eight out of ten
I resisted watching this movie because I knew it would be powerful and emotional and much too relevant to today's current middle east issue between Lebanon/Palestine/Israel. Well I believe that for this very reason it is so important to watch it. You may not agree with the viewpoint of the movie but its still an important film to watch to understand the perspective of both parties involved. Some say that the film is terribly biased. I believe the movie is perhaps biased in support of a state of Israel but as far as Israel's steps to react to the violence and their own acts of violence I feel the movie is extremely even handed and touches upon a lot of moral gray areas. Many criticize the film for not being completley accurate. For example, the death squad killers of Israel are shown to have a conscious when its argued by most experts that they were not particularly troubled by the murders they committed, instead they felt pride because they were doing what they did for their country. Okay, even if this is true, the effect of this guilty conscious helps create a starting point to debate and discuss the issues in the middle east. Most Americans are sadly unaware of the problems and have one sided views of the issue. This movie seeks to show both sides of the debate and wants to start a dialogue on what we think. For that purpose, this movie is extremely effective.
There is a particularly poignant scene in the film where Aver (the Israeli death squad guy) and Ali ( A Palestinian liberation army leader) have a candid conversation unaware of the other's religious convictions or views. Whats interesting is both discuss their home. Both discuss that they are willing do die defending their home. Both are talking about the same peice of land.
Powerful quotes in the movie stated about an event long ago but eerily speak about issues today:
Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises of its own values.
Forget peace for now. We have to show them we're strong <-- and this one is the most powerful of them all because I actually heard this same phrase from the movie depicting decades ago, used by an Israeli spokesperson to a news correspondent Monday morning. *sigh* There is no peace at the end of this.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Somethings Gotta Give
eight point five out of ten
Sometimes its the movies you don't expect to even remotely like that you really end up loving. I'm a huge fan of the rare art of dialogue driven, character focused movies. Amanda Peet's character is dating a much older man who she brings to her mother's summer home. But mom was coming the same weekend. He winds up in the hospital due to stress and Amanda's mom winds up caring for him. What happens next you can probably imagine but the great thing about this movie is that because it is character/dialogue driven you are wrapped up in what they say and how their relationship progresses. It's a beautiful touching love story of an older couple finding a meaningful connection. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will probably watch it again.
Sometimes its the movies you don't expect to even remotely like that you really end up loving. I'm a huge fan of the rare art of dialogue driven, character focused movies. Amanda Peet's character is dating a much older man who she brings to her mother's summer home. But mom was coming the same weekend. He winds up in the hospital due to stress and Amanda's mom winds up caring for him. What happens next you can probably imagine but the great thing about this movie is that because it is character/dialogue driven you are wrapped up in what they say and how their relationship progresses. It's a beautiful touching love story of an older couple finding a meaningful connection. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will probably watch it again.
Must Love Dogs
three out of ten
Follow a newly divorced older lady who was left by her husband for a younger woman cope with life after marriage. Watch as her sweet but over involved family tries to set her up through a matchmaking website and laugh as she meets all sorts of zany and quirky characters until she meets.... *gasp* Mr. Right. And guess what? He loves dogs. Throw in a caveat of another potential love interest who is just Mr. Bad Guy and you got yourself an ultimate chick flick formula. Don't get me wrong- I love sappy chic flicks. I could sit and watch Sleepless in Seattle on repeat for at least four times but this movie just doesn't work. Poor Diane Lane, she is a great actress and there are scenes in this movie I swear she is thinking "I can't believe I couldnt get out of the contract to do this film. Must fire agent." Its a good effort that had much potential to be absolutely hilarious-- but somehow-- it falls flat.
Follow a newly divorced older lady who was left by her husband for a younger woman cope with life after marriage. Watch as her sweet but over involved family tries to set her up through a matchmaking website and laugh as she meets all sorts of zany and quirky characters until she meets.... *gasp* Mr. Right. And guess what? He loves dogs. Throw in a caveat of another potential love interest who is just Mr. Bad Guy and you got yourself an ultimate chick flick formula. Don't get me wrong- I love sappy chic flicks. I could sit and watch Sleepless in Seattle on repeat for at least four times but this movie just doesn't work. Poor Diane Lane, she is a great actress and there are scenes in this movie I swear she is thinking "I can't believe I couldnt get out of the contract to do this film. Must fire agent." Its a good effort that had much potential to be absolutely hilarious-- but somehow-- it falls flat.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
The Devil Wears Prada
nine out of ten
Now I told you many a month ago that devils do indeed come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and that many a one does indeed sport Prada. At long last a movie to prove my point! Please note the Prada littered throughout.
Follow Andi, a sweet midwestern girl who is a very "fat" size six as she tries to make it as a writer in New York City. She winds up working for Miranda Priestly as a junior assistant in a job that a million girls would kill for (she is reminded this at every turn). Essentially this magazine is like Vogue and a year stint here guaruntees all the doors you want will be open upon year's end. The movie follows Andi as she struggles to please this boss and in the process we watch as she gains and loses many things.
I loved this movie because Meryl Streep knows how to act. This is her movie and she shines like the star she is. Actors can make or break a movie and it is thanks to her this movie was excellent. She is funny, she is mean, she can just make a look and freeze you in your tracks. She truly is a boss from hell but she is more than that thanks to Meryl Streep. Huda read the book and said that in the book the mean boss is a very one sided character. In this movie there is depth and layers to the mean boss and into the choices that Andi makes in the city. I like that because no one is just one or the other. Most of us are very complex. What I particularly liked was a line in the movie where someone said the obvious: If Miranda was a man she'd be seen as someone who gets things done. Because she's a woman she's seen as the dragon woman. If you watch the movie you sort of get that.
My only critique of the movie is that in some ways it glamorizes the fashion industry because its message is very subtle. Apparently from reviews, the books is a little more "let me bang the point over your head that this is a shallow industry" while the movie is not as obvious. Perhaps a young girl watching may miss the entire point? I hope not.
Now I told you many a month ago that devils do indeed come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and that many a one does indeed sport Prada. At long last a movie to prove my point! Please note the Prada littered throughout.
Follow Andi, a sweet midwestern girl who is a very "fat" size six as she tries to make it as a writer in New York City. She winds up working for Miranda Priestly as a junior assistant in a job that a million girls would kill for (she is reminded this at every turn). Essentially this magazine is like Vogue and a year stint here guaruntees all the doors you want will be open upon year's end. The movie follows Andi as she struggles to please this boss and in the process we watch as she gains and loses many things.
I loved this movie because Meryl Streep knows how to act. This is her movie and she shines like the star she is. Actors can make or break a movie and it is thanks to her this movie was excellent. She is funny, she is mean, she can just make a look and freeze you in your tracks. She truly is a boss from hell but she is more than that thanks to Meryl Streep. Huda read the book and said that in the book the mean boss is a very one sided character. In this movie there is depth and layers to the mean boss and into the choices that Andi makes in the city. I like that because no one is just one or the other. Most of us are very complex. What I particularly liked was a line in the movie where someone said the obvious: If Miranda was a man she'd be seen as someone who gets things done. Because she's a woman she's seen as the dragon woman. If you watch the movie you sort of get that.
My only critique of the movie is that in some ways it glamorizes the fashion industry because its message is very subtle. Apparently from reviews, the books is a little more "let me bang the point over your head that this is a shallow industry" while the movie is not as obvious. Perhaps a young girl watching may miss the entire point? I hope not.
Da Vinci Code
one out of ten
This movie could simply be a victim of our own anticipation. Kashif and I had both read Davinci Code, we both love Tom Hanks who was starring in it and we just knew that this was going to the absolute bestest movie ever.
Yeah... not exactly.
The reason we thought this movie would rock is that the book was written practically like it was a script. Like Dan Brown just KNEW someone would be picking this baby up and turning it into a movie. It read well when you thought of it that way so we thought, how much better could it be doing what it was designed to do.
The problem is that the movie has a sense of urgency to it. As did the book.(for a summary click here) However in an effort to condense a fairly lengthy book into a two and a half hour movie they have urgency and thriller plot line paired with the introduction of controversial topics of whether Jesus was divine or not. This combination leads to absurd unbelievable scenes.
Example:
Sophie: They are framing you for murder!!!!! I will set a decoy and then we have FIVE minutes to escape, RUN RUN RUN.... oh wait let me say bye to grandfather and say "oh no" in a stoic manner for roughly two minutes because if I say it enough the audience will believe I am sad.
Tom: Hey I know I'm falsely accused of murder but let me look at this crumpled paper by his hand..... oh wow
Sophie: What is it? What is it?
Tom: Well this is the blankety blank theorum. It was originated in 1,000 BC...
Sophie: How terribly interesting! *as I lay before my passed grandfather who was murdered in cold blood and police sirens wail in the distance after us nevertheless in utter rapture because I have nothing better to do right now.
Tom: Oh yes, this may be a clue, let's stroll through the Louvre and see what we find
Sophie: Oh yippie like a scavenger hunt, please teach me about the paintings as we walk.
Folks is that realistic? Do people being chased for false murder charges who finally get a rare break out actually stop to discuss history and solve puzzles. Doesnt instinct take over to GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE? Sheesh. Truly befuddling.
I didn't think the book was terribly well written but it was a fun read with interesting new concepts. If it were me, read the book, save your money and precious time for now and check it out when its on rental.
This movie could simply be a victim of our own anticipation. Kashif and I had both read Davinci Code, we both love Tom Hanks who was starring in it and we just knew that this was going to the absolute bestest movie ever.
Yeah... not exactly.
The reason we thought this movie would rock is that the book was written practically like it was a script. Like Dan Brown just KNEW someone would be picking this baby up and turning it into a movie. It read well when you thought of it that way so we thought, how much better could it be doing what it was designed to do.
The problem is that the movie has a sense of urgency to it. As did the book.(for a summary click here) However in an effort to condense a fairly lengthy book into a two and a half hour movie they have urgency and thriller plot line paired with the introduction of controversial topics of whether Jesus was divine or not. This combination leads to absurd unbelievable scenes.
Example:
Sophie: They are framing you for murder!!!!! I will set a decoy and then we have FIVE minutes to escape, RUN RUN RUN.... oh wait let me say bye to grandfather and say "oh no" in a stoic manner for roughly two minutes because if I say it enough the audience will believe I am sad.
Tom: Hey I know I'm falsely accused of murder but let me look at this crumpled paper by his hand..... oh wow
Sophie: What is it? What is it?
Tom: Well this is the blankety blank theorum. It was originated in 1,000 BC...
Sophie: How terribly interesting! *as I lay before my passed grandfather who was murdered in cold blood and police sirens wail in the distance after us nevertheless in utter rapture because I have nothing better to do right now.
Tom: Oh yes, this may be a clue, let's stroll through the Louvre and see what we find
Sophie: Oh yippie like a scavenger hunt, please teach me about the paintings as we walk.
Folks is that realistic? Do people being chased for false murder charges who finally get a rare break out actually stop to discuss history and solve puzzles. Doesnt instinct take over to GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE? Sheesh. Truly befuddling.
I didn't think the book was terribly well written but it was a fun read with interesting new concepts. If it were me, read the book, save your money and precious time for now and check it out when its on rental.
The Family Stone
three out of ten
It is very rare for me to watch a movie and actually feel my stomach hurt with the degre with which I loathed it. Well in that regard Family Stone is... special.
The movie begins as we watch Everett the eldest of a large stereotypically happy and connected but misfit family drive into town to spend Christmas with his family. She is uptight. She wears her hair in a bun and only wears black and does not smile. Seriously, typecasting? The family is loud and obnoxious and instantly dislikes her particularly Everett's sister Amy who truly loathes her and sets out to make her feel more uncomfortable and awkward than she already does. In the background Everett is trying to get his mother's permission to use the family diamond to give to his uptight girlfriend because he wants to marry her. They are not right for each other and we all see it but him. That is until things get really bad and she invites her sister to come. Then the equally typecast happy relaxed (and I'm not sure she's supposed to be, but totally indifferent) sister comes in to handle things and the story takes off.
The reason this movie even gets a three out of ten as opposed to a 0 out of ten is because Diane Keaten and the man who played her husband are good actors and had a few fantastic scenes together. There is a scene in the movie when they are discussing her illness that you really get choked up. This is saying a lot considering I hate the movie but the scene did manage to catch me off guard.
***caution: spoilers***
The storyline of Sarah Jess Parker and the brother of Everett? WHAT? Are you kidding me? They had no chemistry. And why is that its alcohol that turns her around and opens up her heart? And its completely unbelievable they ended up in a committed relationship. He (the little brother) did a good job acting like he cared for her but she really could not act to save her life in this movie.
The scene of two years later and they show Claire Danes (the sister) and Everett totally hooked up and in a close relationship? Gag me. they did not develop their connection enough for this to believable.
It is very rare for me to watch a movie and actually feel my stomach hurt with the degre with which I loathed it. Well in that regard Family Stone is... special.
The movie begins as we watch Everett the eldest of a large stereotypically happy and connected but misfit family drive into town to spend Christmas with his family. She is uptight. She wears her hair in a bun and only wears black and does not smile. Seriously, typecasting? The family is loud and obnoxious and instantly dislikes her particularly Everett's sister Amy who truly loathes her and sets out to make her feel more uncomfortable and awkward than she already does. In the background Everett is trying to get his mother's permission to use the family diamond to give to his uptight girlfriend because he wants to marry her. They are not right for each other and we all see it but him. That is until things get really bad and she invites her sister to come. Then the equally typecast happy relaxed (and I'm not sure she's supposed to be, but totally indifferent) sister comes in to handle things and the story takes off.
The reason this movie even gets a three out of ten as opposed to a 0 out of ten is because Diane Keaten and the man who played her husband are good actors and had a few fantastic scenes together. There is a scene in the movie when they are discussing her illness that you really get choked up. This is saying a lot considering I hate the movie but the scene did manage to catch me off guard.
***caution: spoilers***
The storyline of Sarah Jess Parker and the brother of Everett? WHAT? Are you kidding me? They had no chemistry. And why is that its alcohol that turns her around and opens up her heart? And its completely unbelievable they ended up in a committed relationship. He (the little brother) did a good job acting like he cared for her but she really could not act to save her life in this movie.
The scene of two years later and they show Claire Danes (the sister) and Everett totally hooked up and in a close relationship? Gag me. they did not develop their connection enough for this to believable.
City of God
nine out of ten
I watched City of God twice. Once many years ago when visiting Brasil was not even remotely on the radar, and then last week after actually having seen the favela (shanty town) that the movie was filmed it and better understanding the darker side of Rio.
The movie is set in one of the worst favelas in Rio where the poor were carted off to around the 1970's to "pretty up" Rio and make it a better tourist destination. What happens when you decide to raze down the homes of hundreds of thousands of extremely impoverished and uneducated people and cart them off to nowhere and leave them to be? You get ignorance, depression, drugs and violence. This is what City of God explores in this fabulous film.
The City of God (based on a true story) follows a young boy "Rocket" who doesnt want the life he has but as the movie shows so effectively, finds nearly impossible to escape. How can you live in a city where the only way to earn money, the only way to not get killed is to be violent yourself? Rocket fights it and fights it. His parents were hardworking yet their oldest son was lured away to crime. He himself didn't want such a life for himself but found himself many times flirting with entering the life of a criminal.
The movie follows not only Rocket who flirts with crime but never truly converts over, but it also follows a man who does cross over. Knockout Ned. The movie shows him start off as a good family man who is trying to make ends meet and do things the right way. The movie ends with him a changed man. A violent criminal. The movie is great because you completely understand why became that way, infact you can't imagine how he could have become anything else. Watch the movie and I wonder if you can say for sure you would not have ended up doing exactly what Ned would have done.
The movie left me weak as it truly exposed how hard it is to escape the slums of Rio. Yes perhaps a few here or there, but for the most part, for 99.5 percent of the population of Rio's slums this is all they have to look forward to. And this is what the movie reveals so poignantly for me.
I watched City of God twice. Once many years ago when visiting Brasil was not even remotely on the radar, and then last week after actually having seen the favela (shanty town) that the movie was filmed it and better understanding the darker side of Rio.
The movie is set in one of the worst favelas in Rio where the poor were carted off to around the 1970's to "pretty up" Rio and make it a better tourist destination. What happens when you decide to raze down the homes of hundreds of thousands of extremely impoverished and uneducated people and cart them off to nowhere and leave them to be? You get ignorance, depression, drugs and violence. This is what City of God explores in this fabulous film.
The City of God (based on a true story) follows a young boy "Rocket" who doesnt want the life he has but as the movie shows so effectively, finds nearly impossible to escape. How can you live in a city where the only way to earn money, the only way to not get killed is to be violent yourself? Rocket fights it and fights it. His parents were hardworking yet their oldest son was lured away to crime. He himself didn't want such a life for himself but found himself many times flirting with entering the life of a criminal.
The movie follows not only Rocket who flirts with crime but never truly converts over, but it also follows a man who does cross over. Knockout Ned. The movie shows him start off as a good family man who is trying to make ends meet and do things the right way. The movie ends with him a changed man. A violent criminal. The movie is great because you completely understand why became that way, infact you can't imagine how he could have become anything else. Watch the movie and I wonder if you can say for sure you would not have ended up doing exactly what Ned would have done.
The movie left me weak as it truly exposed how hard it is to escape the slums of Rio. Yes perhaps a few here or there, but for the most part, for 99.5 percent of the population of Rio's slums this is all they have to look forward to. And this is what the movie reveals so poignantly for me.
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