Title: Hitchcock
Genre: Film
Grade: A-
Notable People: Anthony Hopkins, Scarlett Johansen, Jessica Beal
Review: Hopkins IS Hitchcock- incredible channeling. Movie takes place during the making of classic Psycho; great period piece, great acting and a lots of info you did not know. See Hitchcock go nuts in lobby of theater first time the movie is shown. Liked it a lot.
Genre: Film
Grade: A-
Notable People: Chiwetal Ejiofor, Michael Fassbinder, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano, Directed by Steve McQueen
Title: Twelve Years A Slave
Review – Well- as you can see we are obviously back in the land of movies; three good ones in three days. This is one powerful movie that should make you somewhat embarrassed to be a Caucasian. Very powerful story that reflects the title; free black man living a serene life in Saratoga, NY in 1850s gets kidnapped and turned into slavery for 12 years in the deep south. Shocking does not capture it. Well acted and filmed – great support cast and a great performance by the lead actor. It dragged a bit for me, and was a tiny bit predictable- but still a must see. Witching this and “The Book Thief’ in back to back nights may not be all that recommended- you will want to see a Rambo movie after these two- in which the good guys get to kick ass. A very startling commentary on human cruelty and misery.
Title: Moonrise Kingdom
Genre: Film
Grade: B+
Notable People: Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Francis Mcdormand, Harvey Keitel, Edward Norton…and a group of really talented kids. Directed by Wes Anderson.
Review: I really liked this whimsical movie about a scout pack on a remote island in 1965. All the adult stars are “out of type” but really good and the kids steal the show. Lots of hidden values, quite funny and a surprisingly moving love story. Beautiful location shoot and the camera work is wonderful. Great summer movie.
Title: Moonrise Kingdom
Genre: Film
Grade: B+
Notable People: Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Francis Mcdormand, Harvey Keitel, Edward Norton…and a group of really talented kids. Directed by Wes Anderson.
Review: I really liked this whimsical movie about a scout pack on a remote island in 1965. All the adult stars are “out of type” but really good and the kids steal the show. Lots of hidden values, quite funny and a surprisingly moving love story. Beautiful location shoot and the camera work is wonderful. Great summer movie.
Title: To Rome with Love
Genre: Film
Grade: A-
Notable People: Directed by Woody Allen, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Page, Roberto Benigni, Penelope Cruz, Jesse Eisenberg
Review: Disclaimer: I am a devotee of the Woodman. That said, this is another in his recent love songs to foreign lands; a he did with London, Barcelona and Paris- Woody paints a masterpiece of Rome’s beauty. The story is classic new century neurosis. Baldwin is a hoot, Cruz is devastating, Page is herself…and this one features the return of the Woodman in a smaller role- with a psychoanalyst wife that matches him for the ages. If you eve liked a woody- you gotta go.
Title: The Hunger Games
Genre: Film
Grade: B+
Notable People: Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Sidney Tucci, Donald Sutherland
Review: Tess and I went to see this for my birthday after a month long wait for a data. Worth the wait. The two of us read the trilogy last year at same time so were highly eager for the film. These are tough books to make into film- but it is a an admirable job. I was surprised the film was able to capture the struggle to maintain humanity amidst the horror. Lawrence is a revelation as the heroine Katniss. Harrelson is quite the part and Tucci is to die for. Banks is unrecognizable and Lenny Kravitz has a very key small part. Great scenery and captures the angst of it all…. And the metaphors.
Title: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Genre: Film
Grade: B+
Notable People: Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ewan Macgregor
Review: I think the title probably tells you all you need to know; delightful movie about uptight English people trying to help a very rich and mystical Sheik to create a dam and bring salmon fishing to the middle est. Thomas is a force.
Title: The Kid with a Bike
Genre: Film
Grade: A
Notable People: The Dardenne Bothers- Directors
Review: An absolutely beautiful French movie about a young boy left in residential treatment centers and foster care and his quest to connect with his bum of a father; well acted, well shot and moving. Sub- titles.
Title: The Artist
Genre: Film
Grade: A-
Notable People: Director: Michel Hazanavicius. . Actors: Jean Dujardin · Bérénice Bejo· John Goodman · James Cromwell
Review: You’ve heard a lot about this film and all valid. I loved it- but I think you really have to be a fan of old films to really get juiced by it. The acting s magnificent and it is a veritable love song to the cinema. The credits-which look like they came from Casablanca- are worth it alone.
Title: The Great Flood
Genre: Film/Music
Grade: A
Notable People: Bill Morrison- filmmaker Bill Frizell- score and live performance
Review: this is a traveling show, seen at the Wexner Center, of their collaboration on presenting the extraordinary Mississippi flood of 1927. Morrison uses restored archival footage to paint an incredible picture of the physical, social and cultural devastation and Frizell and is three piece band are nothing short of spectacular. This has limited run around the country. Don’t miss it if you get a chance. Incredibly moving.
