Always, always behind I am.
The weekend before the Oscars, I made a desperate attempt to catch up on the nominated films. I quite enjoyed
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, even though the film was almost as long as its name. Casey Affleck ("Gone Baby Gone")once again shows he's the real actor in the family. Gorgeous cinematography, the ever glorious Sam Rockwell ("Snow Angels"), and an interesting look at how a man can chose to betray his idol complete the package.
In the Valley of Elah wore on my patience almost from the first scene. Of course, Tommy Lee Jones ("No Country for Old Men") and Susan Sarandon ("Enchanted") were awesome, but Charlize Theron ("Aeon Flux") is as drab as the scenery. The story should have been interesting, if not tense. A soldier disappears from base after returning from Iraq and his father goes to look for him. And it sort of tries for a message. But I blame Paul Haggis ("Crash"). Just because.
Into the Wild made me equally crazy. First, I just can't relate. I don't understand abandoning everything and going to live in the wilderness. Especially not even prepared with some boots. And then some random editing that did not bring the story together. Add in some horrible, pretentious voice over from Jena Malone ("The Go-Getter"), who I cannot stand, and you've got a giant, annoying mess. Eddie Vedder does some excellent songs, and Hal Holbrook ("Shade") almost broke my heart. But those two things alone do not a good film make.
And not related to the Oscars...
Winter Light continues the slowest marathon ever. And by slow, I don't mean the films (though sometimes they are), I mean me. In this masterpiece, director Ingmar Bergman ("Saraband") totally depressed me with an examination of a village priest who seems to have lost his faith. The emotions are real, painful and cold. The shadows and close-ups glorious. But I felt a sadness all day.