Author: crunchonthis

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – March 6, 2012

New in Home Entertainment

March 6, 2012

Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
All year long critics have been proclaiming how gutsy HBO was for putting so much money behind a fantasy drama based on the famous book series by George R.R. Martin.  I’m under the opinion that HBO simply knew what it was doing.  The material is fantastic, the characters are unique and incredibly interesting, and killing off main characters at the drop of a hat just makes the show down-right addictive.  From the opening sequence of episode one where you realize that these aren’t just olden times but a different time and place altogether where something supernatural is afoot; to the closing scene of the season which leaves you completely impatient for season two – I was completely hooked and couldn’t take my eyes off of the TV.  Some might find the tremendous amount of violence and sex to be off-putting, but if you are looking for a cross between Rome and Lord of the Rings, you can’t do better.  Thankfully HBO is releasing this set almost a full month before the April 1st premier of Season Two which should allow fans to start salivating and newcomers to become fans.  A+

Footloose
Rated PG-13 for some teen drug and alcohol use, sexual content, violence and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When the original Footloose hit theaters back in 1984 it was a huge sensation.  The story about a small town that didn’t allow kids to dance and the rebel that couldn’t abide was a feel good classic with a soundtrack that is still famous today.  So you have to think that if they want to remake such an iconic tale that they’d have to bring something special to the table.  In that regard this is a huge disappointment.  This new version is a remake in the sense that they use the same character names and overall plot line, but setting the movie in the present doesn’t bring a single thing except to show how dance and fashion has changed a bit.  It’s not that it’s a bad film, but it just doesn’t improve upon the original and seems completely unnecessary.  And really, in order for this film to truly succeed, it would have needed a soundtrack to rival the first and this music, filled with weak originals and lame covers of the original soundtrack, is completely forgettable.  C+

Immortals
Rated R for sequences of strong bloody violence, and a scene of sexuality
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
Ever since my first exposure to greek mythology with the 1981 Clash of the Titans, I have been a big fan of the genre.  After the huge disappointment that was the 2010 Clash remake, I was hoping for a decent myth movie with modern special effects.  Director Tarsem Singh has certainly put together some of the most visually impressive films in recent years such as The Cell and The Fall, but the one thing missing in his movies was a compelling narrative.  While this new film about Theseus (Henry Cavill) and his battle against the evil King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) doesn’t possess the most amazing of scripts ever written, the spectacular look of the film does a decent enough job to impress the audience and while I feel a little tricked into liking it, I can honestly say I don’t mind.  In my opinion this is a classic guilty pleasure film where you know you shouldn’t like it but yet you just can’t help yourself.  B-

Posted on

Act of Valor

Act of Valor
Rated R for strong violence including some torture, and for language

    In an attempt to add a sense of ominous realism to their movie, the director team of Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh chose to use real-life active-duty Navy SEALs as their leads in a fictional story about a group of SEALs who are sent in to rescue a kidnapped CIA agent and then foil the plans of the man who kidnapped her. 

    Before the film begins, McCoy and Waugh explain their use of real people rather than actors in many of the roles.  And from the beginning you get the sense that this a two hour commercial for the military.  And while in many ways the production is far from bulletproof, in regard to its mission – it executes well.

    I think we can dispense with the obvious first: the acting is not great.  I’m not sure if these guys are trying to be thespians, but their efforts don’t show a lot of potential for stage or screen.  But once you really think about it, aren’t you glad these guys aren’t good actors?  After all, this film is very effective at making the entire group of soldiers look amazing at what they really do.  To mildly put it – these guys are bad-to-the-bone real-life heroes who put their lives on the line so that we can even go to the movies.  While we are at work or play, living out our lives relatively oblivious to the dangers of the outside world, these guys are risking their lives to protect our right to do so, and I think you will be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t appreciative.  It’s very easy here to forgive things like acting, plot holes and a bit of propaganda for a project such as this.

    Once you get past the little annoyances, there is a decent picture underneath.  The plot surrounding a terrorist attempting to take out American tourist destinations is frightening and very plausible.  Since 9-11 there has been a sense of dread in the air about our security and it’s easy to believe that these ideas, while fictional, probably aren’t far from the truth. 

    In addition – the drama and excitement are heaped on a plenty.  In many of the scenes the production used live-fire rather than the traditional ammunition used in Hollywood productions.  What you get is a more intense ride than what you expect.  The explosions are big and bountiful and the tension is captivating.

    So while it would be hard for you to ignore the negatives, the positives found make it possible to not only forgive them, but to also come away with an experience you will not likely forget and a feeling of thankfulness to those that make a living protecting us.  B+

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – February 21, 2012

New in Home Entertainment

February 21, 2012

Puss in Boots
Rated PG for some adventure and mild rude humor
Available on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD
There’s no doubt that compared to 2010, 2011 was a lousy year for animated films.  That being said, there were a few high spots along the way and Puss in Boots falls into this category.  While Puss is a spinoff from Shrek, the only thing Shrekish in this film is the tone, which is meant to be humorous for both adults and children.  In this adventure, Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas) teams up with Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) to go after the evil Jack and Jill.  The film ends up being very cute and at times downright adorable.  The writing is much stronger than the last Shrek outing and you can tell that there were some inspired artists behind the scenes.  It does drag at times while trying to beat a dead cat with puns and cliches but overall it is an entertaining pic that you and/or your kids will enjoy.  B

Tower Heist
Rated PG-13 for language and sexual content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Tower Heist follows a group of hotel workers who have been cheated out of their investments by a white collar thief.  In order to get revenge, the group plots to not only get their money back, but do what they can to rub it in his face.  The premise is overall pretty clever and couldn’t be timelier.  The cast is a talented bunch including Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda and many other solid actors and actresses.  Where the film fails is in the over-the-top script that trades big set-pieces and cheap laughs for common sense.  The characters make dumb choices throughout to the point where it’s not only unbelievable but also tedious.  The third act attempts to fool the audience into severe gullibility as it pours on the most ludicrous of endings.  With all of the buzz for this talented cast, one can only be disappointed at the results.  C-

The Son of No One
Rated R violence, pervasive language and brief disturbing sexual content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
If you’ve never heard of this cop drama starring Channing Tatum, Al Pacino, Ray Liotta, Katie Holmes, Tracy morgan and Juliette Binoche – then you aren’t alone.  Telling the tale of crime and cover-up within the New York Police Department, the film has some decent performances but lacks substance.  And while the ending might catch your attention, you’ll have to wade through a lot of mud to get there.  Overall, it’s a forgettable pic that will have you wishing you spent the last two hours doing something else.  C-

Weeds: Season Seven
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Three years have past since the events of Season Six of Showtime’s hit show about a suburban drug-dealer/mother and now Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) has just been released from prison and unleashed upon New York City.  Determined to gain back custody of her young son from her vindictive sister, Nancy starts a comeback in the drug trade with her sons to help.  Man I really loved this show in the beginning.  It was smart, funny and socially relevant.  While season six wasn’t great, it at least rewarded viewers who stuck through the mediocre middle episodes with a huge climactic prize.  Unfortunately, the show appears to have overstayed its welcome by a year or two and is no longer the high it used to be.  C+

Unforgiven: 20th Anniversary Edition
Rated R for language and violence and for a scene of sexuality
Available on Blu-ray
There’s something great about a Clint Eastwood western.  Now, twenty years after its original release, my favorite western, and one of my favorite movies, is being re-released by Warner Brothers in a beautiful new 54-page book and blu-ray combo.  This classic film tells the story of two retired outlaws (Eastwood and Morgan Freeman) who decide to take on one last job at the end of their lives.  The acting is magnificent, the writing is perfect and the production, including Clint’s directing, is stunning.  While they should have added a few features to the blu-ray, the book makes for a nice touch if you are a collector.  A+
 

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – February 14, 2012

New in Home Entertainment

February 14, 2012

Take Shelter
Rated R for some language
Available on DVD
Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) and Jessica Chastain (Tree of Life) have to be two of the hardest-working actors in Hollywood right now, but you don’t have to look further than Take Shelter to see that they aren’t trading quantity for quality.  Take Shelter tells the story of a man who has been driven crazy by his apocalyptic visions and his wife who supports him throughout his assumed illness.  This is definitely a film that you have to be patient with but is very rewarding if you stick with it.  Shannon’s performance should have made him an Oscar contender this year and were it not for Chastain’s Oscar nomination for The Help, she might have landed one for this as well (she was also great in Tree of Life and The Debt).  And while the movie looks like a little indie from the outside, it turns out to be one big powerhouse of a film.  A

Three Outlaw Samurai: The Criterion Collection
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This 1964 classic Samurai tale by famed Japanese filmmaker Hideo Gosha tells the story of three Samurai warriors who find themselves in the middle of a fight between a dictatorial magistrate and a group of peasants who have kidnapped his daughter in the hopes of coercing him to lower their taxes.  The stunning black and white print has been given the Criterion treatment with a new high-definition restoration.  Also, the blu-ray has been given a new uncompressed monaural track.  If you are a fan of early Japanese cinema, you’ll definitely want to check this one out.  B+

To Kill A Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray Collector’s Series
One of America’s most beloved films, To Kill a Mockingbird turns 50 this year and is getting a spectacular new hi-def facelift as part of Universal’s 100th Anniversary Collector’s Series.  By today’s standards, this film is challenging, telling the story of a lawyer in the Depression-era South who defends a black man from an undeserved rape charge.  While I wasn’t yet around in 1962 when this film came out, I can only imagine the jolt it sent through theaters.  Not only is the story a real doozy, but with this new digital restoration, it looks absolutely pristine.  If you are a fan of the film, you might want to check out the Collector’s Series Edition which comes with a book and a beautiful collector’s case.  Also be sure to watch the special feature: 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics which gives an in depth look at the efforts they are taking to restore and preserve their classic films.  A+ 

Posted on

Chronicle

Chronicle

Starring Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan
Directed by Josh Trank
Rated PG-13 for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking

    While it seems like the found footage category was coming to a creative end, it appears that there are new applications such as this crafty new superhero movie.  In Chronicle, an unpopular and troubled teenager named Andrew (DeHaan) decides to start video taping his life.  When he and two friends (Russell and Jordan) wander into a cave, they discover something not of this world and the next day the three of them are in possession of some nifty little super powers such as telekinesis and the ability to fly.  Unable to handle his out of control emotions, Andrew begins using his powers for evil forcing his friends to try to stop him. 

    Much of this film works really well.  The best example of where the film goes right is in the story.  The writing is very strong, placing an organic feel to the lives of the teenagers and tells a very believable “what if” tale.  So many films about teens today paint an inaccurate picture of them.  They all might show the culture of being a teen, but very few deal with the drama in a realistic manner.  This film seems to do a wonderful job of getting it right. 

    Giving a nice lift to the script is this talented cast of relative unknowns.  They portray their characters in a believable way that brings a sense of empathy upon them.  You really want them to use their powers for good and make good decisions, but you also know that they are teenagers with an exceptional gift which ultimately means that bad behavior and mayhem might be forthcoming.

    Where this film fails is in the found footage concept.  Personally I found it completely unnecessary.  It’s a gimmick that loses its appeal rather quickly.  Not only that, but by the end they are splicing together found footage from so many sources that the whole premise lacks common sense.  Maybe it helped keep the costs down, but it also manages to get in the way of something that could have been spectacular.

    Even with its faults, Chronicle is an entertaining thriller that should find a nice audience from a wide range of ages.  I also think it opens the doors for a variety of different genres to jump into the found footage game.  Horror seemed to be the obvious place, but if they can throw superhero into the mix, why not romantic comedies, crime dramas and science fiction?  B+

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – February 7, 2012

New in Home Entertainment

February 7, 2012

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic elements
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
When tackling the fourth book in the Twilight series by
Stephanie Meyer, the decision was made to split it into two movies.  In this fourth of four very bad but successful films, Edward and Bella get married and on their honeymoon discover she is pregnant.  Here’s the problem: what exists in a two hour form here could have and should have been the first act of one movie, not the first half of two.  This is the slowest and one of the most painful movies I have ever sat through.  So long, so boring and so badly done.  The writing is awful, the acting is hideous and the self importance is incredibly annoying.  Personally, I find it disturbing that a film like this is the event film for today’s teens.  We had Star Wars, Raiders and ET.  There are few who could blame us for falling in love with movies during that time.  Other generations have had similar experiences in their days.  When a film like this has people sleeping in tents outside the theater and generates $700 million world-wide, it makes me feel like the Native American shedding a tear in the old Keep America Beautiful commercial.  F

Lady and the Tramp
Rated G
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
It may not be the best example of Disney’s classic animated pictures, but it certainly is one of the cutest.  Following the tale of a pretty young female cocker spaniel who falls in love with a homeless mutt, Lady and the Tramp is an entertaining film filled with loads of nostalgia and possibly one of the most iconic scenes in animation history (as many times as I tried that spaghetti thing on a date, it never worked out in my favor).  This new hi-def edition looks amazing and gives the film a shiny new feel.  Also, for those interested, there is some great new content not found on the 2006 DVD release.  B+

Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
For those who have not gone to any of the live events done at theaters nation wide, this title may change your mind.  Released in limited showings a few months back at your neighborhood cineplex, now this breathtaking performance of the once-in-a-lifetime event is hitting home. What it’s not is a filmed version of the infamous musical.  What it is is the ultimate performance of the music with a cast and orchestra of over 200 at London’s Royal Albert Hall for the 25th anniversary of the legendary show.  The cast here is an absolute dream and the encore is the icing on the cake as Andrew Lloyd Webber is joined by famous past phantoms on stage revisiting the show’s highlights.  I’ll admit that Sarah Brightman’s encore is worth missing, but everything else on this disc is spectacular.  A

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
Rated R for strong curde and sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence
Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD
Time has changed Harold and Kumar in this third and very tired sequel to the hit stoner franchise.  Harold and Kumar are no longer close buddies since Harold entered the business and family world, but fate brings them together on a winter’s night to find a Christmas tree to replace the one burned down by a magical joint.  If you have a 3D television you have a chance of enjoying this new installment.  There are some funny moments that don’t involve the use of 3D gimmickry, but most of the jokes require the new technology and suffer without it.  But unfortunately, not even Neil Patrick Harris himself could save this film from being snuffed out by lame drug jokes that were probably hilarious as they were being written while stoned.  C

In Time
Rated PG-13 for violence, some sexuality and partial nudity, and brief strong language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In the future humans are genetically altered to not age past 25 years, but they are also destined to die once their time runs out.  Time is a commodity and the rich can live forever while the poor are constantly counting the minutes.  As you would expect there are a lot of bad cliches throughout this sci-flick starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, but one has to appreciate the originality.  Writer and director Andrew Niccol (Gattaca) invents an interesting premise here but the comparison to today’s class structure gets bogged down in its own preachiness.  B-

Project Nim
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, drug content, thematic elements and disturbing images
Available on DVD
Oscar winning documentarian James Marsh (Man on Wire) tells another riveting tale here about an experiment gone wrong when a baby chimp is allowed to live like a human child before being sentenced to live his life as captive animal.  If it weren’t for the fact that it is a real story, you would think you were watching the first half of Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  In fact, the two films watched back-to-back makes for an excellent double feature.  Not only is this a great story, but it is told in a riveting fashion and frankly, it should have been nominated for an Academy Award this year for best documentary.  A-

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – January 31, 2012

New in Home Entertainment

January 31, 2012

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Rated PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality and innuendo
Available on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and DVD
If you would have told me five years ago that the Transformers franchise would be one of the most popular in movie history, grossing more than 2.5 billion dollars internationally and countless more in home entertainment sales, I would have thought you to be crazy.  Sure the reviews for all three films have been mediocre, but that hasn’t stopped worldwide audiences from going to see them in droves and bringing them home to watch over and over again.  This third installment has proven to be the biggest one of all mounting an impressive $1.1 billion international gross and $3.5 million in the U.S.  If you thought the first two films were big, they don’t even hold a candle to the enormity of the third.  I would go into deep detail about the plot, but its apparent that not many care about story when it comes to these pictures.  They just want lots of robots creating havoc and that’s what they get.  At 154 minutes, the film feels a little long, but at least there’s the pause button at home so you can take care of that six pack of whatever you started drinking two hours ago.  Just don’t miss the finale where they take out the entire city of Chicago.  B

Thunder Soul
Rated PG for brief language and momentary historical smoking
Available on DVD
In the 60s and 70s Houston’s Kashmere High School Stage Band was consistently known as the best high school jazz band in the country.  Led by a great band director simply known as “Prof,” the band became a world-class standard-setting funk powerhouse that achieved success until the school superintendent made major cuts in the arts.  Now, 35 years later, the band is getting together to pay tribute to the legendary director who brought them all together.  If the the great premise and the 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes fail to peak your interest, then maybe the fact that this is a terrific local story that many here have never heard will have you checking it out.  I didn’t know what to expect, but I sure did like what I saw and heard.  This is one heck of an enjoyable documentary that will have you laughing, crying, and possibly even dancing.  A

Drive
Rated R for strong brutal bloody violence, language and some nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Ryan Gosling is simply known as “Driver” in this little indie about a stunt car driver who moonlights as a getaway driver for either extra cash or maybe just the thrill.  After he falls in love with his neighbor (Carey Mulligan), his life makes a turn for the worse when her husband gets out of jail.  This is definitely one of the more surprising films this year.  If this film is anything it’s unpredictable.  Another word to describe it is cool.  The crazy script by Hossein Amini (Snow White and the Huntsman) is masterfully directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (who just won the Houston Film Critics Society award).  Perhaps of equal importance for the project is the eclectic collection of music from the 80s and that pink font for the credits.  I’ll admit that it’s a bit too violent and unsettling for my personal taste, but you can’t deny that it’s a well put-together film with a lot of entertainment value.  B+

Annie Hall and Manhattan
Available on Blu-ray
If the recent release of Midnight in Paris has put you in the mood for a Woody Allen-thon, then you have to check out these two new blu-rays being released this week by MGM and Fox.  Had Annie Hall not won the Oscar for best picture in 1977 (beating out Star Wars), Manhattan might have taken the honor away in 1979.  Both films run low on special features, but the new high def transfers look and sound great.  Also getting the blu-ray treatment this week are a slew of other great classics including Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound, Rebecca, and Notorious as well as Billy Wilder’s The Apartment. 

Posted on

Red Tails




Red Tails


Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrance Howard, and David Oyelowo


Directed by Anthony Hemingway (HBO’s Treme)


Rated PG-13 for some sequences of war violence


     The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is a classic American tale of courage, skill and perseverance.  While the U.S. Military did not allow the African American pilots to fight in the main combat arena until towards the end of the war, their record of kills vs. casualties as well as their success at protecting American bombers is a truly fantastic and almost unbelievable achievement.  So there is also no doubt that these brave men of the 332nd Fighter Group deserve to be heralded and have their story preserved in film.  The problem is that they deserve a much better legacy than this. 


     The 1995 HBO movie The Tuskegee Airmen was a decent enough approach to the subject but had many problems.  That is probably why Executive Producer George Lucas and others at Lucas Films wanted to improve upon the story.  Unfortunately, the only thing that was improved upon was the special effects.  The aerial effects are truly spectacular and the fight sequences are surprisingly exciting.  I say surprisingly because while everything in the air is gold, everything on the ground is lame. 


     Many will come away saying the acting is just plain lousy, but that’s not altogether true.  There are some decent performers here that should have had a better script to read from.  The dialog is very poorly written throughout and most of the characters are nothing more than cookie cutter caricatures.  I’m shocked that many of the characters even had names.  At least there was some personality given to the members of the 332nd, because the white characters in the film were treated like complete stereotypes.  There was “Racist General,” “Nice White Pilot,” “Racist Nazi Pilot” and many other completely contrived characters who only detracted from the power of the overall story.  But even the main characters suffered from a lack of substance.  The only member of the cast that got a sufficient plot line was that of Joe “Lightening” Little (Oyelowo) but his story alone couldn’t save the film.



     Another serious issue with the script is its historical accuracy.  It’s widely known that the Tuskegee Airmen were extremely successful, but this film makes them look invincible.  While they lost less than most, they lost many more than this film represents.  Their version of the war is almost like a video game where the hero has to make it at least to the end.  War movies by nature revolve around the loss of human life and to show war differently is both deceptive and dishonorable.  This lack of humility to the very idea of war distracts from the movie and steals away any credibility they manage to achieve.


     The fact is that there is potential greatness in this premise and the film itself could have been another Glory.  But rather than making an inspired and inspirational film, the filmmakers settled for a visually captivating movie that serves as a poor representation of the men who gallantly fought in WWII and surprised a nation.  C

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – January 24, 2012

New in Home Entertainment

January 24, 2012

Real Steel
Rated PG-13 for some violence, intense action and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When I was a kid I used to have the old Mattel game Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em which placed you against a friend in a robotic boxing match.  Now, decades later, comes the real thing with Hugh Jackman as a retired boxer trying to make it in the futuristic sport of robot fighting.  While the film is based on a 1956 short story by Richard Matheson, and not on the classic game, you get the sense that there were a lot of fans of the game on the production team.  The good news is that the fight sequences are pretty fantastic just as you would hope.  The bad news is that the writing is not nearly as strong as the special effects.  The script is full of bad exposition and cheesy dialog.  Jackman is a very good actor, but its hard to overcome a bad screenplay.  Still, I was hoping for an entertaining film filled with over-the-top robot fighting and that’s precisely what I got.  B-

Paranormal Activity 3
Rated R for some violence, language, brief sexuality and drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The first two films in this now very popular franchise sent chills up my spine.  In fact, I found them to be absolutely terrifying.  With the success of the first two, a third was inevitable and this time around they chose a prequel.  Following the young sisters, Katie and Kristi, PA 3 sticks tight to the same trick, having the characters set up video cameras to capture the demon in action.  This time around the nuance has worn off though and while there are some creative scares and a lot of creepy material, the pic is not as effective at creating goosebumps.  B-

50/50
Rated R for language throughout, sexual content and some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Sometimes your favorite movies are the ones that you expect very little from and then bop you over the head.  This was definitely one of those movies for me.  I honestly blew this one off thinking that I saw it the first time when it was called Funny People.  I was dead wrong.  This highly personal story based on the real-life relationship between writer Will Reiser and actor Seth Rogen is a powerhouse of a script about a young man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who gets a dire cancer diagnosis and subsequently fights it to the best of his ability while preparing for the worst.  It’s rare to have a film like this that is as funny as it is moving but the amazing cast and the material they had to work with allow for a terrific movie that will leave you very entertained.  A

Belle De Jour: The Criterion Collection
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
About a decade ago Martin Scorsese supervised spearheaded the restoration and re-release of this classic 1967 French film by famed director  Luis Banuel and now its Criterion’s turn with this new high-definition digital restoration.  This story about a Parisian housewife, beautifully portrayed by Catherine Deneuve, who fights the boredom of her empty life by becoming a prostitute is a fascinating character study that will leave you haunted.  This new edition comes fully loaded with tons of extras about the film and its legacy.  B+

Posted on

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close



Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Starring Thomas Horn, Max von Sydow, Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks
Directed by Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot)
Rated PG-13 for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images and language

    There is a moment in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close where the young boy played by Thomas Horn covers his ears and yells at his father, played by Tom Hanks, begging him to not be disappointed in him.  It is a startling and rather tender moment that shatters any misconception that the boy is cold and unfeeling or anything besides strong, resilient, and a little obnoxious.  Taking place in New York City shortly after the 9/11 attacks, the boy is learning to live without his father who was killed while in the World Trade Center.  He worshipped his father and wants nothing more in life than to make him proud.  When he finds a key hidden in his father’s closet he goes on a desperate mission to discover what the key opens, even at the expense of missing school and practically abandoning his mother (Sandra Bullock).  Soon after he begins his search, his adventure is shared with an older man carrying an important secret (Max von Sydow) who is eager to aid him on his quest.

    I must warn you that this movie is a major tear jerker.  Some might call it manipulative, but it’s not overly so.  It’s just a subject matter that brings out a very strong emotional response.  But don’t think that this is merely a sad film.  It is about love and loss, but more importantly its about not giving up.  Even when all seems lost, all might not be completely gone.  It’s also very funny and incredibly moving. 

    Based on the best-selling novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, the movie is a compassionate yet challenging look at what we as a nation lost on that “worst day.”  Through the boy’s eyes we see a world that can be cruel, but that can also be filled with love, laughter and adventure. 

    The acting here is absolutely top-notched.  It helps to have accomplished actors such as Hanks, Bullock and von Sydow, but Horn appears to have been up to the challenge of working with such a talented cast.  His character is that of a very different boy with possible high-functioning autism.  It’s a tough part and he did a splendid job. 

    The story and the script here are what make the film so special.  To come up with such an amazing idea for the novel and then to have it terrifically adapted by Academy Award winner Eric Roth (Forest Gump) is an amazing feat which seems so effortless here. 

    A lot of credit also goes to Stephen Daldry who has become quite a masterful story teller.  He never shies away from tough material and seems to always churn out great movies.

    Lastly, unlike the other two big 9/11 films, I think it’s a movie that audiences can get behind.  It’s a very unique tale that many will find a deep connection with.  A