Monday, August 28, 2006

The Departed


director: Martin Scorsese
writer: William Monahan, Sui Fai Mak and Alex Chong (Infernal Affairs)

I was recently treated to a screening of Martin Scorsese's Infernal Affairs remake, starring a bevy of Oscar and other award nominated/winning actors, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, and MarkWahlberg. And a treat it was to get an early viewing of this ambitious remake. The Departed takes the skeleton of its predecessor and fleshes out the details and gives it a specificity on the streets of Boston.

A cops-and-robbers film, the premise is a simple one: each side has implanted a mole, both high up in the ranks. But there in lies the possibilities. It becomes a cat-and-mouse game of suspenseful complexities.

And the acting is certainly up to par with the caliber of the cast. Jack Nicholson need only to glance at you with those naturally arched eyebrows to instill fear. Alec Baldwin does his best work not as a leading man, but as a sideliner. And Leonardo DiCaprio carries the film. And as juicy as his role was, I couldn't help thinking how DiCaprio would have also been excellent in the Matt Damon role. Also of note is Mark Wahlberg's character whose name is Dignam, which is remarkably like "Digne," a word Chaucer meant as disdainful but also honorable, which the character certainly is.

Is this an Academy Award worthy film? Well, I've come to lose faith in the choices of the Academy. It is not always necessarily the best in the category who takes home the golden statue. But then again, that applies to most award shows, if not all. And of course, a movie's chances depend on its competition. I am sure The Departed will get some nominations, possibly best adapted screenplay and best supporting actor for Jack Nicholson along with some technical nods. I would not be surprised if Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese also receive nods. Scorsese has never won the Oscar, which is a sham considering his older films. But the Academy has been known for making it up by awarding nominees for roles/films that were less worthy. So, who knows?

rating: ****1/2/***** (a must-see)

recommendations: Infernal Affairs, Gangs of New York, Heat

Teen Angst DVDs

In honor of the upcoming school year, these DVD recommendations are teen angst/school themed.

Comedy
Kicking and Screaming (1995 - Not the Will Ferrell/soccer version)
Mean Girls (surprising hit)
She's the Man (surprisingly charming)
Clueless (feel-good flick)
Old School (frat pack classic)
American Pie (set the trend for teen gross-out movies)

Dark Comedy
Election (very smart)
Welcome to the Dollhouse (heartbreaking in its honesty)
Thumbsucker (interesting indie)
Saved (a surprisingly smart and funny indie)

Just Dark/Drama
Good Will Hunting (great writing)
Brick (film noir set in high school)
Elephant (slow but powerful)

Old School/Classics
Say Anything... (what girl does not love Lloyd Dobler?)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (save Ferris)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (an 80's classic)
The Breakfast Club (an 80's classic)
Dazed and Confused (hippies of the world unite)

Honorable Mentions/TV Shows
Undeclared (underrated and cancelled before its time)
Freaks and Geeks (another one that wasn't given a chance)

The Illusionist


director: Neil Burger
writer: Neil Burger

The Illusionist is Edward Norton as Eisenheim, a man driven by love of magic and Princess Sophie, played by Jessica Biel. And Paul Giamatti is Chief Inspector Uhl, a curious admirer not quite beyond corruption by the Crown Prince of Vienna, Rufus Sewell, who has plans of his own for Sophie.

The problem with this film is its predictability. Granted, it is difficult to surprise an overindulged movie enthusiast, but when I can predict the action every step of the way from a third of the film in, that's when the movie loses something special. And it was just that: not special or unique - it even has a Usual Suspects-esque reveal at the end. Although, fellow theatergoers seemed to enjoy the film far more than me, they also beat me in age by about, oh 30 to 50 years or so.

The Illusionist was not bad. Just not great. If you are penny pinching, or at least movie pinching (and who wouldn't nowadays with the current cost of tickets), and being selective of your theater going experience, then I suggest you check out the trailers for The Prestige, another film featuring magic starring Wolverine and Batman and wait a couple months.

rating: ***/***** (wait for the DVD)

recommendations: The Usual Suspects, Ever After

Monday, August 21, 2006

Accepted


director: Steve Pink
writer: Adam Cooper and Bill Collage

Justin Long has a boyish sincerity about him that will probably ensure a reasonable future career. Jonah Hill (also seen in 40-Year-Old Virgin as the goldfish-in-boots lover) will probably pop up as the hefty sidekick/comic relief several more times. And Adam Herschman picks up where Curtis Armstrong (best known as Revenge of the Nerds's Booger) left off. There's the pretty blonde, Blake Lively, the object of our hero's affections who, of course, has a dopey jock boyfriend, Travis Van Winkle. Tell me, why are all film losers in love with the most popular girl in school who is almost always a skinny, tall blonde and who almost always is dating the most popular guy in school, the captain of the fill-in-the-blank sport? Can someone say "overreaching?" What's worse? Knowing you can't be with an out-of-your-league crush or being implanted with the false hope that maybe if you do something great, like say, invent a college, you can, but really there's no chance in hell?

Accepted is the Revenge of the Nerds, Animal House, Old School, PCU, etc. of the younger, modern generation. And while it follows in the tradition and is reminiscent of its predecessors, and even has some amusing observations, such as the under(or over)tones of homosexuality in a fraternity, the movie falls short - typical of underachievers. The movie was so busy collecting the obligatory aspects, like the round-up of the range in freaks and idiot savants, none of whom we get to know really well, that the details and funny comebacks that were so promising in the beginning fail us.

rating: **1/2/***** (take it or leave it)

recommendations: Old School, Revenge of the Nerds

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Little Miss Sunshine


director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
writer: Michael Arndt

The true markings of an indie film is perhaps not the budget, but the feel. With the continual risings of film costs as movies try to out-do, out-perform, out-cgi competitors, it's hard to tell where independent films/low-budget films/standard budget films/blockbuster films end and begin. And as more guaranteed moneymakers go down in flames and audacious film festival darlings catch on fire, audiences are becoming more aware and more accepting of those little films-that-could. Enter Little Miss Sunshine.

Greg Kinnear heads this family of misfits held together by what seems not so much a familial bond as a growing suspicion that perhaps the members have no other friends. Included in this dysfunctional bunch are Toni Collette as the trying-her-best mom, Alan Arkin as the dirty, old grandfather, Paul Dano as the voluntarily mute and misanthropic teen, Abigail Breslin as the enthused pageant contestant wannabe, and Steve Carell as the depressed uncle. Standouts in the cast include young Breslin - portraying a misguided and confused girl with an innocence that sometimes is absent in other precocious child actors, and Steve Carell, mostly known as the lovably pure 40-Year-Old Virgin and former Daily Show correspondent turned clueless boss, who leaps, or rather detachedly slouches into the somber character.

Also of note is the yellow and white VW wagon which is a character in and of itself. Good road trip films should always pay homage to the mode of transportation. And certainly the filmmakers chose a vehicle that would stand out (in a unique, almost embarrassing sort of way - a classic indie film move, as opposed to the shiny, expensive and exclusive action film sort of way) and look good on a color-coordinated poster.

The film itself has tender, funny moments with enough quirks (a pre-requisite for indie films) to fill two bigger budget films. It also has some surprises, some expected, some not. Those exhaused from the disappointment of supposed summer blockbusters should seek relief in this little oasis called Little Miss Sunshine.

rating: ****/***** (a definite-see)

recommendations: The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, Transamerica