Pippen's Place

Quick Movie Review: War Horse (2011)

2012-01-16T12:56:00.000-06:00

War Horse (2011)

Bottomline: Push past the naysayers and go see this film. Good stuff.

What Other Emily Watson Movies Do You Recommend? Well, glad you asked. I adore Emily Watson and would recommend you take a look at the following: As Jacqueline Du Pre in Hilary and Jackie (1998) or as Elsie in Gosford Park (2001).

Interesting Note: The main horse of the film, Finder, also portrayed Seabiscuit in Seabiscuit (2003).

CAVEAT: I do recommend this film for young people but remember -- it's PG-13 for a reason. That's because there is a lot of violence and a lot of death. There is no blood spray or gore but watching the carnage that is war is disturbing as is watching animals being treated cruelly.

QMR Opinion:
Here’s what you’re going to hear from critics about this movie – it’s sentimental clap-trap that manipulates you into caring too much for the horse and not enough for the lives that cross the horse’s path. That some of the stories that are told as the horse wends its way through World War I are weak and poorly conceived. That the acting is a bit overly-dramatic bordering on false pathos. That the dialogue, at times, can be a bit wince-inducing. And, frankly, that’s all true. But here’s the deal: it’s directed by Steven Spielberg. Remember him? He’s one of the greatest American directors -- ever. And that’s why this movie works. It brings you in. You care about this horse. You care about the people who come into contact with the horse. The horse provides perfect continuity as the driving thread of the film. The cinematography is magnificent – English countryside, French countryside, German countryside. It is truly breathtaking. Then combine that with the John Williams score and you have yourself a winner. Oh. . added Bonus! It has Emily Watson who takes a terrific turn as a mother trying to hold her family together. The thrust of the story? Young Albert owns a horse named Joey who was bought to save his family’s farm. World War I breaks out. Joey is sold to the cavalry. We then follow Joey throughout the war. Be forewarned: The movie is Rated PG-13. There are disturbing scenes of war violence and animal cruelty. There is no blood spray but there is plenty of death. Will you shed a tear or two in this movie? Yes. But it ends on a wonderfully inspirational note. Don’t be afraid to fall in love with this type of sentimental clap-trap. It’s good stuff.

QMR: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

2012-01-08T22:36:00.000-06:00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Bottomline: Terrific Film.

Where Can I See This Movie? It’s in wide release in theaters.

CAVEAT: This movie is Rated R – for a reason. There is extensive nudity, graphic sex, a brutal and disturbing rape scene, violence, and disturbing scenes of violence.

Interesting Note: This film has surprisingly humorous notes.

Disclaimers: I have not read the books. I have watched all three Swedish-made films.

What Else Has David Fincher Directed? The Social Network (2010), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Zodiac (2007), Panic Room (2002), Fight Club (1999), Se7en (1995)

QMR Opinion:
I’ll be honest. . .this movie is not for everyone. And Lisbeth Salander certainly won’t appeal to everyone. And, frankly, I don’t think either she or Director David Fincher care one way or the other. This film is a fantastic thriller, 40-year-old murder mystery and strong character-driven story. The basic thrust of the story centers on a discredited magazine publisher, Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), who is hired to investigate the 40-year old mysterious disappearance of a young woman who just happens to be a member of one of Sweden’s most prominent families. To conduct his investigation Blomkvist hires Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is something of a genius blessed with a photographic memory and extremely effective computer hacking skills. In addition, Salander is more than a little emotionally disturbed based on her history – replete with abuse (physical and verbal) from just about every man in her life. The running time of this film is just over two hours and 30 minutes, but you won’t notice. Fincher’s pacing of this film from the terrific opening credits to the very end is pitch perfect. Despite my initial reservations about her being able to inhabit the role of Salander, Rooney Mara is wonderful and is central to the success of this film and, I hope, the next two. The cast of supporting characters only strengthens the overall film – Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Plummer, Robin Wright, and Joely Richardson are strong. My one real problem with the film comes with the casting of Daniel Craig as Blomkvist. It’s probably a personal bias but somone who plays James Bond just doesn’t fit the profile of a magazine editor for me. I am telling you that you should see this film but be forewarned – it is not for the faint of heart. Of all the disturbing imagery used in the film (and there is plenty – including the graphic dismembering of a cat), the most disturbing is a brutal rape scene. But at the end of the day, I love a great film and I do love this film.

Quick Movie Review: The Help (2011)

2012-01-02T21:49:00.000-06:00

The Help (2011)

Bottomline: Decent film but book is much better.

Where Can I See This Film? It’s available for rent on DVD.

If The Book Is So Much Better Than The Film, Then Why Watch It? Good question. I’ll give you a two-word answer: Viola Davis.

What Are Some Other Movies Where I Can See Viola Davis (born: 1965)? I’ll give you three to consider: Solaris (2002), Doubt (2008) [she was in the movie for about 20 minutes and was nominated for an Academy Award], and It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010).

Interesting Note #1: In speaking with some adults who were young adults during the era in which this film was set, I found them defensive. “The movie is exaggerated and untrue.” “I certainly never saw anything like that happen.” The comments underscore the actual truth of the premise of both the film and the book – we all know it’s true how "the help" were treated, but it’s a difficult truth to face.

Interesting Note #2: I was particularly pleased when speaking with my own children about the film. They are aged 18 and 14 and they had a lot of questions because the treatment of the maids as illustrated in the film was so foreign to them. The idea of “separate but equal” has been discussed in classrooms, of course, but seeing it in practice on screen leads to a sense of confusion as to why anyone would ever think that this was a good idea. “Dad, did someone like Hilly really exist?” The answer? Unfortunately, yes.

QMR Opinion:
Let’s start with the good news. The good news for The Help can be summed up in two words – Viola Davis. My goodness, the woman is a marvel on screen. This role requires her to be in pain, to be acquiescent, to be angry, and to be restrained – all at the same time without speaking most of the time. She does it with her face. Her glances. Her tone of voice. It is a master class on acting and it’s not the first time Viola Davis has blown me away with her screen presence. There are others that are good – Bryce Dallas Howard as Hilly, Jessica Chastain as Celia, Allison Janney as Mrs. Phelan come to mind. And, yes, I’ve heard and read the accolades for Octavia Spencer as Minny, but, I have to be honest, her portrayal of Minny was strong but bordered, at times, on camp. One of the dumbest scenes in the movie takes place when Mr. Johnny (Celia’s husband) drives up and finds Minny walking to the house. She takes off running and then threatens him with a stick. It’s ridiculous. And it certainly didn’t happen that way in the book. This seems like a good segue to the bad news. The bad news can be summed up in three words – Read the book. It is clear early in the movie that there was a lot of film left on the cutting room floor. The early scenes are choppy and uneven – scenes shift quickly with no transition and, at times, make no sense. And I’ll say it out loud: I didn’t think Emma Stone was right for the part of Skeeter and her performance only affirms my earlier thinking. She is just not right for the role. Yes, her hair is messed up, but it is still Emma Stone. Great actress (see: Zombieland (2009)) but just not right as Skeeter. And where are all the men? They play crucial roles in the book and are practically kept in the shadows in the film. And, yes, I understand that the film cannot contain everything that’s in the book, but the way they handle some of it in the film is amateurish – using toss away lines as a means to convey some huge plot point from the book that was too complicated to work into the film. My opinion? Just leave it out. The way the filmmakers handled Constantine’s dilemma (played brilliantly by Cicely Tyson) is tragic. And the end. . .my goodness. . .the end. I thought the ending of the book was too neat and clean, but the movie takes it to a whole new level of classic “Hollywood” clean-cut ending. After playing such an important role in the film, Minny’s ending is reduced to a scene and a line or two. Skeeter protests her destiny but is quickly talked into it. Hilly gets her expected come-uppance. The best finale is, of course, Aibileen as portrayed by Davis. The final scenes with her in the Leefolt’s home confronting Hilly and then on the sidewalk as Mae Mobley cries after her are heartbreaking. The most disappointing aspect of the movie is that it could have been and should have been much better.

Quick Movie Review: Modern Times (1936)

2011-12-30T18:01:00.000-06:00

Modern Times (1936)

Bottomline: An absolute masterpiece.

Interesting Fact: The last of Chaplin’s talkies. It was originally written to be a full sound film but Chaplin made the decison to only have certain parts filmed with sound.

Charlie Chaplin: 1889-1977

Paulette Goddard: 1910-1990

Where Can I See This Film? Watch for it on Turner Classic Movies. It is available for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion:
I’ll be the first to admit that as a cinephile, I don’t watch enough silent films. Until now, the only silent film I’ve reviewed on my blog has been Buster Keaton’s The General (1926). To see that review, just click on the link located along the left nav. Then on a whim not too long ago, I recorded Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times. It’s his warning against the dehumanizing of our lives by becoming too reliant upon machines. It’s interesting that a film made in 1936 rings so true in the 21st Century. We wring our hands worrying that computers and electronics are becoming pale substitutes for human interaction. Sure, there have been a myriad of films warning us of the dangers of putting too much faith and power into the hands of machines (The Terminator (1984) comes to mind), but Chaplin’s Modern Times puts a human face on the takeover of the machine. Simply put, this film is a cinematic masterpiece. In this day of 3 Dimensions, digital projection, and mind-blowing sound, there’s something almost surreal about watching a movie that you really have to pay attention to. I’m not going to bore you with all of the usual platitudes about Chaplin’s creative genius. . .suffice to say his abilities are in top form here. But what you may not realize is that Chaplin is a genuinely top-notch actor. I was amazed at his deftness with physical comedy. It is so smooth and effortless. Watch the skating scene in the department store and tell me you aren’t simply in awe. I laughed until I cried when Chaplin’s character has a nervous breakdown in the factory. Then be prepared to watch a coked-up Charlie Chaplin. This film moves along at a quick clip but never forgets the central core of its theme – it is our humanity that matters. That humanity is illustrated by Chaplin’s Little Tramp but then we are introduced to the glory that is Paulette Goddard. She is absolutely beautiful and a wonderful actress for this film. Turner Classic Movies will show Chaplin films from time to time so keep your eyes open. Plus, the film is available on DVD for rent.

Quick Movie Review: The Muppets (2011)

2011-12-11T20:15:00.000-06:00

The Muppets (2011)

Bottomline: Awesome movie. Perfect for the entire family!

Confession: I am a huge Muppets fan so I am biased but, honestly, this is a good movie.

Confession #2: I may have gotten a little misty when the gang sang “Rainbow Connection.”

QMR Opinion: It’s the muppets. It’s Amy Adams. It’s Jason Segel. The story is familiar – the Muppets must get back together to save their old studio from an evil oil baron played wonderfully by Chris Cooper who does a funny rap. Trust me. Take your kids and go see this movie. You’ll like it. You might even love it. And, good gracious. . .pay attention. There are a ton of celebrity cameos.

Quick Movie Review: A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)

2011-12-11T20:07:00.000-06:00

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)

Bottomline: Funny in spots but definitely not for everyone.

Best Part: Another chance to see Danny Trejo in action

Big Surprise: There is a young lady who advertises her desire for her first sexual experience. She is crude and extremely aggressive. And guess who she is? She is Zoe from Eureka – the daughter of the Sheriff.

QMR Opinion: So here we are in Los Angeles some friends and I and we decide we want to go see a movie. We could go see the new Clooney/Alexander Payne vehicle, The Descendants, which has been getting good reviews and some Oscar buzz or we could go lowbrow and see Harold and Kumar in 3-D. We went with Harold and Kumar. It was stupid fun, but it did end in a nice way. As one of my friends put it: It’s gross-out humor with a heart. I am not a Harold and Kumar aficianado and thus have not seen the other two movies, but if you’ve seen or heard even a little bit about this style of movie, then you know there is pervasive drug use (lots of bongs and dope smoking), tons of overt sexual talk, and just generally offensive and gross humor. If your sense of humor trends that way, then this movie absolutely will not disappoint. However, if you are easily offended, overly sensitive or politically correct, then you need to go see something else. The funniest bit in the whole film was a spoof of the famous “A Christmas Story” scene where Flick gets his tongue stuck to a frozen pole. The bit that went on too long like a bad Saturday Night Live skit involved a toddler and drugs.

Bobby Fischer: A Hero Lost

2011-10-30T17:30:00.000-05:00

Trailer from the documentary Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)

Bobby Fischer, World Chess Champion

It’s a difficult concept coming to grips with the realization that one of your heroes is really a crazy talking jack ass. Robert James Fischer, World Chess Champion, was one of my heroes. I was only 6 years old when Fischer defeated Spassky to win the World Chess Championship in 1972, but it was his inspiration and his games that were used to teach me and encourage me to play chess. My grandfather and I would sit at a little wooden chessboard he owned and which he subsequently gave me (I no longer have it having lost it when my attention to chess waned) and review and replay Fischer’s great triumph at Reykjavik, Iceland.

I was enamored with chess until later in my teens when video games and role playing games drew away my attention, but I still enjoy keeping up with it (quick. . .who is the current World Chess Champion?) and will occasionally take a glance at the New York Times’ chess column.

Despite my drift away from the game of kings, I still held resolute in my idolization of Fischer whose intellectual capacity seemingly had no limit. And, let’s face it, he took on and defeated the Russians at a time when we all wanted to defeat the Russians and stick their chess pomposity in their faces.

But as he grew older and more isolated, it became clearer that Fischer simply held views of the world that could not and should not be accepted. His anti-semitic rants. His anti-Christian rants. His anti-American rants. And, last but certainly not least, his unbelievable rant on 9.11.

My adoration of Fischer and my later disenchantment with him was confirmed once again as I read his most recent biography, Endgame, by Frank Brady and watched the Liz Garbus documentary, Bobby Fischer Against the World. Both capture the essence of Bobby Fischer and how mystifying it is to watch such a unique genius remove himself from the world and the game that he loved – all because of his rude behavior and offensive talk.

Fischer died in January 2008 at the age of 64 – the number of squares to be found on a chessboard.

Want to know more about Fischer? I would highly recommend Brady’s book, Garbus’ documentary and, if you really want to get into the 1972 match, the book Fischer vs. Spassky: The Chess Match of the Century by Svetozar Gligoric.

QMR Opinion: Moneyball (2011)

2011-10-03T22:01:00.000-05:00

Moneyball (2011)

Bottomline: Good movie but not as good as you have heard.

Suprising Note: There is a lot more humor in the movie than I had anticipated. It’s very funny.

Surprising Note #2: Jonah Hill is really good.

Where Can I See This Movie? It’s in theaters right now.

Better Baseball Movies? Bull Durham (1988) and Major League (1989)

The Best Sports Movie of All Time? Want to see a grown man tear up? Then pop Hoosiers (1986) into the DVD player. "I love you guys."

QMR Opinion: Moneyball tells the story of Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and the Oakland A’s as they try to compete with larger market and more monied baseball teams. Beane decides he must do things in a non-traditional manner so he hires Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) to help him use statistics to find under-valued players and put together an inexpensive team that will take the A’s to the World Series. This is based on a true story using the book of the same name as inspiration. Overall, this is a good film but it is not anywhere as good as you’ve heard from other reviewers. It suffers from the same criticism that the game of baseball does – it drags. A good editor would have tightened the pacing on this movie and made it move along at a much more manageable and enjoyable clip. Instead, we have lots of scenes of Pitt sitting. Pitt thinking. Pitt exercising. Pitt driving. Then there are close-ups of Pitt doing these things. The most enjoyable moments of the film come primarily when Pitt and Hill are interacting and playing off one another. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays baseball manager Art Howe and I have no idea why he’s in the movie. Hoffman adds nothing and delivers about a dozen lines total. Among my favorite scenes are the ones with Beane in the room with the scouts -- it's old school vs. new school.

An Open Letter to Customer Service Professionals

2011-09-20T05:20:00.002-05:00

An Open Letter to Customer Service Professionals,

Ever since I returned from Toronto via Delta Airlines several weeks ago, I have had the opportunity to interact either in person, on the phone or via computer chat a number of customer service professionals who represent companies as diverse as Delta Airlines, Best Buy, AT&T, DirecTV, LinkSys, Charter Communications, and BBVA Compass.

Because of these interactions, I’ve decided to make a series of recommendations that may be obvious to some but are clearly not obvious to many of you in the customer service field. Quick note: These are in no particular order but are considered to be of equal importance.

Please Listen to the Question Being Asked

This recommendation could be adjusted by removing the words "to the Question Being Asked" and still be true. In any event, this seems like an obvious request, but I would be hard-pressed to tell you the number of times I spoke on the phone with a customer service professional who would not allow me to finish my question or my description of the problem before offering a solution or trying to sell me an upgrade. My guess is there are certain words that trigger scripted responses. As a result we waste a lot of time going down dead-ends.

Please Be Patient

While he was trying his best not to show it, I could tell the young man from Linksys was getting more and more frustrated. It was late at night. My router was not working properly. And nothing this guy had me do was fixing the problem – constant drops of my internet connection. After about an hour and a half, we tried one more solution and when I told him it didn’t work, he hung up on me. I understand the idea of trying to get a resolution to a customer issue as quickly as possible, but there has to be some understanding that if you show patience and resolve the issue at that moment, you have, in the long run, saved time.

Please Be Sympathetic

I suppose I could substitute the word “be” with the verb “act” because actually asking you to be sympathetic might be asking too much. I would give kudos here to the AT&T lady who patiently walked me through the process of installing my AT&T DSL service. She was patient. She was sympathetic. At the opposite end of this spectrum would be Delta. For those of us who travel regularly, we understand stuff happens – weather issues, mechanical issues, etc. However, my flight from Toronto was one of those travel days where everything that could go wrong did go wrong. And how did Delta handle it? Beyond poorly. Each customer service rep I spoke with unhelpful, and it was patently clear that they simply did not care. For all intents and purposes, Delta left my companions and me stranded in Atlanta with no realistic way to get to Birmingham. Granted, there may not have been anything that the Delta agents could actually do to resolve the issues facing all of us, but they could at least act like they cared.

Please Allow Me to Make Suggestions

After finally being liberated from Charter Communications (television and internet), which boasts some of the worst customer service on the planet (edged out only by Delta Airlines), I was pleased to be moving to DirecTV. While there’s been no single overwhelming issue to resolve, I have found myself on the phone a lot with DirecTV customer service. Illustrative of this particular recommendation, I was connecting an HD-DVR to my television with the help of a customer service rep on the phone. As we walked through each step, it was clear that she was following a specific script. Each suggestion I made was not acknowledged and I was asked to simply follow the next instruction. At the end of the session, the DVR was not working properly but I was told that our time together had come to an end and that I should go to the website for more direction if needed.

Please Do What You Say You Will Do

After all the folderol of trying to connect to my new router or use my new DVR or trying to collect my lost luggage or getting my computer fixed, virtually every customer service rep I spoke with promised me some sort of follow up either by phone or email. My own unscientific observation would be that these promises actually are fulfilled about 70% of the time. Not horrible but not great either. I would offer kudos to DirecTV here who follow-up so much as to border on annoying. At the other end of the spectrum, again, is Delta who said they would deliver my lost luggage to my home. Let’s just say that if I had not decided to simply drive to the airport and find my suitcase, the luggage would still be sitting in the Delta office gathering dust.

Please Know That I Am Not Lying

Honestly, this is one of the stranger recommendations. I’m not trying to hurt your feelings but I promise you that I don’t call customer service reps just to kill time. As was often the case, my cable service being delivered by Charter Communications ceased functioning on some random Sunday. I called and asked a young man when the service would be restored. He let me know that there was no outage in my area. I let him know that none of my televisions was getting service and it was clear that there was indeed an outage. Again, I was told there was no outage in my area. After about 10 minutes of this mind-numbing back and forth, his computer screen updated and – lo and behold – there was a reported outage in my area. When I asked my original question: When will it be fixed?, I was told that they did not give out that type of information and was there anything else he could do to help me. This happened to me not once – but twice. I kid you not.

I appreciate your review of these recommendations. I know we can’t all be perfect and I know stuff happens, but I am a good customer who is only looking for good customer service. Let’s face it – competition is too aggressive for me to have to put up with being treated poorly.

Sincerely,

Bret Pippen

Quick Movie Review: The Tillman Story (2010)

2011-09-05T15:31:00.000-05:00

The Tillman Story (2010)

Bottomline: Well done documentary that will absolutely piss you off.

Where Can I See It? It's available for rent and is on the movie channel rotation. I recorded it off of Showtime.

Caveat: The language is rough. The description of how Cpl. Tillman died is gruesome.

QMR Opinion: I don't have a lot to say about this doc other than you should see it. Pat Tillman was a multi-million dollar football player for the Cardinals who, along with his brother, made the decision to enlist and head to Afghanistan. He was soon deployed to Iraq where he quickly become disillusioned. This is the story of how Cpl. Tillman was killed by his own men and how his memory and honor were exploited by the military and the U.S. Government for their own use. To make matters worse, if that's possible, they just made the whole thing up and then covered it all up to keep the real truth from revealing itself. Had it been any other family, they probably would have gotten away with it, but, problem is, both the military and the government screwed with the wrong family. Watching the generals and Secretary Rumsfeld testify before congress, I was given a clear indication as why the war in Afghanistan and Iraq has been managed in such a way as to cause me to question the intelligence of anyone in the upper echelons of our government and military.

Quick Movie Review: Animal Kingdom (2010)

2011-09-05T10:06:00.000-05:00

Animal Kingdom (2010)

Bottomline: Terrific film that deserves your attention.

Where Can I See This Movie? It's available for rent.

Note: Jacki Weaver, who plays the matriarch of the family, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and lost to Melissa Leo, who played the mom in The Fighter (2010).

Couple of Caveats: The film is Australian. It took me a few minutes to pick up what they were saying and some of the idioms are not familiar. This is a disturbing film with drug use and bursts of violence.

QMR Opinion: This is David Michod's directorial debut for a full length feature film and he absolutely does not disappoint. It helps, of course, to have a strong story (also written by Michod) and incredible acting led by Jacki Weaver, but strong kudos to Joel Edgerton, Sullivan Stapleton, and the uber-creepy Ben Mendelsohn. The two-hour Australian film gives us a glimpse into the lives a crime family that involves three brothers, a friend, and their mom. Their 17-year-old cousin comes to live with them when his mom dies unexpectedly in one of the more surprising scenes in the film. The pacing of the movie is tightly managed by Michod's skillful direction who has no romantic notions about violence -- it's quick, it's explosive and there are no heroes. Guy Pearce, as always, is excellent as a detective trying to "save" young Josh.

"Dear Sidewalk. . ." An Open Letter to the Sidewalk Film Festival

2011-08-30T05:29:00.000-05:00

Dear Sidewalk Film Festival,

Thank you so much for yet another fantastic weekend of films. I was delighted to watch eight documentaries over the two-day period. Plus, there was the fun of being surrounded by like-minded folks who love film, love talking about film and love nothing more than to be in a darkened movie theater watching movies.

I don’t know that I really had a favorite this year but the most surprising documentary for me had to be Where Soldiers Come From. I honestly didn’t know what to expect and it went way above those limited expectations. It reminded me of The Deer Hunter, except, you know, without the Russian Roulette.

However, Sidewalk, I have to admit, I am worried. I am worried that in the afterglow of such a wonderful 13th year, you will be tempted to over indulge. To gorge yourself on your success and lose sight of what makes you so wonderful year after year. I worry because I watched this very thing happen with another good friend of mine – City Stages. It was devastating to watch helplessly as City Stages slowly but surely moved away from what made it special so that it simply collapsed under the weight of its own excess.

It was just three short years ago that you were all about films all the time (and, yes, the terrific parties). Then last year you decided to experiment with some sideline entertainment and a food vendor or two. It was an okay effort but nothing to crow about and even I criticized the food vendors for being non-existent around noon on a Saturday.

But this year the whole “sideline” idea was taken to another level with the introduction of Sidewalk Central – an area carved out specifically for music and food. I enjoyed myself to a certain extent, although I have to say I am always amazed at food vendors who set up shop at these types of events and run out of food. But even as I enjoyed myself, I found myself disturbed by the notion that I was being drawn away from the real reason I attended Sidewalk – to see movies.

As you know, that’s what you are all about, really. A great way for film lovers to get together with filmmakers and others to enjoy documentaries, narratives, shorts, and animation in intimate environs. Your strength comes from the knowledge that you are focused on one thing and one thing only – film.

My concern is that you have been tempted to stray from this focus and to dabble in musical acts and food vendors. I am asking you to please stay focused on what it is that makes you special – to me and others. Love of film. Don’t get distracted by the siren call of a musical stage or too many food vendors or monkeys riding pigs (okay, I’ll be honest, I would probably drop in to see that).

Right now, it’s just a small worry but it’s one that I felt compelled to bring to your attention. I think you’re great, Sidewalk, and I humbly ask the you stay true to who you are. All about film. All the time.

Sincerely,

Bret Pippen
Film Fan

Quick Movie Review: 127 Hours (2010)

2011-08-11T20:26:00.000-05:00

127 Hours (2010)

Bottomline: Great film showing an incredibly true story of survival.

CAVEAT: By now, everyone has heard about “the scene.” This is where Aron frees himself from the rock using the only means available to him. Yes, it’s gross, but Director Danny Boyle handles it well.

Where Can I See this Movie? It’s available for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion: What do you do when you have an hour and a half film that will take place 80 percent of the time in a hole with one actor to carry it off? Well, first you get a director who directs with terrific pacing and deftness. Danny Boyle. Then you get cinematographers who brilliantly use the camera to show loneliness, isolation and movement (where there is no movement). Enrique Chediak and Anthony Dod Mantle. Then you get an actor who brilliantly inhabits his character and is careful not to overplay him. James Franco. Put all that together and you have a great film of survival.

Quick Movie Review: Let Me In (2010)

2011-08-11T20:18:00.000-05:00

Let Me In (2010)

Bottomline: Terrific interpretation of the Swedish film, Let The Right One In (2008)

Which One is Better? I would have to give the nod to the Swedes; however, it’s only because there is a soft place in my heart for the original.

CAVEAT: The movie is bloody and disturbing. Not for the faint of heart. It's not every day you watch a 12-year-old girl rip the throat out of a grown man -- with her mouth.

QMR Opinion: I really wanted to hate this movie. Really. They were going to Americanize one of my favorite sub-titled films. Well, I was incredibly disappointed because this film delivers the goods. The premise is the same – 12-year-old girl (Abby, played by Chloe Grace Moretz) and her “father” (played by Richard Jenkins) come to live at an apartment complex that looks like it is in the middle of nowhere. She befriends and young guy (Owen played by Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is bullied at school and is having trouble at home. Turns out the young girl is a vampire. The storyline is fresh and I like that Director Matt Reeves focuses the story on Owen and Abby and we don’t take side trips into the lives of the other players. As an example: You never get a good full shot of Owen’s mother and you never see his father. Reeves also adds stronger elements to the film that brings out the “relationship” between Abby and her “father.” A real plus here is Elias Koteas as the police investigator.

Quick Movie Review: Whip It (2009)

2011-05-22T16:18:00.000-05:00

Whip It (2009)

Bottomline: Predictable yet terrific film about roller derby.

Who Directed This? This films marks the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore.

Where Can I See This Movie? It's available for rent on DVD and instant viewing from Netflix. It's also been making the rounds on the movie channels.

Great Roller Derby Names: Rosa Sparks, Maggie Mayham, Eva Destruction, Iron Maven, and Bloody Holly. The name of the team? The Hurl Scouts.

Caveat: This movie is great to watch with children who are 13 or older. There is some language, adult situations, and the roller derby stuff can get violent.

QMR Opinion: What a terrific surprise. This movie ended up on my Netflix instant queue and I decided to randomly watch it late one night. Watching this film was a ton of fun. It's funny. It's touching. And it features the violence that is roller derby. Look. . .you know where this film is going from the start. You know it's going to end. It trots out the typical sports movie formula -- inspiration, dedication, disappointment, redemption. We have the requisite best friend break-up and make-up. We have the iconic romantic theme. It has it all and it could very easily could have been chalked up as just another one of those movies. But it's not and I believe it's because of Barrymore's direction, which keeps the film moving along at a brisk (but not too fast) pace, and the great acting of Ellen Page, who plays Bliss Cavendar and finds freedom in roller derby as Baby Ruthless; Marcia Gay Harden, who plays her mom; Alia Shawkat, who plays Bliss' best friend; Juliette Lewis, who is having a ton of fun playing Iron Maven; and Andrew Wilson (yes, Luke and Owen's older brother), who plays Razor, the coach. Pick this movie up, sit down with your 13+ year old kids and have a good time.

Quick Movie Review: Greenberg (2010)

2011-05-22T16:17:00.000-05:00

Greenberg (2010)

Bottomline: A moment or two of insight and a chuckle here or there but, overall, is a self-absorbed cure for insomnia.

A Recommendations Instead of This Movie: Anything directed by Thomas McCarthy. Much better character studies with much better direction, much better storylines, much better acting, much better everything.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is available for rent on DVD and it has been making the rounds on the movie channels.

QMR Opinion: It happens to me all the time. I hear a critic or two pontificate about a small indie film and I am compelled to see it. Such is the case with Greenberg. Ben Stiller plays Roger Greenberg who gets out of a stint in a mental institution in New York and comes to housesit for his brother in Los Angeles. Greta Gerwig plays Florence, who is the Greenberg's personal assistant. In the absence of his brother, Roger begins calling on Florence and there quickly develops a sexual relationship. You keep watching this movie waiting on something to happen -- anything. There are contrived "emotional" scenes between Roger and his friends, Roger and his ex-girlfriend, Roger and Florence, and Roger and the dog. Then these are punctuated by contrived "anger" scenes where Roger loses his temper and treats everyone like crap. Noah Baumback directed this film and the only other film of his I've seen is The Squid and the Whale (2005), which I hated. There are some lighter moments -- especially when Roger writes his letters of complaint, and the best scene of the whole film occurs when his brother's college-age daughter throws a big party and Roger gives his opinion about "kids today." Greenberg is a classic example of the self-indulgent trap that a lot of indie character studies find themselves in. At some point, you just want some zombies to bust in a eat somebody's brains.

Quick Movie Review: Soldier (1998)

2011-05-15T21:13:00.001-05:00

Soldier (1998)

Bottomline: One of my all-time favorite "doughnut" movies.

Favorite Quote: Sandra (Connie Nielsen): "But one soldier against seventeen, what are you going to do?" Todd (Kurt Russell): "I'm going to kill them all, sir."

QMR Opinion: Look, there are some movies that are just good junk food. These are what I call "doughnut" movies. They are delicious going down but do not fill you up. You want emotional depth? You want high quality screenwriting? You want award-winning acting? Then you need to look elsewhere. These movies are designed for folks just wanting an hour and a half of escapist entertainment. In my opinion, there are few doughnut movies better than Solider. Starring an incredibly pumped up Kurt Russell, this tells the story of a born-to-kill soldier who finds himself replaced by a "better model" in the form of an even more pump up Jason Scott Lee. There are some "slow" emotional scenes designed to fill the movie out a bit, but this flick is all about the action and you get plenty of it. You also get the added bonus of a smarmy Jason Isaacs (yes, the blonde death eater Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter) and the ever-popular Gary Busey.

Quick Movie Review: Blade (1998)

2011-05-15T21:13:00.000-05:00

Blade (1998)

Bottomline: Terrific doughnut movie. Appropriately crass and incredibly violent.

Special Appearance By: Traci Lords. If you know who this is, then the appearance is an interesting one. If you don't know who it is, then it doesn't matter.

QMR Opinion: There have been three Blade films and while the others have their own special places in my heart (I mean how do you not like Parker Posey and Ryan Reynolds appearing in a Blade movie?), this is my favorite of the three. Wesley Snipes plays Blade who is a vampire but is a "daywalker," which means. . .well. . .you can guess. His particular hobby? Killing other suckheads. Silver, garlic and all manner of crazy weapons are used to send vampires back to the hell from whence they arose. Helping Snipes in this effort is none other than Kris Kristofferson, who has a leg brace and a really piss poor demeanor. Snipes is pumped up beyond belief and Stephen Dorff plays an admirable bad guy. Everything rocks along at a fast pace without taking itself too seriously until the end when the poor quality special effects begin to show. This is a classic doughnut movie for me -- I can watch it over and over in perfect mindless bliss.

Quick Movie Review: So I Married An Axe Murderer (1993)

2011-05-15T21:12:00.000-05:00

So I Married An Axe Murderer (1993)

Bottomline: Funny and, at times, downright hilarious. Great doughnut movie.

Where Can I See This Movie? It's available for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion: Yes, this movie is a little long. Yes, it gets a little tedious. No, Mike Myers is not the best actor on the planet when he is playing himself. But this movie is funny most of the time and hilarious in parts. Myers plays Charlie, a young man who has had a rough time with love. Then he falls in love with Harriet, who may actually be a serial killer. The story is fairly thin but it leaves room for a slew of good folks to have some fun: Mike Myers as his Scottish Father; Nancy Travis as Harriet; Anthony LaPaglia as Tony the detective; Amanda Plummer as Rose; Brenda Fricker as Charlie's mom; and then special appearances by Charles Grodin, Steve Wright and a particularly funny Phil Hartman.

Quick Movie Review: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

2011-05-08T22:09:00.001-05:00

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Bottomline: Entertaining and, at times, darkly funny movie.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is available for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion: Forest Whitaker is probably the last actor I would cast as a smoothly efficient assassin. However, he pulls it off here which, I think, is a testament to his abilities. Whitaker plays a killer for hire who gets cross-ways with the mob. This leads to the mob wanting to kill him, which, as you might imagine, is easier said than done. What I liked about this movie is that it didn't take itself totally seriously. All of the mobsters are old Italian fat guys and are absolute cliches. Whitaker's best friend is an ice cream salesman who speaks only French. Whitaker sees himself as a samurai so every now and again during the movie, we are shown a "samurai saying" that is supposed to be uber deep. After two or three of those "samurai sayings," it becomes an extremely old and boring device. There are homages to famous movies so look for those -- especially High Noon (1952). The funniest scene in the whole movie takes place when Louie has to explain to the mob bosses who Ghost Dog is and how he contacts him (passenger pigeon). Pick this up. . .I don't think you will be disappointed.

Quick Movie Review: The Last Samurai (2003)

2011-05-08T22:09:00.000-05:00

The Last Samurai (2003)

Bottomline: Excellent movie with Samurai in the title.

Where Can I See This Movie? It was recently in heavy rotation on HBO and it's available on DVD.

Award Alert!! Ken Watanabe who portrays Katsumoto was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He lost to Tim Robbins (Mystic River).

QMR Opinion: This is one of my favorite movies. Yes, it stars Tom Cruise as Capt. Algren who falls victim to liquor and self-pity. Of course, he ends up in the camp of Samurai and soon learns the way of the Samurai, which involves a lot of introspection followed by hacking at folks with a super cool sword. Directed by Edward Zwick, this movie does tend to collapse into its own self-righteousness but it is a beautiful movie with some terrific acting by Cruise, Watanabe and a whole host of great supporting characters. I am a sucker for movies that use honor as their primary theme and that's what this movie is all about.

Quick Movie Review: Seven Samurai (1954)

2011-05-08T22:08:00.000-05:00

Seven Samurai (1954)

Bottomline: The classic Samurai film. You haven't seen Samurai films until you've seen this one.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is available for instant viewing on Netflix and is available for rent on DVD.

Subtitle Alert!! This movie is in Japanese and has subtitles. For goodness sakes, don't watch this movie with English dubbed in.

Inspiration Alert!! The American western, The Magnificent Seven (1960), starring Yul Brenner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson, was inspired by Seven Samurai.

QMR Opinion: Seven samurai are gathered to help a town defend itself against bandits. The master, Akira Kurosawa, directed this Samurai epic starring the one and only Toshiro Mifune. Big battles. Classic Japanese over-acting. Bad make-up. It doesn't matter. Kurosawa drives this movie forward by sheer will and Mifune is simply marvelous.

Quick Movie Reviews: Win Win (2011)

2011-05-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

Win Win (2011)

Bottomline: Beautiful and wonderful film.

Who Directed This Terrific Movie? Thomas McCarthy, who has also directed two other fabulous films: The Station Agent (2003) and The Visitor (2007).

Where Can I See This Movie? It is in wide release at a theater near you.

Be Sure To See Reviews of: The Station Agent (2003) and The Visitor (2007). Both can be found in the left-hand column. You will find a QMR review and a trailer. Then you must rent them.

QMR Opinion: Until 2003, Thomas McCarthy was primarily known for his acting. I was particularly impressed by his work on the HBO series The Wire. Then in 2003 a little film was released called The Station Agent. Then in 2007, he released a film called The Visitor. Now, he has released Win Win. He is the primary screenwriter on all three and directed all three. And. . .all three are fabulous. They are fabulous because their stories are so accessible; the actors are perfectly cast; and the direction focuses on the humanity of it all. In Win Win, Paul Giamatti plays a down and out attorney, who specializes in elderly care. In his spare time, he coaches a high school wrestling team. As the story plays out, he ends up taking care of an elderly client (Burt Young -- yes, cousin Pauley from the Rocky movies) who, as it turns out, has a grandson (first-timer Alex Shaffer), who is a phenomenal wrestler. As with life, decisions made have consequences are we are mesmerized as we see this human drama unfold. Rounding out the cast are Amy Ryan, who is terrific as Giamatti's wife; and Bobby Cannavale, who brings his own special brand of character as Giamatti's best friend and assistant wrestling coach. Funny, poignant and downright real, this movie carries on a directorial tradition that McCarthy started with The Station Agent. I cannot wait to see what McCarthy does next.

Quick Movie Reviews: The Visitor and Let The Right One In

2011-05-01T16:48:00.000-05:00

The Visitor (2007)

Bottomline: Well-directed small film that deserves your attention.

Pros: Delicately and subtly directed by Tom McCarthy. Superbly understated performance by Richard Jenkins, who was nominated for an Academy Award. Strong performances by the supporting cast. Interesting story (also written by McCarthy). Added bonus: Hiam Abass. . .wow. . .she is great.

Cons: It's a small indie film and is certainly not for everyone. A key plot point of the film involves this country's post-9/11 illegal immigration process and could be seen as politicizing this issue.

Where Can I Get It? It is available for rent.

QMR Opinion: Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) is an economics professor who is going through the motions. His wife died, and he has simply put his life on pause. That is until a chance encounter puts him in the company of a young Sengalese woman and her Syrian boyfriend. McCarthy is the director here and he handles the film and its material superbly. The action centers around Vale, the young couple, and the young man's mother (played terrifically by Hiam Abass). Vale makes the crucial decision to allow himself to be drawn out of his shell and, in the process, discovers a new beat to his own life.

Let The Right One In (2008)

Bottomline: Good and extremely interesting little film with vampires.

Pros: The movie relies completely on the peformances of Kara Hedebrant, a 12-year-old boy, and Lena Leandersson, a 12-year-old girl. It works. They turn in solid performances and are completely believable.

Cons: It's an independent Swedish film so there's lots (and lots) of snow -- short shots of snow, long shots of snow, long shots of ice, short shots of ice. . .you get the idea. I don't like English dubbing so I turn on the sub-titles, which don't appeal to a lot of people.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent via DVD.

QMR Opinion: Oskar is a 12-year-old lonely little boy who does what he can to get by. He is relentlessly and mercilessly picked on by a gang of kids at school, his parents are divorced and he lives in probably the dreariest apartment complex ever captured on film. Then Eli moves in. She is a 12-year-old little girl, who introduces herself to Oskar one night, and right away you know something's a little off. Yes, turns out she's a vampire. They strike up a friendship that will change both of their lives. Except for a couple of scenes that, frankly, don't really work, the entire movie is shot from the perspective of Oskar. You see the world through 12-year-old eyes. While the movie relies on some common vampire mythology, I was surprised by how atypical a "vampire" movie it is. There is nothing sexy about it, and it is treated almost like a disability. The film has moments of intense violence and is certainly not for anyone under the age of 17. A question to ask yourself at the end of the movie: Is it a happy ending? And one more thing.. .Please don't pick on the boyfriend of a vampire. It doesn't end well.

Quick Movie Review: The Station Agent (2003)

2011-05-01T16:32:00.000-05:00

The Station Agent (2003)

Bottomline: Magnificent little film.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent.

QMR Opinion: In his directorial debut, Thomas McCarthy does a terrific job of sitting back and letting the story tell itself. Filled with humor and despair, The Station Agent stars Peter Dinklage, who absolutely owns this movie. Dinklage plays a man whose only friend dies and so he moves to New Jersey to get away from it all. It is in this solitude that he finds Patricia Clarkson and Bobby Cannavale. These three unlikely friends move from friendship to family. The Station Agent puts a spotlight on what makes us human and reminds us of the connections we all share -- whether we want to admit it or not.

Quick Movie Review: Sucker Punch (2011)

2011-03-27T19:25:00.000-05:00

Sucker Punch (2011)

Bottomline: Highly stylized action film that you should wait to rent.

Quick Note: Based on reviews of this film by respected film critics, you may be under the impression that this is the worst movie ever made and heralds the end of the movie industry as we know it. Uh, no, it's not. It's a decent flick but is definitely a rental.

This Movie is Directed by Zach Snyder. What Else Has He Directed? He has directed 300 (2006), which I liked, and Watchmen (2009), which I wasn't crazy about.

QMR Opinion: Emily Browning plays Baby Doll who is committed to a mental institution by her abusive stepfather. To escape the terror of the abuse she must endure inside the mental institution, Baby Doll constructs an alternative reality that includes some of her fellow inmates. She wants to escape and, as such, must complete a series of challenges to find five items. All of this is guided by the one and only Scott Glenn. Look. . .you can tell by the trailer what kind of a movie this is -- it's a bombastic, fast-paced action flick starring some really good looking females who kick butt and take names. The music is loud. The explosions are plentiful. There is slo-mo action. There is lots of handheld camera work. It's exciting but, at the end of the day, is a doughnut of a movie that is trying hard to be a sizzling steak. Be prepared, though, even though it's PG-13, it is violent and it is disturbing. The movie is at its best when the girls are kicking butt. However, the minute the music stops and we are left with everyone acting and speaking, the movie really bogs down. The acting is not good. The writing is rough and is very elementary. And, as odd as it sounds, the supposed Polish accent of Dr. Gorski, played by Carla Gugino, is incredibly distracting because it is just so so bad. Geeks and fans of Zack Snyder will get exactly what they paid for and then some, but, for my money, it would have been better to wait for the DVD rental.

Quick Movie Review: Paul (2011)

2011-03-27T19:03:00.000-05:00

Paul (2011)

Bottomline: A movie made by geeks for geeks. I'm not so sure non-geeks will get this.

Filter Question: Do you know what a Gorn is? If you know the answer to this question, you will love this movie.

Wow. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost Are Really Funny -- What Else Can I See Them In? I have two recommendations, both written by Pegg and Frost, and directed by Edgar Wright: Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007).

Paul Riffs on Many Films. See If You Can Find References to: Jaws, Men In Black, Predator, Star Trek, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Aliens, and many, many others.

Note: Wilhelm Scream Alert!!

QMR Opinion: This movie is enjoyable and fun, but, at the end, I wondered how much better it would have been had Edgar Wright been able to direct his two friends, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The movie is funny, but there are jokes that are incredible duds. The premise is strong, but could have been leveraged much better. Paul is an alien that has been stuck on Earth since 1947 and he is played well by Seth Rogen and the CG animation is terrific. The movie was directed by Greg Mottola who directed Superbad (2007) and Adventureland (2009). It seemed to me that Mottola may have let Pegg and Frost have too much freedom and, as such, there are parts of the film that get incredibly draggy and just don't work. Two examples: There is an initial scene with Kristen Wiig that pokes fun at fundamentalist Christians. Yes, it's funny for that moment. But the joke becomes a running joke and it gets old and boring really quick. Second example: The movie turns inexplicably violent right at the end. It really took me by surprise and there is a moment at the end that had me rolling my eyes. A guest appearance by Jane Lynch is terrific.

Quick Movie Review: Stagecoach (1939)

2011-03-27T18:42:00.000-05:00

Stagecoach (1939)

Bottomline: Classic American western that is a must see for any film fan.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent. I watched it on Turner Classic Movies.

What Is Your Favorite John Ford-John Wayne Film? Well, actually, there are two -- The Quiet Man (1952) and The Searchers (1956), which is considered by many to be the best western ever made.

QMR Opinion: The first colloboration between John Ford and John Wayne -- a relationship that would give us some terrific films. Also stars Claire Trevor and Thomas Mitchell. An eclectic group of travelers is thrown together on a stagecoach and find themselves having to work through some of their own issues as well as the small problem of having a band of Indians led by Geronimo trying to kill them all. This is shot in Monument Valley, Arizona, and, as such, is beautiful to watch. As is often the case with this early films, there is a lot of over-acting but the overall effect of the film is fantastic. Classic Hollywood Western.

In Praise of Thomas Mitchell (1892-1962)

2011-03-27T18:30:00.000-05:00

In Praise of Thomas Mitchell (1892-1962)

I have always been and continue to be a fan of the character actor -- the men and women who aren't stars but make stars and movies better. So I'm watching Stagecoach (1939) the other night and couldn't help but smile when I saw Thomas Mitchell stagger onto the screen as Doc Boone. It was terrific, of course, and made a great movie even better. He adds a poignancy and a smile to any movie he's in. Turns out he actually won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work on Stagecoach. He was nominated for the same award for The Hurricane (1937).

Most of us remember Mitchell as forgetful Uncle Billy from It's a Wonderful Life (1946) or as the Mr. O'Hara from Gone with the Wind (1939). Here is a quick look at his resume (yes, 1939 was a great year for Mitchell and the movies):

Stagecoach (1939)
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)
Gone With The Wind (1939)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
The Fighting Sullivans (1944)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
High Noon (1952)

Quick Movie Review: The Karate Kid (2010)

2011-03-27T18:10:00.000-05:00

The Karate Kid (2010)

Bottomline: You will be surprised at how charming this movie is. Definitely worth your time.

Where Can I See This Movie? It's available for rent on DVD and is in rotation on movie channels.

QMR Opinion: So I'm sitting around on a Sunday afternoon channel surfing when I come across this film about five minutes in. I started watching and literally could not turn it off. I am a Jackie Chan fan so it's an opportunity to watch him. I am a Taraji P. Henson fan, so it's an opportunity to watch her (although she is wasted here). But it's the performance of Jaden Smith that took me by surprise. He's a good looking kid who has the charm that has made his father, Will Smith, a superstar. Other than being set in China, this movie follows the script of the original Karate Kid (1984) almost to the letter so you know how it's going to finish, but Jaden brings freshness to it and it's refreshing to see Jackie actually play down. He is so over-the-top in so many of his movies, it's interesting to see him almost fade into the background here -- but, of course, it's important to his role in the film. A fan criticism? In all Jackie Chan movies, he always shows a blooper reel at the end. No blooper reel here and I think it would have been fun to see.

Quick Movie Review: Solaris (2002)

2011-03-27T17:57:00.000-05:00

Solaris (2002)

Bottomline: An especially slow piece of science fiction that tests the patience of even the most ardent sci-fi fan.

Where Can I See This Movie? It's in the rotation on a movie channel or two and it's available for rent.

Where Have I Seen Natascha McElhone? She is in one of my favorite action flicks -- Ronin (1998).

Quick Movie Review: In theory, this movie should work. It's directed by Steven Soderbergh. It stars George Clooney. It co-stars Natascha McElhone. It co-stars Viola Davis (yes, the Oscar nominee). It starts off strong but then loses its way once we get to Solaris. Clooney plays a psychologist who is called to investigate strange happenings at an outpost stationed at the distant planet of Solaris. And, boy, there are some weird things happening -- like, for example, Clooney's dead wife showing up as flesh and blood on the space station. It seems the planet is messing with them and it's doing a fine job of it. One of the more interesting moments of the film occurs, unfortunately, at the end. Clooney faces a difficult choice but makes the choice you expect.

Quick Movie Review: In the Loop (2009)

2011-02-21T20:31:00.000-06:00

In the Loop (2009)

Bottomline: Terrific British political film. Bloody hilarious!

QMR Opinion: Director Armando Iannucci does an excellent job of telling the backstory of how the American and British governments “agree” to begin military operations in a Middle Eastern country. As you watch this, the scary idea that occurs to you is that this is exactly how policy is decided. The writing is tight and reminds me of Aaron Sorkin. For me the star here is Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker, the ultra profane minister of communications. His language would make a sailor blush, but he is absolutely hilarious. Other stand-outs include Tom Hollander as Defense Minister Simon Foster and Mimi Kennedy as U.S. Congresswoman Karen Clark.

Quick Movie Review: Bad Lieutenant-Port of Call New Orleans (2009)

2011-02-21T20:25:00.000-06:00

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)

Bottomline: Sloppy direction, sloppy acting, sloppy acting lead to a sloppy movie.

Special Note: Nicolas Cage is horrible in this film, but the good news is Moonstruck (1987) has just been released on Blu-Ray. Get it.

QMR Opinion: I’ve seen plenty of films where I enjoyed Nicolas Cage. Most recently, I can recommend Kick-Ass (2010). I have never seen a film that I liked that was directed by Werner Herzog. In the documentary Grizzly Man (2005), I started to root for the bears. In this mess, Cage plays Terence McDonough, who is addicted to drugs, gambling and a prostitute (played by Eva Mendes). As it turns out, McDonough is a detective in post-Katrina New Orleans. Cage plays McDonough on the edge the entire film – he’s constantly high, scamming drugs and being a general jack ass. It gets incredibly boring after a while. Then you have Val Kilmer doing something – I’m not quite sure – as a police detective. And, out of nowhere, one of my favorite actresses staggers onto the scene – Jennifer Coolidge. To make matters worse, I actually think Cage is wearing guyliner throughout the film – I guess as an attempt to make him look more dark.

Quick Movie Review: A Prophet (2009)

2011-02-21T20:16:00.000-06:00

A Prophet (2009)

Bottomline: Solid prison drama with great performances by Tahar Rahim and Niels Arestrup.

Caveat: This is a prison film so it is rough.

SUBTITLE ALERT: It is in French, Arabic, and Corsican. So, yes, there are subtitles.

QMR Opinion: Rahim plays Malik in this French film. Malik is 19 and is put into prison where he becomes an Arab servant for the Corsican gang that runs the prison. Malik soon learns the ropes and begins to turn the tide. Calling this film “gritty” would be cliche. It takes place in a French prison so it can’t help but be gritty. Arestrup plays the head Corsican gangster, and he wears malevolence well. It is fascinating to watch as Malik evolves from a scared kid to a mature gangster. Tight direction from Jacques Audiard.

Quick Movie Review: Restrepo (2010)

2011-01-30T20:29:00.000-06:00

Restrepo (2010)

Bottomline: Terrific documentary telling the story of the men of the Second Battalion deployed to on of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan.

Where Can I See This Oscar-nominated documentary? It is available for rent on DVD and for instant viewing from Netflix.

QMR Opinion: The best documentaries are the ones that allow the story to tell itself. Directors Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington are embedded with the Second Battalion as it ships out to one of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan. They turn their cameras on and just let the story tell itself. For a little over 90 minutes, we tensely watch these young soldiers come under a constant barrage of gunfire from an unseen enemy. And, yes, some of them do not survive. It’s heart wrenching and inspiring at the same moment to see these volunteers put themselves in harm’s way for our country. Other than the occasional personal interview, the documentary captures the lives of young men who know they may die at any moment.

Quick Movie Review: The Fighter (2010)

2011-01-30T20:24:00.000-06:00

The Fighter (2010)

Bottomline: Eminently solid film punctuated by odd moments of boredom.

Where Can I See This Oscar-Nominated Film? It is playing in theaters.

Isn’t Christian Bale that jerk? Yes, apparently Christian has quite the temper, but he is also one whale of an actor. Some movies to check out: Public Enemies (2009), Terminator Salvation (2009), 3:10 to Yuma (2007), Batman Begins (2005), Reign of Fire (2002), Empire of the Sun (1987).

Who is Melissa Leo? Terrific actress. If you want to see her doing some of her best work, check out Frozen River (2008).

QMR Opinion: Based on the true story of boxer Mickey Ward of Lowell, Mass., The Fighter shows in gritty detail how Ward, extremely underplayed by Mark Wahlberg, works to get his shot as a big-time boxer. Two of his biggest hurdles are his mother, played by Melissa Leo, who is terrific, and his crack-addicted brother, Dickie Eklund, phenomenally played by Christian Bale. Amy Adams does a good job as Ward’s girlfriend, Charlene. Director David O. Russell directs this film fairly straightforward. It’s a boxing movie focusing on a boxer who has to work extra hard from down and out conditions. The movie never drew me in totally. There were moments where the film is just downright good. But then there are moments, mainly when Wahlberg is on screen, that it is just downright boring. There are even one or two classic training montages – I swear, just like the Rocky movies. Make no mistake, this is absolutely Bale’s movie and he is absolutely worth every minute he is on screen. His portrayal of Eklund is masterful and is the primary reason to see this movie.

Quick Movie Review: Good Hair (2009)

2011-01-23T15:30:00.000-06:00

Good Hair (2009)

Bottomline: Fascinating but sloppy documentary.

Where Can I See This? It’s available for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion: You learn something new every day. I would never ever had thought I would be so enthralled by a documentary dedicated to getting the inside scoop on black women’s hair. Chris Rock has two daughters, and he decided to look into the culture of black hair. So he hosts this documentary that does exactly that – looking in depth at the world of black hair and black hair products. And let’s just say I am amazed. The documentary is at its best when it stays focused on its stated mission. So the interviews with a number of prominent African-American entertainers and others (including everyone from Maya Angelou to Rave Symone to the Rev. Al Sharpton) are utterly spellbinding. Then we get a look at the multi-million dollar world of black hair products. We learn about weaves and how incredibly expensive they can be. The doc goes off the rails when it gets too focused on a hair styling competition in Atlanta and then there is a particularly awkward moment in a barber shop where the men go far afield and begin joking about sex with white women. Some honest editing could have fixed those issues and made the whole doc tighter and even more fascinating. But I was completely taken in and learned more about black hair, black hair culture and black hair products than I ever have.

Quick Movie Review: Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)

2011-01-23T15:24:00.000-06:00

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)

Bottomline: Fascinating look into the world of an iconic comedienne and all around interesting person.

Where Can I See This? It is available for rent on DVD.

You Must Listen to: Joan River’s Grammy-award winning comedy album, What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most? (1983)

QMR Opinion: When I was in high school, there were some comedy albums that I just wore out – anything by Steve Martin, Richard Pryor and, yes, Joan Rivers. Her comedy album, What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most?, won a Grammy and is easily one of the funniest comedy albums of all time. So it was with some bias that I watched this good documentary. At the time the doc was filmed, Rivers turned 75 and, let’s face it, the woman is a survivor. Yes, I know she’s become a punchline thanks to an addiction to plastic surgery but she has managed to survive and come out on the other side. If you enjoy getting an unvarnished look behind the scenes of comedy (and I do), this doc offers a terrific look at that. Rivers is one of the funniest people on the planet, but, as the Steve Martin album says, Comedy Is Not Pretty. We get a look at Rivers’ early career, her spat with Carson, her career valleys, and her career highs. There are incredibly vulnerable, touching and poignant moments – especially when she recounts her husband’s suicide. Kudos to Rivers to laying herself bare. Oh. . .one piece of advice. . .DO NOT heckle Joan Rivers. She ripped some poor guy a new one in the Midwest. Wow.

Quick Movie Review: Winter's Bone (2010)

2011-01-16T17:26:00.000-06:00

Winter's Bone (2010)

Bottomline: Overrated. Waaaaaayyyyyy overrated.

Where Can I See This? It’s available for rent on DVD.

What’s a Better Movie Illustrating Life Amongst Mountain Folk? Go back and watch Deliverance (1972)

QMR Opinion: I am on the outside looking in with this film. Critics LOVE this movie. It has landed on most critics’ top 10 lists and has ended up in the Top 5 for many folks. Don’t buy it. The movie tells the story of a young Ozark mountain girl played by Jennifer Lawrence who must find her father or the family gets kicked off their land. She visits rough folks and, guess what, they are rough. There’s a lot of talking. A bunch of mumbling. A little cussing. It’s a “gritty” look life in the Ozarks. We know this because there’s a lot of meth. Some weed. And a bunch of teen moms. All the men are uneducated gun owners with really bad dental work. Everyone looks bored and the movie is unbelievably boring. Lawrence is okay but standouts are John Hawkes as Teardrop and Dale Dickey at one of Thump’s women. This movie feels like it wants to look like a documentary but the direction is so plodding and the acting is so wooden that the entire effect is more of a redneck home movie.

Quick Movie Review: Black Swan (2010)

2011-01-03T20:48:00.002-06:00

Black Swan (2010)

Bottomline: If you are a cinephile, a HUGE fan of Natalie Portman or Darren Aronofsky, then go see this in the theaters. Otherwise. . .wait for the DVD.

Where Can I Go See This Film? It is still drawing big crowds in local theaters.

Darren Aronofsky? Where have I heard that name? He is the director of last year’s The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke.

Why is this movie Rated R? For several good reasons – horrific language, horrific scenes that border on torture, strong sexual content, which includes a lot of crotch-grabbing for some reason.

Is there a better movie showing an artist’s descent into madness? There are two that come quickly to mind that I would highly recommend: Amadeus (1984), which has Tom Hulce giving an incredible performance as Mozart with F. Murray Abraham giving his Oscar-winning performance as Salieri. It won eight Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director (Milos Foreman); and Shine (1996) starring Geoffrey Rush as David Helfgott as a classical pianist, who suffers a mental breakdown, is institutionalized and then returns to the concert hall.

QMR Opinion:
Black Swan is billed as a “psycho sexual thriller.” It’s psycho for sure. It’s sexual, sort of. It’s a thriller in the sense that there are moments where you are surprised and shocked. By far the best thing about this entire film is Natalie Portman. Good gracious, she truly puts everything on the line here – emotionally, viscerally, and physically. I’ve always liked Portman and she delivers a tour de force performance here – it’s pure method all day.

Nina (Portman) is a long-time ballerina and has, at long last, been selected to be the Swan Queen in the company’s opening performance of the season. As such, she is asked to play both the pristine White Swan and the more sensual Black Swan. The company’s director, played by Vincent Cassel, pushes her to get in touch with this dark, sensual side. It’s this exploration of her sensual self that leads to the “sexual” part of the film, but it’s handled sloppily and there were several supposed sexual scenes that elicited laughs from the theater audience. The building pressure plus some inevitable mom issues (played marvelously by Barbara Hershey) pushes Nina to the brink of insanity.

The problem with the film is the film. Aronofsky is working really, really hard to make this live up to the hype as a “psycho sexual thriller,” but ends up with a lot of handheld camera worked designed to increase tension and some run-of-the-mill horror film tricks that are supposed to thrill us. The most fascinating scenes for me were the ones that gave us insight into the preparation of a ballet and of the dancers. I gave a similar review to Aronofsky’s The Wrestler last year. Rourke was phenomenal in the role, but the overall film was weak. Such is the case with Black Swan.

Quick Movie Review: The King's Speech (2010)

2011-01-03T20:38:00.000-06:00

The King’s Speech (2010)

Bottomline: The best movie I’ve seen in 2010 (and, yes, that includes Toy Story 3)

Where Can I See This Amazing Film? It’s playing theaters right now. Go. See. Now.

Why is this movie Rated R? As near as I can tell, the only reason this film is Rated R is because as part of the speech therapy, Logue has the Prince curse – it starts off relatively mild then gets more obscene as he’s pressed. But that’s it. There is no nudity. No sex. No violence.

Any other films you can recommend with Colin Firth? Absolutely. I would highly recommend Love Actually (2003). Many reviewers would point you to A Single Man (2009) in which Firth is brilliant and was nominated for Best Actor; however, the film is dreadful and I would not wish it upon anyone.

QMR Opinion:
On Jan. 20, 1936, at the age of 70, England’s King George V died. As such, his eldest son, Prince Edward (6.23.1894 – 5.28.72) ascended the throne. The problem? Prince Edward was in love with a twice-divorced American woman named Wallis Simpson (6.19.1896 – 4.24.1986). After assuming the throne and making noise that he was planning to marry Ms. Simpson, there was much consternation amongst the Royal Family and the Church of England because, as head of the church, Edward could do no such thing. So he had to make a choice – the Throne or Ms. Simpson. As we all know, he chose Ms. Simpson. So on Dec. 11, 1936, King Edward VII abdicated the throne, which meant his brother, Prince Albert became King. He ascended the throne as King George VI (12.14.1895 – 2.6.52) alongside his wife, Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) (8.4.00 – 3.30.02). It is their daughter, Queen Elizabeth II (born 4.21.26) who sits on the throne today. But here’s the rub, Prince Albert/King George VI had an almost debilitating stammer and was being ushered into the public eye at the same time the “wireless” was becoming commonplace.

While this doesn’t sound like the end of the world, the film does a brilliant job of setting the tone with showing Prince Albert (Colin Firth) struggling to make a speech and making it clear that as England gets drawn into WWII, they needed a non-stammering King. After a few tries with speech therapists, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) introduces the Prince to Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian-born self-taught speech therapist. And here is where the movie focuses. Using history as its foundation, the film shows the growing relationship between the two men and their partnership in working to mitigate the King’s stammer.

There are moments where everything comes together to make a film an absolute delight – subject matter, direction, cinematography, screenplay, acting, etc. This is one of those films. Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush are absolutely marvelous and the chemistry is palpable. The writing by David Seidler is tight, suspenseful, and, often, funny. Tom Hooper’s direction has the film moving along at a brisk pace. I cannot remember ever being bored. For me, this is easily the best movie of 2010, and you would be more than remiss if you chose to not see it on the big screen.

Quick Movie Review: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

2010-12-29T17:26:00.002-06:00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

Bottomline: Fantastic film.

Quick Notes: This film is Rated R for a reason. In addition to violence and scenes of violence, there is a particularly disturbing and brutal rape scene. It is Swedish so there are subtitles.

Interesting Note: The English version of the film is scheduled for release in 2011. Director: David Fincher [Social Network (2010), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2009), Zodiac (2007), Fight Club (1999), and Se7en (1995)]. Lisbeth Salander: Rooney Mara (Social Network (2010). Mikael Blomkvist: Daniel Craig (James Bond).

Quick Movie Review Opinion:
I feel sorry for Rooney Mara. She’s been cast as Lisbeth Salander for the 2011 English version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Unfortunately, she will inevitably be compared to Noomi Rapace, who portrays Lisbeth in the Swedish version of the same movie and, quite frankly, is fantastic. Granted, recent remakes have faired reasonably well with Chloe Moretz interpreting the role of the elementary school vampire first seen in the Swedish film Let the Right One In (2008) played by Lina Leandersson. Then there is the most recent re-interpretation of the role of Rooster Cogburn by Jeff Bridges – a role made famous by the one and only John Wayne. The only other film I’ve seen Mara in was The Social Network (2010) and she was good, but she didn’t have much to do other than break up with Zuckerberg, who gets angry and creates Facebook. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a fast-paced and intelligent thriller with twists and turns galore. It had me guessing right up to the end. The direction of Niels Arden Oplev is so well done that you don’t even notice the two hour plus running time. Opposite Noomi is Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist, and he is excellent. I have not read the books so I will leave those observations to others. However, Noomi completely inhabits Lisbeth as a character and is mesmerizing. Whether you’re a fan of the books or not, if you’re a fan of thrillers and suspense, this is a movie you must see.

Quick Movie Review: True Grit (2010)

2010-12-28T21:38:00.000-06:00

True Grit (2010)

Bottomline: Terrific movie.

Another great Coen Brothers film you’ve probably never seen but should: A Serious Man (2009)

Want to hear more from Iris Dement? Check out her website at irisdement.com. Her music is also available on iTunes. I prefer the more primitive gospel tracks but there are some bluesy rocking tracks if you prefer.

Some Interesting Notes: This movie is at once incredibly funny and poignant. It is rated PG-13 but it's important to remember that this is a truly gritty western -- dusty, dirty, at times explosively violent.

QMR Opinion:The original True Grit (1969) was essentially a vehicle for John Wayne to chew scenery. And he indulged vigorously. I liked Wayne as Rooster Cogburn, but the movie was clearly created as his showcase. I mean what other reason could there be for casting Glenn Campbell in a major role as LeBoeuf? What makes the new True Grit so terrific is that it is a showcase for all of the actors from top to bottom. Jeff Bridges as Rooster. Matt Damon as LaBouef. Barry Pepper at Lucky Ned Pepper. Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney. Dakin Matthews as Col. Stonehill. And, last but not least, newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross. The Coen Brothers have created a beautiful western with the help of the genius that is Roger Deakins as director of photography. A pleasant surprise for me was the music. Curtis Burwell’s score fits the film perfectly, and I was particularly struck by the starkness of Iris Dement’s rendition of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arm” that closes the film.

Quick Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Part 1. (2010)

2010-11-28T07:22:00.001-06:00

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. Part 1. (2010)

Bottomline: If you're a Harry Potter fan you will love it. If you haven't read all the books then you will be lost in places but you will still like this movie.

Where Can I See It? It is playing about every 15 minutes in every movie theater on the planet. If you're going to see it, see it on the big screen.

CAVEAT: It is rated PG-13 for a reason. It is dark. It is scary. There is death. There is tension. Not for easily scared little ones.

CAVEAT DEUX: This is the first of two parts.

QMR Opinion:
I was so, so disappointed by the Half-Blood Prince (2009). It was sooooo boring and such a poor representation of the book. Not so The Deathly Hallows. This is a faithful adaptation of the book, which helps in some scenes but hurts it in others. Our three principals -- Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) -- have moved beyond Hogwarts and are now facing Voldemort (Ralph Finnes) and his minions head-on. As with all the Potter films, the acting here is superfluous to the rest of the story; however, I was and have been particularly impressed with Rupert Grint. Through all of the films he has always managed to take what could have been written off as the "comedy relief" character and given him a lot of depth. The cinematic quality of the film is dark to represent the darkness of the times so there are moments where the action is quick and takes place in the dark so you're not really sure what just happened until it's over. However, there is plenty of action. As my 13-year-old daughter put it after the movie: "That did not seem like two hours and thirty minutes." Indeed. This is a fast-paced Potter that sets up the ultimate showdown that will occur in Part 2, which is due to be released in July 2011. I truly enjoyed this film and eagerly await Part 2. A couple of quibbles: There were several scenes that could have been tightened such as a lot of the dialogue scenes that slow the movie down but do nothing to move the movie forward and a death scene that just takes too dang long. And there is a lot of handheld work in the film, which tended to be more distracting than helpful. It increased the tension in some scenes but took me out of the movie in others.

Quick Movie Review: The Foot Fist Way (2006)

2010-11-28T07:22:00.000-06:00

WARNING: TRAILER IS FOR ADULTS ONLY!!
The Foot Fist Way (2006)

Bottomline: This is all Danny McBride and crude humor all the time. You find yourself laughing and then feeling guilty about it.

Where Can I See It? It is available on DVD.

QMR Opinion:
This is not a good movie. It is a vehicle that showcases Danny McBride, who can be hilarious. The Foot Fist Way tells the story of a small town Tae Kwon Do instructor who believes he is the end all be all of martial artists and enjoys his standing as a big fish in a little pond. The humor comes in how serious he takes himself and, because of that, all of the craziness that ensues. There are moments in this movie where you will absolutely laugh out loud, but then there are other moments when they are going hard for the laugh and it falls flat. If you are a fan of Danny McBride and crude, rough humor, then you will like this movie. If not, then rent Tropic Thunder (2008) again.

Quick Movie Review: The Bank Job (2008)

2010-11-28T07:21:00.001-06:00

The Bank Job (2008)

Bottomline: Intriguing thriller that is well worth a rental.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion:
I love movies that surprise me. This one did. It was recommended to me and, frankly, it sat on my shelf for a long time. That's too bad because once I watched it, I realized how enjoyable it truly is. Starring Jason Statham, The Bank Job tells the story of a group of thieves who decide to break into a vault for money but end up stumbling upon government secrets, mob secrets and a whole host of other trouble. This is based on a true story that happened in the early 1970s. Statham is excellent in the lead role and his work here reminds me of the first time I saw him in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). Plus, you have the added bonus of Saffron Burrows. This is a true thriller. You never know how it's going to end up and, many times, you not really sure which end is up. But, in the end, it is completely satisfying and more than worth your time.

Quick Movie Review: The General (1927)

2010-11-28T07:21:00.000-06:00

The General (1927)

Bottomline: Brilliant

Where Can I See It? I saw it as part of a special series on Turner Classic Movies. But it is avaialble for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion:
I can count on one hand the number of silent films I’ve seen from start to finish. Here we go. . .ready? 1. That’s it. I’ve watched clips of silent films my whole life. Harold Lloyd. Charlie Chaplin. Buster Keaton. Lillian Gish. Mary Pickford. Rudolph Valentino. Keaton’s masterpiece, The General, is the first silent film I’ve watched from beginning to end. I can assure you it will not be the last. Keaton directed this film and stars in it. The physicality of the stunts and the nuance of the comedy are keys to the success of this film. In addition, the composition of the movie is simply brilliant. You have to remember that while there are some camera tricks here and there, there is no CG. It’s just straight-forward filmmaking. The film is set during the Civil War with Keaton playing the role of train engineer Johnnie Gray. His train is stolen by union forces, and the young lady that Keaton is in love with also gets caught up in the action. In effect, it turns into a classic chase movie with two steam locomotives as the vehicles.You have to see this film to believe it.

Quick Movie Review: RED (2010)

2010-11-28T07:20:00.000-06:00

RED (2010)

Bottomline: Extremely fun movie. Not sure it was worth the full price of a movie ticket, but it is definitely worth renting.

Where Can I See It? It may still be in a theater near you but it will be released on DVD soon.

QMR Opinion:
There are certain movies you go see just because you want to have a little fun. My youngest daughter and I had wanted to see this movie since seeing the trailer. So, for her 13th birthday, we headed over to see this PG-13 film. Let’s be honest – the plot is convulted and is really superfluous to the overall real purpose of the film – get a bunch of good actors together and have some fun. Bruce Willis is doing what Willis does best – kicking butt and making snarky comments. John Malkovich plays a crazy guy (imagine!). Morgan Freeman is here. Helen Mirren gets to fire a heavy-duty weapon. Mary-Louise Parker is great and holds her own. And, last but not least, 93-year-old Ernest Borgnine makes an appearance or two. Make no mistake – this is an action film. There are moments of down time but it is wide open action from start to finish. You go to the restroom and you will miss something. It’s violent – very violent. The language gets rough. But, it’s pure fun.

Quick Movie Review: Kick-Ass (2010)

2010-11-28T07:19:00.000-06:00

Kick-Ass (2010)

Bottomline: Starts strong and ends in a mess.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent on DVD

CAVEAT: This movie is Rated R and for good reason. It is ultra violent and uses beaucoup rough language.

QMR Opinion:
The movie is based on a terrific concept. What would happen if a normal teen just decided one day to be a super hero? Get the mask. Maybe a weapon or two. And then go and do good. Such is the case of Dave Lizewski, who decides to create the super hero, Kick-Ass. Let’s be kind and say it doesn’t really turn out that well – in the beginning and pretty much through to the end. In the meantime, he crosses paths with others who share this passion. This is an ultra-violent film with a ton of blood spray both with on-screen squibs and CG bloodspray added in post production. Plus, there is a lot of bad language and dark humor. This movie is not for everyone. The interesting premise starts out strong and carries well throughout the film until the last 30 minutes or so when the movies ends in an incomprehensible mess. I've always been puzzled by how our intrepid hero can kick the ass of 14 to 20 henchmen with little more than a paperclip and then find himself on the verge of death against the head bad guy. It's a worn out device and needs to be retired. The break-out star for me here is Chloe Moretz. She is fantastic as Mindy/Hit Girl even though it is slightly off-putting to see her use language that will curl your hair and kill with impunity.

Beyond Superman: What Can We Do About Public Education?

2010-11-11T14:01:00.000-06:00

At the end of Waiting for Superman, I found myself sad and angry. Here we are living in the greatest country in the world where opportunities are boundless and, yet, so many children are being left behind by the state of our public education system.

By focusing on specific students in areas such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Waiting for Superman brings into sharp relief an unintentional caste system in this country. If you happen to be born in a horrible school district in the United States and are not randomly picked to move to a better school, you are stuck in a cycle that is practically impossible to escape.

Now, let’s take those statistics down another level. I live in Alabama. Of the 50 states in the union, we rank near the bottom in practically every statistical educational category. And, frankly, we don’t care. If we did, we would do something about it.

The most recent bit of evidence for this lack of caring occurred just recently. Waving the banner of states’ rights and using fear of governmental intervention as its mantra, our state walked away from millions of dollars of government funding for education when we decided to essentially drop out of the Obama administration’s Race to the Top. The story as linked below is a microcosm of the challenges of educating our children – ineffective governmental agencies versus the selfish interests of an incredibly powerful teacher’s union.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2010/09/alabamas_poor_race_to_the_top.html

Interestingly, the federal government, state government and teacher’s unions all seem to agree on two key principles:

The state of American public education is poor and needs to be improved.
Collaboration among all of those groups is required if there is to be any improvement whatsoever.

I have always been a passionate defender of quality education because I see it as key to ending the cycle of poverty and joblessness that have crippled and continue to cripple this great state.

And, on a more personal note, I have two children in the public educational system – a 13-year-old in junior high school and a 17-year-old in high school. The blessing here is that we are in one of the best school systems in the state.

The first thing you learn as you research improving public education is that there truly is no silver bullet. Every now and again, prominent research will be trotted out that touts this or that as the answer to our public education woes. And, I believe, Waiting for Superman falls into this trap somewhat by putting all of its eggs into the Charter School basket. It’s something worth trying, but it’s not the whole answer.

As with many complicated questions, there are complicated answers. Such is the case with improving public education. Rather than a single silver bullet, it is going to take a combination of many different tactics to achieve the overall goal of improving public education in this country.

The challenge in moving forward with any education reform is that people disagree on the tactics. In looking at the dizzying number of ideas around education reform, I’ve attempted to narrow those tactics I see cited most often as keys to improving public education:

The Teacher
Really, is there anyone more central to this whole idea? And, yet so central to many of the controversies surrounding education reform. Teacher accountability. Teacher testing. Teacher tenure. Teacher salaries. Teacher unions. Let’s just say this: Good teachers should be rewarded with higher pay and tenure. Bad teachers should be fired.

Here are two teacher-related links you may interested in:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/03/05/why-we-must-fire-bad-teachers.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/magazine/23Race-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=teachers&st=nyt&scp=1

School Calendar
If you look at the other 30 developed countries, especially the Asian cultures, you will find that their students go to school for longer periods of time than our students do. I know we all have romantic notions of childhood summers, but we live in a different, more competitive world and we need to act like it. We need to take an unemotional look at lengthening the school year.

Interesting link from Newsweek on lengthening the school year:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/27/obama-calls-for-a-longer-school-year.html

School Day
This tactic is similar to the school calendar issue. In the other developed countries the school day is longer. It’s something we should examine seriously. Charter schools are doing this now and are finding success with a longer day. However, like most of the tactics discussed here, it is requisite that a longer school day be coupled with improvements in other areas. What’s the purpose of a longer school day if it is lead by a bad teacher?

Interesting links on lengthening the school day:
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-16/opinion/feinberg.longer.schoolday_1_kipp-academy-public-charter-schools-kipp-schools?_s=PM:OPINION

http://dailycaller.com/2010/07/28/education-secretary-calls-for-12-hour-school-days-longer-school-years/

Funding
It’s an easy answer. Got an education problem? Let’s throw money at it. The problem here is that we have been throwing money at it. As a matter of fact, our per student spending as a country has increased over the years while our scores continue to languish. It’s like pouring money into an old car that won’t run. At some point, you need to step back and see what you’re paying for.

Interesting links regarding per student spending:
http://scorecard.cfed.org/education.php?page=access_to_quality_k12_education#_edn2

http://www.alsde.edu/general/quick_facts.pdf

Parental Involvement
For a period of time, my daughters attended Jefferson County public schools. We attended every parent function and we were one of the few. When we would talk to other parents about their children and the school, the answer was often this: “When my child is at school, that’s the school’s problem. Let them do their job.” When we moved to the Mountain Brook School System, there was a clear culture shift. I think it would be fair to say that Mountain Brook parents are almost too involved with their children’s education. However, they know what we all know – an excellent education is the key to success. I’ll be frank. . .I have no idea how to force parents to care about their children’s education other than to educate those children so they understand the importance of education and get involved with their children.

Information on the National Coalition for Parental Involvement in Education:
http://www.ncpie.org/

Core Curriculum
This is standard practice at colleges and universities so I’m not sure why this is so controversial in our public secondary schools. The basic idea is that there are core courses that every high school student in the country must take. This ensures that they are prepared for college and that if they move, they know what to expect at their next school. The good news here for Alabama is that we actually may adopt this.

Information on the national push for a Core Curriculum:
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/11/local_school_board_officials_b.html

http://www.corestandards.org/

Classroom Size
Studies have show that the smaller the number of students in the classroom, the better the education of the student. Why? Because it allows the teacher to focus on teaching. Teachers should not be asked to maintain discipline in a classroom with 30+ students. It’s just not feasible. Good teachers get burned out. Bad teachers just give up. Students suffer. This is why advanced classes tend to work so well. By their very nature, they tend to be smaller, get the best teachers and focus all efforts on the students.

A document on the class size debate:
http://epi.3cdn.net/543d57e139a7bcc422_vnm6b5tkc.pdf

Student Motivation
Most recently, it’s been suggested that students are the real problem with education. More specifically, it’s unmotivated students. My hope is that this argument doesn’t take root because it would seem to me that we are blaming the very people we are being charged with helping. The question becomes this: Why are they unmotivated? Parent apathy? Poor teachers? Not sure, but let’s do everything we can to improve the student’s environment before blaming the student.

An article on unmotivated students:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/06/school-reform-and-student-motivation.html

Let it be written clearly: I am no public education expert. I have not been trained in education. I grew up in rural Courtland, Alabama, and went to private Christian schools through the 7th grade. I entered the public school system in 8th grade when I started in the Decatur, Alabama, public school system and graduated from Decatur High School.

My love for education was instilled in me by my parents, great teachers (shout out to Mrs. Felts and Mrs. Lacy), and my scary smart friends. All pushed me to work harder and try harder.

Now that my children are in the public school system, I have taken an even more active role in the state of public education. What Waiting for Superman did was wake me up to the fact that we live in a country where kids who understand the importance of a better education are not given that opportunity. And that’s just wrong.

Whether you agree with what I’ve written or what Waiting for Superman has to say, the charge to you can be boiled down to two words: Get Involved.

Here’s a link from the Waiting for Superman site on some ways you can get involved:
http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/action/page/what-you-can-do

Quick Movie Review: Waiting for Superman (2010)

2010-11-11T13:10:00.000-06:00

Waiting for Superman (2010)

Bottomline: Good documentary that makes you think and want to react.

Note: The director, Davis Guggenheim, also directed An Inconvenient Truth (2006), which made Al Gore a green superstar and brought climate issues to the fore with the general public. In 2001, he also directed a documentary focusing on first-year teachers entitled The First Year.

Great Idea: The documentary demands action. There is a number to text. The text response directs you to a great website where you can get involved and in some small way help the education of our young people. The website that supports this documentary is highly interactive and incredible useful. . . http://www.waitingforsuperman.com.

National Education Association: Here is a link to the National Education Association’s official response to the documentary: http://www.nea.org/home/41286.htm

QMR Review: I’ll begin this review with a quick note: This documentary is not about denigrating or insulting teachers. In fact, Guggenheim considers good teachers victims of the system.

Waiting for Superman starts with a simple premise – the public school system of this great country of ours is broken. Now, if you don’t agree with this premise then the rest of the documentary will be entirely lost on you. However, Guggenheim does a good job of backing up his premise with facts and figures that clearly show the American public education has fallen woefully behind other countries by any measure – except one. That one is the incredibly high confidence American school children have in their own abilities. They may not be good in math. They may not be good in English. But they are very self-assured.

This documentary is intensely personal as Guggenheim wrestles with the decision to send his children to private school. He then sets out to discover what’s wrong with American public education by focusing on the academic lives of select children who want to succeed through education but are denied that opportunity.

It’s a heartbreaking and heart wrenching thing to see – young people who want to do well in a country that supposedly provides every opportunity only to see their dreams dashed because the education system has failed them. This personal flavor of the documentary goes off the rails a bit because it essentially becomes a treatise by Guggenheim for what he sees as the clear solution to the problem – charter schools. While extolling the virtues of Charter Schools, he glosses over some of the challenges they are having.

In addition, it is clear that there is no love lost by Guggenheim over teachers’ unions. It would not be wrong to walk out of this film with the clear understanding that the primary challenge facing American public education is its teachers’ unions. There is something to be said for that and Guggenheim makes that case, but, at the same time, teachers’ unions have done some good on behalf of teachers (e.g. better pay), but this film does not show any of that.

It’s not a perfect documentary if for no other reason that Guggenheim spends a lot of time talking. It borders on preaching. I am not a huge fan of documentaries that feature the documentarian and this one gives us that in spades. However, whether you agree with what Guggenheim has to say or not, it sparks needed conversation about the state of public education in America. It’s broken. We need to fix it.

Quick Movie Review: The Social Network (2010)

2010-10-18T23:08:00.000-05:00

The Social Network (2010)

Bottomline: Best movie so far of 2010. Go see it. You won't regret it.

Where Can I See This Film? It's in theaters all over the country.

QMR Opinion:
Let’s face it. When it comes to the big blockbuster movies, there is really not much more that I can say that you haven’t heard already. Such is the case with The Social Network. I have not read one negative review of this film and all of the hype and raves are well deserved.

This film is ostensibly about how Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook. The reality is it’s a fairly typical American-made film that really tells the story of a young man obsessed with an idea – so much so that he is blinded to all else. He runs with a vision. He sacrifices friendships. He sacrifices relationships.

A sidenote: The film is rated PG-13. And, yes, it would have been Rated “R” a few years ago so be careful letting your younger children see this film. There is sex. There is extensive drug use and alcohol use. There’s bad language. There are hot chicks in little clothing.

One other quick note: I’m not so sure Zuckerberg comes off as bad as everyone has said. Is he insensitive? Yes. The young man had a vision that was sparked by an idea. He took this idea and created Facebook. Some of the folks got their feelings hurt along the way, but if you’re going to build a multi-billion dollar company, some folks are going to get angry. It’s just the way it is. I haven’t met a single “beloved” leader or visionary yet who did not have a detractor or two.

Here’s the quick review: This film is one of the best ones of the year – easily. It is the perfect combination of fabulous writing (Aaron Sorkin), spectacular direction (David Fincher), and great acting (Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake). It’s a fast-paced thrill ride that effortlessly combines legal drama, personal drama, the occasional humorous moment, and crackling dialog. I don’t know what else to say. Go see it. Now.

Now that we have the quick review out of the way, let me introduce you to the “friends” that make this movie so great.

David Fincher: One of the best young directors around (he’s 48 or so). His repertoire includes: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) [good movie, but too long]; Zodiac (2007) [well reviewed but I thought it was too slow]; Panic Room (2002) [Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart hold up in a tiny room]; Fight Club (1999) [the first rule. . .]; Se7ev (1995) [I hate this movie]; and Alien3 [not the best of the Alien flicks].

Aaron Sorkin: Love his writing. Love his dialog. Sorkin is the key reason I was absolutely addicted to The West Wing, especially the early seasons. He’s also written the screenplays for Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) [good movie but worth watching for PS Hoffman’s performance]; The American President (1995) [I don’t care what your politics are. . .that last speech by Michael Douglas is freakin’ awesome. “My name is Andrew Shepherd and I am the President. . .”]; and, of course, A Few Good Men (1992) [YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!]

Jesse Eisenberg: The Social Network seals the deal for Eisenberg being one of the best young actors working today. You should rent two movies that feature this young man: Adventureland (2009) [a great movie that is ruined every time Kristen Steward walks into a scene] and Zombieland (2009) [a fabulous film that includes great performances by Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin].

Rooney Mara: Who? She plays Erica Albright in The Social Network and is the only redeemable female character in the whole movie. She is also the young actress that is generating the most buzz at the moment because she was chosen by David Fincher to portray Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Andrew Garfield: The Englishman plays Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network and has been chosen to be the next Peter Parker/Spider-Man.

Justin Timberlake: If anyone comes off looking like a complete sleaze in The Social Network it is Sean Parker, the Napster founder that is portrayed by Timberlake. Look, I pretty much thought JT was just another pop singer trying to blunder his way onto a TV or movie set. But you have to realize you’re dealing with someone who has some acting chops when they have been absolutely the most consistently funny host on Saturday Night Live in several years. Yes, Betty White was hilarious as SNL host, but she didn’t help write and produce the classic holiday anthem “D+++ in a Box” or the follow-up, “Mother Lover.” Then I saw him in a movie where he truly had to carry his own weight against Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci –both of whom can be extremely intense on screen. The movie is Black Snake Moan (2006), and it illustrates Timberlake’s true acting ability. The guy’s good.

Quick Movie Review: True Grit (1969)

2010-10-18T22:56:00.001-05:00

True Grit (2010)

OPENS: December 25, 2010

Directed by: Ethan and Joel Coen

Jeff Bridges -- Rooster Cogburn

Matt Damon -- La Boeuf

Josh Brolin -- Tom Chaney

Hailee Steinfeld -- Mattie Ross

Barry Pepper -- Ned Pepper

True Grit (1969)

Bottomline: Good movie. However, it is probably remembered more fondly than it actually deserves.

Where Can I See It: It's available for rent. I rented it from amazon.com.

Key Note: John Wayne won his only Oscar for this film.

QMR Opinion:
It was inspiration.

My favorite recent trailer is the one for the Coen Brothers’ remake of True Grit starring Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. First, I’m always excited about any movie that the Coen Brothers are attached to. Second, I’m a sucker for a good western. And, third, this is a remake of the western that introduced us to Rooster Cogburn.

Inspired by the trailer, I rented the original True Grit and sat back to enjoy a classic western saga.

It didn’t take long to figure it out, but let’s just say the romantic notion of this film is probably stronger than the film itself. In the event you don’t know, let me tell you that the film really centers on Mattie Ross (played here by Kim Darby) who is on a quest to bring her father’s killer to justice. Or, as she put it later, she wants to see the man who killed her father “bark in hell.”

To all you Trekkies out there – Yes, Darby is Miri from the Star Trek episode of the same name.

Mattie Ross goes looking for the toughest, meanest U.S. Marshal and that happens to be Rooster Cogburn, played by none other than John Wayne (died at age 72 in 1979). Cogburn is an aging, whiskey drinking, grumpy SOB who has no problem killin them that needs killin.

Wayne’s portrayal of Cogburn brought him his one and only Oscar for Best Actor. Know who else was nominated that year? Jon Voigt and Dustin Hoffman from Midnight Cowboy, the movie that walked away with Best Picture, and is the only X-Rated film to ever to win an Oscar.

Wayne reprises the role of Cogburn in Rooster Cogburn (1975) where he stars with Katharine Hepburn.

As it happens, someone else is looking for the man who killed Mattie’s father. This person is a Ranger, Sgt. LeBouef, from Texas played by Glen Campbell. One thing leads to another and they track the killer to a gang headed up by Ned Pepper, who is played by Robert Duvall.

The movie opens with the cheesiest “western” tune I’ve heard in a long time. It’s talks about “True Grit” but could have been entitled “True Wimp.” Gads, it is awful. And it’s sung by. . .guess who. . .Glen Campbell. Of all things, this sorry song was nominated for an Academy Award.

This movie is great when Darby and Wayne are on screen together. It is really good when Darby and Wayne are on screen separately. But the life of the whole film gets sucked out of it when Campbell blunders onto the set. My assumption is that they needed a “hot” young singer/actor who could draw an audience and could be a good contrast to a Wayne. I would like to say that Campbell tries hard, but I really can’t tell. He is so bad that there is no way I can describe it here. You just have to see it to believe it.

The direction by Henry Hathaway is solid, but Wayne and Darby carry the water here. Wayne, who has always been underrated as an actor, is terrific as Cogburn and is clearly having a terrific time. Darby is strong as Mattie Ross. I was impressed. She held her own with Wayne, who is a scene chewer.

Pleasant surprises included Robert Duvall as Ned Pepper. He is not on screen for too much time, but is great. There is also Dennis Hopper, who meets an unfortunate end, and then there is one of my favorite supporting actors of all time – Strother Martin. The scenes between him and Darby are terrific.

Based strictly on the trailer, the Coen Brothers’ version of “True Grit” appears to be a good bit darker in tone than the 1969 original. However, I would encourage you to rent the original because it is entertaining and it will provide a solid comparison for the updated version.

Quick Movie Review: Sidewalk Film Festival XII Wrap-Up

2010-10-06T21:45:00.000-05:00

It’s a weekend created for movie geeks like me.

The 12th Annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival wrapped up last weekend, and it was terrific. As with any event of any consequence, you’re going to run across some issues here and there – the Sidelot on Saturday was a bust, there were sound issues here and there, there was some odd logistical issues at some of the parties, but for those of us whose idea of a good time is simply sitting in a darkened movie theater, it provided a plethora of options.

On the weekend I saw five full length documentaries, one full length narrative film, eight narrative shorts, four animated shorts, and seven documentary shorts. I did not see anything that I absolutely hated. Below you will find my wrap-up on certain films and shorts.

As with many films that are screened at small film festivals like Sidewalk, the films noted here are not yet available for rent and, unless you live in a large city like New York or Los Angeles, they are not appearing at your local cineplex. So. . .make a note of the ones that interest you and then watch for their release on DVD or look for them on a movie channel like HBO or Sundance or IFC.

Teenage Paparazzo (2009)

This documentary feature opened Sidewalk XII. It was a packed house at the Alabama Theater that watched this doc directed by Adrian Grenier (yes, of HBO’s “Entourage”). It gets behind the scenes with the paparazzi by focusing on a particularly interesting paparazzo – Austin Visschedyk, who is 13 years old. Yes, 13. Austin runs around all over Hollywood at all hours of the night and morning trying to capture photos of celebs. If you get a chance to see this doc (it is showing on HBO), take a look. It’s absolutely fascinating when focused on Austin and his paparazzi friends. The problem is that it gets way bogged down in its own seriousness. Lots of Adrian gazing at his own navel. Lots of Adrian talking. Lots of Adrian talking to other people. Someone needed to tap Adrian on the shoulder and say, “Hey, you need to cut about 20 minutes off this thing.”

The Thing About Being an Assassin

This 9-minute narrative short was directed by Alabamian Chris Hilleke and was one of the best narrative shorts I saw at Sidewalk. I am a sucker for shorts – narrative or otherwise – because of the discipline it takes to make a good one. And this is a good one. It is tense and has a great ending. Visit Chris’ website and see photos of his other work. . . http://chrishillekefilms.com/.

Marwencol

This documentary directed by Jeff Malmberg tells the story of Mark Hogencamp. Mark was brutally beaten outside a bar several years ago. He was beaten so severely that his face needed to be reconstructed and he needed to essentially re-learn the most basic of skills. As part of his therapy, he began to manipulate Barbie dolls and other dolls to create his own fictional World War II town. This is one of the most fascinating documentaries I have ever seen. When it ended, I was disappointed. I wanted more. Malmberg directs this doc as a doc should be directed – turns the camera on and gets out of the way. The detail of the town and the dolls has to be seen to be believed. Visit the website for trailers and info. . .http://www.marwencol.com/

Exit Through the Gift Shop

This documentary provides an interesting behind the scenes look at street art. Specifically the film was set out to be developed by a Frenchman, Thierry Guetta, but it eventually was finished by Banksy, the famous British(?) street artist. As everyone knows, you exit through the gift shop after having been taken for a ride at an amusement park. There has been debate about the authenticity of this doc. While I believe that much of what the doc portrays is true, it isn’t necessarily factual. In other words, yes, I believe we have been duped. Regardless, the doc is a good one and worth your time.

The Parking Lot Movie

This was my favorite surprise of the Festival. I was late getting out of one venue and had to trot to the next venue to catch this documentary. I got in there about five minutes late and wasn’t sure what I would find. What I found was an engaging and incredibly funny film that tells the story of the parking lot attendants who manage the corner parking lot in the business and entertainment section of Charlottesville, Virginia. These are mostly male grad students who have to deal with people every day and every night who park on the lot and, many times, argue about paying. What a great and surprising find!

Make Believe

Each year Las Vegas plays host to the annual World Magic Seminar. If you are a magician, this is the place to be each and every year. However, the big event at the seminar is the Teen Magician World Championships. This fascinating documentary takes us behind the scenes by featuring six of the world’s best teen magicians. And when I write “best,” it is not hyperbole. These five boys and one girl are the best of the best and they come to Vegas to be crowned champion. Lance Burton is a former champion. J. Clay Tweek directed the doc and made a point of shooting all of the tricks being performed in one take so that there is no hint of special effects. Each kid featured is interesting in their own way and the tension leading up to the competition is intense. And that intensity only gets turned up to 11 when the competition begins.

Dogtooth

Uh. . .yeah. . .this Greek film is weird. It was one of the Festival’s spotlight films and, most likely, you won’t be seeing it anytime soon at The Rave. Directed by Giorgos Lanthimos the film focuses on a familh living on a fenced-in country estate. You know something’s up from the opening frame when the three children are listening to a recording that is telling them the wrong word for objects. Turns out that the children are not allowed outside the estate, watch only home movies, aren’t allowed to talk on the telephone, and live in an extremely controlled environment – an environment completely controlled by their father and mother. The tension is palpable and then is released more than once with an explosion of violence. Then there is the odd sexual component. In my row at the Alabama Theater, only one couple left – letting us all know that they weren’t watching anymore of this crap. No doubt, it is incredibly different and will leave you scratching your head.

Sunday Shorts

On Sidewalk Sunday, I spend my time watching shorts. The first set were national and local narrative shorts. The stand out for me on this set of six was “No Mixin” directed by Michael Gordon. The camera work, acting and direction were impressive. I was particularly impressed that all of the filmmakers were on hand for what turned out to be my favorite Q&A session of the whole Festival. The next set of shorts was the National Shorts Block #4 – Documentaries. The stand-out here was “Seltzer Works” directed by Jessica Edwards. It won Best Documentary Short for the Festival and the award was well earned.

Quick Movie Review: The Book of Eli (2010)

2010-09-12T16:05:00.004-05:00

The Book of Eli (2010)

Bottomline: Surprisingly good and entertaining film.

Where Can I See It? It's available for rent.

QMR Opinion: This movie was on my list for when the wife was out of town. I was expecting mindless violence being doled out by none other than Denzel Washington. What I got was a much better film that was well developed, surprising (it has a twist!), well written, well produced, and well acted. And, yes, there is plenty of Denzel kicking butt and taking names. Denzel plays Eli who has a book that Gary Oldman wants. The fun goes from there. It's post-apocalyptic America so there's plenty of dust, despair, bad hygiene, rotten teeth, and crazy people. But the setting gives the film the feel of a spaghetti western with Denzel playing the man with no name. Another pleasant surprise was Mila Kunis as Solara.

Quick Movie Review: 2012 (2009)

2010-09-12T15:48:00.005-05:00

2012 (2009)

Bottomline: One of the worst big budget movies I've ever seen.

Obvious Question: How does a movie this bad get made?

Obvious Question #2: How is it that this movie is so bad with this cast -- John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oliver Platt, and Danny Glover.

Where Can I See This Movie? You can rent it, but please don't.

What Disaster Movie Should I Rent Instead? Well, if you want to see a better Roland Emmerich film, pick up Independence Day (1996). Or, better yet, if you want to go old school, pick up The Towering Inferno (1974).

QMR Opinion: The good comment: The special effects in this film are remarkable. No one destroys earth like Roland Emmerich. The whole truth: This movie is a disaster from start to finish. Your time is valuable. Life is short. Don't waste it watching this travesty.

Quick Movie Review: Ninja Assassin (2009)

2010-09-12T15:22:00.003-05:00

Ninja Assassin (2009)

Bottomline: Silly, bloody kung fu fun.

Interesting Note: Wachowski Brothers of The Matrix movies are producers. James McTeigue, who directed V for Vendetta (2006), is the director.

Where Can I See This Movie? It's available for rent.

QMR Opinion: Look, there is a list of movies that I have that I rent when the wife is out of town. This movie was on the list. Why? I enjoy a good, gratuitously violent kung fu movie every now and again. Ninja Assassin more than provided that escape for me. The first five minutes of the movie sets up what's coming next. One minute an Asian gangster is laughing and the next he is missing half his head. The karate is terrific. The production work is solid -- great slo-mo action with terrific kung fu weaponry and plenty of computer-generated blood spray.

Quick Movie Review: High Art (1998)

2010-08-29T17:30:00.004-05:00

High Art (1998)

Bottomline: One of Lisa Cholodenko's earliest directing efforts and worth watching as the first of a trio of Cholodenko films that would include Laurel Canyon (2002) and The Kids Are All Right (2010). Otherwise, be sure you are in a good place mentally before watching this intensely depressing film about ambition, seduction and addiction.

Where Have I Seen Radha Mitchell Before? It was driving me crazy then I figured it out -- she played Lisa, Pita's mother, in Man on Fire (2004).

Where Can I See This Intensely Depressing Film? It is available for rent.

QMR Opinion: This film, combined with Laurel Canyon (2002) and The Kids Are All Right (2010), shows the beginning of the maturation process of a solid director in Linda Cholodenko. High Art is a good film but is weighed down by its incredible desire to meaningful and intense. Laurel Canyon is better but gets wrapped up in its importance. The Kids Are All Right is terrific. I am sure there is a message somewhere in High Art but it gets lost for me. Mitchell is weak as a lead character here and appears out of her depth. Ally Sheedy, who plays Lucy Berliner, is terrific as is Patricia Clarkson, who plays her lover, Greta. For the few minutes she is in the movie, I was blown away by Tammy Grimes, who plays Sheedy's mother. Berliner was once a great photographer but has spiraled out of control because of a drug addiction, which is fueled by Greta and the company she keeps. Mitchell plays Syd and gets a taste of the drugs and of Berliner and so kicks her boyfriend to the curb. Mitchell is needed to step up her game and really drive this movie forward but she simply is out of her league and it shows each time she shares screen time with Clarkson and Sheedy. Let's face it, we all know exactly how this story is going to play out, it's just a matter of watching how Cholodenko unfolds it for us. On a weird note: The sound is not great in this film. I had to turn on the subtitles more than once to catch what they were saying. Caveat: If you are offended by drugs and lesbians, this movie is not for you.

Quick Movie Review: Redbelt (2008)

2010-08-29T16:44:00.003-05:00

Redbelt (2008)

Bottomline: You want to see this movie if a) you are big fan of Chiwetel Ejiofor and/or b) you enjoy a cerebral mixed martial arts/kung fu movie.

Who is Chiwetel Ejiofor? He has slowly become one of my favorite actors working today. He brings an intensity and passion to the screen that are simply hard to resist. My favorite Ejiofor role to date has to be his turn as the cold-blooded assassin in Serenity (2005).

Interesting Note: I'm not a fan of the MMA, but for those of you that are, the fighters lined up for this movie read like a fighters' who's who: Randy Couture, John Marchado, Enson Inoue, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Rentao Magno, Richo Chiapparelli, and Dan Insosanto.

Where Can I See This Film? It is available for rent. Take a moment to watch a couple of the DVD extras -- the interview with Mamet is interesting; there is a profile of each fighter featured in the film; and there is a behind the scenes look.

QMR Opinion: This David Mamet written and directed look at the world of mixed martial arts provides a interesting foundation for what essentially is a character study of Mike Terry, a martial arts instructor played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Through a series of incredibly unfortunate events beginning with the fact that his dojo is on the verge of bankruptcy, Terry finds himself having to choose between his principles and his survival. For what is essentially a martial arts film, the pace is incredibly slow as Mamet builds the plot and slowly turns up the pressure on Terry. In addition to seeing the corrupt side of MMA, characterized in a terrific turn by Ricky Jay as a sleazy promoter, we get a glimpse at the sleazy side of Hollywood -- characterized by Tim Allen as a big action star and Joe Mategna as Allen's sleazy agent. In the midst of all this sleaze stands Terry and his desire to do the right thing. You know about mid-way through the film where this is headed (classic Kung Fu movie formula) and, frankly, the end does not disappoint.

Quick Movie Review: A Small Act (2010)

2010-08-24T22:32:00.006-05:00

A Small Act (2010)

Bottomline: Solid documentary that dispels the myth that one person can't make a difference.

QMR Opinion: A Small Act is a short documentary but with so much to say. Many times we are told that one person can’t make a difference. In this huge world with so much suffering and so much pain, how can one person do anything that can possibly be of any consequence?

But there are those that reject that notion. Hilde Back, a German Jew who lost her family in the Holocaust, escaped to Sweden where she learned the language and became a schoolteacher. At some point in her career, she decided to be part of a larger project and help sponsor the education for a child in Kenya.

Her commitment? It was the equivalent of $15 per month. The child? Chris Mburu.

As Chris puts it in the documentary, education in Kenya is literally a matter of life and death. Children pay to go to primary and secondary school. They are tested once per year to see who advances in school. If they don’t pass the test, then it’s back to life in fields barely scraping by.

Hilde's commitment enabled Chris to stay in school and, eventually, go to Harvard. Chris wanted to give back. So he started his own foundation in Kenya designed to specifically fund high performing students to move forward in their studies. The name of the foundation? The Hilde Back Foundation.

This 88-minute documentary directed by Jennifer Arnold does an excellent job of telling the story of Hilde and Chris while focusing on three young Kenyans who are trying desperately to leverage their education to get themselves out of their abject poverty.

The film, most importantly, illustrates how a small act of kindness can have a ripple effect that touches the lives of so many other people. This fine documentary is not available for rent at the moment, but it is showing on HBO. However, it’s worth noting the name and picking it up when it is released for rent.

Quick Movie Review: Slap Shot (1977)

2010-08-24T22:12:00.006-05:00

WARNING: Film clip contains adult language!

Slap Shot (1977)

Bottomline: I think you might have to really love hockey in order to like this movie.

Want to see a better sports movie? It doesn't get any better than Hoosiers (1986)

Want to see a better hockey movie? Miracle (2004)

QMR Opinion: Every time I've seen a list of the best sports movies, this movie appears on it almost every time. Thanks to Netflix, I had an opportunity to watch this movie for the first time not too long ago and my thinking is that this film appears on those lists because it's one of the few that deal with the sport of hockey.

Released in the late '70s, this film suffers from so much bad acting that it is almost laughable. Lines are read as if someone is standing off camera with a cue card. I think the movie is supposed to be funny, but you find yourself laughing at it -- not with it.

One of the film's claims to fame is that it is incredibly obscene. This is true but the cursing is so frequent and so over the top that it becomes awkward. The film is an excuse for Paul Newman to say the "F" word every 15 minutes.

The direction and editing are awkward and inconsistent. There doesn't seem to be any point to any of it. Newman's scene with the owner of the team toward the end of the film is just horrible and is a microcosm of what's wrong with the whole mess.

Some interesting notes: See if you can spot Swoosie Kurtz. The mom from A Christmas Story (1983), Melinda Dillon, has a nude scene (and that was just creepy for me). Strother Martin is here. M. Emmett Walsh is here. And, yes, this is the movie that introduces us to The Hanson Brothers. Best thing about the movie? The costumes. You just don't get any better than some brownish, leather outfit that Newman wears at least twice.

Quick Movie Review: Gasland (2010)

2010-08-24T05:24:00.004-05:00

Gasland (2010)

Bottomline: Excellent and thought-provoking documentary that should be required for viewing for anyone who is in or near an area where energy companies are harvesting natural gas.

Why Should I Care About Fracking? Because it could soon be coming to a town near you. Here is a link to an article on al.com about a fracking program being implemented in west Alabama: http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2010/07/hydraulic_fracturing_scheduled.html

QMR Opinion: My favorite documentaries are those that inspire, encourage and generate emotion. Josh Fox has produced a documentary that will certainly generate some type of emotion -- anger at Josh. Anger at the energy industry. Definitely anguish at the plight of less fortunate Americans who have seen their drinking water contaminated through unsafe fracking practices. I'm no tree hugger, but I am also not blind. When you watch more than one person actually set fire to their tap water, then you know something is not right. When you see documented on film the myriad number of health problems that have resulted from fracking chemicals mixing with drinking water, then you know something has gone awry. At the same time, I have to hold out hope that the energy industry is working to improve the process and is working to prevent the contamination of drinking water because of our zeal in wanted to get at the natural gas that sits deep within the earth. To read Energen officials (see article link above) quoted as saying that there is no evidence that fracking has contaminated any drinking water is to realize how important documentaries like Fox's are. Because they show how delusional this type of thinking is. This documentary is an important one and should be required viewing.

God is Not Great. Really?

2010-08-18T22:11:00.005-05:00

The first time I ever paid any attention to Christopher Hitchens was via a podcast.

He was the lone atheist on a panel discussion with four other theologians discussing the existence of God. I was impressed. He was funny, approachable and incredibly intelligent. This podcast experience led me to pick up his 2007 book, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.

Yes, I am late to the whole New Atheist movement, but I was surprised by the vitriol and downright hatred that emanated from this book. Don’t get me wrong. It is extremely well written. It is intelligent. It makes terrific points. I actually think it should be required reading for any mature Christian. What better way to strengthen your faith than to come face to face with someone who absolutely disagrees with everything you think or believe?

In case you get any notion that Chris distinguishes between man-made “religion” and God, forget it. The essential theme of the book is that the belief in God has led to virtually all of the evil that has occurred in this world since the beginning of time. Oh, and there is no discrimination here. He excoriates every belief system – Judaism, Islam, Hindu, etc.

Here is an excerpt from the chapter entitled “Putting it Mildly”. . .

“Why, if god was the creator of all things, were we supposed to ‘praise’ him so incessantly for doing what came to him naturally? This seemed servile, apart from anything else. If Jesus could heal a blind person he happened to meet, then why not heal blindness? What was so wonderful about his casting out devils, so that the devils would enter a herd of pigs instead? That seemed sinister: more like black magic. With all this continual prayer, why no result? Why did I have to keep saying, in public, that I was a miserable sinner? Why was the subject of sex considered so toxic?”

Other chapters are entitled. . . “Religion Kills,” “A Short Digression on the Pig; or, Why Heaven Hates Ham,” “Revelation: The Nightmare of the ‘Old’ Testament,” “The ‘New’ Testament Exceeds the Evil of the ‘Old’ One.” Anyway, you get the idea.

And that’s what surprised me about this book. I’ve conversed and argued with non-believers. I have been a non-believer for a period of time, but, generally speaking, non-believers have always allowed you to think what you want. Believe what you want. Not Chris. He believes fervently that the very idea of belief or faith leads to evil.

He does an excellent job of listing every conceivable tragic or evil event in the history of the world that can be even remotely attributed to religious belief or a belief in a higher power.

And, if we’re honest, in a way, he's right. We Christians have done and continue to do a lot in the name of the Lord that is wrong. Every time we attribute natural disasters to God’s wrath. Every time we try to legislate our beliefs. Every time we deny equal rights to all of God’s creatures. Every time we protect child molesters. Every time denigrate science.

It’s ugly, and he is maddeningly good at illustrating all of religion’s sins.

And therein lies the flaw of the book.

That’s all Chris does – writes about the bad. There is absolutely no room in his book for even the remote suggestion that religion or belief in God has brought any good to the world. None.

Any good that could possibly be attributed to God or a belief system is argued away as coincidence. In many cases, the “good” was done in spite of – not because of – belief. Slavery. Segregation. Mission work. Feeding the homeless. Showing kindness to widows or orphans. All of this would have happened whether we believed in God or not.

Chris’ problem is that he finds the negative in everything related to religion – as such this blinds him to acknowledging the possibility that religion has brought some good to this world.

His strawman challenge? “Name an ethical statement or action, made or performed by a person of faith, that could not have been made or performed by a nonbeliever.” It’s a re-statement of the old theological question: Can a person be good and not believe in God?

Well, of course they can.

The difference? My belief in God and my confidence in my salvation through Christ Jesus make me want to do good. They make me want to be a better person. They make me want to be Jesus’ hands and feet on this earth.

A better question would be: Why would a non-believer want to do good? What drives the non-believer to want to do good? What is the point?

I offer Mr. Hitchens the final word:

“To all those who I do not know, and who live in the worlds where superstition and barbarism are still dominant, and into whose hands I hope this little book may fall, I offer the modest encouragement of an older wisdom. It is in fact this, and not any arrogant preaching, that comes to us out of the whirlwind: Die Stimme der Vernunft ist leise. Yes, 'The Voice of Reason is soft.' But it is very persistent. In this, and in the lives and minds of combatants known and unknown, we repose our chief hope.”

To my more mature Christian and religious friends, I recommend that you do pick up this book. It will convict you and strengthen your faith.

Quick Movie Review: A Single Man (2009)

2010-08-04T05:08:00.003-05:00

A Single Man (2009)

Bottomline: A tour de force performance for Colin Firth -- too bad it's buried in an incredibly plodding and mind-numbingly boring film.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent on DVD.

Because You Aren't Crazy About This Film, What Do You Recommend? A Serious Man. Released in the same year. Directed by the Coens. Stars a terrific Michael Stuhlbarg.

QMR Opinion: Dang. I had incredibly high hopes for this film. It's the directorial debut of Tom Ford, he of American fashion, and it stars two of my favorite folks -- Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. However, this is a prime example of a film where the actor -- Colin Firth -- is head and shoulders above the actual film. Firth puts on an acting clinic here. His understated performance is spot on. He plays an English professor in 1960s Los Angeles who has to deal silently with the sudden death of his long-time male lover. If you've heard about the scene where Firth receives the phone call letting him know that his partner is, in fact, dead, it is as great as you've heard or read. I have no idea how many takes it took to capture that moment, but Firth gives a mini-class on how to act using only facial expression. It is incredible. As you might expect, Firth was nominated for an Academy Award, but he lost to Jeff Daniels, who won for his performance in Crazy Heart (2009). Firth's performance is strong but Ford's direction killed this film. The pace is mind-numbingly slow. I do understand what Ford was trying to achieve but, seriously, this one hour 40 minute film could easily have been one hour 20 minutes and been just as effective. After about 30 minutes, I was checking my watch. The film is visually stunning -- the costumes, set design, etc. are all top notch and fantastic to look at. I hated -- absolutely hated -- the ending.

Quick Movie Review: Son of Rambow (2007)

2010-08-04T04:53:00.003-05:00

Son of Rambow (2007)

Bottomline: Terrific little English film well worth you time -- imaginative and heartwarming.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent on DVD

QMR Opinion: I am a sucker for any movie that involves kids being kids -- using their imaginations, dealing with parents, navigating relationships with adults, yearning for freedom, etc. So while I had heard some mumblings about this movie, it didn't occur to me that it was right in my wheelhouse. And so it is. Son of Rambow tells the story of two young English schoolboys who strike up an unlikely friendship thanks to their mutual desire to produce a blockbuster action film. Garth Jennings does a masterful job of directing two first-time young actors -- Bill Milner as Will Proudfoot and Will Poulter as Lee Carter -- in this delightfully imginative and surprisingly touching film. Because of the focus on the children and how well developed they are in the film, the adults tend to get short-shrift and are relegated to cliche status. Adults = No Fun. Then there is a scene toward the end of the film that is completely cliche when a key adult character turns their back on the only world they've ever known. I would recommend this movie to children 13 and up but, be forewarned, there is some moderately bad language and an uncomfortable moment or two. And I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who is a child at heart.

Cyrus (2010)

2010-07-19T05:58:00.004-05:00

Cyrus (2010)

Bottomline: Delightfully quirky, uncomfortably funny film.

Where Can I See This Movie? It's in theaters, but you better hurry.

QMR Opinion: This film is showing on exactly one screen in all of Birmingham, Alabama, and its surrounding area (thank you Rave at Vestavia Hills). Such is the fate of smaller, independent films that are not shown in 3-D. This movie is directed by the Duplass Brothers (Jay and Mark), who have made the Indie mark by bringing to the screen movies such as The Puffy Chair (2005) and Baghead (2008), neither of which I have seen but will soon be in my Netflix queue. This movie stars John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener, and Jonah Hill. Reilly plays John who is having a difficult time getting past the fact that his ex-wife (Keener) is getting re-married. John meets Molly (Tomei) and they hit it off immediately. Only problem? Molly lives with and has an uncomfortably relationship with her 21-year-old son, Cyrus (Hill). I found this movie delightfully quirky and quite funny. There are moments that fall flat but it recovers nicely. Interestingly, while the movie was scripted, the Duplass Brothers are proponents of improvisation and essentially asked the actors to forget the script and just be natural. Reilly, Tomei and Keener are quite good at this while Hill struggles from time to time. If the movie is still playing in the theater when you read this, go check it out. If not, it is definitely worth the rental. If you're interested in listening to what John C. Reilly has to say about working with the Duplass Brothers, this movie and improvisation, go to iTunes, search Bob Edwards Weekend and download for free the 6.18.10 podcast.

Quick Movie Review: Soylent Green (1973)

2010-07-12T21:32:00.005-05:00

Soylent Green (1973)

Bottomline: A pretty good movie from the early '70s. Do you know the secret of Soylent Green?

QMR Opinion: This was the second of my Charlton Heston, apocalyptic double feature – the other being The Omega Man (1971). The good news is that this film is much better than The Omega Man. The bad news is that the bar was set really, really low. The other piece of good news is that this movie stars all sorts of top-notch actors – Joseph Cotton (yes, really), Chuck Connors (yes, the Rifleman), Edward G. Robinson (yes, really), Brock Peters (yes, Tom Robinson), and Dick Van Patten (yes, Eight is Enough). Essentially, the plot runs something like this – because of over-population (New York has 40 million people in the future), global warming brought on by mass consumerism and the destruction of the environment brought on by pollution on a grand scale, the Soylent Corporation owns the world’s food supply. Well, thanks to the investigative skills of a hard-boiled detective like Chuck Heston, we now know what we’ll really be eating in the future – to go with the 70s fashions.

Quick Movie Review: The Omega Man (1971)

2010-07-12T21:21:00.003-05:00

The Omega Man (1971)

Bottomline: It's a good thing this is a cult classic because it sure does suck.

QMR Opinion: This was the first of a Charlton Heston, apocalyptic double feature for me – the other being Soylent Green (1973). This cult classic is based on the book I Am Legend and stars Chuck as the last remaining (or so he thinks) human being on a planet that has become overrun by crazy albinos who are light sensitive and spend their time at night by burning books and destroying art. Turns out that there are indeed other people running around and they happen to be young and groovy. Plus there is Lisa, who is young and hip, which is fine until she starts doing the huckabuck with Chuck, who is about 15 years older than she is. Yes, it’s creepy and, frankly, kind of gross. The dialog is laughable and includes notable quotes such referring to Heston's home as his "honky paradise."

Quick Movie Review: The Killing (1956)

2010-07-12T21:14:00.004-05:00

The Killing (1956)

Bottomline: Terrific film noir directed by the one and only Stanley Kubrick.

QMR Opinion: What a fun movie. This movie covers a couple of genres – film noir and heist and stars the one and only Spencer Hayden. We’re also treated to some terrific character actors – Elisha Cook (you’ll recognize him when you see him) and Marie Windsor who plays the traditional film noir slut (and, yes, she gets what’s coming to her) -- "You have a dollar sign where most women have a heart." This classic shows how the best laid plans can go horribly awry when a stupid dame gets mixed up in the whole thing. Plus there’s a little mix-up with a carry-on that leads to a mishap on the runway involving a dog. The screenplay was written by Jim Thompson, who made a living writing terrific hard-boiled dialog in movies and pulp fiction. Take a look at this film and see the inspiration for Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992).

Quick Movie Review: A Man Called Horse (1970)

2010-07-12T20:54:00.004-05:00

Note: If you watch this video, you will have pretty much seen the whole movie. Warning: Contains some graphic content.

A Man Called Horse (1970)

Bottomline: Not a bad flick from the early '70s. If it's on TV and you've nothing else to watch, give it a look.

QMR Opinion: By now, it is well known that the only original components of Cameron’s Avatar (2009) are the mind-blowing special effects. The storyline, the characters, the plot and even the dialogue are rip-offs of earlier films including this 1970 release starring Richard Harris. Harris plays an Englishman who is visiting America to hunt and explore. He ends up being captured by a tribe of Sioux who treat him like a horse until, of course, he has occasion to kill an enemy or two. Then he goes native. This involves the ceremony of the Sun God, which has to be one of the most painful things I’ve ever witnessed in film. Couple of quick notes – you’ll recognize the medicine man as the Native American star of the famous anti-pollution PSA and then one of the most English of English actresses – Dame Judith Anderson – plays an old Sioux woman (Buffalo Cow Head).

Quick Movie Review: North by Northwest (1959)

2010-07-12T20:47:00.004-05:00

North by Northwest (1959)

Bottomline: You're kidding, right? This is considered by many to be one of Hitchcock's greatest films.

QMR Opinion: This classic Hitchcock film has found new life in a speacial edition release on Blu Ray. And, yes, it is worth the money. The disc comes with a booklet that is chock full of information – some of it a rehash but there are some new nuggets in there. Plus, there are a number of special features. But the true star here is the digital restoration. The picture is so sharp that it appears almost 3-dimensional. Interestingly, I watched this with my 16-year-old daughter and found myself getting slightly uncomfortable with some of the dialogue because you forget how sexually charged the conversations are between Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. One nit-picky item of note – I could barely read the menu for the Special Features section because the typeface was thin and reversed out. Special acting kudos go out to James Mason and Martin Landau.

Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks

2010-07-11T21:44:00.002-05:00

It all started innocently enough. Representatives from the Decatur Public Library came and spoke to the 8th graders at Oak Park Middle School. Among the other opportunities for knowledge gatheirng that one can only get at the library, they also talked about a particularly special opportunity for those who were interested. It seems that the library was sponsoring groups of people who were playing and being introduced to a game called Dungeons & Dragons.

They saw it as an opportunity to fire the imaginations of children and it involved interactive play and strategic thought. I thought, “Why not?” So I asked my mom to drop me off at the library at the appointed time and I was introduced to the world of multi-sided dice, dungeons, monsters, dungeon masters, dwarves, and elves. I suppose I was primed for this opporutnity seeing that my favorite author at the time was Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian, and I had read the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings triology at least twice by this point. I was (and am) a huge sucker for science fiction and fantasy.

It wasn’t too long after that brief introduction that my friends and I began playing D&D on a regular basis. We would gather in the upper room of Jason’s backyard storage building late on a Friday and play through to Sunday. Some would go home to sleep. Some would sleep there. We thrived on sodas, Chicken McNuggets and whatever else Jason’s incredibly patient mother would provide. The walls were covered with maps. We all came with our character sheets, graph paper, and dice. In my mind’s eye, I can still look around the room and see Jason, Eric, Bruce, Roger, Patrick, Chris, Don, and others. It was an incredible time and I had a ton of fun. Early on I had started out with a number of characters but I had one character that came through all the adventures stronger, grumpier and more crass than ever. For the life of me, I can’t remember his official D&D name but his nickname is as clear to me today as it was then – Stumpy the Dwarf. I received a note a few years ago that Stumpy, along with some of the other original characters, had been officially retired.

At some point around my junior year of high school, I began to find other things to do on the weekend. And, eventually, I walked away from D&D. But there has always been and always will be a soft place in my heart for that RPG and those days. If I were to be honest, I could easily be drawn back into that world easily given the time.

During all of the time I played D&D and the time since then, it had never occurred to me once to ask “Why?” Why did I play and become obsessed with D&D? It’s an interesting question and it’s a question explored by Ethan Gilsdorf in his book, Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks.

Using his own experience as a gamer in New Hampshire (interestingly enough around the same time I was playing), Gilsdorf sets off on a quest to discover why people (himself included) immerse themselves in fantasy gaming. He starts with D&D. He visits LARPs. He delves into the digital space (think: World of Warcraft). He visits Cons (conventions). He seeks out the creators of D&D. He becomes a part of SCA (Society of Creative Anachronism). And he also visits Middle Earth (New Zealand).

For me, the two most compelling chapters of the entire book are the Prologue and Chapter 1. It is in these chapters that Gilsdorf introduces us to his mother (The Momster) and his own exeperiences as a young man playing D&D. The later chapters are solid but not as compelling. Gilsdorf introduces us to a number of other “fantasy freaks and gaming geeks” but only on a superficial level. About the time we begin to get interested in someone we’ve met, it’s time for Gilsdorf to move on. Given that this book is essentially about Gilsdorf’s quest to discover some part of himself, it could be that these superficial relationships reflect his own inability to connect with his girlfriend (an important theme that colors his adventures).

All in all I enjoyed the book but, frankly, as he mentions in the afterword, I look forward to another book that explores in more depth his early childhood. But it is also tempting to over-analysze essentially an opportunity for people to simpy have fun. I’ve always resisted the label of D&D or any other role playing fantasy game as escapist. To me, it’s no more “escapist” than any other hobby such as hunting, where many men disappear into the woods for entire weekends; golfing, where people disappear to manicured courses for hours at a time with incredibly expensive equipment; or, for that matter, the Saturday fall ritual of attending a college football game dressed in all manner of “costumes” and, in many cases, painted from head to waist.

I agree with what Gilsdorf writes toward the end of the book: “It seems as a culture, we have two options: We can be terrified of fantasy games, books and movies and continue to marginalize them and their players. Or we can understand them, and see that fantasy in all its strips has its proper place alongside other amusements.”

I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale (2010)

2010-06-12T18:33:00.003-05:00

I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale (2010)

Bottomline: A must see documentary for anyone that is even remotely interested in great acting and great actors.

QMR Opinion: In this blog, I have often extolled virtues of the supporting actors -- the men and women whose job it is to make everyone else around them take their acting to the next level. There are many terrific supporting actors and then there are the ones that are the best. I consider J.T. Walsh (died at age 54 in 1998) to be one of the best ever. The other man that is simply one of the best actors ever -- supporting or otherwise -- is John Cazale. He died much too young at the age of 42 in 1978. He acted in five movies. It doesn't sound like much until you take a look at the five movies:

The Godfather (1972)

The Conversation (1974)

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

The Deerhunter (1978)

All five films were nominated for Best Picture. There are actors who have been in the business since God was a boy and appeared in one or two films that could maybe come close to these. But Cazale was five for five! This wonderful HBO documentary, which premiered on June 1, takes a quick look at the all too short career of Cazale. It includes interviews with Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Deniro.

Dennis Hopper, R.I.P.

2010-06-12T18:16:00.002-05:00

Dennis Hopper, R.I.P.

When Dennis Hopper died last month at the age of 74 from prostate cancer, I'm sure most film buffs immediately thought of his two iconic roles -- Billy in Easy Rider (1969) [a role that brought him an Academy Award nomination] and Frank Booth in Blue Velvet (1986). It makes sense. Those are two terrific roles and played to the hilt by Mr. Hopper.

Not me.

The minute I heard that Dennis had lost his battle with cancer, my thoughts went straight to one of my favorite movies -- Hoosiers (1986). Yes, Gene Hackman is the main focus of the film and, as usual, delivers a magnificent performance. However, Hopper adds spice to the movie with his role as Shooter (another role that brought him an Academy Award nomination). That's why I embedded the Hoosier's trailer to this brief tribute to the one and only Dennis Hopper. "We're gonna run the picket fence at 'em!"

One Foot In Heaven (1941)

2010-06-12T17:55:00.002-05:00

One Foot in Heaven (1941)

Bottomline: Bit on the corny side but overall an excellent film and well worth your time. Good viewing for the whole family!

The two main actors in the movie are:

Frederic March (died in 1975 at age 77 from prostate cancer): One of the best actors around, March was nominated five times for the Best Actor Oscar and won twice -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). He also won two Tony awards for Best Actor.

Martha Scott (died in 2003 at the age of 90): A solid actress but never hit it big. Was nominated for Best Actress once for Our Town (1940), a role she developed for the stage.

QMR Opinion: I love being surprised by movies. This movie was recommended to me by my father-in-law and, I'll admit, I had my reservations. There are many great old movies but there are a plethora of really bad ones. The good news? This is a terrific film that my wife and I simply could not stop watching. It tells the story of an itinerant Methodist minister and his triumphs and trials during a lengthy ministerial career. Yes, it gets a bit corny but March is fantastic. Scott is solid. And it's surprisingly funny. Better yet. . .it's a great movie for the entire family. My favorite scenes? The one where March takes his son to the movies to teach him a lesson and, yes, the last scene, which is probably the corniest of them all.

Away from Her (2006)

2010-05-24T05:16:00.002-05:00

Away from Her (2006)

Bottomline: At its heart, this movie is a poignant love story that is deeply affecting.

Interested in a better movie dealing with the same theme? Pick up Iris (2001).

Interested in a terrific documentary series regarding Alzheimer's? Go to HBO's website, The Alzheimers Project (2009), at hbo.com/alzheimers.

Grant and Fiona Anderson have been married for 40+ years when she begins forgetting things and then getting confused and then getting lost. She has Alzheimer's and they face the tough decision of trying to keep her at home versus placing her in an institution designed to care for people suffering from Alzheimer's. She eventually is placed in the institution where she begins to care for and love another of the patients. Directed by Sarah Polley, Away From Her was nominated for two Academy Awards -- Julie Christie for Best Actress and Sarah Polley for Best Adapted Screenplay. I'll be honest. . .it was hard for me to watch this movie. My grandfather suffered from Alzheimer's and this movie brought all of those horrid memories rushing back. In addition, while deeply affecting and moving, the movie is incredibly plodding. Had it not been for the admirable work of Julie Christie and the welcome appearance of Olympia Dukakis, I'm not sure I could have finished this film. For my money, a better film taking on a similar topic would be Iris (2001) starring Dame Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent, Kate Winsley, and Hugh Bonneville.

Twilight: New Moon (2009)

2010-05-16T06:29:00.004-05:00

Twilight: New Moon (2009)

Bottomline: Better than the first, which means you won't fall asleep during it.

Yes, after watching the first Twilight (2008) film, I felt compelled to watch the second in the series. Both movies are available on DVD. Good news. It is better than the first. Bad news -- the first set the bar incredibly low. Despite having a different director, many of the same important film devices from the first film were carried over to the second -- LOTS of staring, simple sentences, idiotic dialog, and Kristen Stewart's vacuous expression. To show his never-dying love to Bella, Edward (played boringly by Robert Pattinson) decides to leave her alone to face by herself whatever may come. Gee, thanks. Turns out Bella has a nasty habit of attracting vampires that want to kill her and, yes, werewolves. This movie is saved somewhat by the appearance of werewolves who, thank goodness, have personality and are warm-blooded. Enter Taylor Lautner who has been hitting the weights and the HGH. Knowing which side his bread is buttered on, the director has Taylor taking his shirt off early in the movie and pretty much leaving it off for the entire film. Another piece of good news? Michael Sheen makes an appearance and is great if for no other reason than he appears to actually be enjoying himself.

Quick Movie Review: Twilight (2008)

2010-05-16T06:18:00.004-05:00

Twilight (2008)

Bottomline: This movie is the cure for insomnia.

I was sucked into this vortex by seeing a portion of Twilight: New Moon (review to come later) while my daughter was watching it. It looked interesting and I thought that I should set aside my biases and go ahead and give Twilight a shot. I did and it turns out my biases were justified. This is one of the most incredibly mind-numbingly and tediously boring movies I've seen in a long, long time. It's hard to put your finger on exactly what it is that makes it so boring but let's start with the plodding direction (stare into the camera -- now hold it); the ridiculous dialog (apparently vampires and teens who live in Forks can only speak in simple, declarative sentences); and the horrific acting (Kristen Stewart maintains the exact same non-descript expression throughout this film). If you've seen the trailer then you've seen all the action that is in the entire film. The rest of the movie is composed of lots of staring -- at each other, into space, at the sky, at the snow, in slow motion. I think the director was trying to have the characters appear introspective. Instead, it had me reaching for a magazine.

My Dad Can Beat Up Your Dad

2010-05-15T15:58:00.004-05:00

Inspired by the book Season of Life, my men’s group lately has been discussing what it means to be a man. What are our definitions of masculinity? How has our culture defined masculinity? How have we, as Christians, defined it?

It has made for interesting conversation and then, one day, one of the guys asked: “What do you think your dad would say if you asked him to define masculinity?”

While he may not have a by-the-book definition of masculinity, my dad has certainly shown me and told me what it means to be man through his actions and sage advice.

Here are some of my favorite pieces of advice passed along over the years by my dad:

Life’s Not Fair: This is, of course, the classic. And, to make matters worse, it is completely true. Bad things happen to good people. As my dad would say: “You can sit there and piss and moan about it or get off your ass and make something happen.”

Remember Who You Are: This is an old school interpretation of asking the progeny to maintain the stellar reputation of the family name. When you grow up in a town of 1,000 people, you definitely have to remember who you are.

Walk It Off: Yes, I grew up in a walk-it-off household. My father does not suffer whiners at all. Unless you have internal bleeding or there is a bone sticking out, you should be able to walk it off and go on about your business.

Do What You Say: This is a big one. My dad is a firm believer in a man’s word and a handshake. If you say you’re going to do something, you do it unless something dramatic happens – like death, for example.

Wear A Condom: I was about 13 years old. We were out in the dove field and as I was standing up to take aim at a bird, my dad said: “Son, if you decide to have sex, wear a condom.” I nearly blew my foot off. And we’ve never spoken about sex since.

Finish What You Start: This kind of goes hand in hand with Do What You Say but it can be boiled down to: You don’t quit. I’ve broken this rule more than once in my life and have lived to regret it most times.

Work Hard: My dad is a good Calvinistic Presbyterian. He loves to have a good time but when it’s time to work, it’s time to work. He has no patience for loafers or, as he puts it, “people who are eaten up with a bad case of the L.A.Z.Y.”

Do Your Best: If you’re going to do something, do it right. In essence this is the flip side to “don’t do anything half-assed.”

Bonus Sayings: Absolutely two of my all time favorite sayings of my dad are designed to indicate that there are some people who are just too lucky for their own good: “I cannot believe that. Those fellas were born with horseshoes stuck up their ass.” Or “Dang. That guy is luckier than a cat with two peckers.”

And here’s the thing. . .while my dad never sat me down and said, “Son, here is what it means to be a man,” the advice he gave me has allowed me to grow into the husband, father and man that I am today. And for that I am indeed extremely blessed and grateful.

-- 30 --

Iron Man 2 (2010)

2010-05-10T21:26:00.004-05:00

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Bottomline: Solid comic book film but if you've seen Iron Man then you've seen this movie already.

Okay. . .let's see if you've heard this one before. . .Tony Stark is a self-destructive, egomaniacal genius who will die if he doesn't get a special implant that will replace his damaged heart. He creates an indestructible suit of armor with all kinds of cool gadgets on it, comes face-t0-face with his mortality, realizes his mistakes, then faces off with his nemesis who is also wearing an indestructible suit of armor. In the end Iron Man kicks ass, wins back his friend, and gets the girl. Yes, this is the basic plotline for both Iron Man movies. There are no surprises here. But, really, does the plot matter? This is a vehicle to show off killer FX and to provide a showcase for the talent of Downey Jr. The good news? If you liked Iron Man, you will like this one. Scarlett Johannson makes an appearance in a catsuit (BTW. . .does she have the same vacuous expression in every movie?); Samuel L. Jackson makes an appearance as. . .Samuel L. Jackson; Mickey Rourke plays the Russian bad guy who mumbles; and, my favorite, is Sam Rockwell who is clearly having a great time playing Stark competitor, Justin Hammer. One of the best parts of the whole thing? The AC/DC soundtrack. Sit back, turn your brain off and just enjoy.

Saints and Soldiers (2003)

2010-05-10T21:18:00.002-05:00

Saints and Soldiers (2003)

Bottomline: Deeply moving and personal war movie.

This small independent film racked up all sorts of film festival awards and deservedly so. Many times the best war movies are those told simply, personally and intimately. Using the massacre at Malmady as its backdrop, this film tells the story of four American soldiers and one British soldier trying to survive behind enemy lines while trying to get important information to Allied forces. No actor in this movie is a "big name" but they all do an excellent job along with even-handed direction from Ryan Little. We have gotten used to big, sprawling war movie epics of late. This tight little film is an excellent example of nuance and poignancy told through the eyes of just five soldiers thrown together for a common goal.

Quick Movie Review: Swimming to Cambodia (1987)

2010-04-20T20:16:00.007-05:00

Swimming to Cambodia (1987)

Bottomline: A straightforward documentary featuring a terrific storyteller telling a terrific story.

QMR Opinion: I'm embarrassed to say that I had never seen one of Spalding Gray's monologues until this one was recommended to me. I hate that it has taken me this long to watch this. As someone who likes to tell stories and is the son of one of best storytellers around and appreciates great storytellers (Keillor, Sedaris, etc.), I was enthralled from beginning to end. This is Gray's monologue about his adventures in Thailand during the filming of The Killing Fields (1984). There is an art to good storytelling and Gray is an artist -- the observations, the rhythm of the telling, the facial expressions -- everything draws you in and carries you forward until, suddenly, the story ends. Jonathan Demme is the director here and does a good job except he injects some music and other "effects" that take away from the power of Gray's storytelling. After battling depression for some time, Gray committed suicide in 2004.

Quick Movie Review: The Hangover (2009)

2010-04-20T20:02:00.004-05:00

WARNING: Trailer is uncensored!

The Hangover (2009)

Bottomline: Funny movie but not as funny as you've been told.

Favorite Part: Zach Galifianakis is absolutely the best and funniest part of this movie

QMR Opinion: This is one of those unfortunate moments where every friend I know has made it a point to come up to me and tell me that I absolutely have to see this movie. I've put it off and put it off -- all the while being reminded at what I am missing by not seeing this movie. So I watched it. Yes, it's funny but it is no where near as funny as you may have been lead to believe. There are actually three places in the movie where it actually drags and I caught myself looking at my watch. And, remember, the movie is only an hour and a half long. Those scenes are like the skits on Saturday Night Live that go on just about 30 seconds too long. The definite star of this movie for me is Galiafinakis. Yes, he gets most of the funny lines and scenes but he delivers them all so well. If nothing else, the movie is worth renting to see him.

Quick Movie Review: Zombieland (2009)

2010-04-03T17:30:00.003-05:00

Zombieland (2009)

Bottomline: Absolutely hilariously gross and tons of fun!

Where Can I See It? It's available on DVD.

Wow. Where Else Can I See This Jesse Eisenberg kid? You must rent Adventureland (2009).

Four people (Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Jesse Eisenberg) are pretty much the last four people on the planet that aren't zombies. Zombieland. The movie centers itself on Jesse's character and his rules for surviving zombies (Rule #1: Cardio). I'm going to say here that it takes a certain sense of humor to truly enjoy this movie but assuming you like watching zombies get bashed, shot and run over all while seeing these four characters having the time of their lives, you will not be disappointed with Zombieland. (Rule #2: Double Tap. Rule #3: Beware of Bathrooms).

Quick Movie Review: Observe and Report

2010-04-03T17:06:00.003-05:00

Observe and Report (2009)

Bottomline: How do movies like this get the greenlight?

What Movies Are Better? Go into the video store, close your eyes and point. I promise -- you won't do any worse than this movie.

After watching Seth Rogen in a few movies now, I've come to the conclusion that he pretty much plays the exact same character -- a slow-witted good-hearted socially inept guy who says the "f" word a lot. In this piece of celluloid crap, he is a bi-polar mall cop who, as fate would have it, goes off his meds and goes off the deep end. The movie is infamous now for its date rape scene (and, yes, it is date rape) that they try to make funny. But it's really at that point that you ask yourself: Why in the name of all that's holy am I wasting my time watching this stupid, stupid movie? If there is a highlight, it's Anna Faris as Brandi.

Quick Movie Review: Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

2010-04-03T16:55:00.003-05:00

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

Bottomline: Classic film that is not as good as a lot of people think.

Better Films Released in 1939: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ninotchka, Of Mice and Men, Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz (yes, seriously, all of these films were released in 1939).

One of the best times to watch TCM is during Academy Award month because the channel shows 30 days of Oscar. It's a great time to catch up on movies, actors, directors, screenwriters, and others that you have always wanted to see but couldn't find on DVD. I've heard about Robert Donat and this movie for ever and a day. Here's the thing. . .Robert Donat, who plays Mr. Chips, won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this performance. Who did he beat? Clark Gable. Jimmy Stewart. Laurence Olivier. Mickey Rooney. Before the movie started, Robert Osburne, resident TCM expert, comes on tells me that it was a surprise when Donat won the award that year but that after seeing his performance, we would all understand why he won. I've got news for all ofyou -- no you won't. The movie is sentimental at best. Donat is wooden at best. And the best part of the film, Greer Garson (in her debut movie performance), is kicked the curb way too early. Clark Gable should have won Best Actor for his performance in Gone with Wind.

Quick Movie Reviews: Alice in Wonderland, A Serious Man, Little Big Man, I Love You Man

2010-03-07T16:49:00.011-06:00

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Bottomline: Enjoyable and entertaining film worthy of your time and money.

Pros: Johnny Depp at the Mad Hatter. Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Crispin Glover as Stain. The imagination and vision of Tim Burton.

Cons: Language tended to be fast paced and thick in the brogue -- thus making it hard to understand. Like Anne Hathaway's look but her mannerisms were annoying. The end was too fast and neat.

Where Can I See This Movie? Seriously? Have you been living under a rock? It's at the theater.

Interested in an even better Burton-Depp Colloboration? Check out Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Interested in seeing Mia Wasikowska in another good role? Check out That Evening Sun (2009)

Caveat: The movie is rated PG; however, there are some scenes that could be scary to kids under the age of 10.

QMR Opinion: This is why I enjoy going to movies in the movie theater. The lights go down and the magic begins. Burton is a master at creating alternate realities that transport you beyond where you sit. Combine that with his clear chemistry with Depp and you have a good movie on your hands. Burton allows Depp to fly here as the Mad Hatter and he is matched by a terrific supporting cast including Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover and a myriad of voices including one of my favorites -- Alan Rickman as the Blue Caterpillar. The movie is fun, exciting and imaginative. We saw it in 3-D and enjoyed the effect tremendously. Mia Wasikowska turns in a good performance as Alice but she is not allowed a lot of rein here and tends to get overshadowed by Carter and Depp. When we return from Wonderland, we see that Burton has become tired -- so the end is quick and way too neat. Go to this movie and have some fun!

A Serious Man (2009)

Bottomline: Fans of the Coen Brothers will love this movie. People who are not fans of the Coen Brothers will be confused. Look. . .you either get it or you don't.

Pros: Michael Stuhlbarg is terrific as Larry Gopnick. The cinematography is fabulous.

Cons: There is no plot. It's odd. And you have to pick up some Yiddish quickly.

Where Can I See This Academy Award Nominee? It is now available on DVD.

Recommendation: Watch the DVD extras -- especially the Hebrew/Yiddish section for Goys.

QMR Opinion: Gopnick is having a bad day. Well, let's just say he is have one of the worst days/weeks ever. His wife wants a divorce. His son smokes dope. His daughter ignores him. His brother may be crooked. He's up for tenure. He gets sued. It's enough to make any good Jew run to his rabbi -- in this case, Larry went running to three. This is a darkly comic movie and I found myself laughing at what is no doubt the Coens' own special brand of humor. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, A Serious Man is not for everyone. However, if you love the Coens (yes, that's me), then you need to see it. Love the dialog!

Little Big Man (1970)

Bottomline: One of my favorite movies.

Pros: Terrific performance by Dustin Hoffman as Jack Crabb but, honestly, my favorite performances are turned in by Chief Dan George and Richard Mulligan.

Cons: The movies is way long and epic.

Where Can I See This Movie? It was playing on Turner Classic Movies when I saw it. It is available for rent on DVD.

Interesting Note: Movie is listed in Guinness Book of World Records as showing the greatest aging of an actor -- Hoffman goes from being 17 to being 121 years old.

QMR Opinion: If I catch this movie while surfing, I have to watch it. What a great epic film with Hoffman turning in a terrific performance that is poignant, comic and redemptive. The movie is taken to the next level by great performances from Faye Dunaway and Chief Dan George. However, in the my latest viewing of this movie, I was particularly impressed by Richard Mulligan as General Custer -- what a terrific over-the-top performance!

I Love You, Man (2009)

Bottomline: Crude, rude and funny in parts.

Pros: Paul Rudd (am I developing a man crush?). There are some funny moments.

Cons: Do men really talk like this? I've been married forever so I don't really know. Jon Favreau plays a jerk and, frankly, his jerkiness took away some of the enjoyment of the movie.

Where Can I See This Movie? It's available on DVD.

Want to See Paul Rudd in a Better Movie? Pick up Role Models (2008) (plus I like KISS better than Rush).

Recommendation: Watch the gag reel in the DVD Extras.

QMR Opinion: This is another movie in the recent spate of movies showing men acting like great big old stupid kids. There are a lot of crude jokes. Incredibly crude language. Rudd plays a guy who has no guy friends and he needs to find at least one before he gets married. He finds Jason Segel. And then hilarity ensues. Overall the movie is fine as a rental. There is this weird conversation at the wedding that goes on way too long -- like an SNL skit that lasts about a minute too long.

Quick Movie Reviews: Percy Jackson, Crazy Heart, Requiem for a Heavyweight

2010-02-22T21:47:00.012-06:00

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

Bottomline: Fun movie for older kids.

Pros: Special effects are outstanding. Great adult actors supporting the main three: Catherine Keener, Joey Pants, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman, Sean Bean, Rosario Dawson.

Cons: The three actors portraying the three main characters are weak. The story is interesting but becomes formulaic. It's just weird to see Brosnan as a Centaur.

Where Can I See It? It is in theaters now.

Caveat: This movie can be downright scary. Be careful if you have children that are much younger than about 10. The monsters are incredibly realistic and scary.

Caveat #2: The movie takes a lengthy trip to hell (replete with the AC/DC soundtrack).

QMR Opinion: Let's face it. . .this movie is not going to contend for any awards and has simply been created for some fun and. . .is an attempt for the studio to find a replacement for Harry Potter. There are three main characters -- one that doesn't realize what he is, a female that is incredibly gifted, and the funny one. The problem is that this movie isn't very well written and is not well acted. The three main actors are so poor that you realize really how well Radcliffe, Watson and Grint really are in the Harry Potter films. The FX in this movie are terrific. The supporting actors are solid. The end of the movie features some weird father-son thing that I still don't understand and, frankly, I still am not sure why the thief stole the lightning.

Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)

Bottomline: Terrific film that was a pioneer in exploring what happens to a fighter when he can no longer fight.

Pros: Strong script from Rod Serling. Terrific acting by Anthony Quinn and Jackie Gleason. But, honestly, I was blown away by Mickey Rooney. Loved the POV shooting at the beginning of the movie.

Cons: The movie takes a completely unrealistic turn when the lovely and demure Miss Miller falls for Mountain Rivera.

Where Can I See This Movie? I caught it on Turner Classic Movies but it is available for rent.

Suggestion: Watch this film then watch Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980). You will see the inspiration for much of Scorsese's camera work in his masterpiece.

QMR Opinion: This film is well worth your time if for no other reason than to appreciate a heartbreakingly poignant story and to see three actors at the top of their games. Quinn carries the heavy load here, of course, but Gleason and Rooney are phenomenal. The POV shooting at the beginning of the film features a young boxer that you may recognize.

Crazy Heart (2009)

Bottomline: Absolutely terrific movie supported by fantastic performances.

Pros: Jeff Bridges. Jeff Bridges. Jeff Bridges. Loved the ending.

Cons: The film takes a turn that you can see coming from a mile away.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is in theaters -- for now.

QMR Opinion: This is easily one of the 10 best movies of 2009 -- I don't care what the Academy says. It's better than The Blindside. It's better than District 9. And, goodness knows, it's better than Avatar. The story is solid but it's the acting of Bridges that pulls this movie to the top. Bridges is simply one of the best actors in the business and he has a character here in Bad Blake that he can absolutely sink his teeth into. Maggie Gyllenhaal is great. And, of course, there is Duvall. A surprise is Colin Farrell who does a good job as a country singer. See this movie.

Quick Movie Reviews: Starting Out in the Evening, Duplicity, Paper Clips, Tooth Fairy

2010-02-06T21:02:00.008-06:00

Starting Out in the Evening (2007)

Bottomline: Extremely slow character study.

Pros: Terrifically measured performance by Frank Langella. Opportunity to see Lili Taylor act. Focuses on the intricacies of writing (something that is near and dear to my heart).

Cons: Extremely -- EXTREMELY -- slow. Nothing ever really happens. And what happens is completely and unfortunately predictable. Nothing overly suprising.

Where Can I See This? It is available for rent.

QMR Opinion: Frank Langella plays a famous intellectual novelist who has been working on his fifth novel for more than a decade. His daughter is played by Lili Taylor and is dealing with issues of her own. Lauren Ambrose plays a precocious and aggressive graduate student who has decided to do her thesis on Langella. Initially he rebuffs Ambrose, but then Langella succumbs to Ambrose's charms both in her physical and intellectual seduction. You can see what is going to happen almost from the outset of the film but it is truly a joy to watch Langella. He is masterful here. Lili Taylor is one of my favorite actresses and I enjoyed her. Ambrose is good but we get introduced to some odd side story that was a waste of time. Need a film to rent? Rent something else.

Duplicity (2009)

Bottomline: Should be a super cool caper flick but falls flat.

Pros: Get to see Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti at work (always pleasureable). Story is strong early on.

Cons: Story unravels and gets too clever for its own good. Given the great cast, movie is a disappointment.

Where Can I See This Movie? You can rent it on DVD.

What's a Better Caper Movie that You Would Recommend? Actually, I would recommend two -- The Sting (1973) and The Usual Suspects (1995)

QMR Opinion: This movie should have been way better than it was. Clive Owen. Julia Roberts. Tom Wilkinson. Paul Giamatti. It's a killer line-up. And, frankly, the best performance was turned in by Carrie Preston as an unwitting accomplice to Owen's charms. The story actually started out strong but then went off the rails quickly -- collapsing under the weight of trying to be incredibly clever. By the time the "twist" is revealed, you are extremely happy the movie is over.

Paper Clips (2004)

Bottomline: An absolutely terrific documentary that is well worth your time and your children's time.

Pros: It's a documentary that allows the story to tell itself without overt interference of the filmmakers.

Cons: Can't think of any.

Where Can I See This Documentary? It is available for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion: The Whitwell, Tennessee, Middle School decided to develop a curriculum on diversity. The topic they chose was the Holocaust. When the students learned that there were six million Jews exterminated by the Nazis during World War II, a natural question was: What does six million look like? The students discovered that many people showed their solidarity with the Jews in the 1940s by wearing paper clips. So the students began collecting paper clips -- six million of them. This story is proof positive that truth is stranger than fiction. Get the tissues and pop this documentary in your DVD player. It is fantastic and is an excellent film for all ages.

Tooth Fairy (2010)

Bottomline: Cute film that is appropriate for any age child.

Pros: It's January. It's cold. It's rainy. The kids want to invite some friends to see a cute movie. This one fits the bill.

Cons: Cliche. Billy Crystal and Julie Andrews cashing paychecks.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is showing in theaters across the country.

QMR Opinion: Look, sometimes you just need to take the kids to a cute, uncomplicated movie that makes no pretense about what it is. That's Tooth Fairy. It's cute. There are some funny moments. It delivers a good message. Everything gets wrapped up nice and neat at the end. And, yes, it's an opportunity to see Ashley Judd (always a plus). The Rock does yeoman's work continuing to play off his physicality as contrasted with some outrageous plot device. In this case, you get to see The Rock in tights. Should you wait to rent this movie? Yes, probably. But if you're looking to get out of the house with a child under the age of 13, then this one will do the job.

Quick Movie Reviews: Up in the Air, Princess and the Frog, Howl's Moving Castle

2010-01-03T16:29:00.009-06:00

Up in the Air (2009)

Bottomline: Terrific movie about grown-ups made for grown-ups.

Pros: George Clooney. Vera Farmiga. Anna Kendrick. Jason Bateman. Great Story. Sharp dialogue.

Cons: Having been a victim of a lay-off (June 9, 1998), a lot of what happens in this movie hits very close to home.

Where Can I See It? It is in wide release in theaters.

QMR Opinion: Clooney portrays a man whose sole purpose is to come into businesses and fire people. In addition, he takes great pride in the fact that he has no real relationship with anyone. He spends all of his time on the road. Then he meets Farmiga and Kendrick. All three of the principals are simply terrific. I was particularly impressed with Kendrick who showed that she has the chops to share the screen with Farmiga and Clooney, who are both on fire here. Reitman's direction is spot on and the dialogue is real, witty and pitch perfect.

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Bottomline: Great animated feature perfect for all ages.

Pros: Beautiful hand-drawn animation. Voice acting is superb. Familiar story with a twist.

Cons: Story drags here and there. The trailer for this movie gives too much away.

CAVEAT: There are at least three scenes in this movie that caused young folks (6 and under) to cry in the theater.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is in wide release in theaters.

QMR Opinion: There will always be a soft place in my heart for hand-drawn animation. It has a certain warmth and graphic tonality that you simply don't get with computer animation and, yes, I include my favorite movie studio production in that statement -- Pixar. This is a beautiful story told with a great twist and magnificently animated. I was thoroughly impressed with the voice acting and, in particular, Keith David, who plays the Voodoo Villain. The music was fine with my favorite being "Almost There." For my money, there wasn't enough Mama Odie.

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Bottomline: Beautifully animated film whose storyline gets incredibly confusing toward the end.

Pros: It's a Miyazaki-directed film so the animation is beautiful, detailed and flawless. Voices include: Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, Billy Crystal, and Christian Bale.

Cons: The storyline meanders and is rife with symbolism that no one outside of Japan will understand.

Where Can I See This Movie? I saw this on the IFC channel but it is available for rent on DVD.

QMR Opinion: I will have to admit to something here -- I am not a huge fan of Japanese animation aka "anime." I honestly believe Pixar and, for that matter, Disney are producing better animated features. Miyazaki is considered THE master of Japanese anime and has receive numerous accolades for his feature, Spirited Away (2001), which I did not like. So I recorded Howl on the DVR. It was much better than I had anticipated. The hand-drawn animation is phenomenal in its beauty and detail. The story was great until about three-quarters of the way through and then it lost its way. The movie is set in an oddly Victorian-mechanized era populated with wizards and witches. A young lady is cursed and finds herself connected to Howl, a wizard. The movie is rated PG, which, I assume, is because of some war scenes.

Quick Movie Reviews: Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, State of Play

2009-12-27T19:43:00.011-06:00

Avatar (2009)

Bottomline: This is a movie that takes CGI and motion-capture technology to an entirely new level. It is a watershed technological moment in movie history. It must be seen in a theater.

Pros: Mind-boggling, eye-popping technological achievement. Beautiful to watch. 3-D technology is terrific. Sigourney Weaver is great. Stephen Lang chews up the scenery.

Cons: Extremely familiar storyline. Extremely familiar stereotypical characters. Too dang long.

CAVEAT: The movie is PG-13. My 12-year-old daughter actually asked how close it came to being “R” rated. Lots – LOTS – of potty words. There are disturbing, violent and brutal scenes.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is in every theater in the world.

QMR Opinion: Avatar is a movie that must be seen if for no other reason than to enjoy the technological achievements of a movie that will be considered a watershed event for motion pictures. It is beautiful. It is lush. The CGI work is beyond anything you’ve seen. The motion-capture technology goes beyond anything captured on film. However, when you strip all of that away, you’re left with a story that is. . .well. . .as old as time. There is a group of indigenous people (the good guys) who are being slaughtered by invaders (the bad guys) for no other reason than corporate profit. Director James Cameron borrows heavily from a number of movies: A Man Called Horse (1970), Dances with Wolves (1990), Pocahontas (1995), Little Big Man (1970), and the list could go on. He even borrows two characters from one of his own movies, Aliens (1986): Giovanni Ribisi is the corporate shill. In Aliens, this was Paul Reiser. Michelle Rodriguez plays a tough female grunt. In Aliens, this was Jenette Goldstein. And, for goodness sakes, the movie has a running time of two hours and thirty minutes. Can anyone find me an editor? My favorite character? Stephen Lang as Col. Miles Quaritch. He is awesome as a stereotypical, kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out military man.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Bottomline: Interested in having fun at the movies? Go see this one. Tons of fun!

Pros: The cast is terrific. The mix of brains and brawn is irresistible. Guy Ritchie’s pacing is spot on.

Cons: For Holmes’ purists, the movie takes the great detective in an uncomfortable direction. Is Holmes really an action star? Sometimes the the dialogue was difficult to hear – low volume and British mumbling.

Caveat: This movie is violent and there’s this scene with slaughtered hogs that is just. . .well. . .gross.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is in wide release in theaters.

QMR Opinion: It is clear that everyone had fun making this movie. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law have great chemistry. Mark Strong is terrific as Lord Blackstone. It all just works. The puzzle is good. Watching Holmes deduce is fascinating. From a personal Holmes’ fan standpoint, I like that Dr. Watson is not portrayed as a bumbling idiot. Interested in having fun at the movies? Go see this film. It is well worth your time.

State of Play (2009)

Bottomline: Interesting rental for a night when you're looking for a quick thriller fix with a dose of newspaper reporter as hero.

Pros: Newspaper reporter is the hero. Jason Bateman has a great turn as a sleazy PR guy.

Cons: Actors looked uncomfortable throughout. It's painful sometimes to watch Ben Affleck try to act. Russell Crowe is stereotypical reporter. You will have the entire movie figured out within the first 15 minutes.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is available for rent on DVD.

Want to See THE Reporter-as-Hero Movie? Pick up All the President's Men (1976)

QMR Review: This movie has its fun moments and is worth a rental if you are stuck for something to rent one night. None of the actors seem particularly dedicated to the film and seem to be going through the motions. The story is obvious from the beginning with a twist at the end -- but you see it all coming although you may not know exactly how it will play out. In an odd way, it's sort of a nostalgic romp to see how newspapers are produced. Crowe is okay. McAdams is passable. Affleck is stiff. Robin Wright Penn is actually pretty good. But my favorite performance was a minor one played to full effect by Jason Bateman.

Quick Moview Reviews: Precious, The Brothers Bloom, Joyeux Noel

2009-12-13T17:00:00.008-06:00

Precious (2009)

Bottomline: Mediocre movie punctuated by terrific scenes and phenomenal performances.

Pros: Mo'Nique. Mo'Nique. Mo'Nique. The entire cast is superb and delivers incredible performances.

Cons: It's too long and begins to fall under the weight of a plodding pace.

Where Can I See It? It is in theaters.

Bottomline: Before I write anything else about this movie, let me just go ahead and confirm what you've heard about one thing: Mo'Nique delivers an amazing performance. I don't know a lot about her personal story but she dug down deep in her soul for this performance and she absolutely lays herself bare on screen. Now, let me dispel something else you may have heard: This is not the world's greatest movie. This is a classic case of the acting being much stronger than the overall movie. Someone (Director Lee Daniels? Producer Tyler Perry? Producer Oprah Winfrey?) fell in love with every single scene they shot. What this movie needed was an editor who could masterfully tighten the film, improve the pace and strengthen the overall movie.

The Brothers Bloom (2008)

Bottomline: An interestingly quirkly but ultimately disappointing con movie.

Pros: Rachel Weisz. Cinematography. Rinko Kikuchi.

Cons: The story starts off strong enough but then gets tangled up in its own desire to fool the viewer.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent on DVD.

What's a Better Movie to See? For a con movie, you really can't beat The Sting (1973) or, more recently, The Usual Suspects (1995).

Bottomline: I loved -- LOVED -- Director Rian Johnson's first movie, Brick (2005), and I would recommend you pick that one up on DVD instead of renting this one. The sad thing is that this movie should be great. The line-up includes Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, Robbie Coltrane, and Rinko Kikuchi. The problem is the story gets too complicated too quickly and you just want it to be over. Ruffalo mugs his way throughout the movie. Brody spends the entire movie looking like he has gas. Highlights are Rachel Weisz as the quirky Penelope Stamp. And I really liked Kikuchi as Bang Bang. Kikuchi was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in her role in Babel (2006).

Joyeux Noel (2005)

Bottomline: Surprisingly excellent French film that is perfectly appropriate for the holidays.

Pros: Excellent screenplay based on a true story. Natalie Dessay. Rolano Villazon. Concise directing.

Cons: Director crosses the line from time to time taking the movie into unbelievable territory.

Where Can I See It? It is available for rent on DVD.

CAVEATS: It is a French movie with sub-titles. While it is a feel good holiday movie, it is a war movie and does have disturbing war scenes involving violence and death.

Bottomline: This movie was recommended to me by a friend of mine who knew I had a soft spot for good movies and good holiday movies. This one fits both criteria and is well worth your time. It's based on the true story of soldiers in the trenches during World War I laying down their arms and celebrating Christmas Eve as one. The acting is solid. The direction is spot on. But what brings them out of their trenches on that Christmas Eve in 1914 is music. And that's another reason why I like this movie -- it features the singing prowess of two of today's best operatic voices: Natalie Dessay and Rolano Villazon. So if you get tired of watching the same old same old this holiday season, take a chance and pick up Joyeux Noel. Be sure to watch the interview with the director in the special features section of the DVD.

Notes on the Gospel of John: Chapter 18

2009-12-13T16:57:00.001-06:00

This is the beginning of a difficult two chapters. It’s tough to read and to understand.

They come to arrest Jesus carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. It’s an odd scene. Here is a Rabbi, a teacher, who has done nothing to hurt anyone. Yet they come to arrest Him like He is some kind of monster. And John includes an interesting aspect to this otherwise ridiculous scene. When Jesus identifies Himself as Jesus with “I am he,” they all draw back and fall to the ground in worship. Jesus identifies Himself as God identified Himself to Moses.

The absurdity of this scene continues with Peter pulling his sword and cutting the ear of a servant. Here is this fisherman, pulling a sword. How many times do you think Peter had actually handled a sword?

Peter, one of the inner circle amongst the disciples, then fulfills Jesus’ prophecy by denying Christ three times. It’s easy to sit back and criticize Peter, but we need to remember the last time we denied Christ in our thoughts, words or deeds.

In verse 37, Jesus identifies Himself as a king per Pilate’s assertion and the proceeds to let Pilate know that He is here to testify to the truth and that everyone on the side of truth listens to Christ. Then Pilate asks a telling question in verse 38: “What is truth?” Indeed, Jesus tells him the truth yet he still asks the question. What is truth? The truth is that Jesus is the only begotten son of God and it is through Him that we have eternal life.

Amen

Notes on the Gospel of John: Chapter 17

2009-12-13T16:56:00.001-06:00

What a beautiful chapter. I have always loved it when Jesus prayed. And pray He did. He prayed before every big decision or major act. I love it when He prayed because when people ask: “Why do you pray?” I can say: “Well, if it’s good enough for Jesus Christ, then it’s good enough for me.”

He starts off praying for Himself, then praying for His disciples then for future believers. The interesting aspect about His prayer for Himself in verses 1-5, is that He ends up praying for others. See verse 2: “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.”

Starting in verse 6 – what a beautiful prayer for His disciples and for His friends. Verse 8: “For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted the. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.”

In verses 15-17, we see Jesus praying that His disciples are protected from the Evil One – not necessarily death. Verse 17: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

What a terrific prayer for future believers. Verse 23: “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Have we fulfilled that desire? Are we all as one? Are we in complete unity?

Amen.

Notes on the Gospel of John: Chapter 16

2009-12-13T16:54:00.001-06:00

Jesus continues his attempts to comfort and reassure His disciples here. While true, that first sentence seems odd in light of verse 1 where Jesus basically tells all of them that they will be run out of their synagogues and, yes, killed in the name of God. Jesus has never been shy about letting His disciples know that the way will be tough but this is clear language letting them know that if they continue down this path with Christ, they will most likely not survive.

In verse 13, Jesus continues the theme of the Holy Spirit being with them even after He is gone.

In particular in this chapter, I like verses 25-33. Here we get a conversation that I think we have all had with ourselves while reading the Gospel and working to understand the message of Christ. Jesus says that soon will come a time when He will no longer speak metaphorically. And the reaction from the Disciples is priceless – “Now we get it!! Now we believe!!”

Amen

Quick Movie Reviews: To Catch a Thief, A Christmas Carol, The Blind Side

2009-11-29T21:03:00.013-06:00

To Catch a Thief (1955)

Bottomline: There are better Hitchcock films starring these two people.

Pros: Grace Kelley. Cary Grant.

Cons: Lots of talking. More talking. Then more talking. Little bit of action. Then more talking. Some more talking. More talking. Little bit of action. End of film.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is available for rent and plays often on television. I saw it on Turner Classic Movies channel.

What Other Hitchcock Films Would You Recommend? To see Grace Kelley in a great Hitchcock movie, rent Rear Window (1954). To see Cary Grant in a great Hitchcock film, rent North by Northwest (1959).

QMR Opinion: This movie hasn't held up well over the years. Known primarily because of the famous scene involving the road where Princess Grace was actually killed, To Catch a Thief spends too much time talking and not enough time moving the story forward. My children (ages 12 and 16) had the story figured out 30 minutes into it. Some of the dialogue is particularly interesting -- especially the scene at night in Kelley's room when she and Grant engage in a lengthy discussion filled with all sorts of sexual double entendres.

A Christmas Carol (2009)

Bottomline: Terrific movie that is faithful to the Dickens novel.

Pros: Terrific story. Strong acting by Jim Carrey (in multiple roles) and Gary Oldman. Animation is top-notch. Loved the 3-D work.

Cons: There are a couple of "chase" scenes that last too long. The end when Bob Cratchit speaks directly to the camera doesn't work and takes you out of the movie.

Where Can I See This Movie? It is currently in wide release in theaters.

WARNING: Even though this is animated and the trailer looks fun, this movie is not for young children. Particularly disturbing is how the movie handles the "death" of Tiny Tim and the "death" of the Ghost of Christmas Present. There are many scary moments.

QMR Opinion: This is a strong movie that truly captures the essence of A Christmas Carol as a morality tale. The animation is terrific. The technology has moved quickly beyond Robert Zemekis' previous movie using this animation technology, The Polar Express (2004). I'll be honest and say that I am a sucker for this Disney 3-D technology. I think it adds to the overall experience of the film and Zemekis makes strong use of it without going overboard. The acting is strong and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Carrey's performance. This movie is well worth your time but be forewarned -- it is a dark tale designed to shock you into understanding what is important.

The Blind Side (2009)

Bottomline: Inspiring movie that deserves your support.

Pros: It simply tells the story of a young man that you couldn't make up even if you wanted to. Strong performances by Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Jae Head.

Cons: It can't help itself and gets overly sweetly sentimental in some spots. Glosses over what had to be a difficult transition for both Oher and the Tuohy family.

Where Can I See This? It is in wide release in the theaters.

Interesting Note: This movie is rated PG-13 so be aware of that. There is a scary scene of explosive violence. There are violent flashbacks. And the trailers that we saw were very PG-13. For example, we saw a trailer for It's Complicated that shows Alec Baldwin and Meryl Streep laid out in the bed -- spent.

QMR Opinion: I went into this movie fully expecting not to like it. I heard about how great it was. That it was the best movie ever made. But the simple fact of the matter is that you would really have to try to screw up telling this incredible story. Michael Oher was a young black man with no home and is taken in by the very white Tuohy family who nurture him, become his legal guardians and help him get to college. Oher was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the draft. However, despite my best efforts to not like this movie, I couldn't help buy like it. It is inspiring and, frankly, a little convicting. It is up to Sandra Bullock to carry this movie and she does it well. The movie can't help itself and there are some scenes that are clearly designed to manipulate the audience. But you can get past this. At the end of the day, this is a great movie.

Quick Movie Reviews: The Way We Get By, My Winnipeg

2009-11-22T14:37:00.008-06:00

The Way We Get By (2009)

Bottomline: Excellent and poignant documentary.

Pros: Tightly produced documentary that moves you to care about the three people it focuses on and the soliders they love.

Cons: Feels slightly manipulative in some ways. In particular focusing on some of the dreadful living circumstances of Bill. There is enough material here without us having to be emotionally manipulated.

Where Can I See This Documentary? I saw it on PBS but it is available for rental on DVD.

Bottomline: Bangor, Maine, is the central point for the deployment and return of troops going to and from Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost 1 million soliders have passed through this airport. To show their thanks for their service, a group of elderly men and women have been at the airport 24 hours a day, six days a week for six years greeting and saying good-bye to the troops. The documentary focuses on three of these people -- Bill, Joan and Jerry. It is incredibly inspirational and surprisingly multi-layered. These three older people are facing their own mortality while showing how much they care about these soldiers facing their mortality. The soldiers are incredibly grateful for this dedication and this recognition of their service to our country.

My Winnipeg (2008)

Bottomline: Interesting and fascinating docudrama.

Pros: Incredibly inventive. Reminds me of a long-form ode -- to Winnipeg. The idea of recreating certain events in your childhood is particularly interesting.

Cons: This is a cross between a documentary and drama. Found myself wondering what was true and what wasn't. Has a tendency to drag and become tedious.

Where Can I See This? At the moment, it is not available for rent. I found it on IFC Channel.

Bottomline: You always have to pat filmmakers on the back who are willing to push the medium. Guy Maddin has done this in My Winnipeg, which is his ode to Winnipeg. He combines documentary-style filmmaking with dramatic license. It is an interesting approach that starts from the basis that Guy wants to leave Winnipeg but cannot until he gets some closure on some issues. Winnipeg has broken his heart but he clearly loves the place. It is incredibly fascinating piece of filmmaking that begins to drag in certain parts but then picks itself back up. The most interesting parts for me were the parts where Maddin actually goes to his childhood home, casts his family (his mother plays herself) and then re-enacts key moments in his childhood.

Quick Movie Reviews: Anvil, Hear and Now, Heavy Metal in Baghdad

2009-11-09T21:06:00.014-06:00

Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008)

Bottomline: Absolutely fantastic documentary. If you like rock and roll, you need to see this. If you like docs, you must see this.

Pros: The documentary filmmaker turns the camera on and gets out of the way. It captures the aching reality of two men who have a dream and have not given up on the dream.

Cons: The trailer makes this doc seem like it's funny -- almost a real life Spinal Tap. The reality is the doc is much stronger and much more poignant.

Where Can I See This? It is now available on DVD. It's been winning film festival awards left and right.

Notes: Be sure to check out the DVD extras -- especially the interviews with the former band members.

QMR Opinion: In the '80s, just about every heavy metal hair band that could stand up straight, made millions of dollars. Except Anvil. Focused on the two Canadian founders -- Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner -- this extremely well made doc follows them as they try their hardest to make it happen for a band whose heyday was 25 years ago. The best part of the doc? The director, Sacha Gervasi, turns the camera on and gets out of the way. He lets the story tell itself through the words and lives of its two principals. The Anvil "tour" of Europe is an absolute must see -- it is at the same time hilarious and heart-breaking. The allusions to Spinal Tap are throughout the film -- amps that go to 11, reference to Cleveland and they visit Stonehenge for goodness sakes!

Hear and Now (2007)

Bottomline: Solid documentary that is worth your time.

Pros: You will fall in love with Paul and Sally Taylor -- the married couple who is the focus of the film. Shows the trials and triumphs of cochlear implants.

Cons: I honestly can't think of any cons that are significant. One caveat: there is some graphic surgery footage.

Where Can I See This? The DVD is available for rent.

QMR Opinion: My daughter received her cochlear implant when she was seven years old. And it changed her life -- for the better, forever. Irene Taylor Brodsky's parents decided at the ages of 65 to get cochlear implants, thus allowing them the possibility of hearing anything for the first time. Brodsky decides to capture the transformation from decision to surgery to afterward. Along the way, you get to know her parents, who are people you would want to know. And you get to see in sometimes heartbreaking detail how they react to being able to hear for the first time in more than six decades. A surprising detail? Find out what a strong marriage looks and feels like -- watch the Taylors.

Heavy Metal in Baghdad (2007)

Bottomline: Pretty good documentary that could have been better.

Pros: Gives you a personal look at how Iraqis lived and survived during the insurgency and subsequent occupation.

Cons: The filmmakers spend way too much time on camera. The heavy metal band tried hard but they really are not that good.

Where Can I See This? It is available for rent on DVD.

QMR Bottomline: Had the filmmakers decided to spend less time on camera and talking about themselves, this documentary would have been much stronger (see Anvil review). The premise is interesting -- get an inside look at Iraq during the insurgency, invasion and occupation through the eyes of the members of Iraq's only heavy metal band. You have to admire their passion, but the band members just aren't that good. Sorry. The doc drags at various points and I found myself checking the clock. Quick caveat: These guys love -- LOVE -- the "F" word. I haven't heard it used in so many different ways since Raging Bull (1980).

Notes on the Gospel of John: Chapter 15

2009-11-02T22:08:00.001-06:00

Using the metaphor of the vine, Jesus lets His disciples know that they should bear fruit. If they don’t, then God will cut them away. If they do, then they will be pruned so that they can bear more fruit. The idea here is that by bearing fruit, there will be times when our faith is tested and this is an opportunity for us to show even more fruit of the spirit.

This vine metaphor always reminds me of one of opening lines of the old radio show, The Shadow – “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. . .” Indeed.

This metaphor leads into a beautiful series of verses. . .verses 9-17. Remember Jesus’ exhortation that we are called to obey His commands and that those who do obey His commands will reside in Him. Will reside in the Father. And they will reside in us. Verse 17: “This is my command: Love each other.”

Unfortunately, this is probably one of the hardest commands to obey. How often do we follow this command?

Verses 18-27 should be required reading for any new Christian. Among the newest converts, there tends to be this belief that by converting, suddenly their lives will become much easier. Not so. If anything, it becomes harder because now you are more aware of your brokenness and you are aware of the need to turn everything over to Christ – no easy task.

In particular here, I find verse 22 interesting: “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.”
By His appearance, Jesus has raised the stakes. He has pointed out our brokenness. We are fully aware of our nakedness and we must turn to Him for grace, mercy and forgiveness. We see some of this theology in Paul’s writings. Take a look at 1 Corinthians 5:12. Essentially, he is more critical of people in the church versus those outside the church because those in the church or in the body of Christ should know better.

Amen.