Movies

Updated  February 1,, 2012 

The Decendants
A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident. From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning Sideways, set in Hawaii, The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's  land.l

The Artist
Silent Movies are back! At least this one that wowed the Cannes Festival this year. A movie with virtually no dialogue, intermitent subtitles and a musical score. A strong contendor for this year's Academy Awards. Jean Dujardin plays a debonair 1920's silent film star who watches his career collapse when sound came to the movies in the thirties. His co-star, Berenice Bejo, a young starlet who is entranced by the dashing Jean. Like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers she convinces the studio head (John Goodman) to give them both a shot at a musical film.  And it works! This is definitely a feel good movie...you'll leave the theatre with a smile on your face and will place your vote for an Oscar. I've already done that. 

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
John Le Carre's classic hero, George Smiley  is back on screen three decades after Alec Guiness' memorable portrayal in two acclaimed BBC mini series. This time it's Gary Oldman who's on the hunt for a mole in Britain's M16. Oldman knows he has big shoes to fill. As a spy thriller, there are the usual unexpected turns and false clues...Well crafted and suspenseful but  very very confusing.  You'll leave wondering why and how it all came about. If you can explain it, let me know.

My Week with Marilyn
Michele Williams takes on the daunting task of portraying Marilyn Monroe in this film which focuses on the behind the scenes troubles between her and co-star director Laurence Olivier on the set of 1957's "The Prince and the Showgirl". Kenneth Branagh is wonderful as Olivier. The story is based on a memoir of a young assistant with whom Marilym feels sympatico.  You'll marvel at how Williams captures the essence of this iconic movie star...A masterful portrayal

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Director David Fincher high-grunge cinematic style hits an elcetrifying peak in this movie version of Stieg Larsson's Swedish serial killer novel. Rooney Mara is  sensational as the sullen waif hacker,Lisbeth Salander  with her spiky black hair, grungy clothes and her punk attitude.  Daniel Craig( in a complete switch from his James Bond personna) is the disheveled  disgraced journalist turned detective as he partners with Mara to investige a homicide that has haunted  an aristocratic family for years. Fabulously dark and sinister, it will keep you on the edge of you r seat as the plot reaches its unexpected conclusion. Some graphic sexual content.

Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol
Of all the previous Tom Cruise "Mission" series, this one is the best. To see Tom swinging on the outside surface of the world's tallest skyscraper in Dubai, while clinging to the building's glass panels is thrill enough.  And Tom does it without a stand in.   This alone signify's the stream of thrill inducing stunts that fill the movie with excitement and non-stop action.  Even if you're not a Mission Impossible fan, you can't help but appreciate the skill and finesse that went in to making this movie.  Kudos to director Brad Bird and Tom's crew, Jeremy Renner , Paula Patton and Simon Pegg. You're going to love every heart-stopping moment.

War Horse
Originally a children's book about a spirited horse drafted from an English farm to  serve in World War one, and later adapted for the stage (it's still running ion Broadway with the horses ,puppets, made of cane and plywood and  each manipulated by  3 people. I was lucky enough to see the New York stage production, and I was completely captivated by tthe skill and stagecraft of the production. In Steven Spielberg's movie version, Joey is a real horse, and Spielberg gives the awsome steed his due.It's a classic human story  as Joey's fate becomes entwined with those of  British and German soldiers who are in the midst of war. The filming ,especially of the war scenes with the horses is magnificent and Spieiberg  fashions with light and shadow and landscape an honest and beautiful film that ultimately brings to the audience the utter futilty of war.

The Iron Lady
Meryl Streep does it againin her screen portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, the British prime minister in the 80's. Not only does she nail her physically( the helmet hairdo and lacquered waves), but her voice, her gestures give you the essence of the lady  Using the familiar flashback technique(sometimes overdone) director Phyllida Lloyd  gives us historical conext as to how Thatcher becam e England's first woman prime minister. Suffering from dimentia, we see her now on in years, and then as w she was in her heyday as leader of the British goverment, during some hectic times, domestic qnd foreign. A recent Golden Globe winner for her characterization,(she's also up for an Academy Award ) the screen's ultimate impersonator of the famous, Streep is uncanny as she gives us an intimate peek into this woman's soul.