HUGO (2011) movie review

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HUGO!

I thought this movie would be about a boy who wishes a robot to life and journeys to a magical land.

But, this       is not that movie.

Scorsese changes his tune and shoots a children’s flick? Nope…not really.  He does present a film in true 3D. I usually loathe 3D movies – waiting for the trick – when the bug or sword or shield flies out toward a flinching audience. In this, however, you feel that you are in the movie. Characters float in depth. You almost forget you’re watching a movie, let alone a 3D movie.

In fact, you must curb all expectations and see this film with the mind of a movie lover.

This is a film about filmmaking.

Scorsese croons a love song to his art, singing film in the lyric of filmmaker.

Toward the end, I sat stunned…glued… forgetting completely my 3D glasses. Tears streamed my cheeks as I pondered the opus. This  was an operetta of winding gears, of a singular beam of light hitting a screen, of dreams come to life, of magic.

Movie magic. Storybooks left undusted, are breathed upon and revived!

The characters are lovely, memorable. The train station plays the constant character of permanence, despite cataclysm.

Shift & surge, dream & love, but know that this is not about the people; it’s about the projection. It’s not even about the adventure. Odysseus is safely home, recounting the story to Penelope, and inviting us into the dreaming. Story pages lift and float once more.

Blessed Ben Kingsley, like  the automaton, stands in need of awakening. The boy stands as savior in desperate need of saving.

I rarely talk of my own dreams on this blog. I prefer to cuddle safely in the warm blanket of anonymity. But, in truth and blunt honesty, I dream of being a mother. And, that boy Hugo is the son of my dreams.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (2011) movie review

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A new Three Musketeer movie? It must have a new plot!

It doesn’t. The exact story arises in fairer face.

It must be full of adventure and excellent special effects? Oh it is. It’s better than most movies on the Scifi channel.

It must have a stellar cast? It does at that. Orlando plays an unbelievable bad guy. Really. I don’t believe him as the bad guy. The boy brings a bit of redemption. But just when your hope grows, it also deflates.  Suspense builds, but to what end? For me, the end came about thirty minutes in when I’d had enough of Milla Jovovich’s expressionless American accent in France and the pointless musketeer dialogue. Not even the promise of another sword fight could keep me in my seat.

Have you seen the 1987 Rob Reiner comedic masterpiece Princess Bride? Then you’ve heard much of this script. Stolen. Line for line. “Oh, this gate key.”  “…anyone else is trying to sell you something.” “Take Buttercup.” Sure, in this one Buttercup is a horse…

THE BIG YEAR (2011) movie review

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The Big Year for the “birder” is the Olympics for the athlete and the Oscar for the actor.  Highly observant, trail mix toting, feather-frenzied fanatics fight for first. How’s that for alliteration? I know a few closet birders who seize the snapshot whenever possible. Sadly, despite funding the extensive cast list: a zesty Jack black, a punchy Owen Wilson, and a seasoned Steve Martin, not to mention every “funny” person who has walked on and off the set of the Office, bird watching just doesn’t make for an exciting movie.

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (2007) movie review

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Don’t be shocked. Lars is a comfort film.

Cradled in pink hues in a plaid flannel town. Blue collars breathe cold air in a tight-knit community. Society decreased to three spaces in which you shop, work, and worship. Lars is the boy, the brother, the friend. He’s quiet. Comely. He is Ryan Gosling, pre-6-pack. Shock-value lifts and lowers in waves as the “real girl” surfaces. But, it’s not what you think.

Some of my favorite people are in this film: Patricia Clarkson, Paul Schneider, Emily Mortimer.

The script and score lock-step. Comedy reigns. But beyond the realm of filmology, it’s the felt that makes this film – the true and basic element of love from an entire community, love for a boy who grieves and lives a quiet life. They sit, they sing, they pray, they accept, they hope, they grieve, they love. Perhaps all it takes is a casserole to heal a heart. Perhaps that’s real love.

TOWER HEIST (2011) movie review

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It’s funny when all of the characters and scenes in a movie remind you of the funny parts of other movies. In Tower Heist (2011), I kept expecting Ben Stiller to crawl out onto a roof just in time to see a hoopa explode. And, I kept hearing those classic Eddie Murphy SNL moments like “Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood.” And you’ll almost have that Oceans 11 feeling toward the end there, but the visual ka-thunk doesn’t drop with the same sassy beat. Alan Alda‘s character is more reminiscent of the last season of Mash rather than the happy Pierce & Hawkeye first seasons. Casey Affleck whines like Jesse James just got shot, Gabourey Sidibe is not so precious in this one, and Matthew Broderick mopes like a lost Despereaux. I love Tea Leoni. There. I said it. It’s not her fault that her role as shoddy, knowitall, FBI mentor lacked, well, character. I blame Brett Ratner. Does it shock you at all that the same man who made this film also killed off Professor X in XMen3 (2006) and produced Horrible Bosses (2010).

DAN IN REAL LIFE (2007) movie review

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On the subject of music in film, I tend to trust the voice of Jack Black‘s character from The Holiday (2006)

Steve Carell remains the “it” man to cast these days. Despite his beloved go-to Michael Scott character role in The Office,

somehow his peculiar, unpretentious likability as DAN in his “Real” Life supersedes Carell’s usual funny man.

Dan is flawed but funny, jealous but loyal, a dad to three daughters. From the first frame, we’re drawn to him. We empathize with his loss before we know the details. We hear bits and pieces throughout, but we don’t need more. The story is rarely told from the father’s perspective. We hear the daddy issues in every story, but this real life tale shows a lovable Dad’s journey from loss to life. This film is perfectly cast, and the family interactions are priceless and quotable: “This corn is like an angel.” “Why do we keep lighthouses? …Cause they’re neat?” “Put it on my tab.” 
Dan’s story is memorable – the stuff comfort films are made of. I give much of the credit for this to the phenomenal Sondre Lerche, who scored this film.

His songs are ingeniously inlaid throughout, singing what Dan’s character cannot speak, revealing his insecurities, his heart’s palpitations, worries, and fears. This was filmmaker Peter Hedges’ brilliant plan: to make his movie with a built-in soundtrack by one artist, like Simon & Garfunkel did for The Graduate. Sondre gathered ideas from the screenplay, wrote and played music while on set with the actors, developed and pitched tunes and lyrics throughout the project, and recorded continually as the film was being made. Check out the “Handmade Music” featurette to watch him in action behind the scenes.

I met Sondre Lerche at Bumbershoot in Seattle a few years ago and asked him about making the film. He said it was both the hardest and most rewarding thing he’d ever done. He said it was fast-paced and high pressure, but that the outcome was a project that he was truly proud of.  He was able to make his on-screen debut as the hired band in the final scene. Even if you’ve seen it before, watch again with Sondre’s music in mind, and “be prepared to be surprised…”

REAL STEEL (2011) movie review

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A father. A fighter. A boy who needs both. The boy cries out to his father, “I want you to fight for me! That’s all I ever wanted.”

Hubris takes Hugh Jackman‘s character, Charlie, to new lows as pride cometh before each crushing blow. High roller and a bad bet, Charlie takes robots into the boxing ring in the not-too-distant future. A favorite scene overtly nods to Rocky-lore as Jackman dons the grey sweats and hoodie to train for the big match.

This is not a fearfully deep film. Most characters wax one-dimensional. But it is redeeming and well-made.

Spielberg and family film director Shawn Levy (Date Night (2010), Night at the Museum (2006,2009), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), cast a new “Elliott”- a boy without a father who befriends an “alien” and learns to fight for family. Max, the boy, the mentor, the prize, rolls all of his punches into one soulful, Dr. Pepper-selling Beiber-ite. And E.T. to this Elliott is Atom, the ancient sparring robot who mirrors the father figure beautifully until the finale in which they act as one – symbiotically fighting to win back the boy. Ah, to be fought for. I believe it’s what we all want.

BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK (2010)

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In the spirit and trend of The September Issue (2009), we meet Bill Cunningham, at large in NYC. He lives in Carnegie Hall and works for the NY Times, but you’d never know it. He likes it that way. He’d prefer to be invisible. He’s the eyes of the times into all things fashion, and he’d prefer to find the beat on the street where real people wear real clothing. His view is unique and his hunger insatiable. He just loves clothing. You won’t catch him without his camera, now an extension of himself.

Even if you are not a documentary lover, this tribute is delightful. People truly compliment and honor this trustworthy tradesman. His opinions matter, and as he says it, “He who seeks beauty will find it!”

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (2009), in which THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006)

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In what is perhaps Anne Hathaway‘s least hateful role yet, we meet yet another Anne-as-commoner who makes it to the top after a much needed make-over. Oh, Anne. Only this year’s queen is not Julie Andrews imparting elegance, it’s Meryl Streep as the Devil herself. Her every syllable and pursed-lipped glare wields stiletto sharp criticism. Andy finds her inner strength and outer beauty and learns how to integrate the two — powerful weapon. This weekend’s paper grading session began with a well-watched Prada and moved flawlessly into its sister documentary September Issue. Anna Wintour is the true woman of the hour,  the Vogue mogul, and the power behind much of the fashion industry today. She has kept the magazine alive by innovatively adding celebrity power. Not the devil, but cutthroat most certainly.

The necessary human angle in the story came from the former model, Grace Coddington, seemingly Wintour’s friend and foe and long time creative director at Vogue.They were hired the same year and work very closely. Somehow one  maintains her strong turtle shell while the other sports her creative bleeding heart on her sleeve. These two works make a powerful and lovely afternoon pairing. And, just as you learn to love the Devil who slowly sheds her shell, so Anna warms with the watching and inevitably becomes more human – almost likable.

STRANGER THAN FICTION (2006)

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Will Ferrell as the humorless, mathematical tax man. Emma Thompson, the brooding and lifeless wordsmith facing writer’s block. A truly brilliant script analyzing the questions of life and purpose. Is the art more important than the artist? – usually to the artist.
Dustin Hoffman demands: go out and live your life! “…of course that depends on the quality of the pancakes.” Life is precious. Monotonous and mundane may be okay for some, but friendless and fearful is life half-lived. Be counted among the millions who have seen this film, but be one of the few who sees the message and lives it.