Dan in Real Life

“Dan in Real Life” surprised me. I wasn’t expecting much and I ended up really liking this “small” film. It’s well written, directed and acted and has a message about family that we could all use being reminded about.

It’s written and directed by Peter Hedges so it shouldn’t have surprised me. He also wrote “Pieces of April,” “About a Boy,” and “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” — all “small” films with great drama and wonderful stories. If you haven’t seen these three films please do — they are all great (Hedges received a screenwriting Oscar for “About a Boy”). All of his films are tender dramas about family and the struggles that come with being in a family.

“Dan in Real Life” is no different. It’s the story of a single dad raising three girls who also happens to write a syndicated self-help column. The problem is he can’t seem to help himself when it comes to getting over the death of his wife. The story takes place over one weekend at his parents house for a family holiday and touches on subjects like finding love, letting go, forgiveness and coming of age.

John Mahoney and Dianne Wiest are great as Dan’s parents and Juliette Binoche is amazing as the love interest. Dan is played by Steve Carell in a semi-serious role that reminds me of Robin Williams’ first dramatic role in “Dead Poets Society” and Jim Carrey in “The Truman Show”. Carell is good and at times wonderful. He is at his best when he adds that slight touch of humor to the dramatic scene and the shower scene is something you won’t forget.

The story is rushed a bit in the film and some all too convenient plot devices are used to keep things going, otherwise I would be raving even more about this film. If you want a great, romantic film for date night or a touching drama for the family to watch “Dan in Real Life” won’t disappoint. If you are one of those dads who only has daughters this is a must see!!

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Film’s website: http://video.movies.go.com/daninreallife

The Kite Runner

I loved this film. Plain and simple. I have not read the book, so I came into the film fresh without expectations and I walked away moved to the point that I have been thinking about the story for days. It’s that strong. It’s a story about redemption, fear, family, religion and politics. It’s told through the eyes of great characters who make a very controversial topic human and allow the viewer to connect to a culture and world that they might be unfamiliar with.

Why did it work? For starters, director Marc Forster is spot on with everything. This is the same director that brought us “Finding Neverland” and “Monster’s Ball” – two films that I loved as well. He has a great ability to make melodramatic films in a subtle way that showcases great acting and writing. Most directors would have allowed a film like “The Kite Runner” to go over the top, but Forster remains restrained with his actors and camera work resulting in a very personal film about some very difficult topics. His restraint on the physical and sexual abuse is a perfect example. We get the point, are repulsed but not made to feel uncomfortable. Why he didn’t receive more acclaim for his work is beyond me.

I also liked the choice to use subtitles and keep the native Afghan language when the story is set in Kabul. I find it annoying when I’m supposed to be watching a movie about a foreign culture and everybody speaks English. This choice adds an authenticity to the film.

Finally, the acting is quite good. The young actors that play the two young boys are absolutely amazing. I was particularly moved by Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada who plays young Hassan – his eyes were the most expressive I have seen on screen in years. Khalid Abdalla is strong as Amir but Homayoun Ershadi steals the scene every time he shows up on screen. Playing a very proud, astute yet strict father he is able to show a soft side to a very angry character.

This is a film to see. A film that will make you think. It’s political. It’s emotional and it’s a great story.

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Film’s website: http://www.kiterunnermovie.com

I am Legend

This film disappoints. It just doesn’t live up to the hype and to what it could have been. I expect Will Smith action films to be non-stop and bigger than life, but this film just wasn’t that. It has to live up to the standard set by the original (The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston) and it can’t. Why? I blame the director.

Hollywood is too quick to give the helm of major films to music video directors and films like this are the result; all style and no substance. Francis Lawrence makes a mess of what could have been a good film by spending too much time showing us how great the sets are and how spectacular he can shoot a chase scene and forgets to tell a decent story. He ignores pacing and basic storytelling which results in a slow paced, rather thin film…. sounds a lot like a music video, doesn’t it?

Lawrence tries to use flashbacks to keep us interested in Will Smith’s character and to make-up for the lack of other characters in the first two-thirds of the film, but the flashbacks only provide shallow back story and reveal nothing that we don’t already know about our lead character. Then he commits a mortal sin — the main character begins to act against his own character and starts doing things that have you scratching your head. For a character that is supposed to be very smart, Smith misses huge signs indicating what is happening around him. I blame the director for this because the signs are there — which means the screenwriter put them into the story but Lawrence either ignored them or was too obsessed with his sets to care.

In the end it’s not a bad rental but in the hands of a more talented director (maybe one who understands story!!) this could have been a great film.

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Film’s website: http://iamlegend.warnerbros.com/

There Will Be Blood

Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic adaptation of Upton Sinclair’s novel is a movie everyone should see. This is a film that showcases one of the best actors alive today in Daniel Day-Lewis. His performance has got to be considered one of the all-time best. At times, I felt as if I was watching a one-man play, but in a good way. Day-Lewis is mesmerizing as the morally confused Daniel Plainview and he makes watching a movie with a slow plot as exciting as can be.

Day-Lewis is not the only actor who deserves kudos. Young Dillon Freasier pulls off a haunting performance as Day-Lewis’ son and Paul Dano is disturbing as the preacher Eli Sunday. Watching all three of these actors work is like watching an amazing theater troupe perform on stage.

I also love films that are beautifully shot. Robert Elswit paints a wonderful landscape with his camera as he captures turn of the century California. He keeps the film dark by playing with the shadows rather than just under-lighting the scene. There is a richness to this film that harkens back to the glory black and white film days, but Elswit does it with color so when the derrick erupts in flames the amber glow is incredible.

While the acting, writing, cinematography and directing is superb the film is long and might not be for everyone. If you like films that never stop moving, with constant action and an electric pace, “There Will Be Blood” is not for you. This is a contemplative film that asks the audience to dive head first into such heavy questions as what is the nature of religion, greed, family and community. The story lines can be confusing, the characters are very complex and the resolutions unclear, but if you are willing to stick it out the powerful messages of Anderson’s artful script will be with you for days.

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Film’s website: http://www.therewillbeblood.com

August Rush

This is a film that I wanted to love, that had all the elements there for me to love, but in the end disappointed me. Why didn’t I love it? I’m not sure director Kirsten Sheridan knew exactly what film she wanted to make since there are so many story lines and characters that get introduced but never fully developed. Is this film about the unbreakable bond between child and parents, or finding one’s true love, or following one’s passion, or fixing the foster care system or something else? With so many characters and story lines no one gets to be developed deep enough to connect with the audience. It’s a shame because there are some very strong performances here. Young Freddie Highmore as the musical prodigy is very strong, Robin Williams is his usual self as a crazy-homeless “Fagin” and Terrence Howard provides a great supporting performance as a concerned social worker. What I didn’t like were the performances by Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers who play the boy’s parents. They seem to be whining and grimacing throughout the film and tend to be too reactionary as characters.

The plot also seems to be too random. Too many times in the film events would happen to push the story forward that had me and my wife asking, why and how? Whether this was an issue with the screenplay or the directing I’m not sure, but it makes watching the film difficult. It’s a shame, since the idea of this film is wonderful and the cast had the potential to make it great, but the execution falls short of the mark.

It’s not a bad rental on a slow night, mainly because it’s a feel-good movie that is very family friendly.

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Film’s website: http://augustrushmovie.warnerbros.com

This is England

“This is England” is a film-gem that I discovered thanks to Netflix. It’s a brilliant, powerful and disturbing film with amazing acting and great storytelling. Writer/director Shane Meadows delivers a “small” film that touches so many emotional nerves while at the same time restraining himself so as not to overdue it.

The story follows a 12-year old British boy as he deals with the death of his father in the Falkland war and tries to find his place in 1983 English society. Eventually, he finds friendship, family and love with a group of Skinheads and the journey is nothing short of incredible. Meadow’s POV on the ills of modern English society and politics are on display here (it’s based on his own experiences) but he doesn’t let his own politics get in the way of telling a great story. The film will make you laugh, cry and shout at the screen as you follow young Shaun’s story – played brilliantly by Thomas Turgoose. He leads an amazing cast that defies stereotypes and actually makes you care about racist, angry skinheads.

If you loved films like “The Commitments” or “In the Name of the Father” this is the type of film you will love. It’s a great example of independent filmmaking at its best. Too bad it didn’t receive a wider release in the United States but thanks to Netflix it’s available now.

Rating: 1/2

Film’s website: http://www.thisisenglandmovie.co.uk/

21

“21” is a new drama based on the true story of how some MIT students conquered Vegas in a card counting scheme that reaped them millions of dollars. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t live up to the success of its real life characters by falling into all too familiar cliches and predictable storylines. The acting is relatively good but the film lacks a standout performance to carry the drama. I think that is what is most disappointing since two of my favorite actors, Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne, are in this film but their characters are mostly in the background. Instead, screenwriters Peter Steinfeld and Alan Loeb focus on the antics of the students who we never really get to know or care about. Four of the students might as well not be there since we never learn a single thing about them. The main character (Ben Campbell played by Jim Sturgess) carries the storyline but we never care about him since we don’t spend much time learning what motivates him. Is he just a poor kid trying to make a buck? Sorry, but that doesn’t get me too interested. There has to be more back story and motivation to get me to care about this guy. The cliche love interest played by Kate Bosworth is equally frustrating. Why is she even in this film if we don’t get a chance to get to know her? Robert Luketic direction is capable, but a far more courageous vision would have delved deeper into the romantically dangerous allure of gambling and how it can destroy lives and relationships. More emphasis on Spacey and Fishburne’s backstory could have given this film a much deeper dramatic story and connected it to the student’s obsessions, but Luketic plays it safe and in the end makes a film that is ok to watch, but leaves the viewer wanting so much more. Wait for the DVD on this one.

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Film’s website: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/21/

Into the wild

I missed this film in the theaters and couldn’t wait to watch it on DVD when it came out. While I did enjoy the film, I was somewhat under whelmed which may be because this is a “big” film that loses some of its appeal on the small screen, but I think it’s because of some sloppy storytelling.

First, however, I did love a couple of things. The acting is amazing. Why this film did not get nominated for more acting awards is beyond me. Emile Hirsch is wonderfully subdued as the idealist, thoughtful, yet troubled young Chris McCandless. While Hal Holbrook received most of the praise for his supporting role I found that Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker’s performances as a hippie couple mesmerizing. All of the acting was subtle, powerful and delicate, not surprising since the film is directed by just such a great actor, Sean Penn.

I also found the cinematography beautiful. Instead of going for the glamour nature shots, Eric Gautier, goes for more of a natural, gritty feel that adds an element of tension to the film. All too often Hollywood films go for a look that is too vibrant and melodramatic rather than real. It’s nice to watch a film that pays homage to the beauty of the locations rather than trying to manipulate it.

So what didn’t work? Well, Penn seemed to be enamored with a romanticized version of McCandless. Maybe this is exactly what this guy was like, but as a leading character in a film some changes were needed. He is set up to be this incredibly intelligent, over-achieving young man who then makes a couple of very dumb decisions that lead to his death. This is where I lost the film. It was already getting long in the tooth and beginning to drag about two-thirds of the way through when McCandless’ character makes two decisions which seem out of character and ultimately lead to his death. I’m not questioning that someone in his position wouldn’t make these bad decisions, but the character in the film was set-up in a way that they seemed totally out of character. This is where Penn’s romanticized vision comes into play. I get the feeling that Penn didn’t want to dive into the dark side, or impulsiveness, of McCandless’ character which could have cast the lead as a less-than romantic figure. As a result, the climax of the film is weakened when, as viewers, you stop and ask “why didn’t he just…” Never something you want your audience asking at the end of a film. Despite the awkward ending, this film is worth watching for the acting and cinematography alone.

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Film’s website: http://www.intothewild.com/

Feast of Love

What happened with this movie? How can a film with such great acting (I’ll watch Morgan Freeman do anything!) be so disappointing? Maybe this is one of those films that tried too hard to adapt a book that just wasn’t going to make a good film (see Stephen King’s “It”) or director Robert Benton lost his way in the editing room. Either way, this is a frustrating film to watch.

The first third of the film tests your best puzzle-solving skills as you never know where you are in the film’s timeline. People are meeting, sleeping together, getting married, and getting divorced so quickly you never know how much time has passed. It’s even confusing watching the sex scenes because it’s not clear, at first, who is sleeping with whom. I know one of the themes of this movie is about finding one’s sole mate, but when you confuse the audience to the point of laughter (that’s what happened in my house) it just doesn’t work.

Once the film settles down and all the characters meet their sole mates, the story is actually good. Why? Because the assemble cast delivers a great performance. Freeman is great but so is Greg Kinner as a hapless romantic, Radha Mitchell as a cold adulteress and Toby Hemmingway as a doomed lover. Two performances of note here are given by Alexa Davalos and Jane Alexander who play strong women struggling to overcome loss. Both are subtle, yet powerful performances.

If not for the great acting and strong ending in this film I wouldn’t give it a single projector, but on a slow day with nothing else to do, it might make an ok rental.

Rating: 1/2

Film’s Website: http://www.feastoflovefilm.com/

Crazy Love

Crazy Love is a crazy documentary that will leave your jaw dropping after the final credits roll on by. This is the type of film that gets you thinking, “there’s no way that happened” and then proves you wrong. The true ending is so messed up that you have to think it’s all made up — but, alas, it’s all true and that’s the power of this film.

Having made nearly 20 documentaries when a doc film really surprises me I know it’s been well made. Director Dan Klores crafts an amazing tale of love, angst, terror, betrayal and just plain weirdness as well as any documentary since Sherman’s March. He leads us through a confusing, yet, engaging narrative that one moment has you thinking you’re watching a love story and the next moment, a horror film.

Of course, a documentary is only as good as it’s characters and how can you beat Burt and Linda? They’re both straight out of central casting circa 1960 and their relationship could have easily been a noir film directed by John Huston (think Edward G. Robinson and Jane Greer in the lead roles).

The interviews are intimate and the stock footage/newsreels are used just enough to take us back in time, but not too much so that we feel like we are watching a historical film. Klores gives us just enough information at just the right times to keep us motivated and interested in these two colorful characters and leaves the biggest surprise for the final third of the film so we’re surprised at the end.

This is a great film that will keep you talking for days.

Rating: 1/2

Film Website: http://www.crazylovefilm.com/