MOON Directed by: Duncan Jones Running time: 97 minutes Release date: May 12, 2009 Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Thriler Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics MPAA Rating: R This unique film was screened at Tribeca Film Festival and it had gained a buzz from its premiere at Sundance and like many I was anxious to see what it was all about. The program indicated by Tribeca Film Festival...More
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Directed by: Christopher Delgado
Running time: 83 minutes DVD Release: Heights Entertainment (2006) Genre: Comedy and Romance In the sense of culture-style wordplay humor, Juan Bago/Latin Daddy (Michael Diaz and Johnathan Brea) is reminiscent to the characters developed in the hilarious Amos 'n' Andy television series of the 1950s giving way to a more sophisticated approach to characterization in a Dominican manner. This funny episodic romp ask the question of "What will Juan do to get the Girl of his Dreams"? Juan's the slacker who lives at home with a loving mom, irrresponsible dad and annoying younger sister portrayed by a very funny comedic group of supporting actors. Juan is an unkept young man who has trouble making his transition into a social world with women. Fascinated by human nature, this film's approach to both comedy and drama draws from the observations of the traits and motivations that drive the actions of all people: while often overlapping stereotypes of Dominican-Americans, there is at the same time a universality to their characters that transcends their nationality. Beneath the dialect and cultural imagery, the movie celebrates the virtues of friendship, persistence, work and common sense. The story is narrated by one of three young men at the local grocery store recalling his underachieving friend Juan who is in search for the "girl of his dreams" while commuting to and from work. Juan's miraculous tranformation from a loser to a winner is predictable, however a very funny journey. As the plot is centered on Juan finding a love interest in his life, the minor subplots builds in importance until they take over the narrative. With a gradual flow into each sequence the story gives way to the major theme in the making of "Juan the Man". This is fun film to watch. FOR MORE FILM REVIEWS by Gerald Wright go to [url=http://www.HDFest.com]www.HDFest.com |
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RENDEZ-VOUS WITH FRENCH CINEMA 2009
NEW YORK-The 14th edition of Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, The Film Society of Lincoln Center & Unifrance celebrates its annual showcase of the best in contemporary French film. Venues are Walter Reade Theater and IFC Center (NYC), March 5 -15. Eighteen titles will premiere in the series, including new filmwork by Claude Chabrol, Claire Denis, Costa-Gavras, Benoit Jacquot, Agnes Varda, the world premiere of Andre Techine's social drama "The Girl on the Train", and Jean-Francois Richet's multiple prizewinner "Mesrine" (part 1&2), an energetic biography of French criminal mastermind Jacques Mesrine. Opening Night features the U.S. premiere of Christophe Barratier's "Paris 36", a period piece musical charmer. Other filmmakers and guests who will attend screenings during the series include directors Claire Denis, Samuel Collardey, Patrick Mario Bernard, Pierre Trividic, Daniele Thompson, Costa-Gavras, Anne Fontaine, Jean-Francois Richet, Ilan Duran Cohen, Agnes Varda, Sylvie Verheyde, Martin Provost, Pierre Schoeller, Benoit Jacquot, and prizewinning actress Felicite Wouassi in "With a Little Help from Myself". Films To Watch For: Beaches of Agnes Eden Is West The Apprentice Versailles Bellamy Change of Plans The Joy of Singing Villa Amalia Seraphine FOR INFORMATION ON TICKETS AND SCHEDULE GO TO [url=http://WWW.FILMLINC.COM]WWW.FILMLINC.COM AND [url=http://WWW.IFCCENTER.COM]WWW.IFCCENTER.COM |
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Directed by: Wayne Kramer
Running time: 113 minutes Release date: February 27, 2009 (Limited) Genre: Drama Distributor: The Weinstein Company MPAA Rating: R In the theme of the movie CRASH with multi-plots that intertwine, is a film exploring the issue of immigration and different nationalities in Los Angeles. CROSSING OVER, is an ensemble cast movie dealing with border patrols, , document fraud, the asylum and green card process, enforcement,, naturalization, the office of counter terrorism and the debate of cultures with crisp pacing. Enforcement Agent Max Brogan (Harrison Ford) is a compassionate person who gets gets personally involved with an illegal Mexican woman named Mireya (Alice Braga) who is caught up in a sweep. She works in a "sweat shop" to provide for her young son left in Mexico. She gets deported although Max tries to help keep her in the U.S. In another scenario is a British musician Gavin Kossef (Jim Sturgess) who uses his Hebrew decent to gain access to green card status while his Aussie girlfriend Claire Shepard (Aice Eve) who is an aspiring actress gets caught up in an uncompromising sexual relationship with an application adjudicator Cole Frankel (Ray Liotta). Cole is married to a immigration defense lawyer Denise (Ashley Judd) who is trying to settle a case concerning a very young South African girl. The most moving and sensitive scenario is about a Muslim American school age girl Taslima Jahangir (Summer Bishil) who informs her class of her favoritism in terrorist acts that bring down the long arm of the office of counter terrorism on her family. There is a small scene concerning an Asian American teen and an enforcement agent that gets involved in a convenience store robbery and murder that has some flaws with excessive dialogue, but it can be overlooked. In spite of heavy handed dialogue, CROSSIN OVER makes a point of getting its thought across to the audience. The lead actor in this ensemble Harrison Ford, gives a brilliant performance as a man with a sense of duty and compassion mirror the present day immigration issues in the U.S. The supporting cast members challenge their roles with grace and dynamics. The performances of Lee Horsley, Cliff Curtis, Merik Tadros, Kevin Alejandro, West Liang, Justin Chon and Tim Chiou give this film a natural flow to a fine plot. |
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Directed by: Morgan Dews
Running time: 98 mis. Release date: February 20, 2009 (NY), February 27, 2009 (LA) Genre: Documentary Distributor: National Theatrical Release MPAA Rating: Not rated This is a riveting portrait examining a dysfunctional family seen through the audio and visual records discovered by a grandson (Morgan Dews, filmmaker). After graduating from college in 1990 with a degree in history he undertook the project of documenting the turbulent life of his grandparent's marriage. Being this is his first feature length film, he accomplishes to expose the psychiatric concepts of a open marriage of his grandfather and grandmother. The project started with a suitcase of 8mm films from his grandmother, Allis. Then an uncle sent him ten hours of dictaphone letters; this is a diary of reel-to-reel scrapbooked memories from the 1950s - 1960s of overwhelming stories of open marital sexual exploits, physical and mental abuse and denial of those same abuses. The collateral damage of such a lifestyle is fiercely projected in a fearful manner. This film portrays personalities in this driving dramatic filed transcript of when a family dynamic is broken, and how one person often becomes the center of blame, or the "designated patient"; this blame often rotates among family members. The relationship of his grandparents Allis and Charley married in the 1950s, both for the second time. Charley traveled for work, as far as Australia, much of the time that Allis was raising their four children. They recorded letters and sent them to each other, they kept in touch via Dictaphone, which became an audio family album. Charley also sent pictures of himself with other women; Allis responded in kind. Sometime during the so-call swinging 1960s, the couple came apart. As they became older, Charley drank excessively and Allis lost interest in being a homemaker. Their sons fell into depressions and filmmaker Morgan's mother Anne (daughter of Charley and Allis) began living an irrational lifestyle. Ultimately causing her to marry early in life and becoming pregnant. Filmmaker Dews opens the question(s) as to who is accountable for the tumult in a family unit that is self-destructive. (FOR MORE FILM REVIEWS by Gerald Wright go to [url=http://www.HDFest.com]www.HDFest.com, [url=http://www.CriticalWomen.net]www.CriticalWomen.net under He Said/She Said and [url=http://www.FilmShowcase.Blogspot.com]www.FilmShowcase.Blogspot.com) |
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Directed by: Tom Tykwer
Running time: 120 minutes Release date: February 13, 2009 (Selected), February 20, 2009 (Wide) Genre: Drama, Thriller, Action and Espionage Distributor: Columbia Pictures MPAA Rating: R The spy genre deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way or as a basis for fantasy. In the sense of todays' monopology generated world banks controlling airspace and water to name of a few God given assets, this gripping thriller attacks the chosen few who run the world. Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant D.A. Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are on a road to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks who is running reprehensible illegal activities. Salinger and Whitman follow the money with great performances that display their reinvention of their talents as actors. Their characters allow fluid identities to flow on screen acquainting contemporary coincidences and mysteries - these elements recur throughout the crisp paced plot. Over the longer span of the film a powerful emotional resonance of anger and revenge prevails along with a action pack shootout at the prestigeous N.Y.C. Guggenheim Museum. Up until this part of the movie the plot dealt with some of the realities of the world. The over-indulging shootout lasted 14 minutes without N.Y.P.D.'s appearance on the scene. That is impossible and totally unrealistic. Spy/action films enjoyed a rivival in the late 1990s getting away from fantasy elements in favor of realism with action, such as Syriana and the Bourne film series. This movie is challenging, no matter how troublesome the final scenes may be. |
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"GOLDEN SILENTS" series:
STELLA DALLAS Directed by: Henry King Running time: 110 mins. Release date: November 16, 1925, USA - Silent film Genre: Drama, Comedy and Coming of Age Produced by: Samuel Goldwyn Oliver Higgins Prouty's celebrated novel was famously adapted for the big screen by King Vidor, in the Barbara Stanwyck weepie of 1937. But this original, classically elegant silent version is by many accounts an even better film. Belle Bennett stars as an ambitious, heart-wrenching Stella Dallas. Although she did not get top billing, which went to Ronald Colman as Stephen Dallas, she was brilliant. As a woman attempting to secure a better life and marries above her station, she gives up everything for her daughter Laurel Dallas (Lois Moran). Moran gives an outstanding performance as she transforms on screen as an 11 year Laurel to a young woman destined to marry a prominent young man named Richard Grosvenor (a 16 year old Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). Supporting cast members of Jean Hersholt as Ed Munn, Alice Joyce as Helen Morrison and Vera Lewis as Mrs. Tibbets gave this classic silent movie the additional terrific performances that makes this film a masterpiece. (For information concerning the public screening on Friday, Feb. 13 @ 7pm go to [url=http://www.filmlinc.com]www.filmlinc.com) For more film reviews by Gerald Wright go to www.HDfest.com, www.FilmShowcase.Blogspot.com and www.CriticalWomen.net (He Said-She Said). |
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Directed by: Harlald Zwart
Running time: 95 mins. Release date: January 6, 2009 Genre: Comedy, Remake and Sequel Distributor: Columbia Pictures MPAA Rating: PG-13 This is the sequel to the 2006 hit stars Steve Martin as he reprises the role of the bumbling French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (John Cleese) is forced to assign Clouseau to a team of international detectives and experts charged with catching the thief and retrieving the stolen artifacts. Steve Martin is joined by his co-stars Jean Reno (Ponton, his partner) who really looks good in comedic roles oppossed to his prior dark villian roles and Emily Mortimer as Nicole the subject of Clouseau awkward affections. The investigative team is played by the great talents of Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina, Yuki Matsuzaki, Lilly Tomlin and the beautiful Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. This is a children friendly film, however it lacks real laugh potential. |
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"PAUL BLART MALL COP"
Directed by: Steve Carr Running time: 1 hr. 31 mins. Release date: Jan. 16, 2009 Genre: Comedy, Crime and Gangster Distributor: Columbia Pictures MPAA Rating: PG A single suburban father Paul Blart (Kevin James of The King of Queens) who failed at the New Jersey Police Academy trying to make ends meet results to earn a living as a security officer at a New Jersey mall. He takes his job seriously although others do not at this megaplex. During the excitement of the Christmas holidays, the mall is full of shoppers. When a gang of organized crooks posing as Santa's helpers led by a rookie security guard stage a coup, shutting down the complex and taking hostages (Paul's daughter and his sweetheart among them), Paul must save the day. With some mild crude and suggestive humor Kevin James proves to be a formidable mall cop in stopping the overtaking of the mall. As the title character he shows his ability to do slapstick and physical comedy. This bumbling everyday guy is lovable. The supporting cast of Jayma Mays as Paul's sweetheart Amy, Raini Rodriguez as his teenage daughter Maya along with Kier O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Rannazzisi and Shirley Knight makes this a funny romp to watch. This movie is family accessible but not aimed specifically at a kids audience. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D" Directed by: Patrick Lussier Running time: 101 mins. Release date: Jan. 16, 2009 Genre: Horror, Suspense, Thriller and Remake Distributor: Lionsgate MPAA Rating: R A remake of the low budget 1981 horror classic is brought into contemporary settings in a 3D slasher. Front and center in this story are three high school classmates caught in a decade old love triangle: Tom, Axel and Sara-Axel's wife and Tom's former high school sweetheart. Jensen Ackels, Kerr Smith and Jaime King, who portray the three primary characters, lead an impressive cast including veteran actors Tom Atkins and Kevin Tighe. Ten years prior a tragedy changed the town of Harmony. Tom Hanniger an inexperienced coal miner caused an accident in the tunnels that trapped and killed five men and sent the only survivor, Harry Warden, into a permanent coma. Then, exactly one year later on Valentine's Day, Harry Warden woke up-and brutally murdered 22 people with a pixaxe before being killed. Ten years later, Tom Hanniger returns to Harmony on Valentine's Day, stilled haunted by the deaths he cuased tries to make amends with his past. Soon after, the killings begin again and this gorey 3D movie exploits the horror genre. I was impressed with the graphic brutal horror, violence and grisly images throughout the majority of this movie. However, the final scenes turned sour with campy B movie techniques. FOR MORE FILM REVIEWS by Gerald Wright go to [url=http://www.HDFest.com]www.HDFest.com |
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Directed by: Alexey Balabanov
Running time: 90 minutes in Russian with English subtitles Release date: January 2, 2009 Genre: Art/Foreign, Drama, Thriller and Crime/Gangster Distributor: The Disinformation Company MPAA Rating: R This film begins in 1984 during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the daily transport of dead Russian soldiers being carted home. The opening scene is with two brothers. One brother Mikhail (Yury Stepanov) is an officer in the Soviet army and the other brother Artyom (Leonid Gromov) is a professor at the university as well as an atheist who is devoted to communism. Artyom travels to visit his mother in a remote town when his car brakes down and stops at a rural farmhouse. He finds some very strange people who have strange beliefs. They call their farmhouse "Utopia" fueled by vodka distilled in the barn. Meanwhile, a young man named Alexey (Alexey Serebryakov) who is known to be a "Lady's Man" and Angelica (Agniya Kuznetsova) daughter of a Soviet secretary meet at a local party. They take a drive to the farmhouse for booze, however Police Captain Zhurov (Alexey Poluyan) lurks in the shadows. Zhurov is a serial killer hiding behind his shield to commit horrible crimes. These crimes involve torture, murder and rape in perverse situations. In this film misogynism comes to mind more so than any other genre in film. The concept of gender is central to this thriller movie. In this flick in particular, it examines the relationship between men and women, along with the on-screen representations of masculinity and feminity. I watched this fear satuated film and thought of the "Saw" film series among others. As in most slasher thrillers the basic plot involves a couple traveling across country; they run across dangerous and psychotic people in their travels and are slowly and methodically terrorized. What's more interesting than the sparse plot or gruesome violence is the film's treatment and representation of women. For instance, of the film's major character Angelica is depicted as sexually ravenous, trying at separate instances to seduce the young Alexey she encounters. Ultimately, she will be shown as a victim, often appearing half naked. After an extended spectacle of violence, the film offers a wholly extraneous spectacle of sexuality, shots of psychotic males and provocative sequences. One of the most interesting facts concerning this film is that the audience is rewarded with violent and depraved concluding scenes. (FOR MORE FILM REVIEWS by Gerald Wright go to [url=http://www.HDFest.com/Gerald/allreviews_gerald.html]www.HDFest.com/Gerald/allreviews_gerald.html) |
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Considering myself a comic book reader when I was a child and teenager during the late 1940s and 1950s, THE SPIRIT was excitng. The original comic strips were only seven pages in length created by Will Eisner in the early 1940s. I was impressed when I discovered this comic in the early 1950s, at how much story and adventure (my mind visualized) he packed into a short amount of space of his books. The old pre-World War II Spirit character Donnie Colt was dark, edgy and almost sinister which was considered Eisner's best work prior to him joining the Army. However, with his return from WW II, Eisner's character became more light hearted, campy and harder to predict. I marveled at how he was able to come up with so many unique stories without bringing back the same old villians who dealt in crime, corruption, murder and suicide.
At a press conference with the stellar cast and director of THE SPIRIT which will open on December 25, 2008, I was fortunate to listen and ask a couple of questions concerning this film adaptation. Frank Miller who in his directorial debut and who wrote this film explained that he wanted to stay true Eisner's theme of The Spirit. In the press conference, I asked him; "How would you describe the main character oppose to Eisner's vision?" He replied, "The character has a terrifying side to him.....he's mysterious......he has eyes for the ladies". I asked him and Samuel L. Jackson who plays The Octopus (a villian); "Did Frank (director) allow you to input your ideas for your character. He replied, "I was given poetic license to use my ideas for different makeup and costumes in various scenes". The lead member of the cast Gabriel Macht who portrays The Spirit aka Denny Colt considers this "a good breakout performance". Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson and Scarlett Johansson illuminated the screen with their beauty and witty dialogue. It was amazing to see and hear from the veteran actor Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years 1988-1993 t.v.) who appeared a stage, t.v., and film. Strange as it sounds, Gabriel Macht and Dan Lauria have a longtime personal family connection. Gabriel as a youngster was one of the children who ran around Dan's home. They credit their fine character chemistry on film to their long off-screen relationship. The Spirit doesn't fit everyone's idea of a superhero because there are no superpowers or a goofy Spandex costume with underwear on the outside. However, the visionary creator of SIN CITY and 300 Frank Miller and LIONSGATE will dazzle you on Christmas Day. THE SPIRIT at [url=http://www.mycityscreams.com/]http://www.mycityscreams.com. FOR MORE FILM REVIEWS by Gerald Wright go to [url=http://www.HDFest.com/Gerald/allreviews_gerald.html]www.HDFest.com/Gerald/allreviews_gerald.html |
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