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Re:Africa Unite
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"Here's my review of Africa Unite. Ho hum... " [More]
The Great International Marley ...
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""Africa is my home," says Rita Marley, a lifelong Jamaican and wife of one of the most beloved musicians of all time. "All of Africa."In honor of Bob Marley's 60th birthday celebration, the reggae great's family gathers with African big-wigs in Ethiopia to stage a series of talks and a mega-concert in an attempt to, as the film's title suggests, unite the nation. Director Stephanie Black wisely uses the trip as an opportunity to share the messages of peace with a wider audience in need of enlightenment on the African struggle by turning it into the documentary Africa Unite.The event is a wonderful opportunity for the once European-dominated continent (the patchwork county colonization is likened to a quilt) to be AFRICA once again. Bob wanted that to happen. Rita admits that it's "not her idea. It's Bob's idea." In the process, the Marleys, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover, Lauryn Hill, and many African notables whi ... " [More]
Juno's Transformers: Humans In ...
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"*Some JUNO spoilers ahead, so steer clear until you've seen it*Jason Bateman's Mark in Juno is not a creep. He's a repressed artist who rushed into a marriage before he was content with his accomplishments, making him appear immature and selfish. In being such a person, he is unfortunate, painful, and, most importantly, real.He has seemingly found a peer in Ellen Page's Juno, the younger female version of his music-loving self and carrier of his adopted child. They swap albums and bond over bloody horror flicks. The friendship is there and only when Juno reacts (as a 16 year old would and should) to news of his planned divorce does Mark fully realize that she is a teenager.Juno sees a utopic environment for raising a child, but Mark lives in a suburban prison, one that suffocates his true being. She pegs him as fit for parenthood because he's "old" and married, and this assumptive categorizing forces Mark to inquire about her true motives for visiting ... " [More]
Shaky Hand Luke
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"A few years ago on the talk show circuit, Luke Wilson liked to note that he had contributed one of the most memorable lines in Rushmore. Already cast as Dr. Peter Flynn, Luke was reading over the script written by Wes Anderson and brother Owen when he got to the restaurant scene after the conclusion of Max Fischer's "Serpico." Luke's character comes to the dinner in O.R. scrubs and he thought it would be funny if Max asked what the clothing was, got the response, and then asked, "Oh, are they?" Bill Murray's Harold Blume nearly gags on his whiskey after hearing the line and so do we.Luke played his part. He saw an opportunity, went for it, and it worked. Apparently, the experience gave him enough confidence to write a script of his own. His first attempt is The Wendell Baker Story, a project that looks wildly appealing on paper. Co-directed with brother Andrew, the film stars Luke, Seymour Cassel, Eddie Griffin, Kris Kristofferson, Eva Mendes, ... " [More]
Re:Shorts! Volume 1
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"My review of Shorts! Vol. 1 is now available. " [More]
The Do's and Don't's of Short F ...
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"Why make a short film? There can be many valid reasons: not enough funds for a full length feature; more room for experimental filmmaking techniques without the potential for full length fluff; or, most commonly, the filmmaker wants to strongly convey a single idea in a more direct (a.k.a. shorter) format.While shorter doesn’t always mean better. Those behind these films often use/abuse the medium to wax philosophical, cramming far too much into a matter of minutes and leaving viewers cut off with choppy endings. The technical experimentation alluded to above can result in visual awe, but often the storytelling aspects are greatly lacking. The running time may be considerably truncated, but the basic components of successful film language still must be present.The prospect of viewing 15 award-winning shorts from various celebrated festivals (including Sundance and Tribeca) was largely appealing, especially considering my excellent track record with the medium. Admittedly ... " [More]
Best Films of 2007: 1-5
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"5. The Bourne UltimatumWith the exception of Wes Anderson’s films, few entries in recent cinema have been as exciting to watch as first viewings of the Bourne films. Much has been critically made over the "spy with a conscience" that has already influenced major action films (namely Casino Royale), but the praise is wholly warranted. The only other times that I have been wowed so much by an action sequence was the bridge scene from Mission: Impossible III. For the series' third and final (?) installment, director Paul Greengrass and his crew (especially cinematographer Oliver Wood and editor Christopher Rouse, both so key to the maestro's trademark mixed camera surveillance look) ante up by having three such scenes. Since The Bourne Identity was released in 2002, Matt Damon has elevated himself from “rising star” to a near sure thing and one of the industry’s best. His Bourne is many wonderful things, and as more of his memory has come back ... " [More]
Best Films of 2007: 6-10
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"One year later, I still feel great about my top 5 films of 2006, especially The Departed in the #1 spot. However, since I hadn't seen a good deal of the Oscar-friendly pictures due to my minor market setting, homage must now be paid to Children of Men, Letters From Iwo Jima, and Little Children, each of which would have made last year’s Top 10 list had I seen them in ’06.This year was another stellar one for film, as seen by the long list of notable releases not to make the Top 10. Again, the list only includes what I've seen and I've missed a number of appealing flicks. I’m certain that There Will Be Blood and hopefully Juno and Sweeney Todd will be in my ultimate “Best of 2007” list. Others that I haven't seen are: Margot at the Wedding; Charlie Wilson’s War; Atonement; I Am Legend; Michael Clayton; Sunshine; Talk To Me; Paris Je T’aime; The Savages; The Kite Runner; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fo ... " [More]
Best Films of 2007: Honorable M ...
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"Rescue DawnWerner Herzog’s film of Dieter Dengler’s true survival and escape from a Vietnam P.O.W. camp is a tale of two tales. Early scenes of peacetime military life feel staged and out of place, but once Dengler’s plane crashes, the story takes off in a major way. Christian Bale delivers another solid performance as Dengler, harrowingly depicting the daily torture of captivity, but the real surprise is Steve Zahn as fellow prisoner Duane. Zahn, finally in a non-goofy role, steals every scene that he’s in. His comedically googly eyes are ever present, though here they mirror a frantic need to survive in horrific circumstances. I may never be able to look at him the same again. Despite Duane’s authenticity, Herzog asks the audience to stretch themselves in believing Dengler’s characterization. Dengler is apparently so determined in his ways that he will yell at his captors immediately after being tortured as if he expects no consequences for his ... " [More]
Best Films of 2007: Disappointm ...
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"OnceThe music is often incredibly moving (see “Falling Slowly”), but the film as a whole is not at all what critics are making it out to be. The supposed love between the two leads is not believable. Sure, the guy wants the girl and the girl is in a situation that would be ideal for the guy to fit into, but no great romantic move happens. Ironically, the music prevents the audience from learning enough about the characters to care about them, a flaw that rest solely on the script. Just a little more time spent on the leads and this could have been a great film. Instead, we get a lot of good visual music, but a great music video does not a great film make (see Idlewild). If wonderful music warrants a largely one-dimensional film, then the day of the independent filmmaker has truly dawned and not in a good way. It’s the Irish acoustic Hustle and Flow without convincing character development. Proceed with caution, but proceed nonetheless.Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Stor ... " [More]
It's Bob's Party, But Don't Inv ...
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"Bob Dylan has led an eventful life. He’s redefined the protest song, influenced the Beatles, found God, and won an Oscar. The nation’s reigning poet laureate continues to make great music and tour nearly 50 years after his rise to the top of the folk scene. His story is legendary and inspiring. But is it cinematic?The real-life Dylan is. D.A. Pennebaker’s Don’t Look Back and Martin Scorsese’s No Direction Home are towering documentaries chronicling the 1965 British tour and Dylan’s life up until his motorcycle wreck, respectively. That Dylan is charming, mysterious, and inspiring. He is as close to a musical superhero as anyone has come, including Elvis.But what about the fictional Dylan? Being a natural storyteller, Dylan seemed fit as any to explore himself on a deeper level. For someone who has successfully dodged the press’ attempts to explain his entire being, surely the man himself could provide the best insight.Unfortunately ... " [More]
Disco! or How I Learned to Quit ...
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"In 2005, Steven Spielberg was in somewhat of a funk. It had been 7 years since Saving Private Ryan, and in the meantime he was in a popcorn picture phase. He finished the Kubrick project (A.I.), worked with Tom Cruise twice (Minority Report and War of the Worlds), got by with The Terminal, and in the middle made a little gem called Catch Me If You Can. But where was another “important Spielberg” film? Enter Munich. The exhilarating true story of globetrotting Israel-backed assassin assassins looked like it was lifted out of the mid-70s and proved that Spielberg still cared.Until March, David Fincher was a director known for creeping out audiences in contemporary settings with the help of Brad Pitt. Then he released Zodiac, a meticulous and thoroughly engaging chronicle of the San Francisco citizens obsessively affected by the mysterious titular killer. The Vietnam-era period piece, arguably the best film of the year so far, is his strongest to date and broadened ... " [More]