Carnage

In this day of obsessive helicopter parents who monitor and attempt to manipulate their children’s every move, Carnage represents an evening of absurdity when two such sets of parents meet to “manage” the aftermath of a  school yard conflict involving their 11 year old sons. And, as the word carnage would imply – there is ultimately, an “emotional” bloodbath of epic proportions.

The massacre takes place at the comfortable Manhattan apartment belonging to the “victim”’s parents – Penelope and Michael Longstreet – played brilliantly and convincingly by Jodie Foster and Michael C Reilly. Their apartment is decorated with artifacts Penelope has collected from her travels around the globe  and seems to convey a message of social consciousness – she is obsessively aware of the plight of third world people and is working on a book to pay homage to their struggles.

The visiting parents are Alan and Nancy Cowan – performances so spot on by Kate Winslet and Christolf Waltz that you will concede to a second viewing of the film because your own hysterical laughter will drown out some of their dialogue. They are a more “professional” couple – she an investment banker and he a pharmaceutical attorney who is married to his cell phone.

Based on a single school incident, Carnage spends 79 minutes in the Longstreets apartment as a well intended apology and resolution takes a turn and evolves into a slaughter where no one will be left standing. The comedy is so dry and the dialogue is so clever that you will find yourself laughing at the absolute absurdity of it all. That a simple meeting of parents could turn into such utter chaos speaks volumes of the dangers of over-involvement in our children’s lives.

The meeting of two sets of parents – one in the mindset of the victim who has been wronged, and the other in the mindset of the criminal who seeks atonement creates a conflict that at it’s core is actually laughable. The convergence of their individual mindsets, the states of their marriages, the emotional baggage they carry, their polar opposite parenting styles create a violent emotional tornado that starts with a soft breeze and ends with almost total destruction. Believe it or not, the journey is hysterical – especially if you have children yourself and can imagine the scenario.

Directed by Roman Polanski, the film was shot entirely on location in Paris, France.

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

Young Adult

Casting Charlize Theron as female lead Mavis Gray in Young Adult was probably one of Jason Reitman’s best decisions for this film. I don’t think any other woman could have been simultaneously so unlikeable and so thoroughly loveable.  Despite being a despicable, shallow, lazy, self centered alchoholic, Theron brings to Mavis and honesty and a pain that is palpable and you find yourself quietly rooting for her to find her way.

After Juno, Up In the Air, and Thank You for Not Smoking comes Young Adult. It is another Diablo Cody adapted film that presents a dark and depressing subject as its main plot line but it is delivered and acted with tenderness, vulnerability and humor.

After a failed marriage, Mavis finds herself schlepping through each day in her filthy apartment, drinking from morning until night as she puts forth little effort to finish the final book  of a teenage novel series her publisher is demanding before he kills it off for good. Depressed and deflated at the state of her love life and career, she finds her happy place way back in her High School memories when she and Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson) were the “it” couple and destined to be together. That never happened. She moved from their small town in Minnesota to the big city of Miineapolis and hadn’t looked back until now.

With the intention of getting Buddy back and finding the happiness she feels life owes her, Mavis heads back to her home town to steal him from his wife and brand new baby. What follows is the unintended journey Mavis takes to discover the truth of her own life, and of Buddy’s life, and it is difficult to watch at times. Reitman cast Patton Oswalt as Matt Frehauf; the stereotypical boy you’d never notice in High School that becomes Mavis’ closest friend and confidante. He , too is battling demons of his own and is also somewhat stuck in the High School mindset but for very different reasons. Their friendship fuels both of their as yet unmet needs and allows them to step out of their pasts and into their present lives.

The story is sad but it is hopeful, it is touching and it is very realistic. The characters were extreme in design but I believe it was necessary to drive home Cody’s story. The trailers persent it as a comedy but let’s be honest; it’s a dark comedy that not everyone will love. A reminder to us all that living in the past can be a prison that is difficult to break free from.

Our group was divided and rated this movie between a 1 and 4 out of 5.

My Afternoons With Marguerite

Back for our 4^th year as A Rave Review, we are happy to return to what we love best – watching movies. One of the most enjoyable films we have taken in over the years was a season opener for us – My Afternoons With Margueritte starring Gerard Depardieu.

My Afternoons is a love story to be sure. But at its core, not a romantic love story but one of the bond that is formed when two people ignore labels and stereotypes and allow themselves to enjoy and experience complete and total acceptance. Watching their relationship grow and invigorate their lives was a special experience and captured memorably by director Jean Becker.

Gerard plays Germain, a simple farmer, deprived of education and the love of his mother, badly scarred from a painful and abusive childhood. Surrounded by friends at night in the pub, and blessed with the love of a young woman (Sophie Guillemin), he continues to live in a trailer in the yard of his mother’s home and tend to the garden daily.

He spends afternoons on a park bench in the town center and watches the pigeons; only to discover one afternoon that 90 year old Margueritte ( Gisele Casidesus) also visits the bench daily and watches the pigeons – has even named them. This common pastime sparks a conversation that ignites a friendship that will change Germain’s  and Margueritte’s  lives forever.

Gisele Casidesus (Margueritte) has acted in over 70 films spanning almost 80 years. Depardieu has an equally impressive repertoire and is arguably one of France’s most decorated actors with 2 Cesar awards for best actor and a multitude of International awards. His career has been colorful and controversial to say the least, and since the mid 60’s he has acted in almost 200 films.

The film is in French with English subtitles, has a charming plot and will entertain most types of moviegoers.

A Rave Review gave this film a 4 out of 5.

The Descendants

Just as the name implies, George Clooney (Matt King) finds himself concerned and consumed with descendants – of his family and of his town. A burden of responsibility that he handles with an honesty and grace that will blow you away.

While simultaneously managing a contentious multibillion dollar family trust fund  and the care of two daughters while his wife is in hospital in a coma, King draws on an honesty and integrity that make him a towering hero in what should be his weakest moments.

As he struggles to reconnect with his daughters he is also struggling to reconnect the people to their land – a family trust fund being the catalyst that will either make his extended family rich – or reconnect the local people with their land – only he has the power to make the decision that will ultimately affect thousands of people.

After learning that his wife was cheating on him, King fights to keep her character in tact, as pristine and untouched as the land he struggling to protect. The parallels of protection are not lost here. It would be easy to sell the land and make his family rich. It would be easy to let the anger of his wife’s betrayal consume him and tarnish her memory for her parents, her friends and her kids. But will he let his greed and his jealousy guide his life?

The story is plausible and it is real. Director Robert Payne (Sideways, Savages)  has confidently placed George Clooney in a role that most could not see him pulling off. But he does it – and he does it well. Flanked by daughters Alexandra played by Shailene Woodley, Scotty (Amara Miller) and her friend Sid (Nick Krause) , King navigates the emotional minefield heartbreakingly well. He is the underdog who draws on his principles. It is rich in character development, The family members are all strong and well defined people on their own and they stand alone beautifully, but more importantly, they play off each other and together even more impressively. Sometimes characters touch us but their choices leave us doubtful – here – their friends, their partners, their parents – all a believable tapestry woven together masterfully.

Without revealing too much, just know that the story will touch even the coldest heart. Closing scenes will stay with you after you leave the movie theater.

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

Two Golden Globes!! Clooney for best actor and Descendants for Best Film.

Melancholia

Well, there isn’t a lot to say about this film that won’t reveal the twisted plot and give away the few treasures that will keep you from walking out before its finished. This is two plus hours of skin crawling tension that gnaws away at your patience like a distant fly buzzing around your head that you can’t seem to swat away.

The double meaning of Melancholia – both the planet approaching earth – threatening it’s future, and the encroaching mental condition and its almost certain next victim are the parallel stories that director Lars Von Trier has expertly crafted.

We were all spellbound by the opening scenes – almost like art coming to life before your eyes. The cinematography is fantastic and continues through the whole film. The colors and the crisp HD images will stick with you long after you give up in exasperation trying to follow the story. The music is memorable as well.

Kirsten Dunst is convincing as Justine, a sister stricken with clinical depression. The story opens on her wedding day and we watch – as our collective blood pressure soars, as she stumbles through the emotionally daunting task.

Charlotte Gainsbourg plays the other sister, Claire who is a ticking time bomb, fending off the signs that she, too, is destined for a life paralyzed by the emotional illness that has all but taken down the family. It seems to be a hereditary illness, we surmise, after Von Trier introduces us to the parents – each profoundly affected by their own forms of mental and emotional disorders.

Keifer Sutherland plays Claire’s husband, John – the only objective and sane one in the bunch. He can see what’s happening here – he has had to step in and help Claire’s sister before. He has had to stand in the background as she takes center stage to his wife’s attention. He knows it is only a matter of time until Justine is stricken with the same illness.

One would think that was enough to be the major story line, but it isn’t. The parallel story that takes center stage is that of newly discovered planet Melancholia which scientists are watching on its orbital path near earth. Most experts doubt that it will hit and obliterate our planet – but of course there are some that think it may. Tension mounts as John checks updates daily on the planet’s orbit, stocks the stables with emergency supplies, and stares frequently through his telescope to check it’s path.

So, as Melancholia (also defined as a mental condition characterized by extreme sadness) approaches – each character hunkers down in a different way for what could be the total obliteration of their lives – forever.