Fr. · Barry's · Movie · Notes

Limitless - This new movie stars Bradley Cooper as a down out writer who's suffering from severe writer's block. He gets the opportunity to take what he initially thinks is a new “FDA approved drug” that will open his eyes and mind with such clarity that will be able to finish his book in no time flat. He takes the drug and it does exactly that - his mind races ahead millions of miles at a time.

He cleans up and thoroughly organizes his apartment. He writes 40 pages of his new novel in half a day. Then he begins to take more of the drug to be even more productive.

The plot races on from there with lots of twists and turns. It's an exciting and exhilarating movie to watch because of some fantastic camerawork and editing by the filmmakers. It is also exhilarating because the very idea of having such a drug, such a way of becoming so productive and so insightful is addictive unto itself. It's something we all long for.

We all recognize that we waste an awful lot of our time. We acknowledge that we don't always use all of our mental capacity or intensity at the various mundane and typical tasks of everyday life. It's that self-realization that makes this movie really enticing and really irresistible. Ultimately the movie is lots of fun to watch although there’s a lot of mayhem in course of the movie as well.

The movie stars Bradley Cooper who was really wonderful in The Hangover and a few other action adventure movies as well. It also costars Robert De Niro who plays the role of a mogul in the business world typically well.

The Adjustment Bureau - This is the new delightful film starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. From the previews we see that the movie is about The Adjustment Bureau, which is charged with the responsibility of making sure that our lives follow the pattern which has been set or established for them.

Matt Damon plays a young politician on the rise. He stumbles into a chance meeting with the character played by Emily Blunt. He is informed, however, by his agents from The Adjustment Bureau that he is not to see her again otherwise his and her careers will never be accomplishing their desired and hoped-for goals.

It is a really wonderful film. It has all the characteristics of an action-adventure film. But it also has wonderfully deep layers of meaning that cause us to question what we believe about fate, free choice, free will, and destiny.

It really reminded me so much of the classic Wim Wenders film Wings of Desire, and then the later American remake of that film called City of Angels. Both of those films’ premise was that Guardian Angels are watching over humanity. However the plot twist was that the Angels wanted to experience what it was to be human, to have feelings, to have emotions, and what happens when one of those Angels decides to embark on that journey.

This film works from the angle of humans almost defying what the Angels’ plans for humanity are. It ultimately, makes us responsible for our own choices. It's really a very well-made movie and certainly worth your effort to see it.

Grace Card - This movie is about redemption. It follows two characters one a white, jaded, middle-aged police officer whose son was hit by a car and died about a dozen years before the movie begins. He has never been able to get beyond the grief, anger, guilt and frustration of his son’s being hit by a drug dealing African-American boy. This officer's, chip-on-the-shoulder approach to life has caused great hurt in his own family. His younger son has had to carry the burden of the specter of the dead older brother all his life and his marriage is slowly disintegrating before him because of his lack of ability to show love to his wife.

 The other main character is an African-American young officer who is also a part-time preacher of an upstart black evangelical church. This young man is succeeding as a police officer and is getting a promotion because of his good credentials and abilities. He and the jaded officer are teamed up as the most unlikely of partners.

 These two men begin to develop a relationship. Slowly and begrudgingly as the plot evolves so does their relationship.

 The movie plays out a bit heavy-handed for my tastes in an overtly Christian message orientation. This is unfortunate, because the movie could have been much better made by a more professional, more secular director and screenwriter. Ultimately, though, the movie is moving and has good values about what we are called to be about as forgiving people as we have been forgiven.

Cedar Rapids -This movie stars Ed Helms who has been entertaining in The Office and The Daily Show on tv and was terrific in The Hangover movie of a couple years ago. The premise of the film is that this ingénue adult insurance salesman is asked to go to this big annual convention of insurance salesmen in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Cedar Rapids is the big city and full of new and unusual surprises that await Ed's character.

 The goal of this meeting is for his employer’s insurance company to win once again the “four diamond award” as the most Christian and service oriented insurance company in the Midwest. Fortunately or unfortunately, he meets a character played by John C. Reilly who is seen by his boss as a ne'er-do-well insurance agent who is irresponsible.

 There is a lot of craziness that goes on at the convention. However, ultimately, the movie is really about being a person of integrity, honesty and clarity about what it is that we stand for.

 It is really a fun movie and worth watching with the caveat that there are some scenes that are less than desirable certainly for children. But, again, ultimately values really do play out well in the movie.

Oscar Picks for 2011

Preface – I could probably just cut and paste the comment I had for the last two years with these Oscar selections. I somehow have gotten out of the habit of posting the weekly movie commentaries. I resolve, like last year, to try and do better!! We shall see..

At any rate, here are the picks for this year.

Best Actor – I didn’t see Biutiful and so can’t judge whether perennial great performance provider Javier Bardem should win in this category. He is such a great actor I would never be surprised if he won. But, among the others I did see, I believe that Colin Firth will win for his performance in The King’s Speech. He did a terrific job bringing the king to life and creating such empathy for him. I otherwise have been consistently promoting James Franco for his role in 127 Hours. I really loved that movie and thought he did a great job in it. I also enjoyed Jeff Bridges in True Grit and Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network.

Best Supporting Actor – I didn’t see Winter’s Bone so have nothing to judge John Hawkes’ performance on. It seems to me, though, the Christian Bale is the runaway sure bet to win Supporting Actor for The Fighter. I thought this from the moment I saw the film. Several times throughout the film I kept asking myself if it really was him in the movie since he physically looked so different from what he has looked like in previous movies. The other three nominees were very good and certainly deserve to be nominated.

Best Actress – Again, I didn’t see Winter’s Bone. It seems to me that among the other four nominees, Natalie Portman should win. Her performance in Black Swan was amazing and disturbing. The other nominees also gave great performances in films that are really worthwhile.

Best Supporting Actress – Here I didn’t see Animal Kingdom. The winner I believe should be Melissa Leo as the mother in The Fighter. I was so surprised when I saw her in “real” life accepting the Golden Globe. I had no idea she was as young as she is. she was so convincing as the mother of the two boxers in The Fighter. I really enjoyed the other nominees, too. Amy Adams does her usual great job in The Fighter. Helena Bonham Carter was really good as the queen. And, Hailee Steinfeld was so, so good in True Grit – she really brought each frame she was in to life.

Best Animated Feature – Didn’t see The Illusionist. Here I think Toy Story 3 should win. It was an absolutely wonderful and moving film. The film evoked incredible emotion and made the familiar characters more real. Especially terrific was the way Andy, the owner of the toys comes across in the film. I’m glad it was also nominated in the Best Picture category.

Best Art Direction – Here I would choose Inception. I loved, loved this film! It was so imaginative from the story to the execution. I’m glad it was nominate din many categories. I don’t think it will win any of the “major” awards, but hope it does win in these “artistic” categories.

Best Cinematography – Here again I choose Inception. The other nominees are obviously worthy, but the originality of Inception, I think, should have it win.

Best Costume Design – Here I choose Alice in Wonderland. The costumes were fantastic and appropriately other-worldly. The other nominees did well, but to me were simply reflective of their time periods.

Best Directing – Here I ultimately choose Tom Hooper for The King’s Speech. My second choice, as in the Best Film category, would be David Fincher for The Social Network. Here I credit the director for developing the story in such a way as to generate the empathy felt for the king by movie’s end and for highlighting the courageous achievement accomplished by the king in giving that final speech as well as the many more the real king gave in his lifetime and for the enduring friendship developed by the two men.

Best Documentary – Here I choose the only one I saw, Exit Through The Gift Shop. It is a terrific film about the strange world of marketing and making art.

Best Film Editing – Here I choose 127 Hours. I loved this movie and thought Danny Boyle did an amazing job keeping the film moving forward while working from the confined space of the crevasse Aaron Ralston found himself stuck in.

Best Makeup – Here I choose The Way Back – the only film I saw in the category, which I really enjoyed.

Best Original Score – Here I choose 127 Hours. A.R. Rahman brings such energy and wildness to this film where the character is physically stuck.

Best Original Song – Here I choose “Coming Home” from Country Strong which was a really good movie.

Best Picture – Here I choose The King’s Speech. I felt it was so good in telling this true story of the king and the personal and life-altering risks he took to overcome his speech impediment. It also was so good in showing how the friendship between him and the therapist developed and allowed the ultimate achievement to take place. It’s interesting how 4 of the ten nominees were true stories based on real people and events. It was a very good year for films.

 Best Sound Editing - Inception, although I think Unstoppable would be a close second choice.

Best Sound Mixing - Inception.

Best Visual Effects - Alice in Wonderland.

Best Adapted Screenplay - The Social Network - this I think is a very close category as is Original Screenplay.

Best Original Screenplay - The King's Speech.

 

Not a bad Oscar show – or showing vis-à-vis my picks. By my calculation I got 17 out of 20 right.

Here are the 2 films I saw this past Friday, March 5, 2010:

Shutter Island – this is the latest Martin Scorsese film based on the Dennis Lehane novel of the same name. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow. It takes place in 1954 on Shutter Island, purportedly one of the islands in Boston Harbor which houses a federal prison/hospital unit for the criminally insane. It is a dark and eerie film that has a number of twists and turns of plot so you always feel slightly off kilter throughout the whole film.

          It is really a terrifically made film and well acted. A friend who read the book told me that she didn’t know exactly what was going on in it until the last page and even then she, a well-trained, bright lawyer, took a while to digest what happens. The movie gives and leaves you with the same impression. You’ll want to talk about it with someone who saw it after you leave the theater – if not before you leave!

          I think the “redeeming” aspect of the story and film is that it reminds us how our human nature is so susceptible to suspicion and/or suggestions to believe something other than what we see or think we know about situations, people and even ourselves.

          I’d recommend the film. It’s not a “horror” film in the classic sense but one that does lend itself to surprises that can jolt you from time to time. We’ll see what else 2010 brings us from Hollywood, but I could easily see Scorsese being nominated again as he was for his last Lehane novel-to-movie production, The Departed.

Alice in Wonderland – this is the latest Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway with some wonderful voiceovers by the likes of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry and Martin Sheen. I am unfamiliar with the actual storyline of the Alice story – I don’t think I ever read the Lewis Carroll stories or even saw the original Disney animated version of the story. Consequently, I don’t know how true to the Carroll plot the movie stays.

          As I told people in my homily, I don’t think this is necessarily the version for young children. I think it’s one thing for cartoon characters to be involved in violent battle scenes, but it probably looks and feels a bit different for kids when they are real people doing the fighting. The art work is typical Burton. It’s fantastic, odd and dark but all the while wonderfully beautiful, too. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter is his usual superb self. Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway play the opposing queen sisters, red and white.

          I’m not so sure what the redeeming moral of the story is apart from that we should trust our inner instincts rather than conforming to what other people think about us or conforming to society’s conventional values. As always with a Burton/Depp endeavor the film is worthwhile for the wild ride it provides along with a great visual treat. Definitely a go see film. It broke the box office records for this week – the largest so far for 2010, and the most of any March debut. Again, it should get nominations next year for art, costumes if not adaptation, direction and acting given the Academy’s love of these actors and director, too.

       Oscar Picks for 2010

          Preface - It looks like I could be writing the same note I wrote last year at this time! I have gotten out of the habit of writing up my reflections on the many films I see. I was always wondering if anyone was reading them – much lie Julie did in Julie & Julia! Now, thanks to some friends I have an idea that will alert people to a new posting and, hopefully, will get back in the habit of writing these reflections for the blog.

 People who come to my Masses almost always get a quick review of a recent film when I feel it is somehow thematically connected to that week’s readings. And, they seem to enjoy my connections – so hopefully, unlike most New Year’s resolutions, this one will be kept this year!!

 So here go the picks for tonight’s Oscars…

           Best Actor – I didn’t see Invictus – one of the gaps in my movie-going this year. I’m sure Morgan Freeman was wonderful as he always is. However, I would tend to agree with most of the other folks and think that Jeff Bridges will win for Crazy Heart. It was a really wonderful performance. George Clooney did a good job in Up in the Air and it’s a very enjoyable film with a great message that is delivered in the midst of a light-hearted style. Colin Firth was terrific in A Single Man a film that keeps you in a sense of impending doom throughout and then delivers an interesting twist at the end. Finally, Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker is perfect. He is able to play both the tough bomb expert while also revealing his vulnerable inner self that is unfortunately kept in the “hurt locker.” This is a film that could win Best Picture – it is so good at capturing the horrors of the war in Iraq while also revealing so much of what the war is doing to us as a people and nation.

           Best Supporting Actor – Here, again, I think the winner will be the consistent winner on the season for this category – Christoph Waltz for his great performance of the Nazi in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Bastards His portrayal of this character was flawless. I missed all the other performances in this category – a bunch of films I wanted to see but somehow missed – a lot of catching up to do!

           Best Actress – As with the other acting categories, here the favorite horse will win. It is the year for Sandra Bullock with this critically acclaimed and winning role from The Blind Side along with the commercial success of The Proposal. She did a great job in this role and probably due to her influence the movie became a big success. It is a great story and really was a welcome film this year. I didn’t see Helen Mirren or Carey Mulligan in their films – more gaps in the movie going this past season. I loved Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia. As with just about everything she does, Streep delivers yet again a wonderful and perfect performance as Julia Child. For those of us who grew up watching Julia and learning how and loving to cook with her, this was an epiphanic experience. It’s a shame that Streep doesn’t actually win these Oscars more often. I think we as a viewing public and, unfortunately, they as the voting members of the Academy have become so accustomed to her excellence in acting that simply nominating her is enough. She truly is the best actress and should win more often. The other nominee is newcomer Gabourey Sidbe from Precious, which as noted below, is my personal choice for Best Picture. This young woman did an amazing job with this performance of a character that was nothing like her or her life-experiences. Her portrayal of Precious is captivating and makes the movie compelling to watch.

           Best Supporting Actress – Finally, as with the other categories for acting, I believe the winner will and should be Mo’Nique for Precious. Again, she makes this character so real that you want to personally kill her by the end of the film. She does a fantastic job. I didn’t know who she was – a comedienne – until after seeing the film. I didn’t see Penelope Cruz in Nine. The other women I did see and although they did worthy performances in their respective films, I think Mo’Nique’s was just superlative.

           Animated Feature – Here I would choose Up. It’s another delightful offering from the great folks at Pixar/Disney. Coraline was well done, but a bit creepy – those button eyes made me scared! I missed The Fantastic Mr. Fox – it looked like a lot of fun from the previews but it awaits my getting to it on Netflix somewhere in the next 5 years or more. The Princess & the Frog was wonderful. It was in the great Disney tradition – good music and a message-filled storyline. I was a bit apprehensive about how it would be done and thought it might be a tad racist in its portrayal of characters, but I think it ends up capturing the New Orleans spirit of pre-Katrina days. I never heard of the other nominee, The Secret of Kells but will try to find out more about it for the Netflix queue.

           Art Direction – Here I think Avatar will win. I didn’t see the other films, and I’m sure they were worthy of nominations – seeming to be the usual period pieces that always get nominated in this category except Nine, which as a Broadway play-to-movie cried out for fashion costumes.

           Cinematography – Here again, this will be a category for Avatar. It was a wonderfully shot film even if computer generated. This is one of those categories I wonder how it will change if film making evolves into mainly computer generated images. It seems to me a very worthy opponent and alternate winner for this category would be The Hurt Locker – getting those shots of what the Iraq war-zone looks like were very good and captured the dread of both the military and civilians who live in it.

           Costume Design – Didn’t see any of them. I’d bet on Nine. Dressing a bunch of famous actresses in wild fashion pieces must have been a fun job and would have lent itself to a designers dream.

           Directing – This category I think could be a toss up. If the Academy doesn’t go Avatar-wild, I don’t think Cameron should win. But since the whole making of the film was his idea and his effort, I guess I can see how they might give him this award, too as did the Golden Globes and others have done. I’d prefer to see either Lee Daniels to win for Precious especially since it would be the first time an African American director would win or Kathryn Bigelow win for The Hurt Locker. As I mentioned, above, this was also a wonderfully made film that keeps you guessing and emotionally tense throughout the film. Tarantino did good job with Inglourious Bastards although his tendency for gore wears a little thin for me. Reitman as mentioned above did a great job with Up in the Air – it comes across as a light, breezy and fun film but ends up delivering a powerful message.

           Documentary – Didn’t see any of them. I heard about The Cove and suspect that will win as a statement on the part of the Academy.

           Documentary Short – Didn’t see any of them and have no clue which one will win.

           Film Editing – Here, I think this will go to Avatar. Although clearly from the list of nominees, all these editors did a terrific job in assembling the final product for their directors. All of these films were very good and made the Best Picture nomination list and were worth seeing.

           Foreign Language Film – Didn’t see any of them. Heard about Un Prophete so would pick this to win.

           Makeup – I guess I’d go with Star Trek the only one of the three nominated I’ve seen. If Il Divo is the film of an Il Divo concert – how do they get/need makeup? or at least a sufficient amount for the person to be nominated for an Oscar – those guys are handsome to begin with! And, I don’t know what special makeup would have been required for The Young Victoria apart from the usual powdered wigs, etc.

           Original Score – Here I would choose The Hurt Locker. As I recall the soundtrack added to the level of suspense/anxiety felt throughout the film.

           Original Song – I would choose “The Weary Kind” from Crazy Heart.  This film revolved around the songs and how they helped portray the life of this drunk, singer-songwriter coming to sobriety and a better place in his life. The Newman songs for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog were good and served that film well, too.

           Best Picture – Here I choose, as mentioned above, Precious. I loved this film for how it shows the power of goodness that can reside in a person and how it can ultimately triumph despite the worst things society or life can throw at it. The movie works so well on many levels and I think is the type of film that should win Best Picture to capture a part of American life at a particular point in time. That may not be the measure of others for Best Picture, but it’s the one I like to use. This measure doesn’t always rule out sci-fi films from winning, but I think we need to see the world around us as well as a fantastical one that is dreamt up by someone, too. I saw all of the other nominees except An Education and A Serious Man. All of them are really wonderfully made films and worthy of your time watching them. I’m looking forward to the sequel of both District 9 and Avatar. Both science fiction stories had great messages to tell and it will be interesting to see how theses characters move on in their lives in the next telling. Inglourious Bastards is a terrific alternate historical view of a World War II movie/story. It was entertaining to watch, despite the gore of Tarantino. Brad Pitt and the whole cast did a great job.

           Animated Short – Didn’t see – no pick.

           Action Short – Didn’t see – no pick.

           Sound Editing – Here I would choose The Hurt Locker.

           Sound Mixing – Here I would choose The Hurt Locker.

           Visual Effects – Here I think Avatar will win.

           Adapted Screenplay – Here I choose Precious.

           Original Screenplay – Here I choose The Hurt Locker.

 Time for the red carpet and a lot of thank yous…

Oscar Picks for 2009

Preface – I have gotten woefully behind in my notes on film!! I have a pile of ticket stubs waiting for me to write about a lot of terrific films I saw this past year. My hope is I’ll eventually get to them, but since the Oscars are this weekend, I needed to first make my yearly picks for the winners. Hope you do well with your picks – and please don’t be calling me during the show!!!

Best Actor – I saw all but one of these performances. I didn’t see The Visitor, but heard it was good. It’s one of those gap-films I missed this year and will have to catch on dvd. I thought Sean Penn was wonderful as Harvey Milk in Milk – as with most of his performances, you really forget it is Sean Penn. He is due for a win as Best Actor, but I don’t think he will win this year. Frank Langella was great as Nixon in Frost/Nixon and, normally, I think he would win the Oscar, just as he won the Tony for this performance on Broadway. I thought Brad Pitt was good in Benjamin Button, but not outstanding. Mickey Rourke, as widely believed, should win for his performance in The Wrestler. He gives his all and it is a great comeback for a guy that has been through the mill in his personal life, much like the character in the film.

Supporting Actor – Here I think, like most people, that Heath Ledger will win. His performance made The Dark Knight compelling to watch. And, his untimely death also gives the Academy members a chance to honor him. I didn’t see Tropic Thunder – for a couple reasons. I’ve grown weary of the comedies of Ben Stiller and I was offended by the idea of someone doing blackface. I guess maybe I’ll catch it on dvd to see why people thought so highly of Robert Downey Jr.’s performance. The other nominees all did really good work in their respective films. I like almost anything Philip Seymour Hoffman does (much like Meryl Streep). Josh Brolin was terrific as Milk’s murderer, capturing well the twisted, confused person Dan White was. Michael Shannon was a breath of fresh air in Revolutionary Road – whenever he was in a scene, it lived up considerably, hence the nomination.

Best Actress – The winner here should be Kate Winslet for The Reader. I can’t figure out how in the world the Golden Globe people could possibly have had her in the Supporting Actress category for this film, which she won and then won also for Best Actress in Revolutionary Road. But, in any event she was amazing in this role, making you feel sympathetic for an amoral participant in the Nazi extermination of Jews during World War II. Meryl Streep, as noted above, always gives a great performance, and she certainly did in Doubt. Anne Hathaway was good in Rachel Getting Married. I didn’t see Angelina Joie in Changeling or Melissa Leo in Frozen River – more flicks I need to add to my Netflix list.

Supporting Actress – In this category, I didn’t see Penelope Cruz in Woody Allen’s Vicky Christina Barcelona. Of the others I saw, I believe and hope that Viola Davis will win for her stirring portrayal of the mother in Doubt. Her scene in the movie moved me to tears and made the film work for me. I thought it was a powerful performance. Amy Adams, also in Doubt, certainly did a terrific job as the young religious and contrasts beautifully with Streep’s cynical older religious character. Taraji Henson in Benjamin Button does a very good job as the adoptive mother to him and like Pitt ages in the role throughout the film. Finally, Marisa Tomei does a very good job as the stripper-girlfriend in The Wreslter.

Animated Feature – Having not seen either Bolt or Kung Fu Panda, I guess I’m stuck choosing Wall-E. I can’t imagine the other two having the terrific story line that Wall-E does. Wall-E is one of those films I would love to use for a film night to mine the layers of meaning. It reflects the indifference or ennui that humans can fall into and shows how the spark of love and life can renew it all. Both Bolt and Kung Fu Panda, from their previews, seemed so much shallower – again a need for listing on my Netflix list.

Art Direction – Here I choose Revolutionary Road – I think they did a great job capturing the period and that helped set the mood for this depressing story of hopelessness. I think it’s also a way for the Academy to honor the film since it won’t win other major categories.

Cinematography – Slumdog – the vastness of the film from the slums of Mumbai to the vistas of India and the Taj Mahal – the filming of all of this adds to why this film is Best Picture.

Costume Design – Here, I choose Milk – the costumes help recreate that time of the 70s. And, again this will help lessen the sting of losing in the major categories and honor this fine film about an American hero.

Directing – Slumdog – it goes with Best Picture. Danny Boyle made all the right choices for this wonderful film.

Documentary Feature/Short – didn’t see any of them – looking forward to seeing Man on Wire.

Film Editing – Slumdog.

Foreign Language – Waltz With Bashir – a tough film to watch – and fascinating – how a documentary is made in animation so effectively and movingly. I didn’t see the others although The Class looks promising from its previews.

Makeup – Benjamin Button – aging the characters was well done.

Music – Score – Slumdog – the soundtrack will be worth getting.

Music – Song – Slumdog – “O Saya”

Best Picture – Slumdog by a mile – this movie works on lots of levels. A great story of love, redemption, hope. The plot device of having each question lead to a flashback of his life and how he knows the answers is terrific. Beautifully photographed and acted.

Short Film Animated/Live – didn’t see any of them

Sound Editing – Slumdog

Sound Mixing – Slumdog

Visual Effects – Benjamin Button – making Brad Pitt short and crippled was convincing.

Writing - Adaptation – Slumdog

Writing - Original – Milk