Beasts of the Southern Wild

Six year old Hushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis) is growing up in a squalid area of the Louisiana Bayou known as the "Bathtub."  She lives in an abandoned trailer a few yards away from her alcoholic and ailing father(Dwight Henry) who has his own dilapidated trailer.  Her mother allegedly "left for the sea" when Hushpuppy was small, but Hushpuppy retains the memory of her mother by talking to her mother's old jersey.

An impending storm threatens to flood the "Bathtub," but the locals refuse to leave their home.  At the same time, Hushpuppy hears a tale of maurauding mythical beasts called the Aroucks who might be released by the melting polar ice caps and devour everything in their way, including children.

This is a movie that can be viewed from so many angles.  At first glance, it is a tale of a young girl's survival amidst heart-rending poverty.  To most of us viewers, the living conditions of the people of the Bathtub are appalling...Hushpuppy wanders through the mud and filth in a shirt, underwear, and white galoshes with garbage, chickens, pigs, dogs, and sundry animals at her feet.  However, you begin to realize it is the only world they know, and they are able to find joy and celebration in their life.  Nightly fireworks, drinking, and buckets of local shellfish are a common celebration.

It is also a tale of a father and his daughter.  Daddy comes off at first as abusive, but as the tale progresses you realize that he truly loves his daughter and is only trying to make her tough in order to deal with their surroundings.  And although they battle, Hushpuppy stands by her father as well.

Then there is the fairy tale element.  Hushpuppy talks to, and at one point tries to find the mother that is not there.  The Arouchs might be imaginary beasts, but to the child's mind they are real and she realizes she will have to face them someday.

This movie is a labor of love for all involved, since it is the first major film for most of the crew.  Behn Zeitlin is the director, co-writer, and also contributor to the Zydeco-flavored score.  His is the most assured directorial debut I've seen in years.  He is aided by Ben Richardson's cinematography which is at times harsh and brutal, and then magical and joyous.

The cast is so realistic it's scary, but then again, most are from around the area where it was filmed.  Dwight Henry owned a bakery across the street from where the film crew had headquarters, and was asked to play the part of Daddy.  He succeeds brilliantly.  Rough, course, abusive, and sickly, yet at his core has a fatherly love for his daughter that is real and heartfelt.

And then there's Quvenzhasne Wallis.  She was 5 years old at the audition (and had to lie that she was 6..the age minimum to audition.)  She gives the most astonishing performance of the year.  There is no artifice to her movements or reactions.  Every emotion, from lashing out at her father, to being amazed at hearing the heart-beats of animals that she holds to her ear, to the unbridled joy at the nightly celebrations, emanate as if from her soul.  And her matter-of-fact narration is spot on. At one point they are forced to go to a shelter, and as Hushpuppy wanders among the injured she states simply that "when somebody gets sick here, they plug them into the wall."

This is not a movie for everyone (my husband said he "didn't get it.")  It is bleak and heart-breaking, but also a celebration of life in the midst of despair.  One of the most unusual and astounding films of this year.   

Moonrise Kingdom

It's 1965 New England and 12 year old Sam (Jared Gilman) escapes from his scout camp and meets up with young Suzy (Kara Hayward) to run away together.  Her family and the scout troop, along with a social worker, attempt to find them before a storm of the century hits the island.

That's the basic plot of what I consider the best picture I have seen this year.  To start off, it's a Wes Anderson film, a director known for some quirky movies ("Rushmore," "Bottle Rocket," "The Royal Tennenbaums.")  In this movie, he takes an old trope of young kids at the onset of puberty who want to be together (think "Friends," the movie for which Elton John wrote "This is Your Song") and yet made it the most original movie of the year.

My initial reaction was to the art and set design.  The movie opens with a panoramic view of the rooms of the best "lighthouse" house I've ever seen (I want to live there!)  The 1965 details are exquisite, down to the board games the kids play with, to the battery-operated record player with the plastic lid.  And anyone who has ever been in the boy scouts can relate to the scout camp.

And speaking of scout camp, the costume designers are also remarkable.  The kerchiefs (does anyone use that term anymore?) to the knee socks and badges are spot on.  Then there is the performance of Noah's Ark in the local church where the children (about 2 dozen?!) are dressed as various animals.  And once again this takes me back to the art direction...spectacular in a local theater group way.

Another standout has to be the cinematography: from the soft greens of the woods, to the foggy sunset scenes at the light house, to how the rain water glistens off Suzy's hair...there are scenes you could frame and hang on the wall.  It's a beautiful movie to see.

Now the acting.  You have a core of great actors:  Bill Murray and Francis McDormand as Suzy's parents, Ed Norton as the Scout Leader, Bruce Willis as the Sheriff, Tilda Swinton as the Social Worker, and cameos by Jason Schwartzman and Harvey Keitel.  But the keys to this movie are Sam and Suzy.  I don't know where Wes Anderson found Jared and Kara, but they work!  They are supposed to be outcasts yet wise beyond their years and the connection between the two of them had me cheering for them throughout the movie.

And the music.  It's been years since I've wanted to run out and buy the soundtrack to a movie.  The spell has been broken- I'm buying this one tomorrow!  Suzy's brother puts on an album of Benjamin Britton: one of those Leonard Bernstein "Let's teach children about the orchestra" deals where the narrator says "first comes the harp, then comes the clarinet...etc, etc, etc.)  For some reason this works beautifully in the movie (so much in fact the hair was standing up on my arms at one point.)  And the scene where Suzy plays a French 45 record (if I have to explain this, I will track you down) while they dance on the shore in their underwear is perfect...typical 60's European tune that gets them to dance without any inhibitions.  I stayed for the credits, just to see the music credits (until my husband told me that we should go because the usher who needs to clean the theater is glaring at us.)

So as you can tell, I loved this movie.  I've been slack lately with the blog, but when I get inspired, I have to write one; whether it's the best or not...I'm finding that my problem is if I don't do it right away (re "Ted") I don't do it.  So here you go.

And go see "Moonrise Kingdom." ................... And keep it reel.

Magic Mike

Mike (Channing Tatum) works during the day as a construction worker and a car detailer, but at night is "Magic Mike," the star of the Xquisite Male Revue Show run by Dallas (Matthew McConaughey.)  What Mike really wants is to start his own business designing one of a kind furniture.

One day at the construction job, he befriends a new young worker, Adam (Alex Pettyfer.)  When Adam loses his job, Mike takes him into Xquisite for a job.

Yes, this is the male stripper movie everyone has been talking about.  Warning...do not let the trailer fool you.  Yes, there are several scenes of the guys performing on stage (and some of the best "man ass" you will ever see.)  But that is only the framework of the movie.  This is more akin to "Boggie Nights," where fame and money comes at a price.

Steven Soderbergh once again shows why he is a director to be noticed.  This could have turned into what the trailer thinks it is, but he takes the story into a completely different scenario.  The screenplay by Reid Carolin is believable and realistic, basically because it is semi-autobiographical for Channing Tatum, who was a male stripper at 19. Also, Soderbergh uses odd camera angles and lighting to disorient the viewer the same as the characters.  While some may find this annoying, I thought it put the viewer into the moment.

The one who should be mentioned (and who won't in most reviews) is Alison Faulk, the choreographer.  The stage performance scenes are incredible to behold, and she was able to get the actors to perform seamlessly as a group, yet also let them shine on their own.

Now to the acting.  Alex Pettyfer is perfect as the young upstart who is shy at first to get on the stage and disrobe, but then becomes "The Kid."  He has the "Star is Born" role, including the descent into drugs, and he nails it. 

Matthew McConaughey has never been better.  As Dallas, the aging stripper who is building an empire to expand his dream...he is my first pick this year for a best supporting actor nomination.  Bombastic, flamboyent, and self-referential (yes, there is a scene with bongo drums,) he gives the performance of his career.

And then there is Channing.  Always touted as a wooden actor, he has proven himself this year with three movies:  "The Vow," where he proved he could do a dramatic romance; "21 Jump Street," where the world found out that he is an awesome comedic actor; and now "Magic Mike."  He conveys the yearning of someone who wants more from life, the knowledge that his body can make money, and the pathos of someone who realizes that he needs to move on.  And yes, his dance moves are s"pec"tacular (not to mention he has the best ass in Hollywood right now.)

Anyone who thinks this movie is only for straight women and gay men will be missing out on one of the best pictures of 2012.

Ten Inch Hero

A group of employees at a restaurant in Santa Cruz deal with love, loss, and the bonds that hold them together.

Piper (Elisabeth Harnois) is an art student who reads an article about a young girl in the neighborhood who may be the daughter she gave up for adoption. Jen (Clea DuVall) is the painfully shy, self conscious geek who has befriended a guy on the internet but is terrified to meet him in real life.  Tish (Danneel Harris) is the maneater who takes on any cute guy who comes into the restaurant.  Trucker is the restaurant owner who is in love with Zoe who owns the Crystal Shop across the street and may or may not be a witch.  And Priestley (Jensen Ackles,) who is the mohawked smart ass of the group.

This is without a doubt an underrated gem!  A co-worker told me about the movie, and since we are both fans of Jensen Ackles ("Supernatural") I had to check it out.

This has a cute story by Betsy Morris, with competent direction by David Mackay.  But what makes the movie a step above the usual indie fare is the cast.

Elisabeth Harnois is totally believable as Piper; befriending the young girl (who may or may not be her daughter) and falling in love with the young girl's "father."  Danneel Harris (now Danneel Ackles..yes, she eventually married Jared)  is spot on as the restaurant "slut."  There is a storyline involving two guys that you can see the resolution coming from a mile away, yet she makes you care to see where it will lead.

I've always admired Clea DuVall, who is known for playing the edgy, Goth outsider type ("The Faculty," "Carnival.")  In her role as Jen she shows a vulnerability and innocence that won me over.  There is a scene
where she goes to a restaurant with Piper and Tish to finally meet her internet friend, and yet can't gather the courage to meet him that is heartbreaking.

The older couple of Zoe (Alice Krige, still looking stunning!) and Trucker (John Doe from the band "X") is also charming, with a twist ending that I did not see coming.

And then there is Jensen Ackles.  Why is this guy not a big star!  He is funny, handsome, and self-deprecating.  And the guy is the best at one-liners!  Part of the fun in this movie is seeing what color his hair will be and what outrageous T-shirt he will be wearing.  But he knocks it out of the park when he attempts to buy tampons for the girls to show them how comfortable he is with his manhood.  This scene alone proved what a comedic actor he really is.

So you can tell, I really enjoyed this movie.  I haven't blogged for awhile, but this movie got me back so I could let people know to look out for this one.  It is definitely going on my Christmas list.  Highly recommended!

Forbidden Games

1952 Academy Award winner, Best Foreign Film.  Synopsis: young orphan Paulette and farm boy Michel deal with the actualities of death during World War II.

This is a difficult movie to describe.  At times harrowing, hysterical, and yet tragic.  In order to give a review of my thoughts, some plot points may be deemed by some as spoilers.  You have been warned!

This movie opens up with one of the most harrowing and realistic views of WW2.  Paulette, her parents, and her dog are evacuating Paris and crossing into the countryside when an airstrike occurs.  Her parents are killed, but Paulette has no understanding of what has happened.  She picks up her dog and gets a ride with an elderly farm couple.  The woman realizes the dog is also dead and throws him off the bridge.  Paulette chases after the dog and winds up on the bank, where she is found by Michel, who has been chasing a renegade cow from his family's farm.  He decides to take Paulette home to see if his family will let him keep her.

At the farm, Michel's older brother has been gravely injured in a cart accident and while the family tends to him, they continue a feud with their neighbors.  They claim the neighbor's son is a deserter from the army, but unbeknownst to them he is wooing their daughter.

Paulette notices a graveyard with crosses and asks Michel to explain why people are buried there.  After Michel explains to her his minimal grasp of religious ceremonies, she decides to bury her dog in the Mill house.  However, she is afraid he will be lonely, so she decides to bury other animals there, while Michel begins to steal crosses to creat a perfect burial ground.

So, there's the spoilers, as they may be.  Back to the review:  This movie is one of the most evocative views of tragedy seen through a child's eyes.  Despite the horror that Paulette has seen, she finds peace and satisfaction at the "forbidden games" that she and Michel have created.  After all, she is only duplicating what she sees the adults doing with their dead.

But don't think this is a total downer of a film.  The feud between the farm neighbors adds some unexpected, and almost slapstick comedy to the preceedings.  At one point the rivalry escalates into an hysterical fight in the graveyard between the patriachs, compounded by the fact that no one is quite sure who has been stealing the crosses from the graves.

However, reality does eventually set in, and the ending is heartbreaking, to say the least.

Thanks to TCM I finally got to see this film, and I was overwhelmed!  The main key to the movie is Paulette, and this six year old gives the most unaffected, natural, non-artifice performance I've seen since "The Fall" (see my earlier blog.)  Your heart really goes out to her throughout the movie.

It is also beautifully filmed in black and white, with a score that doesn't overtake the film, but subtly enhances it. 

In a word...a Masterpiece.

Ace in the Hole

Charlie Tatum (Kirk Douglas) is a disgraced New York journalist who winds up at an Albuquerque, New Mexico newspaper.  He is determined to catch his big break but is stuck covering local feature stories.  He gets assigned to a local rattlesnake hunt, but when he and the young photographer stop at an Indian Curio shop, he discovers that the owner is trapped in a mine while searching for Indian artifacts.  The owner's wife (Jan Sterling) decides it's a good time to pack her bags and leave, but Charlie thinks this story will be his big break.

He convinces the wife to stay, since he feels once the story breaks the shop will be innundated with tourists.  He also connives the corrupt sheriff into not allowing any other press into the location.  Once the tourists do show up, the scene turns into a literal media circus.  Intent to get the best story possible, Charlie even convinces the local contractor to not go through the entrance and shore up the rock (which would get the victim out in a few hours) but to drill through the top of the mountain, thereby extending the rescue by several days.

This is a forgotten masterpiece by Billy Wilder that has been thankfully restored by the Criterion collection.  And what a masterpiece it is!  Filmed in 1951, it is an eerily prescient view of the power of media.  "Media Circus" is what the rescue literally becomes...the free admission to the mine becomes a 25 cent admission, and then, once the amusement trucks bring in circus tents and a ferris wheel (!) it is raised to a dollar admission.  And to think this was filmed over 50 years before CNN!

The acting is superb.  Kirk Douglas delivers one of his most infamous roles.  His Tatum is the most amoral, manipulative character in film, and Jan Sterling equals him in her greed and indifference to the husband she wants to leave in the cave.

Although many scenes are filmed in the bright New Mexico sun, this is definitely a film noir: there are few characters of redeeming value, and the scenes in the mine are dark and claustrophobic.  And the ending is as bleak as can be.

Thanks to our friends Ron and Sandy and their son Corey for loaning this to us.  I had never heard of this one before (the movie was originally a flop at the box office,) but was curious after I read that Criterion was re-releasing it.  And what a release it is!  The film is beautifully restored, and the packaging is outstanding (the inside liner notes are in the form of the Albuquerque newspaper, complete with ads for the Curio shop and the re-election of the sheriff!)   

A long lost classic.  This is one of the most important American films ever made.   

21 Jump Street

In 2005, super jock Jenko (Channing Tatum) and uber-nerd Schmidt (Jonah Hill) are high school seniors with nothing in common.  Years later they meet up at the Police Academy and decide to join forces in order to pass their exams.  Once they graduate, they are assigned bike patrol at a local park.  It is here they attempt to thwart a drug deal and their efforts go horribly wrong.  A re-assignment sends them to 21 Jump Street where they learn they are to pose as high schoolers to infiltrate and crack a school drug ring.

Yes another dreaded re-make of an '80s TV show.  Surprise!  This movie is hysterical!!  We laughed from beginning to end and had a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller keep the direction and action fast-paced.  The screenplay is cleverly self-deprecating:  the movie opens up with the film logo "Original Films;" the cop who reassigns them says that the program was something they tried in the '80s and no one could come up with an original idea; and there are cameos from Holly Robinson Peete, Peter DeLuise, and, yes, Johnny Depp. 

What makes the movie work is the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.  Who knew Tatum was such a comedic actor?!  Their comedic timing is completely in sync and flawless, most notably in the extended sequence where they are forced to take the drug and begin to trip out in the school hallway, running field, and band room.  And although it is one of the funniest pairings in recent memory, they also bring a tenderness to the story as they begin to bond more and more like brothers.

Other cast members include Ice Cube as their put-upon Captain and Dave Franco (James' younger brother) as the atypical (he's eco-friendly and vegan) drug dealer

One warning...this movie has the most "dick" jokes I've ever heard in a movie and some subtle ones at that; there is an on-going gag concerning explosions and when one finally occurs a truckload of roosters is blown up!  And let's not forget their Captain's name is Dickson.

This movie has to be the most surprising movie of the Spring season.  What could have been derivative and humorless arrives as the break-out comedy so far this year!  Highly recommended!

Why I didn't post this year's Oscars

Everyone has been asking me what I thought of this years Oscars.  I didn't post, since it's now over two weeks since the awards were announced..and here is why...

Personally, I thought it was a good show..concise, to the point, and within the time allotment.  My problem is that the Oscars have become superfluous.  Thanks to the internet, Entertainment Weekly, The AV Club (a website I highly recommend), and others, the show has lost its enticement.  When I was young, a movie would be nominated for an Academy Award, and that would be a reason to see it.  Now, by the time the nominations are announced, we already know who won the Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild, the New York (and every other major city in America) Film Critic's award, the Independent Spirit Award, and even the Razzie Awards.

However, since you're waiting with baited breath..here are my thoughts:

I'm extremely thrilled that two of my favorite movies of 2011 split the major awards:  "Hugo" and "The Artist."  Both were homages to the era of silent film, and both were fantastic.  "Hugo" won the technical awards (cinematography, art direction, sound mixing, sound effects, and visual effects) while "The Artist" won a mixture of technical and major awards (score, costume, director, actor, and picture.)  As I said in previous blogs:  "Hugo" was the most beautiful movie of the year and "The Artist" will have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face and tapping you feet. (Side note..haven't blogged about "Hugo" yet..guess you know what will be in the future..)

Also, I was ecstatic for the animated short win.."The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore."   Loved this short!!  I hope it will be available on dvd..and it was another homage to old films!

Biggest surprise?  Meryl Streep for best actress for "The Iron Lady."  I have not seen this film, but I think it's another problem with the Oscars....the sympathy vote.  It's been done time and time again... Julia Roberts "Erin Brokovich" over Ellen Burstyn "Requiem for a Dream"..('well, Julia's been making money for us and Ellen already has one for "Alice Dosesn't Live Here Anymore."')...Judy Densch "Shakespeare In Love" over Lynn Redgrave "Gods and Monsters," .....and the most egregious...Roberto Benigni "Life is Beautiful" over Ian McKellen "Gods and Monsters."  (Guess I know what movie I need to add to CinaJim's pics!)

I Love Meryl..have been a fan since the '70's when I first saw her on a PBS play "Uncommon Women and Others."  She is our greatest living actress.  She has been nominated 17 times and has not won since "Sophie's Choice"...14 nominations ago.  Sorry..I wanted to see " The Help"... Viola Davis accept best actress along with Octavia Spencer (who won best supporting actress.)

And I also have to raise a pint to Robert Sherman, who passed this week.  I was unhappy about the "song" nominations this year; why has the Academy turned this into a blah category when we had the Sherman brothers give us the most wonderful songs of our childhood...two Oscars for "Mary Poppins"... (score and song "Chim Chim Cher-ee"), one of my favorite scores, "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," and so many more...
We will remember the Sherman brothers songs for a long time....so, what won this year?  or last year?  or the year before?

So, I am finished rambling..(well almost, that Cirque Du Soliel thing was cool..but what the hell did that have to do with the Oscars?  And what was up with the lame "In Memorium" this year?!?)

Yes, I will continue to have "Oscar Night" as an event in my life, but I will be more critical of it.  Guess the next blog will be a "CinaJim Pic."  Keep it reel everyone!

CinaJim's Oscar Picks

So here is the one everyone is waiting for....my picks for the Oscars!

Please keep in mind this is a subjective viewpoint based on movies I have seen.  No, I haven't been able to see every movie nominated, although we did manage to see 7 of the 9 nominations for Best Picture (we missed out on "War Horse" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.")  Also, I will not comment on every category.  I have not seen any of the nominated documentaries, have little knowledge of the films up for best visual effects and make-up, and still have a hard time figuring out the difference between sound effects and sound mixing.

I want to emphasize that these are not who I think will win the Oscar; it's the nominees that I would vote for were I a member of the Academy.

So without further comments, the "CinaJimOscar" goes to....

Live Short: Pentecost
Animated Short:  The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
I won't go into detail on these since you can read my previous blogs on these categories.

Film Editing: Moneyball
Although I wasn't a big fan of this movie, I did admire the technical perfection of the editing in this film.

Art Direction: Hugo
Cinematography: Hugo
Without a doubt the most stunningly beautiful movie I've seen in 2011.  The set design is elaborate and impeccably perfect, and the creators did a fantastic job of recreating the milieu of Georges Melies.

Animated Feature:
The biggest outrage of this years nominations.  Kung Fu Panda 2 is nominated?  Really?!
My pick goes to the movie I went to see twice and and which was the most fun I had at the movies all year: The Adventures of TinTin:The Secret of the Unicorn.

Best Song:
The second biggest outrage of the year.  For a song that was the essence of the film it appeared in, I would have nominated and picked Mary J. Blige's The Living Proof from The Help.

Best Score: The Adventures of TinTin
Yes, I'm biased, but I would still give John Williams the award for this one.  This was not his usual bombastic charging themes.  Yes, it had exciting themes through most of the action sequences, but what really struck me was the opening and main motif which was jazzy and similar in tone to the Pink Panther theme.

Adapted Screenplay: Hugo
I've seen the book this was adapted from, and the creators of the film nailed it!

Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
I'll say it again...Woody Allen's best movie in years.

Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer
The seasoned actor was the best part of Beginners. And he was a delight!

Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer
The heart of The Help.  Sassy, funny, and yet touching.  Just don't eat her chocolate pie...

Actress: Viola Davis
The soul of The Help.  Heart-breaking, vulnerable, and eventually strong.  She completely dissolved into the character and gave the performance of her career (so far.)

Actor: Jean Dujardin
This was a tough call.  I loved George Clooney in The Descendants.   However, I have to give the award to Dujardin for embodying the perfect silent film star.  He had the swagger of Douglas Fairbanks, the pathos of Charlie Chaplin, and the charm of John Gilbert.

Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Who would have thought that a French director would come up with a black and white silent film in 2011 and turn The Artist into such a crowd pleaser!

Picture: The Artist
There were several movies that I truly loved this year, but this one stands above the rest.  Charming and touching, technically brilliant on all accounts, and performed by an incredible cast....this is what going to the movies is all about!

So now you have my picks.  Feel free to agree or disagree.  Just remember, you know where I'll be Sunday night (and yes, I took off from work on Monday!)   

  

Moneyball

Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is the General Manager of the Oakland A's and is constrained by a low budget which doesn't allow him much option to improve a losing team.  He encounters Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a Yale Economics graduate working for another team.  Billy brings him to the Oakland A's to try and come up with recruits via statistics, much to the chagrin of coach Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman.)  Can Billy change the face of baseball and lead his team to victory?

I had read that this is a baseball movie even for people who know little about the game.  Wrong!  Throughout the movie my husband and I kept looking at each other to see if either one of us knew what was going on!  Nothing is explained in black and white; it took me at least half an hour to realize that Billy was the General Manager and Art was the coach.  And I only found out after discussing the movie with guys at work that the table of guys discussing the players were actually the talent scouts who search for new recruits.  (Although this did lead to the one funny line in the movie.  A possible recruit is mentioned, and one scout says they can't hire him because his girlfriend is ugly: "A guy with a girl like that obviously has low self-esteem.") 

With that out of the way, let's get to the merits of the film.  The acting is good, albeit not Oscar-worthy; Brad brings his "A" game to the role, and Jonah Hill gives a subtle performance as the guy who is afraid to speak until his boss tells him to.  Even though he has few lines in the film, you do get to see him grow and gain more confidence as the film progresses. Hoffman was almost unrecognizeable in his role.

The best part of the film is the editing.  The movie intercuts between the story at hand, flashbacks to Billy's own recruitment (where he decides to give up a college scholarship to play professional ball and then disappoints when he turns out not to be the star they expected,) and lots of cuts to computer screens, statistical charts, and actual game footage.

Nominated for Best Actor, Supporting Actor, Editing, Sound Mixing, Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture.

CinaJim's take: Did not live up to the hype.   

Coming up next: CinJim's picks for the Oscars

Oscar Special-Animated Short Films

So here is part two of my review of films that are nominated but most people don't get to see:
the nominations for best animated short.

Sunday/Dimanche

A young boy in Canada spends his Sundays putting coins on the railroad track, going to church, and going to Grandma's house to visit with the relatives.

Yes, that's the plot.  This is a very primitive animated short with little color; the entire pastel is black, white, grey, and beige.  I believe the creators were trying to depict the ennui and boredom of a typical Sunday in a town that the train passes by.  Sorry, didn't get it.

A Morning Stroll

A young man is walking down the street and bumps into a fat guy.  He continues on down the street and sees a chicken come around the corner.  The chicken then goes up a staircase, pecks on a door, and enters the house when the door is opened.  This scenario goes on three times over the course of 100 years.

The three segments in this film were done in three different ways.  The first segment is black and white and drawn in a very linear fashion with a simple storyline.  The second section is in color.  The guy walking down the street is now playing a zombie game on an Iphone, and when he bumps into the fat guy, he spills his milkshake on him.  The third section is CGI, and the guy walking down the street is a zombie.  Now when he bumps into the fat guy he literally knocks the guys head off.  And when the chicken arrives, it turns into a bit of a bloodbath.  Then comes the "funny" coda.

Once again, didn't get it.  I admired the three different techniques of the segments, but the story was lame.  And my husband Ken fell asleep during this one.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

A young man, surrounded by books, is reading on his balcony in Louisiana.  Suddenly there is a hurricane which wisks him to another place, a place that is dreary and grey.  As he is walking down the road he notices a woman flying by hanging onto strings of flying books.  He follows her to a building made of books, and discovers that the library inside is a colorful room filled with flying and living books.  He communicates with a book on Humpty Dumpty, helps save an old book, and winds up staying in the town as the book custodian, handing out books to the grey children and bringing color into their lives.

Another great homage to film!  The lead character is patterned after Buster Keaton and the tornado scenes are reminiscent of "The Wizard of Oz."  This film utilizes a variety of techniques, from CGI to old fashioned animation (as in flipping the pages of a book to make the drawings move) to actual claymation sets.  Absolutely charming with an "Up" wistfullness.

Wild Life 

A young privileged man leaves England to find his way in the Canadian wilderness.  Although his letters home are optimistic, they do not detail the travails he is experiencing.  His story is interspersed with title cards describing the life and death of a comet.

An interesting Canadian (again) film.  This was another film with old school animation (i.e. no CGI that I could tell.)  The story was intriguing and sad, but what I really liked was the artwork.  At times I thought to myself that if Van Gogh made an animated film, this is what it would look like. 

La Luna

A little boy is taken out on a boat with his father and grandfather to learn the family business.  After he drops the anchor and a ladder is raised, he realizes that the family business is taking care of the moon.

A very charming short, with a cute ending.  However, it's a Pixar film so we expect it to be breath-taking. And it is.


So, just when we thought it was over, the film continued with four "highly commended" shorts.  In other words, those that weren't nominated:

Nullarbor

Two men engage in road rage traveling the longest road in Australia.
Another CGI film with a great story and characterization.  Warning....definitely not a child's cartoon.

Skylight

A very humorous story depicting penquins dealing with the depleting ozone layer.

Hybrid Union

Three robots trying to out-run an ominous cloud.  A CGI film from the Ukraine.  Not exceptional.

Amazonia

A young frog tries to get a meal.  An older frog befriends him and the two of them try to eat while not being eaten.  Very engaging with colorful CGI animation.


So, CinaJim's views:

Thanks to the MidTown Cinema we were able to see this year's nominations for short films.  I preferred the live action shorts over the animated ones.  There were a few that should not have been nominated ("Sunday," "A Morning Stroll") while some of the "commended" ("Skylight," "Amazonia," "Nullarbor") should have made the cut.

 However, without a doubt in my mind, the best animated short was "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore."  What a wonderful homage to "old school" film and a valentine to bibliophiles everywhere.  I hope this one will be available on dvd because I absolutely loved it!  

Oscar Special-Live Short films

Since we haven't been able to watch "Moneyball" yet, I'm going to jump ahead and do a two part review of films that few people get to see.  Thanks to the Midtown Cinema, we were able to watch "Reach for the Stars," a two part series of the 2011 nominations for Best Live Short and Best Animated Short.  Today, the five chosen for Best Live Short.

Pentecost

A young Irish boy commits a gaffe with the incense during church services.  His appalled father prohibits the boy from watching his favorite football team and rips his football posters off the wall in anger.  Several weeks later, the Archbishop is coming to the church, and the church is one altar boy short.  The boy is given a second chance, and if he can conduct himself without error, he may watch the big game later in the week.

This is the cutest entry in the series, succinctly told in 11 minutes.  The highlight is when the priest is giving the five altar boys their instructions and it turns into a coaching session, as if they were playing in the "big game."  Very charming.

Raju

A German couple is in India to adopt a young orphan boy, Raju.  While the father and the son are shopping in the local market, the boy vanishes.  What happens as the parents try to search for the son opens up an unforseen conspiracy and poses a moral dilemma for the couple.

This is the most somber entry of the series.  The editing and camera work add to the heightened tension and suspense as the father tries everything in his power to find Raju.  Heart breaking.

The Shore

Paddy, a middle-aged Irishman on the dole eeks out a living gathering mussels after the tide goes out.  Meanwhile, his old friend Jim and Jim's 25 year old daughter return to Ireland after decades of being in America.  Jim is hesitant to reconnect with his old friend because of a past misunderstanding regarding Mary, the woman they both loved.

The most beautiful entry of the series.  Beautiful cinematography of Ireland combined with good acting and a wistful plot.

Time Freak

The funniest entry in the series.  A guy goes to a warehouse to find out where his roommate has been for three days.  He finds that his friend has invented a time machine.  However, instead of using the device to go back in history (especially Ancient Rome,)  the inventor keeps going back to the previous day to try and correct his awkward conversations dealing with his parents, a girl he fancies, and the dry cleaner.

Another very short tale that manages to fit a funny story into a scant eleven minutes.  The highlight is the scene where he meets the girl in the park and continues to go back to that moment to correct his awkward conversations with her.  The ending has a great twist involving the friend.

Tuba Atlantic

The quirkiest movie of the bunch.  An old Norwegian is told he has six days to live.  He wants to reconnect with his estranged brother by communicating with him by a giant tuba they constructed as youths.  In the midst of his efforts, he has to deal with bothersome seagulls, a westerly wind, and a young girl claiming to be his Angel of Death who must stay with him until the end in order for her to become a real angel.

This movie is very reminiscent of Monty Python and Terry Gilliam movies.  Slightly odd but very funny in parts (his various methods of eliminating the seagulls are hysterical!)


So now the dilemma; which is my pick for the Oscar.  I enjoyed all five, each in their own way.  "Raju" and "The Shore" could have been extended into feature films by expanding on the stories, while the other three are compact and precise.  However, for me the one that really fits the bill with a good cast, simple story line, and that manages to do it all in a scant eleven minutes..my pick would be "Pentecost."

Coming next: Part Two, Animated Short Film nominations

Midnight in Paris

Gil (Owen Wilson,) his fiance (Rachel McAdams) and her parents are visiting Paris.  Gil is seeking inspiration in the city of his literary idols; he wants to write a serious novel instead of the superfluous screenplays that have made him wealthy.  His fiance and her parents, on the other hand, are your typical "Ugly Americans."  They look in scorn at everything around them, and only want to shop and see American movies.  One night, after dinner, Gil decides he needs to get some air and sends everyone back to the hotel.  While strolling the streets, he becomes lost and falls asleep on some stairs.  A clock stroke at midnight awakens him, and the next moment an antique car pulls up, with the occupants urging Gil to join them for a party.  When they arrive, he is stunned to find that the occupants of the car are F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.  At the party, and in several encounters throught the movie he meets Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Salvadore Dali, and Cole Porter, among others.  Will they give him the inspiration he seeks, or will he remain stuck in an unhappy modern reality?

I am on the fence regarding Woody Allen.  Some of his movies I love ("Manhattan," "Sleeper," "Zelig") while others I loathe ("Deconstructing Harry," "Vicki Christina Barcelona.")  "Midnight in Paris" is without a doubt one of his best movies in years.

Everything works in this film: the art direction, costumes, camerawork, and lighting.  Paris of the 1920's is gorgeously recreated, as is a scene where he goes back farther to the Belle Epoque age.  The cinematography lends an amber glow to daylight scenes and an enchanting sparkle to the night scenes.  It really made me want to return to Europe, with it's rain soaked cobblestone streets, street cafes, and joie de vivre.

The acting is top-notch.  This is Owen Wilson's best performance to date.  Watching his face, at first disoriented, then stunned, and finally giddy at the thought that he is mingling with his idols is wonderful to behold, and yet his looks of sadness, doubt, and resignation when he is with his "actual" life during the day are heartbreaking.  Rachel McAdams is also great at being the bitch of the film (not a spoiler...you hate her the minute she opens her mouth.)  The guest stars, who bring the "Lost Generation" to life are perfect: Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein, Adrian Brody as Dali, Yves Heck as Fitzgerald, and especially Corey Stoll as Hemingway.

And then there is Woody.  Long known as a director who allows his actors to act with minimal interference, he brings out their best.  And his screenplay is funny, wistful, sad, and intelligent (it will take me a few more viewings to catch all the references and people he incorporates into the plot.)

Nominated for Art Direction, Original Screenplay, Director, and Picture.

CinaJim's review:  Absolutely wonderful!

Our next featured presentation:  Moneyball

A CinaJim Pic - The Fall

Roy Walker (Lee Pace,) is a silent film stunt man recovering in a hospital after breaking his back from a horse stunt gone wrong.  Besides his infirmity he is also despondent that his girlfriend has left him for the leading man.  He befriends a young immigrant girl, Alexandria (Catinca Untaru,) who is recovering from a broken arm caused by falling from a tree while helping her parents harvest oranges.  To keep her interest, he begins to tell her the story of a bandit and his team of men who are on a mission to kill the evil Governor Odious.  Alexandria begins to incorporate things she sees in real life into the stories and Roy becomes determined to use this to his advantage to get her to do something for him.

I had seen things on-line about this film and was determined to check it out.  Tarsem, the director, had one music video (REM: Losing My Religion) and one film under his belt (The Cell.)  The Fall was filmed in 26 locations over 18 countries, and the clips I saw on the internet enhanced my curiosity.   It finally showed up at the MidTown Cinema (our local Art House cinema) for only 3 days, and I am so glad we went to see it.

This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen.  The cinematography is superb, with equally superb editing.  There are several scenes of natural formations that blend into something else, and the dissolve between the real world and Roy's story is technically impeccable.  Almost every scene of this movie could be framed as art, including an incredible stair scene reminiscent of an M.C. Escher drawing.  The costumes, also, are simply stunning and almost surreal (wait until you see the wildest wedding gown ever!)

The story is engaging because we see Alexandria recreate Roy's tale into her own views.  For example, when Roy states that one of his team is an Indian, he is picturing a Native American Indian, while she pictures an East Indian.  The evil Governor Odious becomes the actor who stole Roy's girlfriend.  The bandit becomes Roy himself, while his band of outlaws are patterned after people Alexandria sees on the hospital grounds. 

What sets this movie apart from being just a beautiful travelogue is the acting.  Lee Pace, who was in the TV show "Pushing Daisies," ad-libs quite a bit of his dialogue with Catinca, a young actress with limited English skills.  The movie was filmed chronologically to show the growth of Alexandria and her growing command of English.  Yes, in the beginning it is difficult to understand what she is saying, but that's the point.  Here are two people with different languages learning to communicate with each other.  And Catinca Untaru gives the most unadulterated, natural performance I have ever seen.  Rumor has it that she thought Lee was paralyzed in real life, and the director ran with that idea.

CinaJim's review:  An underated movie that should be seen.  I stated in my first blog that I would have blogs entitled "CinaJim's Pics."  These will be about my favorite movies, and this is my first one.  This movie is not in my top ten list....it is in my top three.  Absolutely beautiful!

Our next Featured Attraction: Midnight in Paris

The Artist

It's 1927 and George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is the most famous silent film star of the era.  After a preview of his latest movie, he literally bumps into Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), a young ingenue eager to get into the business.   In 1929 movie mogul Al Zimmer (John Goodman) declares that "talkies" are the future and Valentin's career is over.  With the stock market crash occuring, Valentin sees his career spiral into oblivion while Peppy becomes the new toast of Hollywood.

Who would have thought that in 2011 one of the best pictures of the year would not only be black and white, but silent!  Writer/Director Michel Hazanavicius has created a bonbon of a Valentine to the silent era of film and also created one of the best pictures of the year.  The casting is impeccable- Dujardin is a classic Douglas Fairbanks type, and Bejo is charming as the ingenue.  John Goodman is at his bombastic best as the movie mogul, and James Cromwell is perfect as Valentin's chauffer/valet.  And wait until you see the scenes with Uggs, the dog.  The detail that went into the film to recreate the verisimilitude of silent era Hollywood is amazing: the set design, the costumes, the lighting, and the score (although the film does copy the love theme from "Vertigo" for an emotional moment of the picture.)

2011 will be known as the year we saw two great homages to the silent era: "Hugo" and "The Artist."  And if you don't think people will sit through a black and white silent film, think again.  We saw it at the Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg, and the audience applauded at the end of the film.

Nominated for Best Actor, Supporting Actress, Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Score, Original Screenplay, Director, and Best Picture.

CinaJims review:  Run right out to see this!  It will leave you tapping your toes and grinning from ear to ear!

Coming attraction:  A CinaJim pic- The Fall

The Descendants

  Wealthy Hawaiian lawyer Matt King (George Clooney) is dealing with the tragic events of a boating accident that left his wife in a coma.  Having to deal with his two daughters, spunky 10 year old Scotty (Amara Miller) and foul-mouthed, rebellious 17 year old Alex (Shailene Woodley,) is just the start of his issues.  He is also the legal trustee of thousands of acres of land inherited by his family and must face the fact that his relatives want to sell the land to a resort developer thereby making the family very wealthy, much to the dismay of the townspeople.  As if that were not enough, he also finds out that his wife was cheating on him with the local Real Estate agent (Matthew Lillard.)  He decides to take the family from Oahu to Kauai to confront the adulterer.

Do not let the trailer fool you.  This is not a laugh out loud comedy.  Yes there are several comedic moments, especially concerning Alex's seemingly dim-witted friend Sid (Nick Krause) who tags along with the family.  This is a movie dealing with loss, love, and family ties.

At first glance, this is a loving postcard of Hawaii.  The film has many lush shots of the islands, and the score is punctuated with several folk songs of the area.  Also, it is another well-written adaptation by Alexander Payne, the creative genius behind "Election," "Sideways," and "About Schmidt."

Foremost it is a showcase for some wonderful performances.  George Clooney is deservedly nominated for best actor, and it is one of his best performances.  His character runs the gamut of emotions, from rage to confusion to acceptance, and he has several scenes where he does not speak, but you can see all the emotions course through his haggard appearance.  Shailene Woddley was egregiously left out of the best supporting actress race.  She delivers the break-out performance of the film.  Also in smaller roles are Robert Forster as the stern (and mean-spirited) father-in-law who idolizes his hospitalized daughter, and Matthew Lillard in a compete change of pace performance from the guy mostly known as Shaggy from the Scooby-Do movies.

The only fault I had with the movie was a slight lull in the action regarding confronting the Real Estate agent.  It becomes not a matter of IF King will confront the adulterer, but WHEN.

Nominated for Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Director, and Best Picture.

CinaJim's review: Highly Recommended!

Our next featured attraction: The Artist

My first blog

Welcome to my first blog!

I have been a movie geek for as long as I can remember.

I grew up in the 60's in Lebanon, PA, where my ancestors laid roots in 1742.  I grew up prior to the age of Malls and Cinema Multiplexes.  The main street in Lebanon is Cumberland Street.  In the 60's we had three theaters (or commonly known as movie houses.)  The first was the State.  It had a ticket booth outside near the sidewalk.  Once you bought your ticket, you had to pass walls of lobby cards and posters (for such movies as "Deranged" and "Squirm") before you opened the doors to the theater.  A few blocks away was the Academy Theater, where we would line up for three blocks to see "Jaws" or "The Exorcist."  Farther down, near the end of the city was the Colonial..a grand old theater with a balcony, two special booths by the screen, and a big curtain that would be opened at the start of the feature presentation.  This is where I first saw "The Poseidon Adventure," "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," "Murder on the Orient Express,"  "With Six You Get Eggroll," and "The Sting."

We also had the Key Drive-In, which was about a mile from our house.  Mom and Dad would put the four of us in our pajamas, pack up snacks, and head to the drive-in in our station wagon to see the latest Disney movie.  And I'm talking about the originals...."Mary Poppins," "Blackbeard's Ghost,"  "The Ugly Dachshund," "That Darn Cat," and "The Love Bug."  Once I hit adolescence and had a drivers license, I spent many weekends at the Dawn to Dusk show, watching movies like "Death Race 2000" and "Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell."  Sadly, the Key Drive-In is now a Super Walmart, and the three theaters downtown are gone.  (The State and the Academy were converted into other things, and the glorius Colonial burnt to the ground.)

And there was the fortune of having a cousin who was the first to not only have color tv, but also cable tv.  We begged Mom and Dad to go to Aunt Mav and Uncle Sam on a Saturday so we could watch "Chiller Theater" with Dr. Shock on WPHL channel 17 out of Philadelphia.  A movie horror nerd was born!

I have always been an Oscar Maniac.  I have friends calling me to answer movie questions; I can't wait for Jeopardy to have an "Oscar" category, and my boss knows that when I ask for a day off the last Monday in February, it's my SuperBowl.

So, after that long-winded introduction, why am I doing this? For starters, I am proud that I have an English degree from Bloomsburg State College (well, now BSU), but haven't really applied it until now.  I was Executive Editor for "The CampusVoice" from 1979-80 but have not written anything since that time.  Yet, I can go on for hours discussing movies.  Now thanks to the internet, I can get this out of my system, and maybe somebody will be interested.  I've tried to attempt this before, but gave up because it is a daunting task.  Besides, everybody and his mother has a movie post somewhere out there (which should have won the Oscar for best song from "An American Tail."  Sorry, can't help myself!) 

What finally helped were two things.... The musical "Sunday in the Park With George."  George is a struggling artist who is frustrated that it's all been done before, but the ghost of his grandfather's girlfriend sings "Let it come from you, then it will be new...give us more to see..."

And also a shout-out to my friend J.W. Ocker, who has this amazing blog I found several years ago (O.T.I.S. odd things I've seen) and turned it into a book, "The New England Grimpendium."  And he has a new book on the way!  He gave me the inspiration to finally sit down and do it.

This will, obviously, be a work in progress.  I am not the most tech proficient, so it may take me awhile to figure out how to post pictures and stuff.  Heck, I don't even know if this will post!  Hopefully, this will be the start of something.  Thanks for reading, and I hope you can join me on my reel adventures!

Our next featured presentation:  CinaJim's review of "The Descendants."

Coming attractions:  (besides movie reviews)
*CinaJims pics.....where I discusss my favorite movies
*Italian splatter and Giallo films from the '80s (and why I love them)
*Why the score matters
*That's two hours of my life I'll never get back
*Oscar results (and Oscar "No they didn't!)