Wednesday, October 13, 2010

"My Kid Could Paint That”

There are a few budding young artists in my family. And when people see their work hanging in my office they’re often surprised by how mature it is. I mention this because I really wanted to believe that Marla Olmsted, the cute little 4-year-old at the center of “My Kid Could Paint That,” painted all her artwork. At the outset, it’s pretty clear that the director of this documentary, Amir Bar-Lev, wants to believe as well. And there were lots of adults – from gallery owners, to art collectors, to the media – who desperately want to believe. But as the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to hold onto that belief. I kept thinking about the “Balloon Boy” and how that family manipulated the media. And I couldn’t help but feel that Marla’s biggest boosters, her father Mark Olmstead and Binghamton gallery owner Anthony Brunelli, were somehow doing the same thing. The situation isn’t helped by a searing “60 Minutes” exposé on Marla that airs during the filming of this documentary. From that point on, the Olmsteads never fully recover my trust, even as they flail about trying to prove they’re being truthful, all under the guise of “protecting” Marla, the child they exploited. In the end, this isn’t so much a film about a child prodigy as it is about a fickle media, the randomness of abstract art and our need to insert meaning into things where it may not exist. At least that’s my opinion. I’d like to hear what Marla, now 10, thinks of all this. My Tweet: My Kid Could Paint That - 4-year-old prodigy turns art world on its ear. Art world returns the favor. 7.5 (out of 10)

“My Kid Could Paint That”

Released: 2007

Rating: PG-13

Length: 82 minutes

Cast: Marla Olmstead, Laura Olmstead, Mark Olmstead

Director: Amir Bar-Lev

Genre(s): Biopic, Documentary

Thursday, October 7, 2010

“Food, Inc.”

A doctor recommended I see this movie. Now I understand why. It'll open your eyes to why there's an obesity epidemic in the United States. Big business has invaded the food chain and is growing more food, faster and cheaper than ever before. While it's good for business, it has unintended consequences on our health and the health of our planet. Food, Inc.” lays it all —exposing how factory farming is reducing diversity, lowering nutrition, causing environmental damage and encouraging E coli and salmonella outbreaks — without any of the histrionics of a Michael Moore production. Even still, it'll make you look at your food choices in a whole new way. Which led me to tweet: Food, Inc.-If you only knew what you were eating, it would make you sick. 8.5 (out of 10)

Other documentaries you might like: Super Size Me, Who Killed the Electric Car, An Inconvenient Truth

“Food, Inc.”

Released: 2008

Rating: PG

Length: 94 minutes

Cast: Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan, Joel Salatin, Richard Lobb, Vince Edwards

Director: Robert Kenner

Genre(s): Food Stories, Political Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries


Tuesday, September 28, 2010

“2012”

What is it with Roland Emmerich’s doomsday obsession? After “Independence Day,” where aliens try to destroy civilization, and “The Day After Tomorrow,” where climate change gets a crack, he looks to the Mayan calendar to predict and entertain us with the end of the world. (Which, I hope you know by now, is an inaccurate interpretation. So keep saving for your retirement.) In true Emmerich fashion, there are lots of explosions and crazy huge special effects. There's a good deal of sermonizing about “Humanity” and “Civilization,” especially at those pivotal moments. And then there are the laughs, unintentional of course, as all mayhem breaks loose. I just found it preposterous how John Cusack, who's been making some curious role choices of late, manages to narrowly escape death by running, driving and flying while the earth is crumbling, buildings are falling and fireballs are exploding. And you don’t have to be a clairvoyant to see how it ends. You know exactly how “2012” is going, with the exception of a neat twist that allows our heroes to reach China despite the fact that they’ve run out of fuel. So If you can switch off the logic center of your brain “2012” is a moderately enjoyable popcorn movie. But even among Emmerich's catalog, it’s not one of the best. My tweet: 2012-After failing to destroy earth by alien invasion & ice age, Roland Emmerich looks to the Mayans for ideas. 3rd time's not the charm. 5 (out of 10).

Another end-of-the-world movie you might enjoy: “Knowing”

“2012”

Released: 2009

Rating: PG-13

Length: 158 minutes

Cast: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson

Director: Roland Emmerich

Genre(s): Action, Sci-fi, Thriller



Wednesday, May 26, 2010

“Anvil! The Story of Anvil”

I have to admit that my knowledge of heavy metal is limited. So I hope you’ll forgive me for thinking that “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” was a “This is Spinal Tap” ripoff. Everything about it felt like a rock and rock cliché. From the album covers (each featuring an anvil), the names of the band members, Lipps and Robb Reiner, (How could you not think his name is a tip of the hat to “Spinal Tap’s” director, Rob Reiner?) to the seemingly improbable streak of bad luck on their European tour. But after a quick search, it turns out that Anvil is (or rather was) the real deal. And that changed my whole perception of the movie. While it was enjoyable from the beginning, once I knew Anvil was started by a couple of 14-year-olds in the 1970s and influenced such monsters in metal as Anthrax and Metallica, only to have their dreams evaporate, the story takes on a certain poignancy. It’s now 30 years later and Lipps, the front man and driving force behind Anvil, is working at an industrial catering company, delivering food to schools. He has hope against hope that if Anvil plays that one great concert, produces that one great album, that the band can recapture its former glory. He, Robb and the rest of Anvil take off on a European concert tour, which is an unmitigated disaster. They’re playing to tiny audiences in obscure venues, traveling in what seems like steerage, and having to fight to get paid for performing. They return home, down but not out, and at their own expense, cut their 13th album (what Lipps and Rob believe is their best ever), shop it around and get courteous “no thank yous.” Throughout the entire ordeal, Lipps remains a true believer. And after seeing his hopes dashed throughout the film, it ends with Anvil playing a concert in Japan. Which make him (and me) believe that there’s hope after all. My Tweet: Anvil! The Story of Anvil-Documentary about the nearly famous and now obscure metal band should’ve been titled “All You Need is Luck.” 7.5 (out of 10)

Anvil! The Story of Anvil”

Released: 2008

Rating: NR

Length: 90 minutes

Cast: Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner, Malcolm Dome, Lars Ulrich, Scott Ian, Lemmy, Slash

Director: Sacha Gervasi

Genre(s): Documentary, Music



Thursday, May 20, 2010

“Priceless”

Netflix’s liner notes for “Priceless” call it a “wacky French farce.” I didn’t find it particularly wacky. And while it does have it farcical moments, it’s a really a romantic comedy – a pretty charming one at that. Part of its charm has to do with its set up. Irene (Audrey Tautou) is a gold digger plying her trade on the French Riviera, trying to land the big fish. One night Irene mistakenly assumes that Jean (Gad Elmaleh), the hotel’s bartender, is a rich playboy. It’s only after her behavior toward Jean causes her current relationship to fall apart that she discovers the truth. That forces her to go back on the hunt. But Jean, hopelessly smitten, follows. Once she drains his bank account with her expensive tastes, Jean succumbs to an older woman advances and becomes her gigolo. And pretty soon, the two of them are comparing notes and falling for each other. It’s all in good fun, with a great setting and an appealing cast. My rating: 7 (out of 10)

“Priceless”

Released: 2006

Rating: R

Length: 104 minutes

Cast: Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh, Vernon Dobtcheff, Marie-Christine Adam

Director: Pierre Salvadori

Genre(s): Romantic Comedy, Foreign

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It“

My Tweet: Michael Jackson’s This Is It-That was it? 5 (out of 10) This behind-the-scenes documentary was an attempt for the leeches in Michael Jackson’s life to cash in shortly after his death. I found the whole affair rather sad. You see a lot of the moves you’ve seen before, hear a lot of the songs you’ve heard before. Jackson looks emaciated. In the few close-ups that there are (especially the ones in the classic movie scenes he’s spliced into), his face is rendered almost featureless and expressionless, like a kabuki mask. There are plenty of videos out there in the archives that show him as a youthful, promising and truly innovative performer. Michael Jackson’s This is it” just made me long for what once was and what should have been.

Michael Jacksons This Is It

Released: 2009

Rating: PG

Length: 112 minutes

Cast: Michael Jackson, Nick Bass, Daniel Celebre, Mekia Cox, Misha Hamilton

Director: Kenny Ortega

Genre(s): Documentary, Music

Sunday, April 11, 2010

“Religulous”

I like Bill Maher. I watch his show frequently, find him an interesting debater and tend to agree with a lot of what he says. But his Michael Moore-like “investigation” into religion, “Religulous” just didn’t work for me. It wasn’t the material. It was Maher – he’s on his own personal jihad. While trying to expose religious fanaticism, Maher comes across as one of them, just from the opposite side of the fence. He is as dogmatic is his disbelief as they are in their faith. “Religulous” would have been a lot more successful if Maher were a bit more playful with his subjects and gave them the rope to hang themselves. This is something “The Daily Show” does quite well and what Bill Maher fails at miserably here. Maher seems content to argue rather than interview and then dismiss his subjects as “silly” or “ridiculous.” This is a manifestation of one of the things that bugs me about his stand-up. When Maher delivers the punch line, he tends to turn to the camera with a knowing expression as if to say, “See, I’m funny.” And in “Religulous” that smugness doesn’t serve him well. I’ll agree that there are a lot of deluded people out there, and that a lot of people, evil and otherwise, have doesn’t awful things in the name of religion. But there are many more people who find comfort and peace in their faith. I’m not sure what Maher’s intention was when he created this film. But he pretty much ends up delivering a long, boring sermon. My Tweet: Religulous-Bill Maher goes looking for God in this comic documentary and commits the ultimate sin – he's not funny. 4.5 (out of 10)

“Religulous”

Released: 2008

Rating: R

Length: 101 minutes

Cast: Bill Maher

Director: Larry Charles

Genre(s): Documentary

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

“The Taking of Pelham 123” (2009)

The basic premise is the same, but director Tony Scott rachets up the noise, violence and cutting tempo in this remake of the 1974 thriller. In this outing, John Travolta, suffering from a bad case of Al Pacino syndrome, emotes his way through the subway hijacking, while Denzel Washington keeps his cool as the dispatcher on the other end on the line. “The Taking of Pelham 123” ends like the original with them getting the bad guy. But it’s all brawn and no brain. And even the reason for the hijacking is convoluted. Without giving up too much, it made me wonder why Travolta didn’t just hire someone to do it for him. Maybe someone who’s a better actor. My Tweet: The Taking of Pelham 123-After they took the Pelham One Two Three in 1974, the Transit Authority should have beefed up security. 6.5 (out of 10)

To see it done old school, here’s the trailer for “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” with Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw.

“The Taking of Pelham 123”

Released: 2009

Rating: R

Length: 106 minutes

Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Turturro

Director: Tony Scott

Genre(s): Adaptation, Action, Thriller

Thursday, March 18, 2010

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

Because of all the bad press this movie got, the fact that it didn’t completely stink was a surprise. While this is far from a rousing endorsement, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is far from a complete waste of time. As the title implies, it tells the backstory of one of Marvel Comics’ and the X-Men movie franchise’s most popular characters. And if you’re interested in Logan’s (Hugh Jackman) strained relationship with his brother, Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber), how he got his adamantium claws, the reasoning behind Stryker’s (Danny Huston) mutant experiments and meeting a few more mutants, it’s worth a look. But it’s mostly Jackman snarling and snorting his way through a trail of dead bodies and exploding real estate. The formulaic violence makes the movie feel more like a vigilante flick from the 1970s. It also lacks the hip sensibility of “Iron Man” or Gothic moodiness of “The Dark Knight.” So unless you’re one of Stan Lee’s “true believers,” I’d skip this one. My Tweet: X-Men Origins: Wolverine-A case study in how not to handle an individual with unresolved anger-management issues. 6 (out of 10)

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

Released: 2009

Rating: PG-13

Length: 107 minutes

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber

Director: Gavin Hood

Genre(s): Adaptation, Adventure, Action

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Has “Big Love” Nuked the Fridge?

I know this is a slightly off topic since “Big Love” is a TV series. But it’ll be on DVD soon enough. Season 4 ended last Sunday on HBO and I have just one question: What happened? “Big Love” has always been a bit out there. This season they went way out there.

For the uninitiated, “Big Love” revolves around the lives of polygamist Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) and his three wives, Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) , Nicki (Chloé Sevigny) and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin), who hide in plain sight in a Salt Lake City suburb. Meanwhile, characters from the benign to the creepy, including Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton), the leader of Juniper Creek, the polygamist colony where Bill grew up, and Bill’s father (Bruce Dern), threaten to expose the family. Those outside forces and the domestic politics between the three “sister wives” have been the show’s driving force. But this season, the plot lines seem to be ripped from the headlines of the National Enquirer.

Here’s the brief summary: The fundamentalist Henrickson family is now a partner in an Indian casino with Barb running it. Bill himself is running for a seat on the Utah state legislature. Ex-wife Ana (Branka Katic) is pregnant with Bill’s child, while Margene is in a sham marriage with Anna’s husband, Goran (Steve Bacic), to save him from deportation. Roman Grant, now dead, is taunting son Alby (Matt Ross), whose sanity is slipping away after his gay lover, Dale (Benjamin Koldyke), commits suicide. Nicki, Roman’s daughter and the oddball of Bill’s wives, takes the opposite tack by trying to be more normal, even jettisoning her “Annie Oakley” wardrobe in an attempt to mainstream herself. Nicki’s ex-husband, J.J. Walker (Zeljko Ivanek), is involved in a plot to use IVF to incestuously impregnate his wives. And these are just the highlights There are more (and even more confusing) plot detours in the mix. And when the season finally comes to a close, Bill, while addressing his political supporters, publically comes out as a polygamist, contradicting everything he and his family been doing for the last three seasons.

The producers did everything short of having Bill strap on a helmet and fill up the shark tank. I’m really not sure where the Henricksons go from here. My fear is that next season they’ll introduce special guest sister wives like Charo and Betty White. My hope is that Pamela Ewing (Victoria Principal) will wake up and realize it was all just a very bad dream.

“Big Love” Season 4

Released: 2010

Rating: TV-MA

Length: 90 minutes

Cast: Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin, Amanda Seyfried, Douglas Smith, Grace Zabriskie, Matt Ross, Harry Dean Stanton, Bruce Dern, Aaron Paul

Directors: Dan Attias, Adam Davidson, David Petrarca, David Knoller

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Family

Thursday, March 11, 2010

“The Bicycle Thief”

This film is on virtually every critic’s all-time best list. It’s required viewing at film schools around the world. And if that’s not enough, Martin Scorcese himself recommends it his documentary/Italian film history lesson “My Voyage to Italy.” (trailer here) “The Bicycle Thief” is Vittorio De Sica’s landmark film that captures the desperation in Italy following World War II. It’s a simple story, told well: after a long period without work Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani) finally lands a job that requires a bicycle. His wife, Maria (Lianella Carell) sells their bed sheets to get Antonio’s bicycle out of hock and on the first day of work, it’s stolen. Antonio spends the rest of the film searching around Rome for the bicycle with his son Bruno (Enzo Staiola). There are some light moments between the two of them, but the tone of the movie turns darker as Antonio realizes that the bicycle, and his hopes for a “normal” life may never be recovered. Which is the source of my Tweet: The Bicycle Thief-Lamberto Maggiorani’s last glimmer of hope vanishes when he learns an important lesson about the value of a bike lock. 10 (out of 10)

Note: For those who shy away from foreign films because of the subtitles, I can still recommend “The Bicycle Thief.” The acting is superb and the film tells its story with the actors’ faces and in their gestures. I bet you could even turn off the sound and captions and still get the story. It’s that good.

“The Bicycle Thief”

Released: 1948

Rating: NR

Length: 90 minutes

Cast: Lamberto Maggiorani, Lianella Carell, Enzo Staiola, Elena Altieri

Director: Vittorio De Sica

Genre(s): Drama, Adaptation

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

“The Hunting Party”

Start with a war-torn countryside, add a dash of satire, a little action and a pinch of sermonizing and you’ll have “The Hunting Party.” This not quite fully-baked mixture stars Richard Gere as Simon Hunt, a burnt-out war correspondent banished to Bosnia after suffering an on-air meltdown. Five years later, Hunt’s ex-cameraman “Duck” (Terrance Howard), who’s traded in the war zone for a network job, is back in Bosnia to do a puff piece on the war’s end with Benjamin Strauss (Jesse Eisenberg), a young reporter (and son of the network’s V.P.). Hunt entices Duck by claiming he’s after an interview with a notorious war criminal known as the Fox (Ljubomir Kerekes). It’s not until the three of them are in the thick of it that Hunt reveals his true intention. My tweet pretty much sums it up: The Hunting Party-Reporter Richard Gere realizes it’ll take more than a story to restart his career & goes after a war criminal instead. 6.5 (out of 10) The producers of “The Hunting Party” make a point of telling you this is a true story. Which may be because they had a hard time conjuring up believable characters. Hunt is the beaten-down, yet eternal, idealist, Duck is the corporate sellout trying to convince himself he isn’t and Strauss is the nervous newbie who surprises everyone by having a backbone. The movie has its moments, like this exchange when Hunt meets Strauss for the first time: “Benjamin, you look young enough to be someone important’s son.” But there aren't enough of those moments to lift this movie. Bottom line: it’s an okay flick but you can do better.  

Another Richard Gere movie you might like: “The Hoax”

“The Hunting Party”

Released: 2007

Rating: R

Length: 104 minutes

Cast: Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Jesse Eisenberg

Director: Richard Shepard

Genre(s): Adaptation, Comedy, Action

Thursday, February 18, 2010

“Word Wars”

Although I never really thought about competitive Scrabble as a career choice, apparently some people have. Including the four players profiled in “Word Wars.” This is a rare group of men who have a talent with the tiles but no visible means of support – and Scrabble isn’t exactly paying the bills. The characters range from the mildly eccentrlc to the downright creepy. One competitor with the unpleasant nickname “G.I. Joel” (G.I. as in gastro-intestinal) swigs Maalox and explains the finer details of his acid reflux. It’s all a bit sad. Hence my tweet: Word Wars-Forget the underdogs. This film about competitive Scrabble makes you feel sorry for the winners. 5.5 (out of 10) If you’re looking for a documentary about someone with an unhealthy obsession, I’d recommend “The King of Kong.” I gave it a 9. Steve Wiebe’s quest to beat the world record on Donkey Kong is a much more exciting and interesting story.


“Word Wars”

Released: 2004

Rating: NR

Length: 77 minutes

Cast: Joe Edley, Matt Graham, Marlon Hill, “G.I.” Joel Sherman

Directors: Julian Petrillo, Eric Chaikin

Genre(s): Documentary

Monday, February 15, 2010

“Enchanted”

Hands down my favorite Amy Adams movie. In fact, she carries “Enchanted” with an unbelievably believable performance as a fairytale princess who finds herself stranded in the very unenchanted New York City. Once in the city, Giselle (Ms Adams) retains her pluck along with the rose-colored view of the world of someone who believes in happy endings. She’s rescued and reluctantly taken in by Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey), a jaded divorce attorney who has no reason to believe in happy endings. But, surprise! there is a happy ending. However, this modern twist on the classic Disney fairytale from Disney itself is a knowing, post-modern update. Prince Edward (James Marsden) is Giselle’s vacuous sword-wielding suitor, unable to decipher modern New York. The evil Queen’s (Susan Sarandon) henchman Nathaniel, (Timothy Spall) obediently does the Queen’s bidding but, according to a call he places to a talk-radio psychologist, he feels unappreciated. And when Giselle calls for the local critters to help with her cleaning chores, she’s greeted by New York’s own pigeons, cockroaches and sewer rats. This particular event leads to one of the film’s musical numbers and, critters aside, it’s the kind you’d expect from Disney. There are also plenty of references to other films in the Disney catalog for Disney-philes. But even if you’re not, there’s a lot to like in “Enchanted.” It may be a little “Shalit-esque,” but I found it enchanting. My tweet: Enchanted-When an evil stepmother strands her in New York City, Disney Princess Amy Adams makes it her own magic kingdom. 8.5 (out of 10)

Other Amy Adams movies worth a look: Julie & Julia, Doubt


“Enchanted”

Released: 2007

Rating: PG

Length: 108 minutes

Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel

Director: Kevin Lima

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, Adventure

Friday, February 12, 2010

“W.”

At the risk of getting political, I’d like to say that this was a pretty good movie. It doesn’t really offer any new insight into what helped shape the 43rd President of the United States. But “W.” does a good job of stringing together the story of a party boy who wanders aimlessly through life, reaches the land’s highest office yet still can’t get his father’s approval. Director Oliver Stone walks a fine line between biopic and satire and at time it’s difficult to tell which side he's on. Josh Brolin gives a credible performance as George W. Bush from his days at Yale to the post-Iraq period. But for me, the show is really in the side characters. Thandie Newton plays an obsequious Condoleezza Rice who spends most of her screen time wearing an expression that looks as if she swallowed a lemon. Scott Glenn’s Donald Rumsfeld is completely lost, has no respect for the President, or both. In one particular meeting, he seems more interested in the pie than the policy. And Jeffrey Wright portrays Colin Powell as the only man of principle in the room. The one false note is Richard Dreyfuss, who might bear a faint resemblance to Dick Cheney, but doesn’t have the former VP’s scowl or his growl. (It was difficult to picture “Mr. Holland” bullying the CIA into fudging the yellow cake reports.) With fact-based dramas like this I often find myself wondering how much is fact and how much is drama. With “W.” I also wondered how much is “Oliver Stone?”— this is the man who directed the conspiracy-theorist’s favorite “J.F.K.” Regardless, there’s one thing about “W.” I have absolutely no doubt about: It would have been a lot more entertaining if it weren’t true. My Tweet: W.-Oliver Stone biopic makes the case that while anyone can become President of the United States, not everyone should. 7.5 (out of 10)



“W.”

Released: 2008

Rating: PG-13

Length: 129 minutes

Cast: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Richard Dreyfuss

Director: Oliver Stone

Genre(s): Drama, Biopic, Satire

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

“X-men 3: The Last Stand”

My tweet: X-Men 3: The Last Stand-While Bryan Singer is minding the Superman franchise, Magneto and Brett Ratner make a mess of things. 7 (out of 10) Brett Ratner, who took the helm while Brian Singer was directing “Superman Returns,” must be from the “too much of a good thing still isn’t enough” school of directing. Because in “X-men 3: The Last Stand” he piles it on. “The Last Stand” is bigger and louder than the first two X-men films, and has more characters than you can count. It also has two storylines: one involving a “cure” for mutants, derived from the DNA of a mutant boy and another about the resurrection of Jean Gray (Famke Janssen), who died at the end of the X-men 2. Needless to say, the mutants are split about the cure and Jean is now Phoenix with unimaginable, and uncontrollable, powers. These two stories collide in a effects-laden battle between the Brotherhood, led by Magneto (Ian McKellen) and the humans, with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry) and the X-men providing support. But it’s all pretty much expected by now. So while “The Last Stand” may surpass the prior installments in pyrotechnics, unfortunately it comes up short on satisfaction. I’d recommend either one of the first two.

“X-men 3: The Last Stand”

Released: 2006

Rating: PG-13

Length: 105 minutes

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn

Director: Brett Ratner

Genre(s): Adventure, Sequel, Action

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

“Julie & Julia”

I’m probably not the only reviewer who liked one half of “Julie & Julia” better than the other. (For those who are wondering, the “Julia” half.) But then, who is Julie Powell (Amy Adams) in comparison to Julia Child (Meryl Streep)? Julie Child is an icon – her kitchen is in the Smithsonian, for Pete’s sake. Julie Powell is a frustrated writer in an unfulfilling job looking for a creative outlet. For Julia, cooking is a passion. While perhaps no less a passion for Julie, her feat is more of a stunt, as she cooks her way through Julia’s classic, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” and blogs about it. The truth is, the story of Julia Child and how she became “Julia Child” is just more interesting. The love affair between Julia and her husband, Paul (Stanley Tucci) is charming and something I’d never heard about. So it adds a new dimension to the character we know from “The French Chef.” Post-war Paris, where the Childs live when Paul is a diplomat, is much more picturesque than Queens, N.Y. And Amy Adams is simply outgunned in the acting department. Not only does Meryl Streep have more to work with in Julia Child, she performs the feat of bringing this larger than life character down to earth. In contrast, Amy Adams (who I usually love) feels like she’s trying to keep up, just as Julie is trying to keep up with Julia. Director Nora Ephron does a great job of knitting the two stories together and making them move in parallel paths. And it’s actually quite enjoyable, hence my rating. But I think it would have been even better if it were titled “Nobody & Julia” or better still, “Paul & Julia,” hence my tweet: Julie & Julia-Nora Ephron blends Julia Child’s story with that of blogging admirer Julie Powell and creates a lopsided soufflé. 7.5 (out of 10)

“Julie & Julia”

Released: 2009

Rating: PG-13

Length: 123 minutes

Cast: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Jane Lynch

Director: Nora Ephron

Genre(s): Adaptation, Romantic Comedy

Thursday, January 21, 2010

“The Shootist”

I’m not a huge fan of westerns, but “The Shootist” is one I popped to the top of my queue because of its star, John Wayne. This was the last film he made before finally succumbing to lung cancer. I haven’t seen a lot of Wayne’s work, so I don’t know if it’s one of his best. But it’s certainly a good film. As my tweet says, The Shootist-In an unfortunate case of typecasting, an aging John Wayne dying of cancer plays an aging gunslinger dying of cancer. 8 (out of 10), Wayne’s character, J.B. Books, is dying of cancer. He returns to Carson City, has his doctor, E.W. Hostetler (James Stewart) confirm the diagnosis then takes a room in a boarding house owned by the widow Rogers (Lauren Bacall). While it’s Books’ intention to live out his final days quietly, Dr. Hostetler, the Carson City Marshal (Harry Morgan) and the widow’s son, (Ron Howard) who is fascinated by Books’ life as a gunfighter, coax him into going out in the proper fashion. Fans of the John Woo school of shoot-outs with their atmospheric lighting, slow-motion photography of unloading ammo magazines and an aviary-load of flying doves – may be a little disappointed by the simplicity of this film’s climatic scene. But it’s a fitting ending for a man of action and few words, just as The Shootist” is for the career of John Wayne.

“The Shootist”

Released: 1976

Rating: PG

Length: 99 minutes

Cast: John Wayne, James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard

Director: Don Siegel

Genre(s): Drama, Western