A Mighty Wind

A Mighty Wind (2003) - Review
I don't know if anyone else makes movies like Christopher Guest makes, but nobody makes them better. I don't know of anyone who wields the scalpel of satire with such a gentle, human touch. This film is the most recent of his masterpieces, the other two being Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. He's taken the format of Rob Reiner's legendary This is Spinal Tap and made it his own unique art form. Props also to Eugene Levy who has co-written and starred in all three of Guest's aforementioned efforts.

I use the term "written" loosely because Guest and Levy only write the story; the dialog is improvised by the cast. I just found this out while watching the DVD commentary (Guest and Levy). This bit of information only enhances my appreciation of these films. In A Mighty Wind, not only do the cast members make up their own lines, they also perform the music themselves. The songs themselves were written by cast members and arranged by John Michael Higgins. (If you saw Best in Show, he was the non-Michael McKean gay guy.) Phenomenal.

Can't say enough about the performances of Levy and Catherine O'Hara. They are hilarious but poignant as the emotional heart of the film. O'Hara learned to play autoharp (I know! Hilarious!) for this film and looked like a virtuoso to me.

In one sitting I watched the film, watched it again with commentary, then watched the video footage of the concert. I really do have a life. Really.

I don't know why I can't give this film a 5. Maybe I'm like The Acadamy... comedies just can't win Best Picture. I dunno. As much as I love this film, it just doesn't feel right to give it a 5.

(out of 5)

The Piano

The Piano (1993) - Review
I saw this when it came out because it was one of those "must see" films. I enjoyed it back then but thought it was just a bit over-hyped and not all THAT great. After seeing it again, I've changed my mind. I don't give out 5's lightly, but this film is so solid in every regard, I have to rank it with the best films I've ever seen.

The screenplay and direction - both by Jane Campion - are sublime. The screenplay is interesting in that the main character, Ada (Holly Hunter) doesn't say a word on camera. Two of the other main characters (those played by Harvey Keitel and Sam Neill) are rather the strong silent types. Anna Paquin, as Ada's daughter, delivers a superb (and relatively verbose) performance - perhaps the best I've ever seen by a 10-year-old.

Large chunks of the story are driven by the actions of the characters, as well as color/light, setting, and music. The haunting score (by Michael Nyman) feels like it's a character in the film. No surprise that it's almost entirely piano pieces, but I was surprised to learn that Holly Hunter actually played most of the on-camera stuff herself.

It occurs to me that films with the word "piano" in the title are a pretty good bet. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking of The Pianist and The Piano Teacher.

While watching this film, I was complaining to my sweetie that the actors certainly weren't trying very hard to approximate a New Zealand accent. Then I realized there probably wasn't such thing as a New Zealand accent back then. In the mid-19th century, Europeans in New Zealand were likely to be recently arrived settlers from the British Isles, so the Scottish and British accents in the film are probably accurate.

If you're reading this and haven't seen The Piano, you really must see it. It is not to be missed.

(out of 5)

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge (1952) - Review
Where the more recent Moulin Rouge! is a shamelessly treacly romance set around the eponymous turn-of-the-century Paris club and infused with modern pop music video sensibilities, this Moulin Rouge is a gorgeously filmed character study based on the life of one of the era's superstars, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Once again I was richly rewarded by my lowered expectations. We all know how I feel about the modern version. I got this one thinking it would make my sweetie happy and I'd probably find it to at least be interesting. As the opening credits came up, I saw John Huston was the director. That upped the ante a bit. The first half hour or so was set in the Moulin Rouge... presumably a typical evening. Lot's of cancanning, drinking, catfighting, horrible Zsa Zsa Gabor lipsynching. Several of the scenes were obviously (and delightfully) set up to resemble Toulouse-Latrec's paintings.

Then things get interesting as we follow José Ferrer (as Toulouse-Latrec) around. He falls in love in a fashion that can only end painfully, and it does. He drinks. He exhibits an endearing non-judgmental attitude and humanity. Someone actually loves him for real and he rejects her. He drinks. He dies.

The story, my flip accounting aside, is engaging. Part of the reason it's so engaging is the almost unbelievable beauty of the filming and setting. I've never seen a print of a film this old that looked so clean. Not surprisingly it won Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color) and Best Costume Design (Color), along with a fistful of nominations for the acting.

This is maybe the best film I've ever seen that I had pretty much never heard of until I saw it.

Here's a delightful twist: There is a story thread throughout the first and second acts wherein the artist develops and prints his first promotional poster for the Moulin Rouge.



Thanks to my sweetie and her longtime fascination with all things fin-de-siècle Paris, a print of that poster is hanging on our wall. Sweet.

(out of 5)

Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Review
This is good, but never as good as I remember. Definitely classic and entertaining but I don't find it as satisfying as It's a Wonderful Life. I will say that little Natalie Wood is going to be a big star someday.

(out of 5)

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - Review
Duh.

(out of 5)

Ray

Ray (2004) - Review
It's really all been said, hasn't it? I don't think anybody didn't like this movie. I don't know anyone who doesn't like Ray Charles' music, and this film is full of it. Unless you've been under a rock, you already have heard that Jamie Foxx nailed his portrayal of the legend. I think so too. Roger Ebert says it in the review I link to above: "Foxx so accurately reflects my own images and memories of Charles that I abandoned thoughts of how much 'like' Charles he was and just accepted him as Charles, and got on with the story." That was my reaction too. I had to remind myself that that wasn't Ray Charles on the screen.

Now I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing Walk the Line.

(out of 5)

White Stripes: Under Blackpool Lights

White Stripes: Under Blackpool Lights (2004) -
"I've been thinkin' about my doorbell... when ya gonna ring it? When ya gonna ring it?"

You either love The White Stripes, you like them a whole lot, or you've never heard of them. This is a little over an hour of concert footage recorded in early 2004. There was only one song I'd heard before ("Seven Nation Army") but I was rapt the entire hour. It is so rare to see originality anymore, but I think this qualifies. The White Stripes are Jack White (vocals, guitar, keyboard) and his ex-wife, Meg White (on bouncy drums and the occasional sort of backing vocal). In other words, it's Jack White. And the man is insane in the sublimest ways.

If you've never heard them, here are links to a couple of their recent performances on The Daily Show. Under videos, it's "The Denial Twist" and "My Doorbell" you're after.

If that doesn't work, try videos at mp3.com. Look under "Videos".

If I were younger, I'd be a groupie.

(out of 5)

Miracle

MIracle (2004) - Review
This was a rather serviceable accounting of events leading up to and including the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" - the highly improbable victory of the United States Olympic hockey team against the way more talented Soviet Union team. The story focuses on the coach, Herb Brooks, who is almost hauntingly portrayed by Kurt Russell. This was the first time I've seen Kurt play anything other than Kurt Russell.

Not a great movie but if you are old enough to remember Al Michaels' (voiced by himself in the movie) "Do you believe in miracles??", you'll probably find this flick worthwhile. I enjoyed it.

(out of 5)

All the Real Girls

All the Real Girls (2003) - Review

Nice film. Nothing splashy. The story is as old as any - young man and young woman get together, love happens, some other stuff happens. The cinematography is kind of pretty but nothing spectacular. What made this film work for me was the natural dialogue and the way the characters seemed real. This is the way people actually talk to each other. These are the kinds of feelings and events that happen to real people.

I haven't the slightest idea what the title is referring to. Reminds me of All the Right Moves. Now that I think about it, there are some similarities in the two films: Guy trying to get his act together... in this film the mill town is in the south and all about textile instead of steel in Pennsylvania.

You heard it here first: Zooey Deschanel is going to be a big star someday. The woman can act, not to mention sing - check out her duet on Baby, It's Cold Outside with Will Ferrell in Elf.

(out of 5)

Kinsey

Kinsey (2004) - Review

See? I do occasionally watch a semi-current mainstream flick.

I love history so I suppose I'm predisposed to like good biographies. This one appears to be relatively factual and the subject matter is compelling. Liam Neeson does a fine turn as the eponymous scholar who shattered the vestigial illusions of the Victorian era regarding sex. Laura Linney is fabulous as his supportive wife with a distinct personality of her own. Oliver Platt (who I heart) has a smallish but powerful role as president of Indiana University, where Kinsey spends his career.

There is some interesting background at The Kinsey Institute site.

Hats off to a film that highlights the man who showed that sex other than man/woman missionary can't be THAT evil if everyone's doing it.

(out of 5)

The Boondock Saints

The Boondock Saints (1999) - Review

This was a repeat viewing of a much-loved (by me) film. It's a story of self-appointed vigilantes (are vigilantes ever not self-appointed?) in Boston. The violence mixed with humor is reminiscent of classic Tarantino (Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs) and Guy Ritchie (Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). But this film adds a sweet layer of morality against a backdrop of spirituality.

Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus are brothers who "accidentally" find themselves cleaning up crime in Boston. David Della Rocco is pretty hilarious as their sidekick. Willem Dafoe is superb as the FBI agent who comes to town to figure out who's doing all the killing. Billy Connolly - WOOHOO! You'll have to watch to find out who he is.

My sweetie says this is a boy flick but I don't think so. Sure, if one is sensitive to violence then this film might be too much. But the violence is not gratuitous; evil and the fighting thereof is often gruesome. Nah, this is no more a boy flick than Moulin Rouge! is a chick flick.

(out of 5)

Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue (1980) - Review

I like it when filmmakers break the mold and step outside the boundaries of mainstream movies. Dennis Hopper - directing and starring - certainly does that in this film, but for me his effort is undercut by the lack of quality in every aspect. The film's style is "realistic", which in this case just looks cheap. The lead actress, Linda Manz, is either a terrible actress (I've never seen her in anything else), didn't try very hard, or was the victim of misguided direction.

The soundtrack was kinda cool... most of it taken from Neil Young's Rust Never Sleeps.

One of these days I'm going to learn. It seems I should stay away from indie filmmakers who star in their own work. Vincent Gallo is the prime example. Both of his films I've seen - The Brown Bunny and Buffalo 66 - are self-indulgent crapfests. He can't be bothered to enunciate his lines and has a habit of repeating himself for no apparent reason. Anyway... Out of the Blue reminded me too much of those films.

But... most of the reviews I've seen speak rather highly, so what do I know?

(out of 5)