city. Was this an intentional move of the director to show her as naïve? It didn’t seem possible to us that a woman would be so unprepared. As a result, she casually strolls through the city streets in sleeveless, low cut tops and skirts – baring her skin in a culture that is not used to seeing it. Of course, she invites some unwanted approaches from the local men and finally has to recruit Tareq to accompany her on her sightseeing trips.

Juliette is a quiet and seemingly introspective woman. After two achingly frustrating weeks of waiting, she starts to realize that she is really enjoying Tareq’s friendship and though it isn’t obvious; a chemisty is brewing.

We believe the movie’s title was a hint of the way things are in Cairo – pretty slow. If you like a snail’s pace romantic drama that pairs two distinctly different cultures as the main thrust of the story line, then you will enjoy this film.

Tareg was played by Alexander Siddig and we found him to be quite charming and vulnerable. His portrayal of a single man falling in love with a married American woman was deeply touching.

Though lovely cinematography, the story didn’t keep us engaged and so we rate this film a 2 out of 5.

Broken Embraces

This week’s film by Pedro Almodovar was a long, complex film that was entertaining on the surface but upon review, revealed much more than we thought.

Broken Embraces stars Almodovar’s favorite actress Penelope Cruz, the one he has been quoted as saying, “brings out the best in me as a director”. She also starred in his critically acclaimed Volver. She plays Lena, a woman trying to move beyond her life as a prostitute and finds her escape via rich business man Ernesto Martel. He binds their union with a financial gift that helps prolong her father’s cancer ridden life; she is indebted to him. Their love is an obsession for him and an obligation for her. When he grudgingly allows her to audition for a role in a film, she takes that fateful step that will lead her away from him. Her instant chemistry with the film’s director Mateo Blanco will complicate all of their lives. Sensing this, Ernesto has his ill-regarded son Ray-X follow her and video her every move.

The film becomes a movie within a movie and there is so much symbolism and irony that you must pay close attention to watch it unfold. We were engaged and impressed with the story and it’s clever twists. The love affair between Lena and Mateo  was passionate and real. Having said that, we did notice there was a distinct lack of emotion for such an emotional plot line. All the ingredients were there – lust, obsession, betrayal, revenge – however, they were presented superficially and the ensuing emotions were so subtle that we found it surprising.

We did enjoy the movie, however, it was a little on the long side.

We rated this film 31/2 out of 5. 

The Boys Are Back

After viewing the trailer for The Boys Are Back last week, we prepared ourselves for battle by bringing ample supplies of tissues for what looked like a real tear-jerker. Though it is desperately sad at points, The Boys Are Back is a modern and positive look at one man’s struggle of single parenthood.

Clive Owen plays Joe Warr, who finds himself suddenly widowed and father to young Arty – brilliantly acted by newcomer Nicholas McAnulty. As they stagger through the first few weeks of grief together, we see a father who is open and honest enough to see that his son has his own cycles of sadness that play out very differently than his own. Director Scott Hicks gives us ample love, warmth, and fun in this chaotic house where almost anything goes. As in Snow Falling on Cedars, Hicks makes the environment play a major role in the film. The Australian countryside and sounds of its nature are a constant soothing, thematic backdrop to the story.

So the main conflict isn’t just the struggle of father and son after the loss of mom. The introduction of another son from his first marriage gives Joe Warr his real challenge. I don’t think he spends much time at all worrying about his own needs. He spends his time and energy rediscovering his first son and watching a new relationship grow between him and Arty.

So, a new family emerges and though there are many obstacles (won’t ruin the story) and a lot of emotional baggage to unpack, the honesty in the film is touching and the journey worth watching. You should bring tissues but probably 1 or 2 will do.

The Rave Review rated this movie 3 out of 5.

Black Swan

A wonderfully creepy, thrilling film that presents reality as it reflects art. Or is it art reflecting reality? Either way, the viewer is captivated with a story that reveals human natures most terrifying weaknesses…

Natalie Portman plays Nina Sayers, a prima ballerina in New York City who is almost imprisoned by her perfectionism. Her obsession with reveals itself in hours of practice both in and out of the studio, her dysfunctional relationship with her over-involved mother, her anxiety induced self scratching, and her isolation from the rest of the dance company. It is dance, dance, dance morning, noon and night. Her technical prowess is enviable, but she is so detached from reality that finding emotion in her performance is difficult if not impossible.

Thomas Leroy plays Vincent Cassel, the director that casts Nina in the leading role of The Swan. He knows she can dance the technical portion of the White Swan but uses his sexual powers with the leading ladies to drive her to discover her inner sexual self and unleash it for the dark performance of the Black Swan. She must be uninhibited to convince the audience she is the evil Black Swan.

As she loses herself in the quest to find her inner black swan, she is also feeling pressure from a new dancer on the scene who could potentially steal her role as the Swan. Lily, played by Mila Kunis has what it takes to emote the Black Swan and as Nina learns more about Lily, she allows herself to be seduced by her darkness.

Watching Portman unravel from uptight, perfectionist ballerina is like watching a train wreck; you want to turn away but don’t want to miss a moment.

Winona Ryder surprised us as Leroy’s previous leading Swan who after a horrific car wreck lies virtually useless in a hospital bed. Portman visits her on a couple of occasions to pay her respects and is horrified at her loss of dance. The thought of losing that and having nothing is more than she can bear.

It is directed by Darren Aronofsky who gave us the Wrestler. Another glimpse into the mind of an obsessive athlete who will not stop at perfection even when faced with the loss of his life.

The Rave Review loved this movie and gave it a 5 out of 5.

Babies

If you like babies and are the least bit interested in watching some of their major milestones in their first year – this film will surely entertain. The added enjoyment comes from the comparison of these milestones across the world as we watch four babies grow up simultaneously in Japan, Namibia, San Fransisco, and Mongolia.

The film has a wonderful musical score as backdrop to some tender, humorous, and most fascinating visual scenes of babies just being babies. The lack of narration adds to the enjoyment of this film because it allows the viewer to scan the scenes at will and enjoy all the adorable moments that come from watching babies.

Children will also enjoy this film but should be warned in advance of the nudity in the Namibian scenes. It is a reality in that part of the world and the director Thomas Balmes honest look at babies in their habitats will educate everyone. We enjoyed the obvious comparisons of babies, but also were intrigued with differences in mothering and it prompted a lengthy discussion about hands-on versus hands-off parenting styles around the world.

We rated this film 3 to 4 out of 5 because the babies are all adorable and the director was bright enough to end the film when the story ended at 78 minutes which makes it a brief and entertaining snapshot.

An Education

After several weeks of trailors and lots of review buzz in the newspapers, we finally got to see An Education, directed by Lone Scherfig, based on Lyn Barber’s memoir and starring relative newcomer Carey Mulligan (Pride and Prejudice) . Mulligan plays Jenny, a bright and somewhat rebellious private school girl coming of age during in 1960’s England. Her parents want her to attend Oxford University upon graduation and like some parents of today, are intently focussed on building her resume so she can look the part – complete with cello lessons and Latin classes. Her daydreams while listening to French music are, among other things, to speak French, to “visit Paris and wear black” and are seen as ridiculous by the father (superior performance by long time character actor Alfred Molina with over 100 films to his name) who “only wants what is best” for his daughter.

When an older man ( David played creepily by Peter Sarsgaard) enters the picture and sweeps her and her parents off their feet, Jenny is challenged to stay the course as her parents want, or jump ship for a life of fine dining and travel and perhaps a more enjoyable and valuable education. A plot twist that turns everything on its head reveals itself midway.

This film is both funny and touching. Mulligan is wonderful as the dutiful daughter who struggles to please her parents. She is also able to stretch and dress the part of a beautiful young woman out for a night on the town with an older man. Her acting range in the story is enormous and impressive – from teenage temper tantrums to elegant woman– each equally convincing. She definitely stole the show.

Emma Thompson plays the private school Head Mistress. Her role is brief but powerful.

All said, it was a very entertaining 110 minutes with an excellent soundtrack featuring Ray Charles, Mel Torme and Percy Faith.

A Rave Review loved the film and gave it a 4 out of 5.