Archive for category Film
FILM: Spike Jonze –I’m Here [short clip]
Posted by Amy Steele in Film on October 6, 2010
I’m Here is a 30-minute short film about a romance between two robots.
watch the full film here
–great soundtrack featuring Sleigh Bells, Animal Collective, and the Lost Trees
–unique film-making [who’d expect any less from Spike Jonze]
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Overlooked FILM on DVD: Choke and Breaking and Entering
Posted by Amy Steele in DVD, Film on October 4, 2010
Choke
Choke is very funny, bizarre, outrageous at times and just completely unique. Victor, a well-meaning, yet selfish sex addict [Sam Rockwell, always good] scams people in restaurants by pretending to choke. A devoted son, despite a childhood that sent him from foster home to foster home, is doing this to keep his mom [Angelica Houston– who has never looked more beautiful in flashbacks], who suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s, in a nice nursing home. The plot has crazy twists with a doctor who is actually a patient and has a plan to get Victor to impregnate her to use the embryo to “cure” his mother and “return” her to normal. The film is fast paced, funny and really a great film to see.
Breaking and Entering
Breaking and Entering lyrically addresses the intertwining lives of people in London who might normally never interact-landscape architect, a Bosnian immigrant, a cleaning lady, a prostitute, a rebellious teenager. It is the meshing of those that live in posh areas of North London and those that live in the notoriously “dicey” area of King’s Cross that makes for this provocative and insightful portrait.
Will [Jude Law] is a partner in a landscape architect firm located in King’s. While his professional life is booming, his personal life is withering. When his firm suffers mysterious series of break-ins, Will decides to investigate it. This causes his long-term relationship with his Swedish girlfriend Liv [Robin Wright] and their autistic daughter to suffer and the emotional chasm between them grows as does the couple’s inability to communicate.
After a break-in, Will follows one of the thieves home and becomes intrigued by the teenager’s mother, Amira [Juliette Binoche]. Their lives become entangled and deception lingers amidst the passion. Breaking and Entering focuses on the effect a crime has on someone personally whether to destroy or to mend. Anthony Minghella uses the break-in as a tipping point for tearing down metaphoric walls and for shattering preconceived notions about people.
This is Law’s best role to date. He simultaneously exudes compassion and self-doubt. Binoche is brilliant in showcasing the nuanced difficulties of being an immigrant. Through simply a look or mannerism, Wright Penn silently screams disconnected woman so remarkably. Once again, Minghella has written a lovely and compelling film.
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September wrap-up: BOOKS Read/ FILMS seen
Posted by Amy Steele in Books, Film on October 3, 2010
Books Read: [I’ve read 96 books so far this year]
You Had Me at Woof by Julie Klam [review soon]
Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates
Ape House by Sara Gruen
Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin
The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion
ROOM by Emma Donoghue
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
FURY by Karen Zailckas — Q&A
The Dissemblers by Liza Campbell
Symposium by Muriel Spark
What I thought I knew by Alice Even Cohen
Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles
Films Seen: [bold=saw in theater]
Going the Distance: B+
Le Gai Savoir: B+
Summer Hours: B
Amreeka: B+
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps: B+
The Town: A-
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My Favorite Affleck films [both Ben and Casey]
Posted by Amy Steele in Film on September 19, 2010
As both Afflecks have films currently in theaters–Ben has The Town and Casey has I’m Still Here— I’ve compiled a list of my favorite Affleck projects.
BEN AFFLECK:
Chasing Amy [1997]
–my favorite Kevin Smith film. I found it to be honest [whether you’re straight or gay] with heartfelt performances and a sharp script.
Gone Baby Gone [director and screenwriter] [2007]
–captures the authenticity and grittiness of Boston and serves up a great mystery with plenty of twists and turns and gasping moments. Casey Affleck owns this film with his intense portrayal of a private investigator trying to find a missing girl in Boston. With meticulous, sensitive, steady direction from native son Ben Affleck, Gone, Baby, Gone is a dark story of ambiguous morals.
Good Will Hunting [Oscar winning original screenplay, co-written with Matt Damon] [2007]
–If you haven’t seen this film, I don’t know if I could even have a conversation with you. Brilliant script.
State of Play [2009]
–excellent, stomach-churning thriller about the changing voice and business of journalism via a political scandal. Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams are fantastic as reporters, Ben Affleck turns in solid performance as Congressman caught in scandal. Helen Mirran is a feisty, no-nonsense editor. Impressive script, cast, acting (Jason Bateman plays an annoying PR guy). Keeps you guessing with plenty of twists.
Hollywoodland [2006]
–Riveting. Provocative. Thoughtful. Posed many question. Few answers. Ben Affleck was superb as George Reeves, a conflicted man, who gained fame as the television character Superman and then struggled for years to grow out of that stereotype and move beyond that celebrity and be recognized for other talents. He should at least be nominated for this role. You cannot take your eyes off him.
Jersey Girl [2004]
–I don’t care what kind of heat this film got for Kevin Smith and the rest of the cast. This endearing story with engaging, lovely performances by Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler completely won me over.
Boiler Room [2000]
–I’m fascinated by films about the financial world because I’ll never work in it.
Changing Lanes [2002]
–weird, creepy
School Ties [1992]
–small part by Ben. I was an extra in this film. ha.
CASEY AFFLECK
Gone Baby Gone [2007]
Lonesome Jim [2005]
–Nothing screams of loneliness more than having to move in with your parents when you are almost 30-years-old. What a mark of failure it seems to be. As the 27-year-old Jim, Casey Affleck brilliant plays self-deprecating and wallowing in misery to the point that you cannot take your eyes off of him. Then you want to hug him and be his friend. He steals your heart. His vulnerability. His hopelessness. His ennui. The aspiring writer returns home to Indiana after failing in New York. An honest, realistic portrait of a mid-mid-life crisis and its often funny, often sad effects.
Ocean’s 11 [2001], Ocean’s 12 [2004], Ocean’s 13 [2007]
–just fun.
The Killer Inside Me [2010]
Gerry [2002]
–Gus van Sant directs a strange film about a friendship facing a major test.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford [2007]
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Overlooked Films on DVD: Broken English and Lonesome Jim
Posted by Amy Steele in DVD, Film on September 18, 2010
BROKEN ENGLISH
Broken English is the story of Nora [formidable, immensely talented Parker Posey], who finds herself stuck in a rut, both personally and professionally. Nora has become complacent and settled at her hotel job. She is beginning to delve into the Bell Jar after years of seeming to know what she wanted and now being at the age where she feels she should already be there. Date after date leads to further frustration until she meets a French man, Julien [Melvil Poupaud]. He might really like her or just be another guy leading her on. Is it a merely a charming façade or is he being honest with Nora?
Posey turns out a tour-de-force performance under the direction of Zoe Cassavetes. At times darkly reminiscent of Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Broken English does not look through rose-colored glasses but tackles Nora’s issues head-on. Her best friend Audrey [a solid performance by Drea de Matteo] is happily married and is supportive, understanding and concerned about her friend. Their conversations and connection are aptly real. Nora’s chemistry with Julien is palpable, enviable and genuine. The film does not gloss over anything from Nora’s morning-after bed head hair to her depressive, insecure moments. Nora and Audrey travel to Paris in hopes of finding Julien and Nora discovers herself, as cliché as that may sound.
Parker Posey, one of my favorites, is a brilliant actress. The film is raw, real and honest. Cassavetes’s spot on, direct, honest script captures this woman’s fears, disappointments and frustrations.
LONESOME JIM
Nothing screams of loneliness more than having to move in with your parents when you are almost 30-years-old. What a mark of failure it seems to be. As the 27-year-old Jim, Casey Affleck brilliant plays self-deprecating and wallowing in misery to the point that you cannot take your eyes off of him. Then you want to hug him and be his friend. He steals your heart. His vulnerability. His hopelessness. His ennui. The aspiring writer returns home to Indiana after failing in New York. Lonesome Jim is an honest, realistic portrait of a mid-mid-life crisis and its often funny, often sad effects.
He ends up working at the family factory when his depressed brother (Kevin Corrigan) is hospitalized. Jim has an overprotective mom (Mary Kay Place) who makes cookies and called him her “pretty boy,” and apathetic father (Seymour Cassel) and a druggie uncle. When he meets Anika, a nurse at the local hospital (Liv Tyler in yet another sweet, understanding single mom role) , he starts to move away from his melancholies and to re-examine how he fits into the world. Anika is non-judgmental, caring, and empathetic. Everything a guy could want. Especially a guy in Jim’s precarious situation. He could easily just flounder or he could really delve into the depths of darkness. Or he could accept just being in the moment as Anika encourages him to do.
Jim: I sort of came back to have a nervous breakdown.
Anika: What’s wrong with you?
Jim: Chronic despair.
Director Steve Buscemi does a great job of digging into people’s souls. Of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary little moment to examine, to analyze, to dwell in. Lonesome Jim is a gem of a film.
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FILM: 10 Reasons to See THE SWITCH with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman
Posted by Amy Steele in Film on August 19, 2010
1. Jason Bateman turns in an extraordinary performance as Wally, a successful guy who falters with personal relationships and worries about almost everything.
2. Sharp and clever script by Allan Loeb.
3. Based on short story by Jeffrey Eugenides [Middlesex, The Virgin Suicides].
4. seeing the film is a great FU to Bill O’Reilly who thinks that a film about single motherhood is a BAD thing?
5. As Kassie, Aniston is not the typical desperate-to-get-married-and-have-a-family woman.
6. Aniston and Bateman have fantastic comedic timing.
7. Jeff Goldblum, Wally’s co-worker/ friend, is sexy and hysterical as always.
8. Multi-talented Juliette Lewis plays Kassie’s best friend.
9. Kassie [Aniston], like many single women, makes her own plan to conceive.
10. The trailer doesn’t give away all the funniest parts of the film.
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Lifetime TV movie review: The Devil’s Teardrop
Posted by Amy Steele in Film, TV on August 1, 2010
“Just be a kid. Stop worrying. That’s my job.”
Wondered what happened to That Thing You Do’s Tom Everett Scott? The adorable actor is here in a Lifetime movie. The Devil’s Teardrop, a DC-based thriller by New York Times best-selling author Jeffrey Deaver, stars Scott as retired FBI agent and handwriting expert agent Parker Kincaid. Though his custody agreement requires him to work from home, he gets called in to consult on a serial killer case by Special Agent Margaret Lukas [Natasha Henstridge]. The plot barely matters as the script and acting are the weakest I’ve seen in some time. For a thriller, there’s little urgency and intrigue. This might be due to the lack of character development. The movie remains empty between the bangs. There’s no tension. Henstridge may as well be a cardboard cutout. Scott also looks to be collecting an easy paycheck. He’s not even trying to play a credible or involved FBI agent. Both appear to be reading off cue cards. The Devil’s Teardrop [which is a teardrop-like way to dot an i] lacks any real hook to draw in an audience or make anyone care about its outcome.
Premieres: August 8 on Lifetime Movie Network at 8pm EST
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film review: The Back-Up Plan
Posted by Amy Steele in DVD, Film on July 11, 2010
Opening scene: Zoe is freaking out because she hadn’t gotten a pedi to go to her OB/GYN.
Doctor says: “I’m not looking at your toes. I’m looking at your cervix.”
Of course as there are few original films out, The Back-Up Plan is a remake of 1995’s A Modern Affair with Stanley Tucci and Lisa Eichhorn. Zoe [Jennifer Lopez] has always wanted a baby although she thought she’d do so the “traditional” way with a husband. The day that she is artificially inseminated– and her artificial insemination takes the FIRST go-around. I’d like to know how often that happens– she and Stan [Alex O’Loughlin], an organic farmer, meet-cute in a cab. The pair are smitten but of course the pregnancy *may* complicate things.
It’s that Hollywood Rom-Com theory –once you give up on guys and make your own plan to have a child without a guy involved– you get involved with a guy. But it’s also that fairytale world where everything falls together in the end. All your dreams magically come true.
Mona, her friend with four children, tells her her boobs will look like tube socks and then says she doesn’t even want to tell what it will do to bladder. So supportive. When Zoe shops for baby supplies she’s totally overwhelmed by everything. Zoe skeptically attends a class called Single Mothers. She laments: “Thought I’d have kids by now. Guess it’s time from my back-up plan.” There’s a water birth in the film– great to show it– however it turns into a cliched joke with women beating drums and tons of screaming when I think it’s supposed to be much more peaceful. It’s chaotic and psychotic.
The Back-Up Plan contains plenty of slapstick moments and even a few bathroom humor jokes. Stan goes to kiss Zoe on their first date and spills red wine on her new dress. The table is set on fire. She grabs a hose and gets him soaked and then they have a water fight. Zoe goes to tell her nana that she’s pregnant and of course the lady can’t hear her and then those she’s walking with yell: “She’s pregnant, turn up your hearing aid!” On date two, Stan invites Zoe away for the weekend to see his farm. She drives in and sees him shirtless on tractor and crashes her car. Ugh ugh. Sexist/ body image alert: Zoe struggle to get dressed for a fancy event and can barely squeeze herself into dress and Stan says “Do you have a jacket?” Once at the event, she stands in the mirror looking at herself while sucking in her stomach.
The Back-Up Plan is not surprising at all but very predictable. I also think it’s so unrealistic that they have two dates and are starting to envision a life together. Does that really happen because in all my dating, it has never happened to me. Another sexist moment: When admitting to her friend she’s falling for this guy, she thinks about being a “barefoot” stay-at-home mom. The script is written by Kate Angelo [What About Brian] which appalls me. How can a woman write such a banal script? But then I think about Tina Fey’s insidious Baby Mama.
Jennifer Lopez is charming, laid back and naturally glowing. Lopez and O’Loughlin have a low-key, effortless chemistry. Lopez needs better material like Out of Sight.
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film review: Brooklyn’s Finest [available now on DVD]
Posted by Amy Steele in DVD, Film on July 10, 2010
These streets have an expiration date.
–Tango [Don Cheadle]
Boasting an outstanding [albeit mostly male– though in a small role Ellen Barkin blasts through the few scenes she has as a hard ass top brass] cast, Brooklyn’s Finest is a gritty, violent and shocking film. Three police officers, with vastly different career trajectories, struggle to rise above the filth and danger in Brooklyn. All three officers fight off job fatigue to hit individual goals: retirement, a house, a promotion. Eddie [Richard Gere] is mere days away from collecting a pension and moving to the idyllic quiet of Connecticut. Sal [Ethan Hawke] lives for his family and plans to buy a house so that his pregnant wife [Lili Taylor] won’t be so sick. Tango [Don Cheadle] aches to be done with undercover work and be promoted to detective.
So over his police officer job and just counting the days, Eddie aims to stay out of trouble. When a rookie cop gets in the middle of a domestic dispute, Eddie pulls him away and tells him that they don’t act of their precinct even though the guy totally smacked the woman while arguing outside their car. Sal becomes so desperate for money that he starts eying that of the drug dealers he busts. He’s frantic and going to blow [Hawke is so entrenched in this role that I didn’t immediately recognize him]. Tango finds himself in the ultimate dilemma: help take down a drug dealer or protect sometime he’s grown to care about. Caz [Wesley Snipes in a nearly unrecognizable, toned down performance] is not the flashy prototype but he’s one cool cat.
In the end, all three men end up in the same dangerous location with tragic and stunning consequences. Director Antoine Fuqua [Training Day] helms this stellar examination of what motivates the three officers. Delving into each officer’s life and telling separate yet intersecting stories catapults Brooklyn’s Finest beyond the predictable, clichéd cop film. Gere exudes wear and tear and numbness. Hawke rocks the Brooklyn accent and turns in a darkly nuanced performance. Cheadle exudes coolness with this bold, layered role. It’s a disturbing, bloody and provocative film. The brilliant, solid cast and potent writing, makes Brooklyn’s Finest an authentic, unflinching film.
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About Me
covering mostly music and books. focus on alternative/indie and women in music, literature and the arts. feminist. vegan. mostly alternative, a bit bohemian. Masters in journalism from Boston University. BA from Simmons College.
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