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The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life

Starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain
Directed by Terrence Malick (The New World)
Rated PG-13 for some thematic material
Appropriate for all ages

    So what is this film about?  That is a solid question.  Many will go into the movie thinking it is about a Texas family with three boys growing up in the 1950’s.  It is that, sort of.  There is the part of the film that follows this family parented by Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain, both turning in Oscar-worthy performances.  This particular narrative is told from the point of view of the oldest son, played by Hunter McCracken as a child and Sean Penn later in life, who as an adult is now working in downtown Houston and imagining his childhood in Waco.  But that’s not all of what the film is about.

    Opening with the bible verses of Job 38: 4 and 7, the film quickly sets its central theme of the exploration of God’s complex relationship with man.  The characters are constantly asking questions of God, just as Job did in the Old Testament.  Beginning with the death of their second son, they are constantly asking God why.  And as the first questions come out, Director Terrence Malick takes the audience on a journey of his vision of God.  It’s not the old bearded man in the sky, but rather images ranging from the Universe and its immensity to the tiniest animal cell.  You’ve probably heard there are dinosaurs by now, but in case you hadn’t, his vision includes all sorts of animal life from past to present, all within the context of God creating and molding the Universe and Earth.  The segment is a grand piece of cinema that will no doubt go down as one of the most beautiful visual movements in film history.

    And then there is the conflict mentioned about living your life either in nature or grace.  This theme resonates throughout the movie, driving the characters in their actions.

    So what is the film about?  It’s almost impossible to pitch the story, but if you can tie these elements together without a working narrative, you have the crux of it.  

    What the film is about hardly matters, though, since it’s the power of the film that most will find the most meaningful.  This film pulled me in and connected with me as no other film has ever done before.  I was completely mesmerized for the entire 138 minutes and many hours afterword as well.  Since the scenes are largely incomplete and appear as more of a vision, I found myself meditating on my own life and events that were similar to those of this family.  I think it will be easy for many to conjure up these images while watching the seemingly unrelated events unfold and then personally assign the narrative from your own childhood.  

    I knew from the first act that this would be an important film.  I am certain that in 20, 30, 50 years and more this film will be looked at as a crowning achievement of cinema.  I also knew that it would be polarizing.  Many folks are not going to like it or get it.  The trailer didn’t help with this at all.  If you are going into it thinking you will be seeing the next Brad Pitt/Sean Penn drama, you could be sorely disappointed.  Pitt and Penn are merely colors painted on Terrence Malick’s grand canvas.  I’m not saying you have to be a Malick fan or even know his work, but this is so far from a typical Hollywood film that it will turn many audiences off.  If you actually ask “honey, should we go see Pirates, Hangover or Tree of Life?,” by all means – go see one of the other two.  Your frame of mind is everything when it comes to your potential enjoyment and connection with this movie.  

    While it’s been attempted countless times, no one has ever created a more beautiful piece of motion picture art than Malick has here, and not everyone wants to go to the movies to see art.  As for me, I’m looking forward to enjoying this film for years to come.  I can’t wait to get the blu-ray and devour the special features.  I can’t wait to read the books that will most likely be written about it.  I can’t wait to share it with my family and friends in the hope that they will find in it what I did.  A+

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New in Home Entertainment – June 7, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

June 7, 2011

True Grit
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of western violence including disturbing images
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
If you are a big fan of the original John Wayne classic about a young girl and a washed-up U.S. Marshall seeking revenge for the death of her pa, then there is a chance that you might not like this newer version.  Personally, I found it to be a huge improvement over the original, mostly due to a far superior vision from the Coen Brothers and much stronger performances by the immensely talented cast.  Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon, while not as iconic as John Wayne and Glen Campbell, are simply amazing in their performances, and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld proves to be  truly worthy of her Oscar nomination.  And with the beautiful score by Carter Burwell and the inspired cinematography of Roger Deakins, this movie works at every level imaginable.  I do wish the Coen Brothers would include a commentary in one of their movies, but there are enough special features thrown in here to make most folks happy.  I highly recommend checking out “The Cinematography of True Grit” for a more in depth look at the legendary artist behind the unique look of the film.  A+

Sanctum
Rated R for language, violence and disturbing images
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
Executive Producer James Cameron is the man responsible for this film about a group of cavers that encounter a life and death struggle when the cave system they are exploring experiences a tropical storm.  While there are some decent actors here, there are no true stars in this film that feels like an indie with a decent effects budget.  It’s not the acting that hurts the film though, but rather the pacing.  You would think that a film with such constant action would be exciting, but instead its rather boring.  Also, much of the drama that ensues feels too forced, almost like they knew they needed something besides man vs. nature.  And while the sights are beautiful, I would suggest checking out the documentary Planet Earth which gives a more thrilling vantage of the scenery.  C

Just Go With It
Rated PG-13 for frequent crude and sexual content, partial nudity, brief drug references and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
After having his heart broken on his wedding day, Adam Sandler changes his medical specialty to plastic surgery and uses his wedding ring to score chicks. When he finds himself meeting the girl of his dreams, he convinces his assistant (Jennifer Aniston) to pose as his ex-wife in order to create an elaborate scheme to win her heart.  The first few minutes of the film show real promise in a sort of Adam Sandler movie kind of way.  There are some decent laughs and an interesting setup.  But when Aniston and Sandler began plotting and the film goes downhill quick.  The rest of the movie relies on cheap and stupid laughs, taking away any credibility the film might have once had.  The jokes smell of desperation brought on by the complete lack of creativity or nuance.  Don’t get me wrong – I like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy and many of his other films.  I think there is a place and time for those types of movies.  That is why I am disappointed by this one because there is just no excuse for an insanely dumb project such as this.  D+

Burn Notice: Season Four
Available on DVD
While most of the time I consider USA’s shows a little O.L., I have to admit that between Burn Notice and White Collar, USA has a pretty good thing going.  This cult classic show about an burned spy and his crazy sidekicks is still fun, witty and entertaining after four seasons.  You gotta check out the special feature “Sam Axe’s Guide to Ladies and Libations” with the infamous Bruce Campbell.  Also of note is the “Burn Notice Roasts White Collar – White Collar Roasts Burn Notice” feature.  B

The Company Men
Rated R for language and brief nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
According to the makers of The Company Men, if you lose your job in this day and age you have a few options: take a lower paying job with fewer benefits, start your own company, or off yourself.  This new film about the recession is well enough acted by Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones, but its tone is severely dark and frankly not a whole lot of fun to watch.  The tag line of “ In America, we give our lives to our jobs.  It’s time to take them back” doesn’t quite spell out what the movie is about.  If you are currently out of work or not in the position you were a few years ago, don’t look to this film for inspiration, for it has none to give.  If you want to see a vision of one of the biggest challenges America has ever faced, then you might have a good reason to see it.  B-

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Kung Fu Panda 2

Kung Fu Panda 2

Starring the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and Gary Oldman
Directed by Jennifer Yuh
Rated PG for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence
Appropriate for all ages

    Po is back as the Dragon Warrior panda who is now the hero of the land.  But apparently, years ago, the ruling family of China had a son named Chen whose fortune was told that a panda would be his downfall.  Thus, he killed all of the pandas in the land.  His parents threw him out of the city, but now he is back and has taken siege of the capital with only Po and his warrior friends to restore peace.  

    I was one of those surprised people when the first Kung Fu Panda hit theaters.  I was getting to the point where Jack Black was starting to become annoying, but the story and production won me over.  Now that I find Jack Black to be completely annoying, I was fairly certain I wouldn’t be all that into the panda sequel.  That being said, I’m glad I went with an open mind because it wasn’t all that bad.  It wasn’t as impressive or original as the first, but those are some big shoes to fill.  

    The first half of this film, to me, felt like filler.  It was boring, not very funny, and only there to set up the second half.  This is the case with a lot of films, but this one seemed particularly lame at first.  But then when the warriors arrived at the capital, things started to shape up and not only did it become more exciting, the humor missing from the first half leaped into action as well.  Getting past all of the exposition was tiresome, but if you start to nod off after 45 minutes, don’t worry, you’ll wake back up shortly.

    As for Black, he’s not as bad as I expected.  There was a time when I really loved him and what he was doing.  I went to several Tenacious D concerts and couldn’t wait to see the next big JB movie.  But then his seemingly manic presence got on my nerves.  It’s as if the world turned on his slap happy button and it never got turned back off.  Fortunately for us, Po moves and acts differently.  You still get the made up words and silly sayings, but there is more of a softness and humility to Po that makes him bearable.  Get it?  Bearable?  Sorry about that.

    So while I didn’t love the movie, I did find it enjoyable at times.  It has just enough laughs and action to keep you engaged, especially at the end.  I do think the first film targeted both children and adults a little better than this one.  While the kids will no doubt have a blast, the parents won’t be blown away.  

    Just in case you are thinking about going to see this one in 3D, I have to tell you that Kung Fu Panda 2 has the same problem that the new Pirates pic has: it’s too dark for 3D.  With those tinted glasses, it makes it very hard to see the nighttime events, and much of the film takes place at night.  Also, it dulls the colors, which is one of the things that brings a film like this to life.  B-  

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New in Home Entertainment – May 31, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

May 31, 2011

True Blood: The Complete Third Season
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When the Sopranos left the air a few years back, there were many besides myself that thought HBO was in a bit of a pickle.  After a bit of dry spell, they came back with a vengeance with True Blood.  While the first two seasons of the hit vampire show introduced us to the world of Louisiana vampires and demons, the third went in a brand new direction: werewolves.  Sookie (Anna Paqin) had a fun enough time being fought over by two bloodsuckers (Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgard), but in season three a new hairy hunk was thrown into the mix (Joe Manganiello).  And if you thought seasons one and two were crazy, the third gets wilder and naughtier.  I can hardly wait to see what season four throws at us come June 26.  A

Biutiful
Rated R for disturbing images, language, some sexual content, nudity and drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
He might have been haunting in No Country for Old Men, but now Javier Bardem is haunted in Alenjandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s latest film about a man from Barcelona who struggles not only to provide for his children, but with his connection to the afterlife as well.  Just like Inarritu’s other films, Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel, the film is a challenge to watch but worth every minute spent viewing.  With the absence of long time writing partner and collaborator Guillermo Arriaga, there is definitely a different approach to his characters and his filmmaking than audiences will be used to, especially since this film follows one central storyline rather than several.  But many will find this to be an easier film to follow, although it is equally as difficult in regard to subject.  The biggest reason to watch this film – Bardem’s powerhouse performance which won him a best actor award at Cannes as well as an Oscar nomination.  A-

Once Upon a Time in the West
Rated PG-13
Available on Blu-ray
While this classic western isn’t as popular as Sergio Leone’s other masterpiece The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, (it’s still ranked #20 on IMDB’s top 250 list) you can tell five minutes into the first act that this might be his most influential.  Having been years since I’ve seen this tale about a widow trying to stay alive in the old west while some really bad dudes want her property, I had forgotten how much this looks like a Quentin Tarantino film.  I would guess that Tarantino watched this over and over again, studying it while trying to put together his own stories in his head.  This particular pic is unique in that Leone built the film around the score.  He had long-time collaborator Ennio Morricone compose a magnificent piece of music and then shot the movie with the music in his head.  In this regard, the music becomes an entire other character, enhancing the movie well above where the story could have taken it.  It’s not my favorite western, but it’s awfully darn good and very evident that there can be a true art in western pictures.  A-

American Graffiti
Rated PG
Available on Blu-ray
While not a western, American Graffiti, which is also making its blu-ray debut, has a lot in common with Once Upon a Time in the West.  When George Lucas pitched his classic American car story, he did so as a musical.  He had dozens of classic American songs from that period in his head and wanted to play them in the background while telling the story of teenagers in the 60s whose lives were about to change after their high school graduation.  The film takes place in the span of one night and in the process invented a new sub-genre of teenage comedies.  I’m not a big fan of the film, but I can certainly appreciate what it did for cinema.  Without American Graffiti there would be no Dazed and Confused, American Pie, Harold and Kumar or even Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.  Graffiti also introduced the concept of Music Supervisor, creating a new standard by which many films are judged today: the soundtrack.  B+

Drive Angry
Rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, grisly images, some graphic sexual content, nudity and pervasive language
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
While Nick Cage has become quite famous for taking on some bad films in order to pay off his nasty spending habit, occasionally we get a guilty pleasure gem like Kick Ass and now Drive Angry.  Drive Angry follows a man that has escaped from Hell in order to track down the cult that has killed his daughter and kidnapped his baby grandchild in order to sacrifice her.  While the film was meant to be watched in 3D, it is still fun in its 2D format.  Sure, its more entertaining to have Cage shoot off someone’s hand only to have said hand fly into your face, but if you haven’t made the move to a 3D TV yet, you’ll still get the point and you won’t have to wear the nerdy glasses.  This is by no means a good movie.  I’m not trying to trick you into believing it is.  But if you just want a guilty pleasure, mindless grindhouse pic to keep you entertained after a long and hard week, this will fit the bill just fine.  B-

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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush and Ian McShane
Directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago)
Rated PG-13
Appropriate for ages 10+

    If you were like me, you were completely clueless as to what the second and third Pirates films were about.  Aiming to get back to a movie with an actual plot, Disney decided to build a fourth installment, and this time with an actual story.  Gone are Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley and in is Penelope Cruz as an old love interest of Captain Jack Sparrow’s (Depp) and Ian McShane as Captain Blackbeard, the supposed fiercest pirate to ever helm a ship.  Here, Sparrow finds himself taken prisoner aboard Blackbeard’s ship as a race ensues to find the Fountain of Youth.  

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Disney decided to offer up a real story for the new film and I’m very pleased that Bloom and Knightly are gone as their characters had completely outstayed their welcome.  What I’m not so pleased about is the weakness of the writing and the overall production.  I think the Fountain of Youth is a worthy goal, even if the tale does cut a little too close to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  That being said, the movie feels like all fluff and the plot points are lame at best.  If they truly wanted to make this a fresh new Pirates film, they should have left Rush’s Barbossa out of it and allowed Sparrow to lead the path as the lone survivor from the first three films.  With Rush still in it, the movie feels like just a retread of the rest of the movies and the story suffers because of it.  

    Depp and Cruz had some real potential if the writers knew what to do with them, but rather than a romantic swashbuckling movie, the romantic was killed off entirely making it a film about lousy criminals attempting to find a prize.  If they had made a deeper connection between Depp and Cruz, the film could have had something to bring out an emotional attachment with its audience.  

    Also, while McShane is a great actor, his character never succeeds in making the audience scared of his villainous role.  The problem is that he is just like the villainous pirates of the last three films.  Maybe a little less impressive since he isn’t actually dead or grafted to an octopus.  Between a less than frightening villain and a tired script that replaces original action sequences with what could have been shots taken from the first three films, this new Pirates comes off as a boring pic that will most likely be blasted by audiences as well as critics.  

    The only real scary villain in the film, and maybe the film’s only saving grace, is the group of mermaids.  I loved how they made the mermaids a vampire-like creature and the battle with them is a fun one to watch.  

    If you do decide not to head my warning against seeing this film, at least don’t pay the extra bucks for the 3D version.  Not only is it embarrassing that they use the 3D more as a gimmick than an enhancement, but the film is very dark most of the time, and the 3D glasses are tinted.  Corey Hart might have enjoyed wearing his sunglasses at night, but I much prefer a brighter scenario when they are on my face.  C-

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New in Home Entertainment – May 24, 2011



New in Home Entertainment

May 24, 2011

The Kids in the Hall: The Complete Series
Available on DVD
In the late 80’s SNL producer Lorne Michaels introduced America to Canadian sketch comedy with The Kids in the Hall.  Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson performed a unique style of comedy that while reminiscent of SNL and Monty Python, definitely stands out in its originality.  While the episodes look dated with an almost pastel hue, the laughs are still there in force.  Watching these guys go drag is simply hilarious and in their more masculine characters they are just as funny.  The great thing about a set like this is that the more you watch, the funnier it gets.  It sort of breaks down your defenses and puts you in the right mood to enjoy the silliness.  Also included in this set (as well as sold separately) is the 2010 eight-episode television series Death Comes to Town.  It’s not as great as the original show, but the comedy team proves that they still have it and their unusual style shines through.  The Kids In the Hall A; Death Comes to Town B

Gnomeo and Juliet
Rated G
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While I can’t prove it, I’m generally certain that Disney’s Shakespeare-inspired tale started with the catchy title and then they attempted to put a story with it.  There are many problems with that though.  When they couldn’t get a good enough kid-friendly story, they chose to beef it up with a load of Elton John tunes.  I know Elton tells it differently, but I just can’t imagine another alternative.  First off, how do you screw up Romeo and Juliet?  First, you muck with the classic.  In an attempt to be clever, they throw in tons of puns, most of them unfunny.  And talk about boring.  This is the stuff of Saturday morning cartoons, not the follow up to the brilliant Tangled.  I know an animated tragedy doesn’t make the best kids flick, but maybe Disney shouldn’t be so worried about pandering to their perceived audience and instead elevate the material.  And if they think the themes would make that bad of a kids movie, then maybe they shouldn’t have made it at all.  I’ve seen many good modern variations on Shakespeare’s work,  but this sure isn’t one of them.  C-

Wartorn 1861-2010
Available on DVD
Executive producer James Gandolfini and HBO explore the world of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its link to military combat.  The disease has had many names since the Civil War, but the cause as well as the results are very similar.  The essential thesis of the film is that we turn our kids into killing machines and can’t handle the consequences when they aren’t deprogrammed back in the States.  This is a tough film to watch, but it is absolutely one of the best arguments I’ve ever seen for not sending our kids out to fight frivolous wars.  A-

I Am Number Four
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action and for brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Several children are sent to Earth from a distant planet in order to escape assassination from a sinister alien race.  When the assassins get to Earth to wipe them out, they succeed in the first three.  Now Number Four and his protector must find a way to survive the impending attack.  While this sci-fi action flick was a critical dud, I have to admire the producers for putting so much money behind an original story like this.  Sure there is a lot of cheesiness going on, but the acting isn’t half bad (love Timothy Olyphant in almost anything) and the film is pretty entertaining overall.  B-

Tigerland
Rated R for violence, pervasive language, a scene of strong sexuality and some drug use
Available on Blu-ray
Before Tigerland, Colin Farrell was just a no name Hollywood wannabe.  This Vietnam era drama stars Farrell as a trouble-making soldier who specializes in helping misfits get discharged.  Preparing for war in hot and humid Fort Polk, Louisiana is his last stop before being shipped out to Vietnam.  It’s a well-told story with a star-making performance by Farrell.  If you are looking for a good war film this Memorial Day, you gotta check out this little gem.  A- 

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Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids

Starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Rose Byrne
Directed by Paul Feig (Arrested Development)
Rated R for some strong sexuality, and language throughout
Appropriate for ages 17+

    When she is picked to be the maid of honor for the wedding of her best friend (Rudolph), Annie (Wiig) spirals out of control trying to compete with one of the girls who is also in the bridal party (Byrne).  

    If you think the description of the film sounds like every other lame romantic comedy or chick flick, then you would be correct.  Fortunately, this is no lame romantic comedy or chick flick.  The film begins with Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig having the most unsexy sex you’ve ever seen, setting the tone for this unusual raunchy comedy that turns out to be extremely enjoyable.

    The first clue that this is a good comedy is Judd Apatow (40-Year-Old Virgin) taking the reins as producer.  He is on a string of hits a mile long and this one just adds to the list.  Whatever formula he applies is working just fine and giving their audiences their money’s worth.  

    The next clue is the cast.  While it’s not a completely unknown cast, there are very few famous actors in the movie, which is fine because there is more talent here than in most movies loaded with A-listers.  While in the past Kristen Wiig has played mostly over-the-top characters, much like she does on SNL, here she shows her acting chops with a performance that makes you laugh, but draws a tremendous amount of empathy as well.  Also, the actresses in the bridal party work very well as an ensemble, and Melissa McCarthy steals every scene she’s in with perfect comic timing and an outrageous ability to shock.  The pleasant surprise was The IT Crowd’s Chris O’Dowd who plays the charming cop with a crush on Annie.

    While the comedy itself is sometimes so powerful that you manage to miss dialog due to people laughing too loud, there are some restrained moments as well that equal out the absurdities.  This is something that Apatow’s films do all have in common – the heart is hit as hard as the funny bone.  

    I’ll admit that the movie does have some minor flaws.  While all films have some continuity errors, this one has quite a few very visible ones – most notable were the scenes where they compare dirty teeth and the dance sequence at the end.  You can tell that the improv became such a vital force in the making of the film that little details were simply overlooked.  Those overlooked details are completely forgettable, though, when you consider how fun the overall experience of the movie is.  A-

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New in Home Entertainment – May 17, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

May 17, 2011

Mao’s Last Dancer
Rated PG for  a brief violent image, some sensuality, language and incidental smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray (Exclusively at Target until the end of July)
If you blinked, you probably missed this little Australian Indie based on the true story of a Chinese ballet dancer and his time in Houston during the early eighties.  Li Cunxin (Chi Cao) started out as a poor peasant only to end up representing Beijing as a ballet dancer.  Upon a cultural exchange with the Houston Ballet, Li became world famous, especially after he defected in order to stay.  While the film does have its problems, including some subpar acting and many situations where they showed a modern Houston while wanting you to believe it was 1981, it is also an amazing story with two big stars: The Dancing and The City of Houston.  First off, the dancing is remarkable and overall much stronger than what we saw earlier this year with Black Swan.  I think the part of the film I enjoyed the most was seeing how well Houston was represented.  Houston is portrayed as a Mecca of the arts and since it was filmed in our great city, it was thrilling that a group of Australian filmmakers would show Houston is such a great light.  And while I wasn’t hot on some of the acting and scene direction, I must give props to Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek) who did a terrific job portraying Houston Ballet Artistic Director Ben Stevenson.  I wish I (and many of the other critics around the country) could have seen this film in time to vote last year, as he would have easily been a contender for Best Supporting Actor.  B+

Diablolique: The Criterion Collection
Not Rated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While the word shocked is relative compared to today, in 1955, Henri-Georges Clouzot’s film about the wife and mistress of a cruel headmaster plotting revenge shocked the world and paved the way for many of the great psychological thrillers and horror films of the 60s and even today.  56 years later, the classic French film is getting the Criterion treatment with a new digital restoration and tons of great special features.  It’s hard not to like an old film such as this, which looks less dated than you would think, and it’s one of only a few classic movies from this time period to grace the IMDB Top 250 (currently ranked 182).  A

The Rite
Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material, violence, frightening images, and language including sexual references
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Going along with the old priest/new priest routine, Anthony Hopkins is the old exorcist, well-practiced in the art of removing demons, while Colin O’Donoghue is the young seminary student who has lost his faith.  The film starts out pretty creepy, but loses momentum when it is obvious that there is something demonic going on and the young priest is still in disbelief.  Also, the fact that it is PG-13 when it should definitely be R doesn’t help the film in the least.  Finally, the studio’s insistence that there be a hot young women thrown in the mix creates a hollywood factory feel rather than a true taste of horror.  That being said, Hopkins is great and tries to hold things together.  The forces fighting against him are simply too strong.  C

The Other Woman
Rated R for sexual content and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
If you are under the impression that Natalie Portman is in half of the films out right now, you aren’t far off.  Since 2009 she has made 10 films and many of them are just now seeing the light of day.  This little Indie stars Portman as a home wrecker after she has wrecked the home.  When her child from her stolen husband dies shortly after birth, she must learn to cope with the loss, her strained relationship with her new family, as well as a hidden secret.  The film itself has a movie-of-the-week look and feel driven by one of the worst musical soundtracks you could put in a film.  The acting isn’t half bad and there are many great emotionally impactful scenes but it’s as if the cast really cared about the picture even though the production team either didn’t care or was incapable of presenting the material in a palatable format.  Either way, the movie is not only a bit depressing, but bland as well.  C-

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New in Home Entertainment – May 10, 2011

New in Home Entertainment

May 10, 2011

No Strings Attached
Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Films about couples that only want a physical relationship and nothing more have until lately been sentenced to straight-to-dvd or late night cable flicks with lousy actors that possess no talent other than their beautiful looks.  The last few months, however, has changed that with the Anne Hathaway/Jake Gyllenhaal dramady Love and Other Drugs and now No Strings Attached with Oscar winner Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher.  While this new film sticks to the predictable formula you’d expect, there are some bright spots.  First off, this is a sex comedy with relatively little sex.  While there are some that might think that is a bad thing, I think it helps to elevate the integrity of the film a bit.  Acting-wise, while there aren’t going to be any awards handed out from this title, Portman does a fine job and Kutcher keeps up respectably.  Unfortunately, director Ivan Reitman (Dave) creates too many sit-comish scenarios that bring the film down a notch.  That being said, I did laugh quite a few times.  So while it’s not a great achievement for the genre, it is still better than most of the rom coms hitting the scene today.  C+

Blue Valentine
Rated R for strong graphic sexual content, language, and a beating
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This polar opposite of a romantic comedy stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as a couple that dramatically fall in and out of love.  While the falling in love part of the film is romantic and engaging, the falling out phase is almost unbearable to watch.  Sure it’s reality, but that’s not always a good thing when it is immensely depressing.  The performances are so good by Gosling and Williams that its hard to take your eyes off of them, but many will absolutely not appreciate the challenge this film presents.  As for the NC-17 the film originally received, I’m pretty sure that was a publicity stunt by Weinstein as there is hardly anything in the film warranting that strong of a rating.  B

Something Wild: The Criterion Collection
Rated R
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
While it didn’t break any records at the box office, this 1986 Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) comedy is quite the cult classic, and according to the interview with Demme on the disc, the movie that kept him from quitting the business.  Given creative freedom by Orion Pictures, Demme was able to create a great little comedy that starts out fun and ends up dramatic.  The story follows Jeff Daniels as he is seduced by Melanie Griffith who wants to borrow him for a while.  But then in walks her ex Ray Liotta in his film debut.  All of the performances are strong, but the film is worth seeing almost for Liotta alone.  While there are some “what were thinking” moments in the film, mostly concerning music and costume design, the movie is extremely fun to watch and impossible to predict what will happen next.  A-

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Thor

Thor

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Anthony Hopkins
Directed by Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet)
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence
Appropriate for ages 10+

    In the processing of going to the Marvel bench for more super hero movies, Paramount has turned to the story of the one of the few heroes who is not actually a man, but a god.  Thor (Hemsworth), the powerful but arrogant Norse god of thunder has been cast down to Earth by his father (Hopkins), sentenced to live as a mortal until he does a little growing up.  Jealous of Thor’s life and legacy, his younger brother Loki seeks to wreak havoc amongst his own people and the folks on Earth as well.

    Marvel and fanboys throughout the world have been clamoring for an Avengers movie, but in order to bring the Avengers together (Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America) it is important to introduce Thor and his world to the movie-going public, and so this film serves as the necessary genesis.  While it is spectacular to look at, and contains some entertaining features, the film also misses the mark when it comes to creating a truly original and award-worthy action film.  

    First the good.  As previously stated, the production design is breathtaking.  The world of Asgard is a site to behold and the visual effects are jaw-dropping.  While the score by the usually terrific Patrick Doyle (Henry V) almost gives a cheap b-movie sound to the film, the visual effects team is very worthy of praise.  

    I also thought they did a great job with casting the main roles.  The relatively unknown Hemsworth was a terrific Thor and Hopkins was superb as his father Odin.  Tom Hiddleston could have been a little more of a snake in the grass as Loki, but by the end his creepiness showed forth just right.  

    Where they messed up is in the story department.  Most of the time when you see so many writers receiving credit – that ain’t a good thing.   The story’s direction was so bent on getting to the Avenger’s film that it became a huge distraction.  It cheapened the film and almost ruined it.  I liked Iron Man and Thor when they included nice plugs after the credits, but here, just as in Iron Man 2, they made the plugs a central theme in the movie.  When Thor tells the SHIELD leader that they are on the same side and that he will be an ally, it feels forced and ridiculous.  I honestly believe that the studio’s involvement in trying to make Thor a commercial plug for the big upcoming film hurt the integrity of the project tremendously.

    Another shameful inclusion were Thor’s friends from Asgard.  I’m sure they played a major part in the comic but here they not only came off as unimpressive and almost weak, but they also added a silly element that the film didn’t need.  Perhaps Marvel was trying to figure out which character was worthy of a spinoff, like they did with X-Men 3 and Wolverine, but whatever the reason for inclusion, it did nothing to help the film but rather created annoying characters that only served to confuse and cause the audience to roll their eyes.

    So is it a good film? I have to admit that it is entertaining at times, and they did get many things right, but the things they got wrong stuck out like a hammered thumb.  C+