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The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
- Bottomline: Don't See It
- What To See Instead: Royal Tenenbaums or Rushmore
- Pros: Terrific cinematography
- Cons: Movie stinks
This movie was so bad that I actually fell into a moment of despair thinking that my faith in Wes Anderson had been completely unfounded. Based on his films Rushmore (1998) and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), I became an unabashed Wes Anderson fan because of his quirky and sometimes dark humor, his interesting camera work, and his comically dry but brilliant dialogue. Now comes The Darjeeling Limited. What a disappointment. It’s a mish-mash of I still don’t know what. Whatever you do, skip this film and pick up a copy of Rushmore or The Royal Tennenbaums. You will be much better served.
Frozen River (2008)
Bottomline: If you like small indies, pick it up.
Pros: Melissa Leo is freakin' terrific and deserved her Oscar nom, fascinating plot line
Cons: Can be a little on the slow side (it's an indie)
The Opinion:
Rent this movie for no other reason other than to see the performance turned in by Melissa Leo. Unfortunately, she was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in the same line-up as Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep. So, let’s face it, her chances of winning were miniscule. However, the nomination was well deserved. This small independent film tells the story of the struggle of a mother and her two sons to survive in a New York town on the Canadian border. Leo plays the mom and her unlikely friendship with a Mohawk single mother, Lila played by Misty Upham, leads to their becoming entangled in human trafficking. Pick this rental up and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
La Cirque: A Table in Heaven (2007)
Bottomline: Looking for a decent doc? Rent it.
Pros: Gives terrific insight to the stresses involved in opening a high-end restaurant.
Cons: No follow-up? What's happening now?
The Opinion:
This Andrew Rossi directed documentary follows the family of Sirio Maccioni as they look to re-open one of the world’s most famous restaurants, La Cirque, in New York City. The restaurant closed in 2005 and this documentary gets in close on the family dynamic, the stress of opening the restaurant again, and the emotion of waiting on that star rating from the New York Times. One of the most fascinating moments in the film is the tug of war between the sons and their father over the direction of the new La Cirque – does it stay with the traditions that made it so famous in the early years or do you bring it kicking and screaming into the 21st Century in an attempt to attract a younger clientele?
Watchmen (2009)
Bottomline: Wait for the rental
What to See Instead: 300 (2006) or, my personal favorite, Sin City (2005).
Pros: Terrific slo-mo bone-crunching action with plenty of blood spray.
Cons: It is 2 hours and 43 minutes. At the 2 hour mark, you'll be looking at your watch and hoping the power goes out in the theater.
Caveats: THIS IS NOT FOR KIDS! Heck, it's not for most adults. It is gory and graphic.
The Opinion:
My kingdom – MY KINGDOM – for an editor, please! The running time for this flick comes in at two hours and 43 minutes and that doesn’t count the 30 minutes of trailers and commercials that come before the movie even begins. I have not read the graphic novel that this movie is based on and have no emotional investment. So I think I come to this film cold. And, let’s face it, I left cold, which may have been the whole point. Had director Zack Snyder, he of 300 (2006), bothered to hire someone who could edit this movie, he and the audience would have been much bettered served. It’s just too long and Snyder could have easily cut out half of the Rorschach pontificating and Dr. Manhatten’s bloviating and been fine. It is no secret that Alan Moore, who wrote the graphic novel that this movie is based on, loses no love for humanity and believes in the conspiracy of the government. All of this is on full display in the film. Moore’s idea for the deconstruction of the super-hero motif is brilliant and probably was better done in the graphic novel. On screen, the dialog comes off as immature and silly. The action sequences are terrific, as you would expect. There is plenty of slo-mo bone crushing and blood spray. Be on notice – THIS IS NOT A MOVIE FOR KIDS. It is graphically, brutally, unabashedly, and unapologetically violent. There is not really a likable person in this whole this whole movie, which might be the point. At the end of the day, I can think of better ways to spend three plus hours.
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