Into the Wild: A Closer Look December 14, 2009

Into the Wild is a movie based on a book based on a true story. Sean Penn directed and wrote the screenplay for the movie, and Jon Krakauer wrote the book based on Christopher McCandless’s experiences. While the movie is well executed (I assume the book is as well), McCandless’s life choices left me feeling disturbed and disappointed, and with a lot of questions to ponder.

A Well-Made Film

• Cinematography – From the opening shots of McCandless trudging through the snowy terrain of the Alaskan wildnerness and his mother waking up from another nightmare about her missing son, it was clear that this would be a beautiful and emotional movie. The cinematography certainly highlighted the amazing wonders of the natural world, all right here in the United States of America. I was watching the blu ray version, and I enjoyed the breathtaking views of everything from snowy mountains to waving wheat fields to winding river canyons. This aspect of McCandless’s journey – the ultimate, no limits tour of America – was inspiring, but everything he sacrificed to pursue this adventure gave the story a darker tone.
• Soundtrack – The music enhances the viewer’s experience of the landscapes and McCandless’s rollercoaster of emotions. At Sean Penn’s request, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder took on the soundtrack as a solo project, and the results are fantastic. The songs have a consistently “grunge folk” sound that works very well for this particular story. I may have to add this album to my collection of movie soundtracks.
• Screenplay/Directing – Sean Penn weaves the tale of this recent college graduate by jumping around in the story, rather than going chronologically. We begin and end in Alaska, which throughout the movie is McCandless’s ultimate destination, and in between we see how his journey began, how his family dealt with his disappearance, and where he went before settling into his “magic” bus in the Alaskan wildnerness. Sean Penn is no stranger to tragic stories – two of the most difficult to watch movies I’ve ever seen were Mystic River and 21 Grams – and he brought a similar tone to this movie. Even though the mood shifts among inspiring, suspenseful, humorous, and dramatic, there is always an underlying tone of loneliness and loss. So, no, this isn’t necessarily an inspiring, feel-good movie, but it is certainly well worth watching.

Before she was Bella, Kristen Stewart played along side Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild.

• The Acting – The movie features an all-star cast, and all of them did a great job portraying their characters. Emile Hirsch played the idealistic, adventureous Chris McCandless, and he also provided narration, along with Jena Malone, who played his sister. Their parents were played by Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt. Harden was disturbing with her artificial cheerfulness, and Hurt was her abusive husband, who was usually quiet but had a simmering anger and bitterness just beneath the surface. McCandless meets many people on his trek across America, some quirky, some lonely, but all well-meaning. Catherine Keener is great as McCallum’s surrogate mother, Kristen Stewart (before she achieved international fame as Edward’s beloved Bella) plays a teenager who falls in love with him, Vince Vaughn is impressively understated (as opposed to his typical comedic role) as a man who hires McCandless to work on his farm, and Hal Holbrook is memorable as a reclusive old man who develops an unlikely friendship with him. These actors bring the characters to life so well that it was heartbreaking to see McCandless eventually leave all of them behind on his stubborn quest to achieve fulfillment in solitude.

Trudging alone through snowy terrain in the Alaskan wilderness

Christopher McCandless

So now we come to the boy himself, Christopher McCandless – or, as he liked to call himself, Alexander Supertramp. Chris wasn’t the first person to find solace in the wild. Timothy Treadwell, the ill-fated subject of the documentary Grizzly Man also comes to mind, but I am sure there are countless others. What makes McCandless’s story so memorable? For starters, it is the way he started his journey. He wasn’t just taking a summer road trip, one last hurrah before finding a job with the college degree he had just earned. Instead, he was in it for the long haul. He wanted to make a complete break from society, so he gave away his life savings ($24,000!!) to charity, cut up his credit cards and drivers license, abandoned his car, and changed his name. By doing all these things, he made himself virtually invisible. Christopher McCandless no longer existed, and so it would be impossible for his family to find him unless he wanted to be found. In my opinion, McCandless’s decision to erase his identity and go off the map was a selfish and irresponsible one. In trying to understand what he did, I’ve divided his actions into four categories below:

• Rejecting Family – Shortly after graduating from college, Chris followed through with his plans to leave life as he had known it behind. According to the movie, his main reason for doing this was that he wanted to distance himself from his parents, who had been a negative presence in his life, from their dishonesty with him, to his father’s domestic abuse, to their desire to control his future. Perhaps he wanted nothing to do with the traditional path of an upstanding American citizen, since career and marriage had brought his family so much pain.
  • During the years of his unhappy home life, Chris took comfort in the words of writers like Emerson, Thoreau, and London, and their portraits of nature and solitude seemed like his perfect escape from his family. Maybe he had a right to disappear and do his own thing – after all, he was over 18. But just because it was his right doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do, at least not the way he did it. Why couldn’t he pick up a phone and call his sister? Write them a letter? Send them a postcard? He left with no warning, and thus he, his sister, and his parents were never able to resolve their issues.
  • I’ve heard of people disowning their families and never speaking to them again, which is really sad. But in most cases, these people have other friends who become their family. Everyone needs at least one person to share life’s ups and downs with. Chris had the chance to be “adopted” into new families several times along his journey – the hippie couple, the farmer, the old war veteran… But each time they tried to get close to him, he rejected them in the name of his quest for individual freedom. Just think how his life may have played differently if he had fostered any one of these relationships. Perhaps someone would have joined him on his Alaskan adventure, or at least checked in with him from time to time. Instead, he found himself truly alone, at the time when he most needed someone’s help.
• Rejecting Society – This is the part of Chris’s plan that I can understand the most. Sometimes it’s nice to feel invisible. He achieved that by changing his name to Alexander Supertramp, giving away all his money, and cutting up his identification. He was basically saying that he had no interest in the American dream of pursuing a successful career, making a lot of money, driving a nice car, getting married, having children, sending his children to college, etc. He had only seen the hardships that come with those choices, and so he rejected them. Even though I can understand him wanting to choose another path, his methods were still selfish. Wasn’t that his parents’ money, set aside for his education? And hadn’t they already paid his way through school? Since he bothered to graduate, he should have either tried out a job, or if nothing else given his parents an explanation for why he didn’t want to. Up until the point he became trapped in the wilderness of Alaska, his journey across America did seem exciting and fulfilling. He had no responsibility except to himself, no schedule to keep, and no limits to what he could do or see. Most people have to save up money and take time off of work to even take a small road trip, but he was able to meet new people, take on river rapids, hike mountains, swim in the ocean, etc.
• Embracing a Life of Solitude – If Chris had been content to “establish” himself as a nomad, traveling from one place to another, one adventure to another, with some of his new friends, then I would have felt like he had a good thing going on, at least for awhile. He could have traveled with Rainey and Jan, or helped an old man live the last years of his life to the fullest by taking on Ron as his travel buddy. Instead, he left them all behind to live life alone. I can understand wanting to get away from the world for awhile, but he seemed to be in it for the long haul. He spent over 100 days completely alone, with no one to talk to, no physical contact. These are things that keep us healthy and sane! I got stir crazy just watching him go through his days of solitude. I don’t believe that anyone could find true happiness or fulfillment just by experiencing nature and not being attached to society. My guess is he eventually realized that his ideal was just that, an unreachable goal.
• Experiencing Nature – I love nature. I always notice the full moon or a beautiful sunset, I’ve stood in awe beneath the huge, majestic trees of Muir Woods, and I would love to visit some of the places featured in the documentary Planet Earth. However, I don’t understand why he wanted to experience all these things alone. Chris came to this realization in the movie as he sat alone in his magic bus in Alaska. He had been marveling at the beauty of the mountains and the animals, but he didn’t have anyone to share his joy with. He wrote this simple, sad statement in his journal: “Happiness isn’t real unless it’s shared.” That statement was at odds with what he had believed throughout his journey – that relationships don’t bring satisfaction the way that true freedom does. It seems that Chris forgot to respect the darker side of nature. It’s not all big sky, clear water, and surmountable mountainsides. There’s a reason that humans have built homes, grocery stores, hospitals, and other comforts. You don’t always know what you’re going to get from nature, but you can always count on a warm place to sleep if you have a house, a hot meal to eat if you have a few dollars, and some medical attention when you need it if a doctor is in the area. In the end, Chris needed warmth, food, and medical assistance, but because he had cut himself off from society, he instead faced a grim outlook.

The saddest part of Chris’s story to me is how he was missing some vital information that may have saved him from his fate (I read about this part of his story elsewhere, since it wasn’t included in the movie). After about 90 days in the Alaskan wilderness, he prepared to return to civilization, but when he arrived at a river crossing, he discovered that the river was much wider and stronger than it had been in the spring. Rather than attempt to cross, or to walk along the bank and look for another way over, he simply returned to his bus. If he had had a decent map with him, or if he had walked 1/4 mile up the river, he would have discovered a hand-operated tram that would have easily transported him across the river.

I think that if he had really wanted to return to society and deal with some of the relationships he had formed and broken, he would have found a way across. Since he quickly gave up and turned around, I wonder if he was willing to accept the consequences of what could happen if he stayed in the wilderness alone. Maybe for him, it was all worth it, but to me, it looks like a life wasted. Christopher McCandless’s story is a grim reminder about the importance of maintaining relationships and respecting the power of nature.

New Moon: A Review December 13, 2009

I read New Moon a little over a year ago, and my review of the book was not very kind. I ranted about how self-centered and whiny Bella was, how sappy and lovesick Edward was, and how uneventful the book was as a whole. Strange, then, that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie when I saw it in the theater last week. While Twilight’s film adaptation played out like an unintentional comedy, New Moon translated well onto the screen, and had a satisfying blend of drama, suspense, romance, and humor.

Jacob and Edward are both in love with Bella. If I were her, I know which one of them I'd choose.

In case anyone is reading this who isn’t familiar with the story, New Moon is the second book in the Twilight series, and it focuses on Bella’s separation from Edward and subsequent deepening friendship with Jacob. Near the beginning, a freak accident during Bella’s birthday party leads to the Cullens leaving town. Edward convinces Bella that he doesn’t love her and that he’s trying to make a clean break. Edward’s sudden departure sends Bella into a deep depression, and the only time she feels alive is when she gets an adrenaline rush, because at those times she has visions of Edward telling her to stop what she’s doing. Her need to live on the edge is what initially brings her and Jacob together, since she asks him to fix up an old motorbike for her. Over the course of the school year, they become closer, but meanwhile Jacob goes through a life-altering transition of his own. Eventually, Bella’s recklessness sets off a series of events that lead her and Alice to Edward’s rescue in Italy. When the movie ends, Bella is anxious to be turned into a vampire, but finds herself  caught between two guys – Jacob, who wants her to live a “normal” life with him, and Edward, who wants her to marry him.

What I Liked

• Jacob – I’ve never been a big enough fan of the series to choose a side, but after seeing this movie, I am definitely Team Jacob! He was so easy to like and cheer for, not to mention easy to look at! I wasn’t crazy about the long hair, but once he got it cut, I was a fan. Liking Jacob so much only made me dislike Bella more. This was true in the book, too. I still think that she was way too self-absorbed and selfish, taking advantage of Jacob’s feelings for her. Taylor Lautner did a nice job with this role.
• Bella’s character development – I may not like Bella, but at least the writers translated her character well enough that we understood why she was acting the way she was. Whether we were seeing her staring blankly out her bedroom window as the months passed by, listening to her terrified screams when she would wake up from nightmares, or watching her cling to Jacob for attention and affirmation of her worth, she was clearly a deeply damaged and troubled young woman.
• Charlie – In the first movie, Bella’s dad may as well have been Barney Fife. He was a bumbling, goofy deputy. However, in this movie he was portrayed more as a caring father who was only trying to protect his daughter and help her through a hard time. It was nice to see a strong parental presence.
• Jane – Who knew that Dakota Fanning would be such a convincing, well cast Jane? She was great as the old in years but childlike in appearance vampire who can torture people with her mind. Fanning played the character as quiet but strong, a force to be reckoned with. She was the most interesting of the Volturi. The vampires who sat in their thrones during the proceedings were creepy, but a little too campy to fit the tone of the movie.
• Bella’s high school friends – In Twilight, Bella’s human friends were mostly just annoying, but this time around I was thoroughly entertained, especially by Mike and Jessica. They provided some needed comic relief during the mostly gloomy proceedings of the movie.
• The Music – I don’t remember much about the music in Twilight, but the New Moon Sountrack is full of great songs. It features artists like Muse, The Killers, and Death Cab for Cutie. The music helped set the appropriate tone at different moments of the movie. If the Twilight series is an experience, then it makes sense that music would play an important role in helping viewers experience the theatrical version.

What I Didn’t Like

• Edward – Yep, you read that right. I did not like Edward. To be more specific, I didn’t like Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Edward. It was hard to imagine Bella still choosing Edward over Jacob when the two guys had their confrontation toward the end of the movie. On one side, there was buff, healthy, glowing, passionate Jacob. On the other, there was pale, skin and bones, sour-faced, and solemn Edward. Throughout the movie, sweet Jacob had either a winning smile or an understandable scowl on his face, but in either case it was easy to root for him. When we saw Edward, he mostly just looked constipated. Perhaps that was just bad acting on Robert Pattinson’s part, but it didn’t do anything to make me happy about the Edward and Bella reunion.
• The Cullens – In their defense, they didn’t have much screen time, or much to do or say when they did appear, but I just wasn’t interested in them at all. In particular, Jasper just looked crazy, with his huge eyes and bird’s nest of hair.
• Quileute Pack – Just because I liked Jacob doesn’t mean I liked his “brothers.” They didn’t have much screen time, but when they did the acting wasn’t great. Just about the only moment in the movie that got a bad reaction from the crowd was when one of the Quileute guys said “Well, I guess the wolf’s out of the bag.” (Someone in the audience reacted by shouting out an annoyed, “Give me a break…”)

So there you have it. There was more to like than to dislike, and it was a vast improvement over the first movie. As for me being Team Jacob, I know that may change eventually. As one of my friends pointed out, things get weird later on, with Jacob imprinting on Renesmee and such. But for now, I’ll wish for that which will never come to pass – a Bella/Jacob romance. Now it’s up to the writer/director of Eclipse, along with Robert Pattinson, to make me change over to Team Edward.

Related Posts

• New Moon is a Half Thrill – My review of the book
• Twilight: Teen Angst and Vampire Lore Go Campy – My review of the Twilight movie
• Twilight: The Dance Musical - My arm chair casting of a dance version of Twilight starring contestants from So You Think You Can Dance

Twilight: The Dance Musical? October 30, 2009

No, Twilight is not being made into a Broadway extravaganza – at least not yet. But, if you will humor me for a few minutes, I’d like to propose the all-star So You Think You Can Dance lineup that would fill out the cast of a dance-infused musical version of the Twilight series. The reason I started thinking about this topic is that, as I mentioned in a previous post, season six contestant Nathan Trasoras rivals Edward Cullen’s striking good looks (translation: he’s a pretty boy). However, Nathan is actually a better fit for the role of Jacob. Let’s take a closer look at which Dance contestants would bring the Twilight characters to twirling, leaping, poppin’ and lockin’ life:

Danny, beautiful person and dancer that he is, would play the important role of Edward Cullen.

• Edward Cullen – Danny Tidwell (season three runner-up) – As one might expect, Edward was the most difficult character for me to cast, since strangely enough, there haven’t been very many staggeringly beautiful guys on SYTYCD. In fact, I ended up going against type and casting non-white dancer Danny. He may not be pale, but he certainly qualifies as beautiful! His quiet, mysterious demeanor and rare smile make him a natural to play introspective, withdrawn Edward. Edward’s habit of running at top speed through the woods and glittering in the sun will translate well into Danny pirouetting around the stage and shining in the spotlight. Glitter away, Danny, glitter away!

Jeanine would be my pick for a dancing Bella.

• Bella Swan – Jeanine Mason (season five winner) – The first time I saw Jeanine, I saw a resemblance to Kristen Stewart, so it seems perfectly fitting that the season five champion would portray dark-haired, fair-skinned Bella in the Twilight Dance Spectacular. She and Danny would make a fine pair as epic couple Bella and Edward.

Nathan Trasoras would make a terrific Jacob Black.

• Jacob Black – Nathan Trasoras (season six) – Nathan has the darker complexion, intense stare, and youthful charm to portray Jacob Black. He would just need to bulk up some to play werewolf Jacob. I can just see the special costume now, with the wolf represented by a furry jumpsuit and elaborate head dress. Of course, when dancing as Jacob all he would wear is a pair of khaki shorts, since he would want to stay true to the book, in which Jacob wore as little clothing as possible since changing into his wolf form always resulted in the destruction of his clothes and shoes.

Small-statured Sabra would make a great Alice Cullen.

• Alice Cullen – Sabra Johnson (season three winner) In the books, Alice is described as “pixie like, with short spiky black hair.” Sabra is definitely petite and adorable, and has a positive, contagiously upbeat personality. Since she and Danny worked together during season three, they would have good chemistry as close foster siblings Alice and Edward.

Our favorite ballroom partners, Pasha and Anya, would be perfect in the roles of Carlisle and Esme.

• Carlisle Cullen – Pasha Kovalev (season three) – I was quite displeased with Carlisle’s clownish appearance in the Twilight movie, so I am thrilled to have this hypothetical chance to redeem that casting (or at least makeup department) error. Pasha is perhaps my favorite SYTYCD contestant ever, and so I had to find a place for him somewhere! Since he is now teaching other contestants choreography, thus in a sense acting as a mentor, what better role for him than that of foster father Carlilse? He brings a kind spirit and maturity to the role.
• Esme Cullen – Anya Garnis (season three) – Esme is described in the book as having “caramel-colored hair; she also has a heart-shaped face with dimples, and her figure is slender, but rounded and soft.” I think Anya resembles that description enough, plus what better person to play Carlilse’s wife than Pasha’s ballroom dance partner? We know they already have great chemistry, so they are the perfect couple for this role.

Kayla would be convincing as undead beauty Rosalie.

• Rosalie Hale – Kayla Radomski (season five) – This was another difficult spot to fill, since Rosalie is described as “being the most beautiful person in the world; she is tall, statuesque, and has long, wavy blonde hair.” I decided Kayla was best for the role – she is beautiful, and a bit haughty (just as Rosalie often comes across), and she also has the pale skin that makes it easy to believe her as a vampire.

I'd split up this ballroom couple, making Ryan good-guy Emmett, and Ashleigh vampire villainess Victoria.

• Emmett Cullen – Ryan Di Lello (season six) – Emmett is described as “being tall, burly, extremely muscular, and, to most humans, the most intimidating of his adoptive siblings. He has slightly curly dark hair and dimpled cheeks.” I couldn’t think of a more fitting contestant for this role than the strongest man to ever join the SYTYCD competition, Ryan. He actually seems more like a lumberjack than a dancer, and so he would bring the necessary strength and stage presence to the role of Emmett.

Travis would win people over as Jasper.

• Jasper Hale – Travis Wall (season two) - Jasper is described as “tall with honey blond hair, and is muscular but lean” and has the ability to manipulate others’ emotions. Travis sort of fits the physical description, and as a choreographer, he certainly seems to have put the judges and viewers under his spell. His contemporary piece that Jeanine and Jason performed last season even inspired them to kiss at the end! He was a participant in one of the most famous dances in SYTYCD history: Mia Michaels’ bench piece, which was very sweet and heartfelt. Based on his experience on the show, and now as an impressive, emotionally affecting choreographer, he would create a new group of Twilight fans: Team Jasper.

If Mollee danced as Renesmee, she'd have to dye her hair black, but otherwise she'd be set.

• Renesmee Cullen – Mollee Gray (season six) - Okay, so Mollee doesn’t have “brown curly hair,” like the Renesmee in the book. However, you can’t get much closer to childlike than Mollee when picking from SYTYCD contestants. The judges have repeatedly called Mollee out for dancing like a child. It would definitely be interesting to see her dancing on stage with Jeanine and Danny playing her parents. Strange, indeed.

Kupono dances "evil" very well, and so he would be very suitable for the role of James.

• James – Kupono Aweau (season five) - James, the merciless tracker who stalked and nearly killed Bella in Twilight, was too campy for my taste in the movie. Kupono can be overdramatic and theatrical, but I think he has the intensity and dedication to make this a memorable role. I immediately thought of him for this part when I remembered his deeply affecting contemporary performance with Kayla from last season, in which he personified addiction, and in the process ruthlessly held her down, preventing her from escaping his grip. That was the most powerful performance of the entire season, and so I know he can be a great villain.
• Victoria – Ashleigh Di Lello (season six) – Victoria is the “red-haired, cat like” vampire who plots to kill Bella in revenge for Edward killing her lover, James. Ashleigh may not have red hair, but that can easily be solved with a little hair color. She already has the sultry disposition, and quite a bit of attitude (in her performances). The wardrobe department could have fun with her elaborate clothing.

Russell is my pick for vampire Laurent

• Laurent – Russell Ferguson (season six) – The only good-intentioned member of James’ coven, Laurent is friendly with the Cullens but still has the occasional lapse into drinking human blood.  Russell would bring a serious tone and quiet power to Laurent’s character.

Picture this: Adam in a police uniform, Mary as a minor league baseball player's wife, and Nigel as a tribal elder? Say what?

• Charlie Swan – Adam Shankman – Ok, I realize that I’m reaching with this one. I’m envisioning the role of Charlie as one of comic relief, and what would be funnier than Adam Shankman dressed in law enforcement duds, playing a clueless, “trying to be cool” dad?
• Renee Dwyer – Mary Murphy – Again, there was a shortage of bubbly, talkative, middle-aged women to choose from, and so Mary would end up playing Charlie’s ex wife, Bella’s mom.
• Billy Black – Nigel Lythgoe – In the biggest stretch of all, I chose Nigel to portray Jacob’s Quileute father. It’s almost as bad as John Travolta playing an overweight woman in Hairspray, but if it worked in that movie, then surely Nigel can dye his hair black, wear a fat suit, and mask his British accent.

Say hello to a dancing Mike Newton

• Mike Newton – Neil Haskell (season three) – As those of you who read my blog during season three already know, I was never a Neil fan, so I am relegating him to this rather thankless role of the “cute, baby-faced boy with carefully spiked pale blond hair.” He can pine away for Jeanine while Mark and Nathan fight over her.

Perhaps Katee and Courtney could recycle these season three costumes while playing Twilight's Angela and Jessica.

• Jessica Stanley – Courtney Galiano (season four) – I have nothing against Courtney, but her exuberant personality and appearance make her a good fit for the role of a “chatterbox with curly dark hair.”
• Angela Weber – Katee Shean (season four) – Katee was likely one of the nicest contestants to ever be on the show, or at least she seemed that way, so she is a good fit to play the “tall, shy, quiet, and very kind girl” that Angela is.

So there you have it. I didn’t do a comprehensive list of characters, so feel free to make suggestions about other SYTYCD contestants who would make a good member of the Volturi, one of Jacob’s Quileute friends, etc. Also feel free to challenge my casting decisions. There are so many factors at play, that there is surely more than one dancer who would work well for most of these characters.

As for what the Twilight dance extravaganza would look like, I’m sure there would be a lot of costume changes, elaborate lighting, and variety of dance styles. The early scenes when Edward and Bella are falling for each other would have to rely on contemporary, and the showdown between James and Bella might work well as a paso doble, whereas the baseball scene might translate into a goofy broadway bit. It’s fun to imagine Twilight as a musical, and I am sure that will become a reality one day. Until then, I will have fun imagining my favorite SYTYCD contestants turning this epic vampire tale into a dance sensation…

Double Feature: Doubt and District 9 August 16, 2009

What do a movie about a Catholic priest suspected of inappropriate conduct with an altar boy, and one about an alien refugee camp where things spiral out of control, have in common? Not much, except that I watched and thoroughly enjoyed both of them last week. Characters and plot are more important to me than any other elements in a movie, and both of these films scored high in those areas.

Doubt

• Plot Summary from IMDB: “It’s 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the schools’ strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. The winds of political change are sweeping through the community, and indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James, a hopeful innocent, shares with Sister Aloysius her guilt-inducing suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Now, without a shard of proof besides her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn which threatens to tear apart the community with irrevocable consequence.” The movie was written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, who I was amused to learn also directed Joe Versus the Volcano. That’s quite far removed from this one. Among his other writing credits is the Oscar-winning Moonstruck. The screenplay for Doubt is very strong and captivating, which seems appropriate since it is based on a play.
• Main Cast
  • Meryl Streep – As always, she does a phenomenal job with her character. She portrays Sister Aloysius as a stern, stone-faced principal, and although she initially comes across as a villain (at least when it comes to the students she rules over with an iron fist), the audience begins to see how much she cares for the children and her fellow nuns. With every word spoken, every threatening stare, and every deliberate step, Streep was Sister Aloysius.
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman – He is always so good, whether playing an eccentric literary figure in Capote or a ruthless criminal mastermind in Mission Impossible III. So it was business as usual when he donned the clerical collar and vestments as Father Flynn. Viewers don’t know whether to despise him or sympathize with him, or how much or how little to trust him. But behind all his smiles and words of wisdom lies a strong-willed individual who is willing to take on the formidable opponent that is Sister Aloysius.
  • Amy Adams – She’s come a long way since playing Tara’s cousin, Beth, on one of the less stellar episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lately, Amy Adams seems to be everywhere, and is definitely still on the rise in Hollywood. Just this month she and Streep reunited for the comedic biography Julie and Julia, but their roles were much more serious in Doubt. Adams’ character, Sister James, is a young, idealistic nun who sees the best in her students and is more interested in nurturing them than in disciplining them. She certainly seems out of her league against Sister Aloysius and a classroom full of kids ready to walk all over her, and out of place living amidst a group of ancient, gray-haired nuns. Despite these odds, she seems perfectly happy and fulfilled with her role as one of the sisters and as a teacher, and it is interesting to see Sister Aloysius take her under her wing and mentor her on the finer points of discipline and faith. On a less rosy note, Sister James finds herself caught in between the dueling Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn, and in addition to not wanting to doubt either one of them, she has a crisis of faith, since she can’t accept that Father Flynn is anything less than a noble priest who genuinely cares for the children and the community.
• Overall Assessment – Doubt has been dubbed a drama and a mystery, but I would add to that list psychological thriller. It isn’t a thriller in the strictest sense of the word – there are no knife-wielding lunatics, car chases, or explosions. But there may as well have been, because the searing battle between Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn got my heart racing, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. Everything from the cinematography to the acting to the script came together to create a tense and intense, ever escalating, moral and relational conflict within the walls of St. Nicholas. “Doubt” is, indeed, the key word to this story, and by the end of the movie, everyone, including the viewer, is left unsure of what to believe.

District 9

• The Plot: One of the reasons I enjoyed this movie so much is that I hardly knew anything going into it. Therefore, I was surprised by each and every turn in the story. This type of movie is best enjoyed if you don’t know what to expect, and so I won’t reveal much of the plot here. Instead, I’ll give you this summary of the basic premise: An extraterrestrial race is forced to live in slum-like conditions in a refugee camp in Johannesburg, South Africa, where, in the 1980s, their ship came to a halt and has remained hovering ever since. The movie chronicles the shaky relationship between the humans and “prawns” (as they are called because they look like giant shrimp), and examines such themes as injustice, greed, loyalty, and other facets of human nature. After starting out like a documentary, the movie settles into the more familiar action thriller territory, but never falls short of being a top notch sci-fi film.
• The Cast: Over the past few days, amidst tons of buzz about District 9’s opening weekend, I’ve been asking myself, “Why haven’t I heard anything about this movie until now?” It has sci-fi classic written all over it, and it was completely off of my normally excellent pop culture radar. The simple answer? There’s not a single American actor in the cast, much less a well known actor. Typically, movies don’t get a fancy promotional campaign in the U.S. unless there’s a big name attached to the project. The big name here is Peter Jackson, but he doesn’t exactly make the talk show circuit rounds like Brad Pitt or Meryl Streep. The central character, Wikus Van De Merwe, is played by Sharlto Copley. This is Copley’s first acting role (he has some behind the scenes credits to his name), and he did an excellent job of portraying Wikus. If I recognized any of the other actors, I don’t know where from, but my guess is that they were all totally new to me, and to most Americans. But they were all terrific, and the fact that they were unfamiliar to me helped achieve the feeling that this was a documentary about real events, happening to real people.
• The Visual Style – I’ve heard the term “faux verite” used to describe the visual style of this movie. That refers to the use of handheld cameras, news coverage (complete with scrolling text), and archival footage that, combined, make the movie feel like a documentary uncovering events that spiraled out of control. This style is reminiscent of Cloverfield, which gave a more realistic (therefore more terrifying) spin on creature features. While I enjoyed Cloverfield (see my review here), District 9 is more compelling because it asks a similar question on a larger scale. While Cloverfield asked, “What would happen, and how would people react if a giant creature paved a huge path of destruction through New York City?”, District 9 asks, “If seemingly non-hostile aliens landed on Earth, what would happen and how would the human race react?” District 9 doesn’t provide a final answer to that question, but the tale that it spins is oh so fascinating and surprising.
• The Blood and Gore – Be forewarned: this movie is rated R for language and violence, yes, but mostly for the sometimes staggering amount of gore. I can’t remember another movie during which I’ve exclaimed “Ew!” “Gross!” “Yuck!” so often. I usually keep my mouth shut during movies in a theater, but I couldn’t help but react to many of the gory moments in this one. Let’s just say that the alien weaponry was mighty powerful, and that wasn’t the only source of the gore.
• The Buzz – I’m happy to see that District 9 finished the weekend atop the box office, earning an estimated $37 billion, nearly $18 billion more than the next closest new release, The Time Traveler’s Wife. If everyone else loved this movie as much as I did, then positive word of mouth will continue to make this a “little movie that could.” It’s a shame that dreck like Transformers 2 rakes in hundreds of millions at the box office, while an instant classic like this has to prove itself to an unfamiliar audience. Trust me – go see this movie! If you like sci-fi, don’t mind a healthy dose of blood and guts, and just enjoy watching a well made movie of any genre, then you won’t be disappointed. And it is worth the price of admission to see it on the big screen, since like Peter Jackson’s more well known works (King Kong, Lord of the Rings, etc.) there are plenty of sweeping views and overwhelming (in a good way) sound effects – not to mention all the other special effects.

So there you have it. Doubt and District 9. Two very different movies, but both absolutely engrossing and both exhibiting excellent directing, cinematography, acting, and scriptwriting.

Film Review: Let the Right One In July 23, 2009

Let the Right One In (its actual title is Låt den rätte komma in), a Swedish suspense film, is not a vampire movie. Instead, it just so happens to have a vampire as one of its central characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, which mysteriously appeared in my Netflix Instant Watch queue. I don’t remember putting it there, and it doesn’t seem like the sort of movie my husband would be interested in. Whatever the case, I am glad that I discovered it. So what makes this movie worth watching? Let’s take a look.

The Movie’s Tagline

• “Oskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl who turns out to be a vampire.”
  • I really didn’t know what to expect from this movie, beyond this vague plot synopsis. What I got was a movie that was disturbing more for its realism than its gore. There are certainly some gory scenes, but more often I got chills and had disturbing reactions to the moments where the situations seemed like something out of real life: the mundane setting of a quiet, small town where people don’t notice when something bad is happening because they don’t expect it to; the clueless teacher sitting inside at her desk while a student is being traumatized by bullies outside; the lonely misfit with rage brewing just beneath the surface; a reclusive neighbor getting more than he bargained for when he looks out the window…

The Characters

• Oskar – He’s a 12 year old boy who doesn’t have any friends, whose parents are divorced (he lives with his mom), and who has a morbid fascination with murder (he cuts out articles about various murders from the newspaper and keeps a scrapbook).
• Eli – She is a lonely and mysterious  12 year old (“more or less”) girl who walks barefoot in the snow, only comes out at night, and faces a constant predicament of where her next meal will come from.
• The Supporting Players – The secondary characters include  the bullies, Eli’s “father,” Oskar’s mother and father, some teachers, and a handful of neighbors who all live in the same apartment complex as Oskar and Eli.

The Setting

• Oskar and Eli live in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg, and it’s the early ’80s. The unsettling atmosphere is enhanced by the presence of snow, which blankets the town and the disturbing events, in silence.
• The cinematography is amazing, as every scene is strategically and artistically shot, with utmost attention paid to the lighting, shadows, and angles.

The Plot - There are three main threads to the story (don’t worry – I’ll keep this spoiler free)

• Oskar’s constant and escalating bullying by a group of boys at his school
• The effect that Eli’s presence has on the community
• Oskar and Eli’s burgeoning friendship, based on their common bond of loneliness and being outsiders
  • Their friendship is the main focus of the movie, which makes this more of a coming of age tale than a horror or suspense movie.

The Result - No, I’m not talking about how the movie ends. I’m talking about my overall impression of the movie, based on its ingredients.

• I really enjoyed it. The movie poses some interesting questions, and provides some surprising answers
  • What would it be like for a vampire to be the only one of its kind living in a community of humans? How would that vampire balance the needs for companionship and survival?
  • What is the breaking point for a child who thinks the whole world, including his parents and his classmates, are against him?
  • In a world where people don’t know that vampires actually exist, how do they react to, process, or explain situations where a vampire has left its mark?

Final thought

• At the beginning of this review, I mentioned that Let the Right One In isn’t a vampire movie – it just has a character who is a vampire. That’s not to say that it doesn’t present some interesting vampire mythology, but that aspect takes a backseat to the more interesting character development. The result is a world in which you empathize with just about everyone, and aren’t sure what to think when the credits roll – other than saying that everything about the movie was fascinating and well executed. So, if you are interested in vampires, but also value character development and cinematic artistry, skip Twilight, and watch Let the Right One In.

Announcing Eclaire Fare’s New Weekly Lineup June 19, 2009

Greetings, longtime readers of Eclaire Fare, and newcomers who are just stopping by. Take a look at my posts over the past few months, and you’ll see that I tend to have a one-track mind. For awhile, all I wrote about was Lost, and now it’s So You Think You Can Dance. To cure myself of this television tunnel vision, I am putting myself on a new blogging regimen. Read on to find out what to expect, and then check back in frequently to see how my new lineup is shaping up!

• Music Mondays – In the two years I’ve been blogging, I haven’t written much about music. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have anything to say about artists, albums, and songs. So in an effort to branch out into this area of pop culture, I will be devoting Mondays to music-related topics. Some times I will recommend a favorite artist, others I will review an album, and others I will compile top ten lists.

• Two-For-One Television Thursdays – Anyone who has been reading Eclaire Fare lately knows that it has been almost exclusively devoted to So You Think You Can Dance. So at least for the summer and fall, while SYTYCD is airing, you can look for two posts on Thursday – my take on the performance show (which I’ll sometimes post on Wednesday night), and my reaction to the results show.

• Retro Weekends – I love to reminisce about days gone by, specifically the days of the ’80s and ’90s. I was raised on Saturday morning cartoons like Ghostbusters, and sitcoms like The Cosby Show and Growing Pains. I also had a respectable collection of Barbies, and a couple of Cabbage Patch Kids. In the ’90s I was watching MTV when it still showed videos, and listening to Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots (while wearing my colored jeans and multi-colored shirts, of course). Every weekend, I’ll be rummaging through my memory bank to find some of my favorite ’80s and ’90s topics to talk about.

Occasional Topics:

• Eclaire’s Book Fare – From time to time, I’ll review books that I’ve read, or highlight some of my favorite authors.
• Movie Reviews – I don’t watch as many movies as tv shows, but when I come across one that’s really good (or really bad), I’ll be sure to let you know about it. Last summer I got in the habit of watching two very different movies in one weekend (for example, Only You and Cloverfield, Chances Are and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, etc.). You may see more of these “Double Feature” posts this summer, while the tv landscape is looking barren.
• Now Playing on My Tivo – I do watch other stuff on tv besides SYTYCD and Lost, so occasionally I’ll let you know what else I’m tuning in to.
• Miscellaneous – Once in a blue moon, I’ll have something to say about food, travel, poetry, or other random topics that don’t fit any of the above categories.

I apologize that my posting has been so sporadic. I know how frustrating that can be, as I am a blog lurker myself. Hopefully, you will find much to enjoy in my new line-up. If you have a suggestion for a top ten list, a movie or book I should check out and review, or any other topic you’d like to see covered on Eclaire Fare, please let me know!

Star Trek: Scifi Goodness for the Masses June 2, 2009

After weeks of anticipation, I finally managed to see Star Trek yesterday. It was well worth the wait! What a fun, exciting, satisfying movie! I have never been a fan of the Star Trek multiverse of movies, tv shows, conventions, etc. It was always a little too geeky, cheesy, and out there for my taste. The funny looking blue or green-faced aliens, some with tubes coming out of their heads… All the terminology that I didn’t understand… Maybe my sheer love for Battlestar Galactica has softened my viewpoint of Star Trek, or maybe J.J. Abrams really did reinvent this classic scifi icon for the masses. It’s probably a little of both. Whatever the case, I simply loved this movie, and here are ten reasons why:

1. The Music – How strange, that in an action movie, the music would impress me more than anything else. I shouldn’t be surprised, though, since Michael Giacchino composed the original score. He has supplied music to many of my favorite shows, including Lost, Alias, and Fringe (all J.J. Abrams shows – I guess he knows how to hold on to a good composer), as well as to several movies, including Ratatouille, Mission Impossible: III, and Land of the Lost . One of my favorite musical moments was the operatic piece during the movie’s climax. It made for an epic conclusion.
2. The Sound – So this is kind of related to the music, but expands to all the sound effects, from explosions, to racing cars, to gun fights. The sound was simply amazing! It helped that I was in a theater with the best Dolby Digital surround sound I had ever experienced. I felt like I was taking off with the Starfleet on the maiden voyage of the Enterprise, as the sounds of the engines filled up the theater and made my insides shake. And when Kirk and his comrades were parachuting at lightning fast speed onto a drilling platform, I could almost feel the wind whooshing past my face. And when the soaring music would enter a scene, I was transported into that world of space travel, the Starfleet academy, or even young Kirk going for a joyride in his stepdad’s car to the high octane strains of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage”.
3. Spock – Zachary Quinto has totally redeemed himself from his over the top portrayal of Sylar on Heroes (probably more the writers’ fault than his). He was fascinating as Spock (has Spock always been such a complex character?). He did a great job of showing Spock’s inner turmoil over his mixed ancestry, and his struggle between remaining completely logical, or allowing his human emotion to be a part of who he is. The interesting development of his character alone made me want to go back and watch some other Star Trek movies or episodes.
4. Scotty’s bizarre little alien sidekick – When Kirk meets Montgomery Scott (played by the perfectly cast Simon Pegg) for the first time, the audience had the added entertainment of Scott’s short-statured alien friend, who didn’t say much, but who had an annoying tendency to sit in the wrong place – right in the middle of where Scotty needed to be working. This unusual comic duo made us laugh out loud several times during their scenes. It always feels good to laugh during an action movie to relieve some of the tension from all the intensity. There was plenty of opportunity to laugh during this one!
5. Captain Kirk – Chris Pine had some big shoes to fill, playing the role of James T. Kirk, a name that immediately makes everyone think of the larger than life William Shatner. And I have never seen any of the other movies or tv shows he has appeared in. The casting department must have known what they were doing when they hired him, though, because he was perfect. He had a nice balance of rugged good looks, fearlessness, cockiness, loyalty, and leadership. Often characters like this annoy me and are very off-putting, but I really liked him. One of my favorite scenes of him is when he wakes up on that icy planet and unwittingly involves himself in a chase with two terrifying creatures. It was funny and frightening at the same time, and he played both very well.
6. Familiar actors in unrecognizable/atypical roles – I thought I spied Winona Ryder under that aging makeup, and sure enough, it was she who played Spock’s human mother. I wonder why they cast a relatively young actress (she is in her late 30s) to play a woman who must have been at least in her mid-40s. I do see a similarity between Quinto and Ryder’s facial structure and eyes, so perhaps physical resemblance won out over age appropriateness. I kept thinking that main villain Nero looked familiar, but I was shocked when I found out it was Eric Bana. He usually plays clean cut leading men, not tattooed, psychotic warlords. (I look forward to seeing him in The Time Traveler’s Wife later this summer.) It was nice to see Jennifer Morrison (from House) as Kirk’s mother. I wish they would have found some room to include her beyond the initial scenes involving Kirk’s birth. Surely his mother would have been influential in his life, and it would have been nice for the writer’s to touch on that.
7. The special effects – With a big budget and seemingly limitless possibilities that come with technology, it’s no surprise that the special effects were impressive. A couple of scenes that stand out in my mind: the parachute dive onto the Romulan drill, and the scenes involving the black hole. The “beam me up” effects could have been more realistic. Perhaps that was a throwback to the old school look of the original tv series.
8. The story – I was relieved to discover that I didn’t need to understand the complex mythology of Star Trek to follow this story. Even for people who don’t like scifi, there are characters and developments to enjoy: a rebellious young man (Kirk) tries to live up to his father’s legacy as a leader, a stoic Vulcan struggles with questions of human nature and how they apply to him, a Starfleet tries to prevent history from repeating itself and tries to save its home planet, etc. The story was relatively easy to follow (save for some of the time travel aspects), but it wasn’t oversimplified either.
9. The experience/the hype – I had heard so much about this movie from my friends and acquaintances, some of whom have seen it two or three times. Sometimes an overhyped movie results in a letdown at the theater, but in this case it actually added to my enjoyment, since the movie really was that good! Just the experience of sitting in the theater and being transported via the big screen and the surround sound, to this world of space ships and aliens and good guys and bad guys, was quite memorable.
10. J.J. Abrams’ special brand of awesomeness – In my opinion, J.J. can do no wrong (well, except for maybe Six Degrees and What about Brian). He must be totally in tune with my generation, because sometimes I feel like he is making these movies and tv shows just for me. I love everything about Lost, Fringe, Alias, Felicity, and now his movies, too (MI:3, Cloverfield, Star Trek). I realize he’s had different involvement with these projects, ranging from producing to directing to writing, and even to composing, but I see many common threads running through them. His successful formula includes well-developed characters, riveting action, music perfectly suited to the scene, bizarre revelations, and satisfying plot twists. Some may see his near-obsession with time travel as a flaw, but I think his fascination with the subject makes his shows/movies more interesting (especially Lost and Star Trek). The creature on the ice planet reminded me of the monster in Cloverfield, and the red matter reminded me of the giant red ball in season one of Alias. My favorite characteristic of J.J. Abrams’ work, however, is his special ability to incorporate music and character development to draw viewers into a scene or story. I had tears in my eyes in the opening minutes of Star Trek. We had only a few minutes to get to know Kirk’s father and mother, but their heartfelt exchange after his birth, and the circumstances surrounding it, were very emotionally engaging for me. Abram’s blend of music/character/dialogue/direction is what had me engaged in this summer action movie from beginning to end. So, thank you, J.J., for another unforgettable moviegoing experience.

My Top Ten Favorite Robert Downey Jr. Movies May 30, 2009

From the moment I first saw Robert Downey Jr. play Cybill Shepherd’s reincarnated husband in Chances Are, I’ve considered him one of my favorite actors. Early in his film career, he charmed us with his handsome face, his winning smile, and his witty humor. In more recent years, he’s played a variety of roles, many – but not all – of them more serious than the romantic comedy leads that first brought him fame. After watching The Soloist last month, I was reminded of not only what a great actor RDJ is, but how much I love him! So in the spirit of fandom, I’m counting down my Top Ten Favorite Robert Downey Jr. Movies. I’ve even tried to rank them!

• 10. Soapdish (1991) – I haven’t seen this movie in years, but from what I remember, and from the impressive cast roster (RDJ was joined by Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Teri Hatcher, etc.), I am certain that it was entertaining and amusing. I’ve always found real soap operas very comical (mainly because they are so bad), so I am a fan of a movie that uncovers humor behind the scenes of a soap. Robert Downey is in the center of the action as producer of the fictional soap The Sun Also Sets. Much hilarity ensues. I need to watch this one again!

• 9. Heart and Souls (1993) – Someone must have been trying to capitalize off the popularity of Chances Are by making another “life after death” fantasy movie. In Chances Are, Robert Downey was the one who died and returned to earth in another body. In Heart and Souls, he plays a regular guy (Thomas) who has four guardian angels, who have been “attached” to him since the night they died in a bus crash while he was being born. The plot revolves around Thomas helping his angels take care of unfinished business before they can move on to the afterlife, and during that process he learns a thing or two about himself. This isn’t Oscar material, but it is a feel good story with likable characters and a few great songs (most notably “Walk Like a Man”). Another plus is that the story takes place in San Francisco, one of my favorite movie settings. Downey and Elisabeth Shue have good chemistry as the romantic leads as well.

• 8. Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) – Robert Downey looks good in black and white! Actually, he looks good in just about anything. He has a timeless appeal, whether he’s playing a Renaissance character in Restoration, a silent movie icon in Chaplin, or a McCarthy-era journalist in this movie. The George Clooney directed Good Night, and Good Luck was surprisingly good, and had a timely message about the role and responsibilities of the news media. Robert Downey portrayed real life CBS journalist Joe Wershba, and the most significant aspect of his character was his secret marriage to co-worker Shirley (secret because of CBS’ policy at the time that no co-workers should be romantically involved). Downey and Patricia Clarkson brought these characters to life, and this subplot humanized an otherwise issue-oriented film.

• 7. Wonder Boys (2000) – This is one of those offbeat, at times bizarre movies that is difficult to describe to someone who hasn’t seen it. It deals with writer’s block, the theft of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, a transvestite named Antonia, and everything in between. As a story about the difficulties and adventures that come with being a writer, it’s enjoyable. As a tale of lost souls who are searching for companionship, validation, and a sense of belonging, it’s fascinating. Robert Downey, Jr. plays Grady Tripp’s (Michael Douglas) editor, Terry Crabtree. They have worked together for years and so understand each other. Terry is one of the more unconventional characters that Downey has played. Terry brings Antonia, a transvestite he met on the plane, as his companion for a weekend visit to take a look at Grady’s unfinished book. Before long, though, he dismisses Antonia when he becomes infatuated with James Leer (Tobey Maguire), one of Grady’s creative writing students. Katie Holmes also stars, as James’ friend Hannah, who is interested in Grady. But Grady is too busy juggling ex-wives and and a current lover – who is pregnant, and married to his boss – to reciprocate. What follows is a series of misadventures that lead these characters toward their own forms of resolution. A year after this movie was released, Downey’s problems with the law and substance abuse started to subside, as he successfully completed a drug rehab program, and his career had a resurgence (after a slump during his late ’90s personal problems). Wonder Boys, then, marked the beginning of Downey’s rise to critical acclaim that has continued throughout this decade (we’ll pretend like The Shaggy Dog never happened).

• 6. Iron Man (2008) – What a fun surprise this movie was! In addition to being a fantastically entertaining action movie with impressive special effects, it proved that Robert Downey can play any role he sets his mind to. I was more than a little skeptical when I heard he was playing the lead in an action hero movie. My thoughts included, “Don’t those roles usually go to younger, buffer actors? Isn’t he like 40? That’s just weird!” But, it so wasn’t! He was his usual charming self as Tony Stark, billionaire genius and inventor. And in the tradition of comic heroes, we saw how he evolved from a self-centered playboy to an iron-clad beast saving the world. And I needed not be skeptical about Downey’s age or physique. He looked awfully good in his tux and his Iron Man suit.   Click here to read my full review of Iron Man.

• 5. Zodiac (2007) – This movie about the 15+ year investigation into the real life Zodiac killer is part horror, part mystery, part drama, but they all add up to one solid, excellent movie. The murder scenes are some of the most disturbing ones I’ve seen, but as long as you can make it through those, you are in for a gripping account of this criminal investigation, and the toll it took on those involved. Robert Downey, Jr. plays Paul Avery, a crime reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, who becomes wrapped up in the mystery of the Zodiac killer. This unidentified killer starts sending clues to the newspaper through letters with encrypted codes. This draws the attention of political cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), who becomes obsessed with deciphering the codes. Both men eventually connect with Detective Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), who has been assigned to the case, and this trio struggles over several years to unravel the mystery of the Zodiac killer. I love all three of these actors, so this movie was a joy for me to watch. They all did an excellent job with their roles, but especially Robert Downey. We see Avery go from a spirited, ambitious journalist to a downtrodden, substance abusing recluse over the course of the investigation. So, no, this isn’t a feel good movie. But as a factual account of the Zodiac investigation, it is intriguing, and as a study of the cost of obsession and professional ambition, it rings true and has me engaged from beginning to end. Another winner for Robert Downey!

• 4. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) – I watched this movie for the first time when it came on TBS last summer. Why didn’t I watch it sooner?! It was simply a delightful breath of fresh air! It is billed as a comedy mystery thriller, and I would stress the comedy part of that equation. Most private detective movies are very dark, with only the most deadpan of humor thrown in the mix. I loved how this movie didn’t take itself seriously – at all – and Robert Downey was largely to thank for its fun, quirky tone. He plays Harry Lockhart, a small time thief who stumbles upon an acting audition while trying to evade the cops, at which point he begins posing as an actor who shadows a private eye (Val Kilmer) to prepare for a new role. The ensuing chain of events reunites him with a childhood friend, and involves him in a murder mystery. What makes this movie so entertaining is Harry’s voice over narration, through which he points out the humor or irony of various parts of the story, interjects random sidebars, and occasionally backtracks. Here’s one example of his sarcastic narration: “Don’t worry, I saw Lord of the Rings. I’m not going to end this 17 times.” I love it when Robert Downey plays witty, irreverent characters!

• 3. The Soloist (2009) – Of all the character types that Downey has played, I think I like him best as a journalist. He plays tenacious reporter very well, no matter the decade. (1950s in Good Night and Good Luck, 1970s-80s in Zodiac, and 2000s in The Soloist.) And his character in The Soloist, L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez, is very likable. He has a strained relationship with his son and wife (Catherine Keener), from whom he is separated. When he isn’t in the office or tracking down his next story, he lives a life of solitude in an apartment where he has never unpacked his moving boxes, and where his only solace is writing his column and listening to old records. Enter Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a homeless, schizophrenic musical prodigy, who Lopez encounters on the street and proceeds to develop an unlikely friendship with during the course of collecting information for his column. The more I think about this movie, the more I like it. Like I said before, Downey’s character is very likable, flaws and all. He is a lonely, troubled, but good-hearted man who you root for during the movie just as much as you do for Foxx’s character. I love movies that introduce us to lonely or isolated characters, and show what happens when they let down their guard long enough to let someone else in. Other movies in this category include The Visitor and The Station Agent. Go see The Soloist! It is well worth two hours of your life.

• 2. Chances Are (1989) – This is an odd little movie, but an enjoyable one nonetheless. Robert Downey plays Alex Finch, a college aged guy who is living in his car when he meets Miranda, who happened to be his daughter in a previous life. Not realizing that, he becomes interested in her, but before long she introduces him to her mother, Corinne, who coincidentally was his wife in a previous life. When they meet, something clicks in his head, and he starts to remember his previous life. The rest of the movie finds humor in young Alex acting like a father figure to Miranda, Corinne trying to figure out if Alex is really her Louie or if he’s just crazy, and family friend Philip trying to finally successfully romance Corinne. The Cher/Peter Cetera duet “After All” is perfect at the end of the movie, and ignoring the potential incest topic, the story wraps up nicely. Robert Downey is at his most charming and funny in this movie. Click here to read my thoughts in a previous post about Chances Are and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which I watched during the same weekend last summer.

• 1. Only You (1994) – Drumroll please……. and the winner is Only You! So why does a silly ’90s romantic comedy earn the #1 spot on my list of favorite Robert Downey, Jr. movies? Well, first of all, it really is a good movie – entertaining, funny, sweet, beautiful… Secondly, I have a nostalgic attachment to this movie. I watched this movie several times when I was in high school. I had the soundtrack. I had a celebrity crush on two of the actors (RDJ, of course, and Billy Zane). A few years later, I spent a summer semester in Rome, Italy, which inspired me to watch the movie again, since many of its scenes take place in Rome and other locations in Italy. This is probably my favorite romantic comedy of all time. All the actors are great for their parts: Bonnie Hunt, Fisher Stevens, Marisa Tomei, and most importantly, Robert Downey, Jr. He plays Peter, a charming man who knows a lot about shoes but doesn’t always tell the whole truth about everything else. I enjoyed the fantastical adventures that Peter, Faith, and Kate experience in bella Italy. Click here to read more of my thoughts on Only You.

So there you have it. My top ten favorite Robert Downey, Jr. movies. It looks like he has some more good ones coming up, including Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man 2. I’ll just pretend like Tropic Thunder never happened, since it’s about the only black spot on the last decade of his career. And, actually, Downey’s character was the best thing about that movie! It’s funny to me that he was nominated for an Oscar for that role, but I suppose he did play it well. Kudos to Robert Downey, Jr., for always doing an outstanding job with any role he is given, for always being thoroughly entertaining, and for overcoming his personal struggles to continue his successful and memorable acting career.

Twilight: Teen Angst and Vampire Lore Go Campy April 4, 2009

So I finally watched Twilight, the movie, last night. I wasn’t one of the 30-something women who wore my “I ♥ Edward” t-shirt to opening night, and I didn’t throw a Twilight DVD release party, where everyone dressed up as their favorite character from the book. I’m not what you’d call a diehard fan of the series – I’m more of a casual reader who appreciated the epic and thrilling aspects of Bella and Edward’s saga, while still critiquing the series’ flaws and mediocre parts (see my reviews of all four books here).

I had heard mixed reviews of the movie, and that’s about how I feel after watching it. As a story of a misfit teenager who falls in love with a vampire, it works well. As for its attempt to be a suspenseful film that wows you with riveting action and clever special effects, it falls flat.

What I Liked:

• The Setting – The producers got this part right. The town of Forks, the high school, Charle’s house, the beach at La Push, and the lush forests all set the right tone of gloominess amidst Bella and Edward’s fiery romance. I especially liked the contrast of colors in the forest scenes, with the beautiful shades of green jumping off the screen. The use of near constant rain and the occasional ray of sunlight was also effective. Overall, the scenes were pretty to look at:

• The Chemistry – Despite all the pre-release debate about whether or not Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were the right actors for the roles of Edward and Bella, they had great on-screen chemistry. Sure, it was a little creepy at times how they would just stare into each other’s eyes (particularly when they were laying in that mountain top field), but I much prefer their silent admiration of each other to what we got in the book, which was Bella’s constant gushing about how perfect and beautiful Edward is. Both actors did a nice job of conveying their mutual attraction, from the moment Bella first saw Edward in the cafeteria, to the tense science lab scenes, to their steamy kiss in Bella’s bedroom:

• Edward Cullen – I wasn’t crazy about Kristen Stewart as Bella, mainly because her acting felt very one-dimensional to me (same way I felt about her in Jumper – awful movie by the way). However, as I mentioned above, I felt like she and Pattinson had good on-screen chemistry. I was wary of seeing young, fresh-faced Cedric Diggory turn all dark and brooding vampire, but Pattinson did a nice job. I don’t consider him the most beautiful man in the world, or even close to it (something about his nose and eyes isn’t quite symmetrical enough to fit the classic idea of physical perfection, but I digress), but he exuded strength, restraint, and ferocity just beneath the surface of those furrowed brows, brooding thoughts, and dark eyes.

• The Baseball Game – I thought the impromptu game of vampire baseball was weird when I read it in the book, but since I knew it was coming in the movie, I actually enjoyed it. It did a nice job of showing how the Cullens have fun together and use their special abilities to their advantage, and it also set up the subsequent conflict. For a brief moment, Bella and Edward and his family were content, laid back, and really thinking that everything was going to work out.
• The High School Scenes – Just because I liked these scenes doesn’t mean I liked the actors (I found Mike, Jessica, and Eric very annoying, and Angela was only slightly better). I’ve always had a soft spot for teeny bopper flicks, and this movie had scenes that were reminiscent of that genre. We had the cafeteria moment when Bella got the “who’s who in school” lesson, with the focus on the mysterious Cullens. (You’ve gotta love the overabundance of slow motion camera work that always goes into these moments). And the science class scenes reminded me of the tv show Roswell, since it was during science lab that Liz Parker and alien Max Evans got to know one another. The best part of the high school segments were those in the parking lot. The awkward stares, the furtive glances, the suspicious looks – oh, and the whole out of control van incident that really kick-started Bella and Edward’s relationship.

What I Didn’t Like:

• Jacob Black – Um, since when do poor kids living on a reservation have shiny, flowing hair right out of a shampoo commercial and perfect pearly whites? I suppose the casting director was all about making the cast easy on the eyes, but I just wasn’t buying Taylor Lautner in this role. I expected Jacob, especially in this first installment of the series, to be scrawnier, a little less confident, etc. I can’t believe Lautner is only 17! Actually, a lot of the teens in this movie really are still in their teens, even though they look older. I guess that works well for the teen vampires, since it helps establish that they have been around for a long time. Anyway, I don’t have anything against Lautner as an actor. He was okay in his role on the short-lived My Own Worst Enemy. And maybe I will like him better in New Moon. Mostly I was too distracted by his perfect appearance to believe him in the role of love-sick Jacob.

• Carlilse – When Peter Facinelli first appeared on screen in this movie, when Bella was in the hospital, I couldn’t believe how comical he looked. The fake blond hair, the rosy cheeks, the painted lips, the turquoise shirt – he looked more like a Cirque du Soleil performer than an ancient, noble-hearted vampire. What was that?! Why couldn’t they cast someone with naturally blond hair, and kinder eyes, to play Carlilse, who was one of my favorite characters in the series? They turned him into a caricature. I’m used to seeing Facinelli play the creepy, arrogant type, so it was hard for me to accept him as a humble, wise father figure to a clan of “vegetarian” vampires. Such a shame. This is not the image of Carlilse I had in my mind:

• Rosalie – Another of the Cullens whose movie-version I didn’t like was Rosalie, played by Nikki Reed. Based on other photos I’ve seen, Reed seems to be a natural brunette, so maybe that was part of my problem, since something was off about her blond hair. Mostly, though, she just didn’t possess the breathtaking beauty that Rosalie is supposed to have. Not to say that Reed is unattractive, but her features have a certain harsh quality, and I expected Rosalie to be more graceful.

• The Trio of Bad Vampires – Certain aspects of the movie were cheesy, including the glittering effect of the sunlight on Edward’s skin, the flashback to the Quilheute tribe’s origins when Jacob was telling Bella about the legend of the pale ones, and pretty much anything having to do with Laurent, James, and Victoria – the three vampires who infringe upon the Cullens’ territory and start killing its inhabitants. Talk about campy. The way these three would zoom in and say silly one-liners, crouch like animals, and have a spontaneous wind and fog always blowing around them, was quite comical. Were we supposed to be afraid of them, because I certainly wasn’t. Rachelle Lefevre is too sweet, girl-next door looking for me to believe her as the fierce, vengeful Victoria. Plus, she looked ridiculous in all that fur. Edi Gathegi did a decent job as Laurent, but I also didn’t care for Cam Gigandet as James. He’s supposed to be a cunning, ruthless tracker, but instead he came across as a punk who was mostly talk.

• The Shoddy Camera Work – I’m referring specifically to the jerky camera movement during scenes in which characters were having conversations (as opposed to action-oriented sequences, which I was okay with). These scenes, mostly indoor ones, were very distracting. It was as if someone was filming with a hand held video camera, which was unnecessary and out of place in scenes where your focus should be on the characters’ dialogue rather than on the disorienting, shaking position of the camera. Sometimes it almost seemed like the cameraman was nodding off – not surprising really, since much of the dialogue was quite boring.
• The Soundtrack – This movie came across as flat to me. Part of that was due to a stale screenplay, and wooden acting, but it also didn’t help that many of the scenes lacked background music. I’m talking about instrumentals. There was plenty of pop music, which is typical of today’s teen movies, but I found those songs more distracting than involving. The most effective scenes, musically, were when Edward played Bella’s song on the piano, and when they danced to “Clair de Lune” in his bedroom (by the way, I wish my room looked like that!). That music was nice to listen to, and in both cases, the entire scene was understated, which acted to enhance the emotional impact. All the Guitar Hero-type, edgy music that played during the evil vampire trio’s scenes was just silly. I would have preferred more classical instruments, and less obnoxious, throwaway pop music.

• The Rushed Climax – One of my issues with the books has always been that the climaxes are less than stellar, and sometimes lackluster. That being said, the pivotal events in Twilight were enough to keep me turning pages until the end. Can’t say the same for the movie. If you blinked, you missed the crucial conflict. The gang is playing baseball. The wind blows Bella’s hair. Oops. James is bent on tracking her now. Suddenly, Bella is in Arizona, sneaking away from Alice and Jasper, and falling into James’ ballet studio trap. A few broken mirrors and a bonfire later, we’re waking up with Bella in the hospital, and all is once again right with the world. Maybe if the writers had spent less time having Charlie and Billy act ridiculous (“I’m down with the kids.” “Yeah, you’re the bomb”), or less time with Jessica bragging about her cleavage, they could have created more suspense and drama about the Cullens trying to protect Bella from James.
• The Beginning and the Ending – I’m not talking about the overall story here. I’m referring to the opening and closing scenes. Bella’s narration at the beginning was fine, as she explained why she was moving from Phoenix to Forks. However, why show us the deer running in slow motion, and then (presumably) Edward closing in on it? What is the symbolism they are going for there? Is that supposed to represent Bella and Edward, or Bella being tracked? I didn’t get it, and I didn’t like it. As for the ending, I didn’t mind Edward and Bella’s prom dance in the gazebo, but when it panned up to Victoria watching them from a window, and then zoomed out to show her walking (in slow motion, accompanied – of course – by some rockin’ guitar chords) down some stairs with a vengeful look in her eyes, I had to roll my eyes. She didn’t look like a spiteful vampire who had just lost her lover. She looked like a little girl playing dress up in her mom’s formal wear, who was about to go steal some jewelry out of mom’s dresser drawer. This final scene simply didn’t leave me with the impression of foreboding that I think the director was going for.

The Rest:

• So the points above are the things I liked or disliked about the movie, and everything that I didn’t mention falls somewhere in between.
• I am indifferent about the other Cullens in the movie. In this first installment they don’t have much development anyway. Esme (played by Elizabeth Reaser of Grey’s Anatomy fame), only had a few spoken lines, Emmett mostly jumped around a lot (Rosalie even called him her monkey man), Jasper just stared at everyone with a wide-eyed, empathetic look on his face (I thought that was rather decent casting since Jasper can affect people’s emotions and such – that actor has very large, emotive eyes!), and Alice had the right mix of small stature and spunky personality. We’ll see how well these actors fare in the New Moon movie.
• I already mentioned that I thought the interaction between Charlie and Billy was silly, and these two actors weren’t given much decent material to work with. Then again, those characters are rather dorky in the book, too, so maybe the writers were just being true to the source material.
• The plot was about as scattered as I expected: the random scenes of the evil vampire trio killing unsuspecting victims, the inane conversations Bella had with her “normal” friends at school, Edward’s awkward introduction of Bella to the family at their house, etc. Overall, though, the movie seemed to carry over the atmosphere and important plot points of the novel.
• The super-speed effects – I’ve heard people make fun of the vampires’ warp speed and their tendency to sparkle in sunlight. Edward’s sparkling diamond moment was pretty bad, but I didn’t mind all the speedy gonzales moments. It was pretty weird, though, when he started climbing all those trees with spider monkey Bella on his back:

Grade: C

This movie was just average – nothing special, but not completely awful. People who read the book will enjoy the movie. People who don’t know anything about the book will wonder what all the fuss is about after watching the movie. People who like vampire mythology will find some interesting food for thought in Twilight. And people who like to watch cheesy teen movies will find much to amuse themselves. It’s pretty to look at, but sometimes painful to listen to. So, not bad for a popcorn movie, but definitely not at all award worthy.

Desperate Times Call for Desperate TV December 20, 2008

I am a bit of a tv snob. I pride myself on watching high-quality programming like Lost or 30 Rock. I like to think that I am a discerning viewer who doesn’t want to waste time with a show that is poorly written or acted. I avoid gossipy, celebrity-scandal driven shows (basically anything on E!) if at all possible. You get the idea.

So, imagine my surprise when I found myself watching the Lifetime Movie Network last night! This is a channel that I’ve always laughingly said was designed for middle-aged women. It’s always the same old story of a strong-willed woman who overcomes great adversity to rise above her situation. Every time I read a plot summary of one of these movies I roll my eyes and move on. Until now.

What is wrong with me?! Was this a momentary lapse in judgment, or a sign that I am going over to the dark side, or that I’m unknowingly moving closer to the ranks of middle-aged women? I’m only 30! It’s too soon for me to cross over to the next advertising category.

So why did I watch The House Next Door last night? The short answer is, it’s December. There are no new shows coming on, my DVR is nearly empty, and I don’t have anything from Netflix right now. Those still aren’t legitimate excuses, though. There’s no reason for me to be watching Lifetime Movie Network!

Despite my horror at my suddenly lax standards, I must say that I was entertained watching this movie. Not in the nodding my head and thinking, “This is a surprisingly good movie” way. More like a Mystery Science Theater “this movie is so bad I can’t stop watching” way. The acting, writing, and plot were all monumentally bad. Let me give an overview of this awful little movie:

The House Next Door (2006) – Starring Laura Flynn Boyle, Mark Paul Gosselaar, and Colin Ferguson

Summary from IMDB: “In The House Next Door, Col (Flynn Boyle) and her husband Walker (Ferguson) find their comfortable and suburban lifestyle suddenly interrupted when Kim (Gosselaar), an intense and ambitious architect, builds a stunning, modern house on the empty lot next to their quaint, charming home. While neighbors are thrilled to have such an upscale and exquisite addition to their street, Col and Walker begin to question the new house when strange and disturbing events begin to happen to those who live in the home. As Col and Walker watch their new neighbors come and go, it becomes clear that the beautiful home brings out the worst in all those that enter it, by amplifying their fears and frailties until it leads to disgrace, accidents, misfortunes and even death.”

————————————————

If it sounds like a rip-off of Amityville, that’s because it is. It’s an updated, even campier version of that old movie series. The acting was way over the top, particularly by most of the supporting cast. Laura Flynn Boyle, who I will always remember as Donna Hayward on Twin Peaks, was okay as the troubled heroine, but I was too distracted by her appearance to pay much attention to her acting. What happened to this woman? She used to be strikingly attractive, but now she is scary. At least she has gained a little weight since her emaciated-looking days on The Practice, but now her lips are the main problem. She’s had one too many collagen injections!

See what I mean?

She looked more like an older Liv Tyler than anything. But Laura Flynn Boyle shouldn’t look like Liv Tyler!

Colin Ferguson, who played her husband, has since moved on to bigger and better roles, like Jack Carter in Eureka, but he wasn’t too bad in this movie. That’s probably because he didn’t have much dialogue or screen time. As usual, this movie was more about the women. There was Col (what kind of name is that?) trying to get close enough to the truth of the house without falling prey to its evil. Then there were the neighborhood housewives, complete with gossip, infighting, jealousy, and distrust. And finally the unfortunate parade of ladies who moved into the evil house: a young pregnant woman worried that her lawyer husband would change because of his career, a seemingly happy woman who is mourning the loss of her son in Iraq, and a timid mother who lives under the iron fist of a controlling husband.

Mark Paul Gosselaar, of Saved by the Bell fame, was a headliner for the movie, but he didn’t have much screen time. At least I can give the casting department credit for choosing Gosselaar for the role of the confident, attractive, mysterious, “too good to be true” architect. This character, Kim (they couldn’t come up with a more masculine name?), was like a grown up version of Zack Morris. You know, like if Zack stayed cocky, annoying, and popular, but had a break from reality and came back a little crazy.

Perhaps the worst line of the whole movie came at the very end. A young couple is meeting with an architect and are unhappy with the house design ideas he has presented to them. They say they want something breathtaking. He pauses, then pulls out some plans that an architect he once worked with gave him (that would be Kim, and the plans are the ones from the evil house). They study the plans for a moment, and then the woman says breathlessly, “It’s magical. It’s like the house is alive…” Cue the music, roll the credits. And so I sat staring blankly at the screen, wondering why I had spent two hours watching this movie.

So there you have it. I watched a Lifetime movie, and my mother in law wasn’t even at my house controlling the remote. Ahhhh. I feel better after this confession. What movies or tv shows have you been ashamed to admit that you have watched? Go ahead. Get it off your chest in the comments section! I know there are more of you out there. After all, there’s not really anything good to watch for the next few weeks. I think in times such as these, it is okay to fall off the wagon from time to time and watch some truly bad television.

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