"Yes Men Fix The World" *** (96 minutes)

Friday March 19, 2010

Michael Moore has made his living successfully exposing various corporate/government/individual misdoings ever since he hit the scene with his 1989 brilliant General Motors expose, "Roger & Me". However, over the years, his film making tactics have been controversial & polarizing-especially from the right side of the political spectrum.

What was needed was a somewhat softer approach to illuminate to the majority of the world's populist the evil greed exhibited by a lot of the same targets Moore had in his sights throughout his career. Enter stage right Mick Bonnano (Jacques Servin) & Andy Bichbaum (Igor Vamos)-university professors in real life but here known as The Yes Men.

Off to the historic Senator Theater where Yes Man Mike was hosting their latest-a follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2004 "The Yes Men". This time around, we watch them unleash their resources and energy on Dow Chemical, Halliburton, Exxon, and the U.S Government's Chamber of Commerce and Department of Housing.

We see them in their "office", which is actually a run-down warehouse equipped with a computer and a couple of chairs, as they set-up a fake Dow Chemical website. In 1984, a Union Carbide pesticide plant exploded in Bhopal India-killing over 8,000 and injuring many more. Its long lasting effects can be seen in birth defects that are still occurring today in the populace. As the 20th anniversary of the disaster approached, their idea was to represent Dow Chemical (who bought out Union Carbide in 2001) and, in a breath of corporate fresh air, admit to the wrongdoing by "offering" 12 billion dollars of corporate profits to the victims of Bhopal. That's exactly 12 billion more than was previously offered by the now defunct Union Carbide.

That's where the fake web site comes in. When they were asked to be interviewed by The BBC, they were off and running as Andy, posing as a bogus Dow rep, announced to the world that the corporate giant was ready to make good and come clean by compensating the victims in honor of the 20th anniversary. Needless to say, the stock market didn't approve as the company's position on Wall Street promptly dropped like a piano in a lake.

The point was made that maybe this wasn't such a good idea-that it was a cruel hoax on the Indian victims who were given tons of false hope. However, when they visited Bhopal after being exposed, the Yes Men were actually greeted as heroes by the residents because of the resulting world coverage that served to reinforce the corporation's greed as it continues to refuse to right a terrible wrong.

Next on their agenda was the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We observe them holding a phony press conference at the National Press Club in D.C. after the agency "declares" they are reversing their decision on global warming. It was fun to see Fox News reporting on it throughout the day (raising the old adage that you can't always believe what is being reported).

Another target was the corporate giant Halliburton. Posing as Halliburton execs, they are present at an insurers' conference where they are introducing their latest invention: the Suvivaball (see the poster above) meant to save the inhabitants in the event of any and all catastrophic events. Hilarious. Surely anyone in the audience would catch on, right? Wrong! We see them approached by several attendees, after their bogus demonstration, seeking their business cards.

Another segment shows them at an energy conference in Calgary, Alberta. Now we see Andy as an Exxon rep as he introduces a new biofuel made of Vivoleum-which is supposedly made from the flesh of deceased humans. To illustrate, they pass out the foul smelling candles made of the new substance to the audience. Part of the stunt is stand-up comedian Reggie Watts playing an Exxon janitor who, in a hilarious video presentation, has decided to end his life and donate his body to the project.

They next travel to the Katrina stricken community of New Orleans as they expose the disgusting goings-on by HUD as they "work" to rebuild the damaged region. We see Andy, posing as HUD rep Rene Oswin, announcing that, instead of tearing down untouched public housing, they would actually rebuild for the purpose of bringing back its displaced citizens-much to the chagrin of the independent contractors (and even a noticeably perplexed Mayor Nagin who was present at the news conference). Again, the question was raised as to whether this was more a cruel hoax on the residents than on the government that was there to protect and help them recover.

A final segment shows them preparing to print and distribute a bogus New York Times that proudly declares on its front page "All the news we hope to print". Its headline in bold print: "Iraq War Ends". We see them and their volunteers handing out for free over 100,000 copies to the populace on the streets of New York-who can only hope the news they're reading is true.

One of the more humorous touches were interviews the film makers interspersed throughout with corporate talking heads who are unknowingly being blue screened with outrageous back-drops. And hovering over all of this is the "evil" Milton Friedman (who they labeled "The Guru of Greed"), the Nobel Prize winner who championed free-market economics (who died in 2006).

How effective all this is in the grand scheme of things is left up to the viewer. For me, it was a hoot just watching their intended targets deal with the absurdities of their own actions. We can only hope and pray that a new kind of revolution can be realized to truly institute global change suggested by the antics of The Yes Men.

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At the Q&A, the first question was the most obvious: how were these guys not sued out the Yin Yang or even thrown in jail for their shenanigans. Mike calmly stated that none of what they did was actually illegal-especially compared to what these corporations were doing which , in most instances, were so much more morally criminal. When asked about an update on the end result of the New Orleans Lafitte Housing Project, Mike revealed that HUD moved the residents back in for 3 months, only to move them out and tear it down. Unbelievable. Mike announced that, after many screenings at festivals around the country including its premier at Sundance, this was his last public appearance promoting the film.

Concluding the Q&A, an auction was held to benefit the Maryland Chapter of the Physicians for a National Health Care Program, an organization of over 15,000 physicians, medical students and health professionals who support single-payer national health insurance. Representing the group was Margaret Flowers M.D who was present to explain their national "improved Medicare for all" campaign and the Maryland state single payer bill. To raise money a couple of "Reggie Candles" were auctioned off by Mike (he said they were the last of the lot) and several copies of their New York Times special edition were made available for purchase.

The film is now available on DVD.

Yes Man Mike Bonnano

Producer Jennifer Lopez, Margaret Flowers M.D, & dir. Mike Bonnano

Post-AA Ramblings

Wednesday March 10, 2010

THE SHOW (**)
Overall, Weak with a capital "W"! I'll never get those 3 1/2+ hours back!! From the opening number (in the past this was THE highlight of the AA's) with a lame Neil Patrick Harris, to the botched "In Memoriam" segment (unconscionably leaving out 3 standout deceased stars: Henry Gibson, Bea Arthur, & Farrah Fawcet, who was previously ignored when she unfortunately died on the same day as Michael Jackson), to lack of inclusion of the nominated songs (even though none were even remotely memorable), to the inclusion of a head-scratching interpretive dance number to the Best Score nominees, to the utter lack of a surprise winner, to the lame acceptance speeches, to the . . . well-you get the picture.

THE PLUSES
-Generally I liked the 2 host comedy team of Martin & Baldwin. Maybe they stood out more because of the utter lack of interest the rest of the show provided (see above). Most of the humor brought smiles, if not outright guffaws (although the running gag with Clooney got a little tiresome). I just wanted more of this than was provided as it was too sparsely interspersed throughout. The funniest gag was when Martin took out an aerosol can & sprayed dead the floating "souls" from "Avatar". And the best play on words was when Martin pointed out Helen Mirren saying "there is that damn Helen Mirren" instead of Dame HM. And, Ben Stiller's "Na'vi" takeoff was humorous as well but the original nixed idea (see my Pre-AA Ramblings below) involving a pregnant Baron Sacha-Cohen Na'vi would have been funnier. The best laugh out loud bit was a prerecorded take on "Paranormal Activity" showing the 2 hosts sleeping in bed the night before the show with time lapse video recording the hilarious goings-on.
-I liked how The Academy honored the Best Actors with a chorus of previous winners honoring the nominees for the 2nd year running. However, it comes too late near the end and, I'm afraid too many people missed it by that time.
-For the most part, I loved the results. A great night for the Independents with "The Hurt Locker" & "Precious" leading the way leaving "Avatar" practically in the dust to scrape up 3 minor awards. I would have liked to have seen Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner win the Best Adapted Screenplay for "Up in the Air" (however it was nice honoring an African-American, Geoffrey Fletcher, for the first time), & anyone besides Bullock (the first actor in history to win a Razzie and an AA the same year!), but, for the most part, agreed with the predicted winners. It seemed odd that no great surprise winner came out of the major awards, though, as is usually the case.

AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME- -MAYBE
A suggestion to shorten the thing by eliminating the categories no one cares about such as the technical awards and awards to smaller film categories such as short films & documentaries seems, on the surface, a logical way to go. Except the awardees seem to bring out the most unexpected and entertaining parts of the show. For example, what happened when Roger Ross Williams had just started his acceptance speech for the Documentary Short "Music by Prudence" when he was sabotaged by, we later found out, the disgruntled Producer. (I loved "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart's line that she looked like the lady who runs the snack bar at his synagogue's Purim festival.) Without this "what the hell was that" moment the whole thing would have justly earned a 1-1 1/2 star rating! So, until the producers put on a halfway entertaining show, I'd be hesitant to entirely eliminate these awards.

MOST DISAPPOINTING ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
Most of the speeches were, for the most part, weak & unemotional. However, what really disappointed me was the lack of a passionate, moving speech from "The Cove" recipients. Maybe it was due to the lack of time (the producers were really holding to that 45 second max time limit). The only meaningful moment was the unfurled sign Ric O'Barry tried to get on the air which asked viewers to text "dolphin" with a text number (44144) underneath. The second it appeared the cameras cut away. Oh well-nice try. (But I did read online that O'Barry has received over 50,000 texts and that the important doc will be a series on Animal Planet.)

2ND MOST DISAPPOINTING ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
Mo'Nigue. She showed much more raw emotions at The Golden Globes. She actually seemed angry at the AA podium. Maybe she listened to all the predictions and was more prepared to deliver the speech. However, she did make Baltimore proud.

THE DUDE WOULD BE PROUD
Is it me, or is Jeff Bridges slowly dissolving into The Dude, the character he portrayed in the Coens' "The Big Lebowski"??

THE TRIBUTES
The tribute to horror films was interesting but no great shakes. The other one honoring John Hughes, who died last year, was notable by having the members of The Brat pack there which added to the poignancy. However, neither tribute stood out as particularly memorable as others from past shows had been.

AN AWARD SHOW THAT GETS BETTER EACH YEAR
The Independent Spirit Awards on IFC the Friday before the AA's. Although this year's host, Eddie Izzard, was horrid, the 25th version lasted just a tad over 2 hours. And it's worth watching if only for the acceptance speeches-especially when you realize the audience/recipients sit at tables holding numerous liquor bottles. You catch my drift on this! The atmosphere is more laid back and full of surprises (the F-word was heard on numerous occasions sans bleep).

MY FERVENT HOPES FOR NEXT YEAR'S SHOW
Bring back the music &, for heaven's sake, find a way to shorten the dame, er, damn thing!!!

Pre-AA Rambling Thoughts

Saturday March 6, 2007

It's that time of the year again where who wears what on the Red Carpet is as meaningful as who wins an award. The show is like a train wreck where you just can't take your eyes off of it, even though you know the show is interminably long and drawn out and even though most of the awards cover categories you could care less about. That won't stop it from being one of the most watched events on the planet. That being said, here are several tidbits to impart, which may or may not be known, followed by my predictions of who will win and who should win, in my humble opinion.

-For the first time since 1943, the Best Picture list grows back to 10. Why? Well the prevailing theory is the uproar created last year from the Best Picture omission of a film that not only was clearly one of the 5 best in 2009, it, arguably, should have won: "The Dark Knight". So now we have a watered down list that includes such "standouts" as (ugh!) "The Blind Side". Somehow, the expansion diminishes the overall significance of the award. But at least it doesn't eliminate a great film because of numbers. It just increases the likelihood of including a mediocre film.

-The Academy members were asked to rank the 10 BP nominees. Therefore, the voting for this category is no longer a one-to-one vote affair. That also means that, with 10 nominees, a movie, theoretically, could win with 11% of the overall vote. If a movie gets 51% or more of the vote (unlikely), of course, the contest is over. If not, here is how things get interesting:

The auditors at PricewaterhouseCoopers will divide the movies into 10 piles. The movie with the fewest No. 1 votes is eliminated, and that pile's No. 2 votes go to the remaining corresponding films. If a majority isn't reached with those No. 2 votes, the process repeats, eliminating the next-lowest pile, whose votes are then redistributed. The process continues until one film has a majority vote. Until that time, if a ballot's No. 2 choice has been eliminated, the auditors go to No. 3 and then as far down the ballot as necessary. Got that?! Now, although the new system ensures some consensus, it raises the possibility that a movie with more No. 2 and No. 3 votes could beat the film with the most first-place ballots. I say go back to the old system.

-There was talk of a bit involving controversial comedian Sacha Baron & Ben Stiller spoofing Cameron's "Avatar" in which Sacha appeared as a pregnant (with James' love child) blue-skinned Na'vi. Stiller would be present to translate. However, the bit was nixed after the producer didn't think thin-skinned Cameron would happily go along with the satire.

-Onstage will be a Swarovski crystal curtain that is worth about $5 million.

-The roster of presenters have been expanded from the usual 40-50 to, ready?, 70! I wouldn't plan on seeing the whole show and arriving to work on time on Monday.

-So pull up your chair, plop up your tootsies, & grab some popcorn. The envelope, please. . .

BEST PICTURE
What will win: "Avatar"
What should win: TIE: "Avatar" & "The Hurt Locker".
What should never have been included in this or any other list with "BEST" attached to the title: "The Blind Side"
I've struggled for weeks with this category. As much as I admired THL, I just can't believe that "Avatar", 4 years in the making, using technology that will change the look of films forever, earning over a billion dollars worldwide (and still counting), will not take home the biggie. That being said, THL is the complete film: great script, great story, great acting, great, great, great! A truly unforgettable film that still gives me chills when I think about it. A perfect film that has everything. A small independent film that, to this date has earned less than 13 million dollars, and yet is the odds-on favorite to claim the big one. So many folks didn't see this gem because it takes place during the Iraq war. What a pity. Maybe if it wins, the public will finally wake up because, for the most part, they have ignored a masterpiece in film making. I was lucky enough to see it months before its release when Jed Dietz scored a major coup selecting it as the closing night film at last year's Maryland Film Festival-complete with a Q&A with Kathyrn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal! I'm rooting for both films but my heart lies with the independent little film that could, and should. As for the remaining 7 films (please exclude "The Blind Side"), each is worthy of inclusion on the list and should be seen at some point by each of you who missed it in the theater. But "The Hurt Locker" & "Avatar" stand head and shoulders above the rest.

BEST DIRECTOR
Who will win: Kathyrn Bigelow
Who should win: Kathyrn Bigelow
This one was easier to predict. There is no question that "Avatar" is an amazing achievement for James Cameron. His vision and effort has produced a ground-breaking product that will change the look of cinema from here on out. However, Kathryn, as mention above, has directed a film that is perfect in every way imaginable. Besides the fact that she deserves it, I also feel that the Academy is very keen on history and would love to honor a female in this category for the first time in 4 previous tries. (For the record, a female, Loveleen Tandan, was co-director in last year's winning "Slumdog Millionaire", but was curiously left off the BEST DIRECTOR ballot. The Academy says it can only honor one name but, yes, there was the exception when the Coen brothers were listed and won for "No Country for Old Men".) So, I'm thinking, especially if they honor "Avatar" with BP, this would be perfect symmetry by recognizing THL by having Kathyrn winning for BD. Also, do you think that the voting academy is ignoring this?: What a hoot having the 2 ex's win the 2 top awards! Should be interesting.

BEST LEADING ACTOR
Who will win: Jeff Bridges
Who should win: George Clooney
This is mortal lock #1a (for mortal lock #1 see below). Just mail it to him. Although Bridges fit this role like a pair of old shoes and was completely convincing, I loved the nuances Clooney brought to his role. I did predict he would win when I wrote my review for "Up in the Air" but am willing to concede that Bridges will win. Being a talented actor who has never won, the Academy is ripe for giving him an award for his fine acting as a down-and-out boozing country singer.

BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Who will win: Sandra Bullock
Who should win: Anyone but Sandra Bullock
Get the salt & pepper ready! OK. I'm prepared to eat my words. The ground swell is too big. The Tsunami is approaching. The academy is ready to bestow this award on one of their favorites. Bullock is this year's Julia Roberts. UGH!!! The word is that her biggest competition is Meryl, whose performance in "Julie & Julia" makes whatever charm that film has. Streep is clearly Bullock's biggest threat to overtake her. But Meryl has been nominated & won so many times before that you just know that the Academy members are just itching to give this one to Bullock (even though you can always count on a colorful acceptance speech from Streep!). My personal choice would be newcomer Carey Mulligan who is crucial for making "An Education" so wonderful. But, alas, Carey is this year's version of Sally Hawkins, who made last year's "Happy Go Lucky" so special. There is plenty of time for her to win awards so what better time to honor (UGH! again). . . oh, I just can't say it!!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Who will win: Christoph Waltz
Who should win: Christoph Waltz
Waltz's rookie performance as a ruthless Nazi officer in Tarentino's "Inglorious Basterds" is a true gem and might have been worthy of a Best Actor nod in the ensemble film. He gives a truly memorable performance as a Nazi who is as cold and calculating as any Nazi you've ever seen on screen. I can't see anyone else touching this statuette. However, the Academy is known for at least one surprise a year and this category might be it-but I doubt it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Who will win: Mo'Nique
Who should win: Mo'Nique
This year's Heath Ledger (meaning MORTAL LOCK #1) goes to another performance for the ages. In one of the greatest films of the year, is one of THE greatest performances ever and, for me, is right up there with my all time favorite female performance: Emily Watson in Lars von Trier's masterpiece "Breaking the Waves". The Baltimore born comedian (!) delivers a tour-DE-force and her role as the abusive mother of overweight "Precious" is so real & mind-boggling powerful you'll wonder if she actually lived the role. Mail her The Oscar.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Who will win: "Up"
Who should win: "Up"
Another no contest. A film that is so good it is included in the Best Picture category (and probably would have even if the list was 5 films), in a year when there were great animated films, this one should bring home the bacon for the marvelously talented Pixar group. I wouldn't mind "Fantastic Mr. Fox" winning, but concede that "Up" is the best of the best.

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Who will win: "The White Ribbon"
Who should win: "Sin Nombre"
I know. I know. "Sin Nombre" isn't even nominated. For whatever reason, this great film didn't make the list. This category as well as Best Documentary drives me up a wall considering the omissions the Academy makes year after year. All I can say is if you have never seen it, by all means "run" to your nearest NETFLIX and rent it.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Who will win: "The Hurt Locker"
Who should win: "The Hurt Locker"
Mark Boal has written a script that is as realistic as the film and fits the action as perfectly as any other on the list. Although the other nominees are worthy, they just can't hold a light to this screenplay in a film that will win multiple awards.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Who will win: "Up in the Air"
Who should win: "Up in the Air"
This is a tough one. I was torn between this one, "An Education", & "Precious". However, being as I correctly predicted the 6 noms for UITA in my review last November, I believe The Academy will bestow one award their way and this one could be it. A terrific film with a screenplay that perfectly reflects today's trying economic times, I'm hoping it gets at least one major award and its best chance is this category.


BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Who will win: The Cove
Who should win: The Cove
Practically a slam dunk is this riveting expose on the Japanese who have been slaughtering thousands of dolphins each year and selling the prized ones to water parks for mucho bucks. Ric O'Barry, who trained the "Flipper" dolphins in the early 60's, realized the inhumanity of enslaving these mammals when Cathy, the #1 Flipper, committed suicide in his arms. His crusade to end the prisoning of these creatures for our benefit and to simultaneously expose the Japanese is what this amazing doc is all about. What makes this one even more a mortal lock to win is last week's Sea World disaster when the 40 year old trainer was killed by an Orca killer whale. The Academy members love to honor films that involve inhumane issues, as well as those that affect the planet (can you say "An Inconvenient Truth"?). The question is whether they voted before or after the incident last week. No matter. This film should be seen by anyone who cares about the fragility of life on the planet. I heard Ric say last week on ABC's "Nightline" that he's hoping the film wins because the #1 viewed show in Japan is, you guessed it, The Academy Awards. Keep that in mind when the award is accepted. Should be one of the more interesting speeches tomorrow night!

Feel free to share your comments and let me know how your predictions turned out.

"An Education" **** (100 minutes)

Sunday January 31, 2010

Dutch director Lone Scherfig's two films (2002's "Italian for Beginners" & 2004's "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself") have both been critically acclaimed. Her third entry even more so. She was the screenwriter for the 2 earlier efforts but now enlists the talents of equally acclaimed Nick Horby who scribed 2000's "High Fidelity" & 2002's "About a Boy". Together, they have produced one of my favorite films of the past year.

The story, based on a memoir by British journalist Lynn Barber, concerns 16 year old Jenny (in a phenomenal debut by Carey Mulligan), a musically talented and academically bright schoolgirl who is on a steady course for "an education" at Oxford. Although this course of action seems more to please her middle class parents (ably played by Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour), she is dutifully following their wishes by excelling in school-all the while dreaming about the exciting possibilities the world can offer besides her current mundane scholastic voyage.

Then, she meets charming, well-to-do, 35ish David (played by the always competent Peter Sarsgaard who hits all the right notes) who one day offers her a ride home while standing on a corner holding her cello in a driving rain. After convincing her that he has no alternative motives (this is taking place in the more trusting times of the early 60's), the die is cast as he slowly and methodically alters her predetermined course from one of unexceptional everyday existence to one of excitement and intrigue-an education of worldly existence.

There are 2 adults in her life, namely her parents, who, like Jenny, also fall for the charms of her suitor and quickly reverse course for their daughter-not recognizing the pitfalls their relationship pose. They see her comfortably taken care of for the rest of her life and begin to dismiss what an education at Oxford might have afforded.

Luckily, there are 2 other adults in Jenny's sphere who see her relationship for what it is and who recognize the talents Jenny is ready to hastily throw away: her English teacher (Olivia Williams) and her headmistress (the great Emma Thompson is a small but effective role) who try to impart to Jenny a different kind of education.

Through most of the film, Alfred Molina comes across as a naive bloke and gives basically a one-note performance. That is, until the end when he confronts his daughter with a brilliantly moving speech that had me moved to tears. And look for last year's Best Actress nominee Sally Hawkins ("Happy Go Lucky") who appears for a very brief pivotal scene near the end.

As pointed out above, the title of the film has multiple connotations. And, even though that, on the surface, this is a story of an older man possibly praying on a teenage girl, don't let that deter you in visiting a film that is brilliant in its writing, acting & execution. I absolutely loved this film!

Jenny (Carry Mulligan) & David (Peter Sarsgaard)
share an intimate moment

Jenny's parents Jack (Alfred Molina) & Majorie (Cara
Seymour) (l) about to go out to dinner with Jenny & David (r)

"Precious: Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire" **** (109 minutes)

Saturday January 2, 2010

Last year, Heath Ledger gave one of the most memorable performances ever by a male actor in Christopher Nolan's brilliant, "The Dark Knight". As predicted, his posthumous Supporting Academy Award was merely a formality. This year's version, by a female, will undoubtedly be handed over to Mo'Nique on March 7th as her performance as the mother of her abused child, Claireece "Precious" Jones, is another one for the ages.

The independent film, directed & produced by Lee Daniels has been racking up award after award after initially receiving 3 major Sundance Awards when it debuted there last January: the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic Audience Award, & Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Acting to Mo'Nique. One of the most powerful American films I have ever seen, this is a tragic story that, in the end, actually sends a message of hope & possibility in the face of life defined by total despair.

Precious (newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in a touchingly realistic performance) is an overweight abused teenager; impregnated for a 2nd time after being raped again by her father. Threatened and further vocally & physically abused by mom, who treats her child more like a servant, Precious faces continual abuse at school. The only people who seem to care and understand her pain are her teacher (in a wonderfully nuanced performance by Paula Patton) and social worker (a virtually unrecognizable Mariah Carrey who delivers a magnificent performance that will have people forget "Glitter"-if they were unfortunate enough to see it) who work to bring some semblance of beauty and meaning into the life of this child.

As bleak and unfathomable as this all seems, director Daniels and first time screenwriter Damien Paul inject enough fantasy & humor to give a necessary lift to this powerful raw emotional story. And as I pointed out, there is a clear discernible light at the end of this dark tunnel which Precious is traversing so that, at the end, you will walk out of the theater realizing that you have witnessed one of the great films of this or any year.

Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) is comforted by teacher Ms Rain (Paula Patton)

Mary (Mo'Nique)

"Avatar" **** (163 minutes)

Friday December 25, 2009

The advance buzz started months ago and the question would be whether or not the film would, or could, live up to all the hype, or would it be one of the most expensive flops of all time?

James Cameron will never be included in the conversation as one of cinema's top story tellers. In fact, I personally wish that he would finally hire a professional script writer for his mega projects. And his story here will remind you of a multitude of films including, as Gabe Wardell, Executive Director of The Atlanta Film Festival informed me just before the release, "Dances with Wolves". However, many great movies of the past have borrowed plot lines & character development. So originality in other facets can still factor into whether the film works or not.

That being said, this ground-breaking dazzler, with its "today" message of a "green" spiritual existence vs. the evil military machine that wants to destroy it, delivers one of the most amazing cinematic experiences I have ever experienced in a darken theater.

Cameron birthed this idea 14 years ago-but he had to wait until technology caught up with what he wanted to portray on the screen. Once it did, it then took him over 4 years to create a universe that is truly unforgettable, by melding live action & CGI utilizing a hook-up to the 3rd largest computer in the world. (Co-producer Jon Landau stated in UK's The Sun that 800 people were used to used to create the digital effects and that "one frame of certain shots, it's 24 frames per second, took 100 computer hours to render. Just one second was 2,400 hours.") The result, especially in 3D, is one that may change the look of films forever.

The year is 2154 and the U.S. is in desperate need of a mineral (cleverly named "unobtanium)" that is found in abundance on Pandora, a moon circling a massive planet. The problem is that the military must deal with the Na'vi, the tailed (Cameron added tails because he thought it was sexy), blue- skinned (because he remarked that green was already taken), 8 foot plus indigenous inhabitants.

To accomplish their objective, and overcome the unbreathable atmosphere, humans have engineered a process that can combine human & Na'vi DNA to create "avatars". The human stays on the ship in a trance-like state while his/her avatar ventures onto Pandora. The goal: have avatars spy on the inhabitants and to ultimately convince them to yield the precious mineral to the military.

When the human earmarked for a particularly unique avatar dies, his identical genetic match is recruited to take his place: paraplegic Jake Sully (Australian Sam Worthington,"Hart's War" & "Terminator Salvation") who is promised an expensive operation to restore his legs should he agree to participate. When Chief Science Officer Grace's (Sigourney Weaver) avatar, who has been teaching English to the Na'vi, joins avatar Sully in the forests of Pandora, pure fantasy movie magic is made.

During his initial venture, avatar Sully escapes certain death from the wild animal inhabitants with the unexpected assistance of Na'vi native Neytire (Zoe Saldana, "Star Trek"). She then introduces him to her tribe where he becomes reluctantly accepted after subsequent visits.

Meanwhile, back at base camp, Col Miles Quaritch (effectively played by Stephen Lang, "Public Enemies") & capitalist Parker Selfride (Giovanni Ribisi in an uncharacteristically bad guy role) are growing more and more suspicious that Sully, on repeated trips to Pandora, isn't quite following the program as instructed. The fateful decision might have to be made to abandon the peaceful means of obtaining the mineral and go for more drastic measures.

Despite that, after about an hour, I figured out where the major plot lines were heading, what makes it most memorable are the sequences on Pandora where Cameron has created visual eye candy that must be seen to believe. And his use of 3D is not your father's or grandfather's 3D. Instead of using the effect to show off the technology and to bring attention to it, Cameron uses the process more to put the viewer in the action-as if you were actually sitting in the middle of the frame that is in front of your eyes. The result is realistic, magical, & extremely powerful.

To add to the authenticity, Cameron hired linguist Paul Frommer (a professor at the Marshall School of Business) to create the 1,000 word Na'vi language to resemble no other human language. And, veteran composer James Horner, as he did for "Titanic", has produced a beautiful haunting score that fits perfectly with the action.

Cameron referenced a line in "Titanic" when he accepted his Academy Awards in 1998, proclaiming that he was "King of the World". You can now anoint him king of 2 worlds.

Pandora

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) observes his avatar

Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang)

Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) & Grace (Sigourney Weaver)

Na'vi native Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) with avatar Sully

The floating mountains of Pandora

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" **** (88 minutes)

Thursday December 24, 2009

What better way to cleanse myself from the degradation of "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" than this absolutely brilliant animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's ("Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory") 1970 children's novel. However, don't think this one is just for the kiddies as adults will find this one as entertaining as a Pixar masterpiece-and that is high praise.

Talented director Wes Anderson is adding animation to an already glowing resume. The director of such well received films as "Bottle Rocket", "Rushmore", & ''The Royal Tenenbaums", Wes tries his hand at stop-motion animation and the result is one of the most charming films of the year.

Wes & writer/director Noah Baumbach ("The Squid & The Whale) corroborated on the clever screenplay about Mr. Fox (wonderfully voiced by George Clooney) who has trouble keeping his promise to Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep) to give up his perilous life of living like, well, a fox, after both escape with their lives after being caught trying to steal poultry. Flash forward several years and Mr. Fox, now a journalist, is bored out of his wits, mainly because his fox genes are getting the best of him. Before too long we see him sneaking off & plotting to steal from the 3 nasty owners who rule the valley: Boggis, Bunce & Bean.

There is a side story involving his odd son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman) who just doesn't seem to be getting the love he wants from his dad. The arrival of talented, athletic, can't-do-anything-wrong cousin Kristofferson (Eric Anderson) only adds to his angst. Meanwhile, Mrs. Fox is kept under total wraps as Mr. Fox begins to enlist a bevy of memorable characters including Badger (Bill Murray) & Rat (Willem Dafoe) to help carry out his schemes.

The stop-motion animation is as wonderful as the wry script. The human-like expressions on the animals are priceless. And, when you see the fur on the animals move you'd swear it was real. And as for that script, these animals are not depicted as all cutesy and warm, Disney-like characters. Mr. Fox is, after all, as cunning and deceitful as, well, a fox.

In a year of absolutely fabulous animation films, this one deserves to be included in the same conversation as Pixar's incredible "Up" which, assuredly, will be nominated for Best Picture.

Mr. Fox and his cohorts about to take on Boggis, Bunce, & Bean

"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call, New Orleans" *** 1/2 (122 minutes)

Thursday December 24, 2009

The great Warner Herzog reinvents, instead of remakes, Abel Ferrera's 1992's "Bad Lieutenant" which describes the downfall of a "bad" NY cop, impressively played by Harvey Keitel. Who better to step into the Keitel role than Nicolas Cage. Like a car wreck, you can't take your eyes off of the actor who thrives on degenerate roles (I still consider his performance in "Leaving Las Vegas" the greatest male acting job I've ever seen on screen).

Cage plays Terence McDonaugh who we first meet saving a prisoner from his cell as the rising Katrina waters are about to drown him. However, this picture of a heroic cop, quickly fades from memory. We soon learn that this cop is fighting his own drug addicted demons, not to mention a bad back, as he rampages about the city bringing new meaning to cop corruption.

The story (what little narrative there is) sort of centers around the discovery of 5 Senegalese illegals who have been snuffed out during a drug hit. However, this isn't a crime story as much as a portrait of a professional cop whose sense of morality & decency is as skewed as the plot. All the while, Herzog's camera is there documenting each episode as McDonaugh spirals deeper and deeper into chaos & self-destruction.

There are some great supporting performances here including Eva Mendes as Clarence's personal prostitute/lover/friend, Val Kilmer as McDonaugh's partner, and Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner as the drug kingpin who may be behind the murders. And the screenplay by William M. Finkelstein provides just enough humor to keep it out of total depression.

But it is the standout acting by Cage that is really what this exercise in human degradation is all about-which he amply delivers in spades and then some.

Lieutenant McDonaugh (Nicolas Cage) & his

prostitute lover, Frankie (Eva Mendes)

Strevie Pruit (Val Kilmer) & partner McDonaugh

"Sherlock Holmes" *** (128 minutes)

Monday December 21, 2009

This ain't your father's Sherlock; or your grandfather's; or your great grandfather's for that matter. Those folks would probably absolutely despise director Guy (Mr. ex-Madonna) Ritchie's take on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 19th century classic sleuth. However, today's audiences, spoon-fed with the multitude of more recent action f/x packed action heroes will more than likely go gaga over the histrionics afforded this latest of a long long line of incarnations of the London private-eye. (The Guinness World Records has the character being portrayed by 75 actors in over 211 films!).

Me? Well, I'll admit that I have not particularly paid attention to many of these portrayals. So my analysis is based strictly on this latest version and all I can say is that I was amply entertained by it all. Mostly due in large part to the wonderful acting by one of the best in the business: Robert Downey, Jr. He more than carries the action hero-type part and is aided in large part by a terrific Watson by Jude Law who perfectly plays off of the brooding Holmes.

The plot is setup with a wonderful opening sequence montage in which the evil Satanist Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong-who is becoming one of my favorite character actors. He was phenomenal in 2008's "Body of Lies") is captured and appears to be placed in a tomb after a date with the gallows. We quickly learn that somehow The Lord is not as dead and buried as it first appears. And then the fun, as well as the action, begins.

The script, co-written by Ritchie, Anthony Peckham (presently riding high as screenwriter for "Invictus"), & Simon Kinberg (2005's Mr. & Mrs. Smith) gives the plot enough meat & the main characters enough biting dialogue to keep the proceedings moving smoothly along. And, the busy Hans Zimmer supplies a score that is appropriate to the action. The only clear negative for me is the wasted presence of Holmes' love interest, the usually dependable Rachel McAdams ("State of Play") who seems to add no chemistry or warmth to the action.

Again, if you're expecting a Holmes in the style of Basil Rathbone or John Barrymore (to name but a very few), I'd advise you to stay away. But if you want diversion and care to witness a great charismatic performance by Downey, you won't be disappointed in the least.

Watson (Jude Law), Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) & Irene

Adler (Rachael McAdams) track the evil Lord Blackwell

Lord Blackwell (Mark Strong) and Holmes (Downey)

"The Maid" ***1/2 (94 minutes)

Sunday December 13, 2009

The Charles Sunday Cinema Club ends its winter 2009 series with this superb work by first time Chilean director/co-writer Sebastián Silva (who acted in 2000's favorably reviewed "Before Night Falls"). Newcomer Catalina Saavedra gives a brilliant character study as Rachael, the live-in maid who, for 23 years, has been accepted as "family" into a well-to-do Chilean household.

We first meet her as she prepares a sparse meal for herself in the kitchen, while the family prepares to celebrate her birthday in the next room. Her visage is blank and, when it comes time for her to celebrate with the family, we sense that she is clearly not in the mood for celebrating.

We are then introduced to various tensions involving the children as she goes about the tedious routines she has performed for years. Rachel is clearly unhappy and when a decision is made to help her out with a series of additional housekeepers, her distrust and paranoia only increases with each scene. Only when Lucy (Mariana Loyola) arrives, do we finally sense a connection that may finally reveal to us the hidden motives behind her actions.

The real fun is that the audience is never quite sure what direction the story is taking (an episode involving a kitten might lead astray an American audience used to horror films) and that only adds to the intrigue. For a film that is only slightly over 90 minutes, Silva doesn't waste a minute cramming in as much detail and nuance as possible.

Saavedra is riveting in the title role-who uses expressions more than scripted words to ambiguously hide her thoughts and feelings. And the absence of any soundtrack adds to the reality of the scenes and dialogue for a film that has the feel of a Dogme 95 production.

A fabulous Q&A was held after the screening with Baltimore Magazine Managing Editor and film critic Max Weiss. A great way to end the 47th Cinema Sunday's series!

The film opened in limited release around the country on October 16th. If you miss it, be certain to put it on your NETFLIX list!

Catalina Saavedra as "The Maid"

Baltimore Magazine Managing Editor/Film Critic Max Weiss

moderates the Q & A with CSC host Jonathan Palevsky