music, media & other random musings

Smile of the Day

It's hard to imagine any film today that would pull together Daniel Stern, Kevin Bacon, Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Timothy Daly and Paul Reiser - or even a small combination of any of them. Such an oddly weird, diverse bunch. But once upon a time the mix was perfection. Diner is truly one of the all time great films. (Link is to Janet Maslin review, 1982.. she liked it too.) 

I can't remember the last time I saw it, but I've had it in my head for a while and downloaded for my flight - and what imagined would be a probable delay - to LA. But since I never got on that flight, this lazy day felt like the time. Don't usually choose the ipad to watch at home, but it really does look so damn beautiful, and the film, still worthy of the 'classic' rating. 

Some of the most fantastic dialogue ever, it's hard to choose the standout scene, but Daniel Stern's "Jazz" gets the top slot. Another once upon a time ago, Shrevie embodied the passion of any true music fan and his collection, me included...

The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, felt so real that when Ralph Fiennes showed up in a cameo, for a confused second, I thought the characters in the film had happened upon a film shoot, with the actor Ralph Fiennes.

Although the reviews have all been stellar, I was hesitant about seeing a "war" movie. It's not just that I get enough of it from the news everyday, it's the moralizing that goes along with most war films. Not to mention the "music video" inspired scenes that tap into your emotions just when called for. And in spite of myself, I usually take the bait.

But this film was nothing of the sort. There wasn't any political overtones, no questioning what or who was right or wrong, why we were there. Just about how three guys, in a three person team of army specialists trained to disable IED's (improvised explosive devices), dealt with being there and trying to survive.

Jeremy Renner (Staff Sgt William James) plays the confident, cocky, maverick, who lives for the thrill, the rush. It's that thin line between life and death that somehow makes him fearless. On the other end of the spectrum, Brian Geraghty (Specialist Owen Eldridge) is young, scared shitless, counting down the days til his tour is over and convinced he's going to die. And in the middle, Anthony Mackie (Sgt Sanborn), the more cautious professional, focused on procedure - and staying alive.

All three of these actors were exceptional. Although I lean somewhat towards Renner being the stand out, it's a dog fight... all there were stellar.

Other than the appearance of Ralph Fiennes, it felt incredibly real, you really did feel like you were "there." The shooting style, look of the film, sound design - breathing, gun fire - felt as if you could almost hear the sweat dripping off them, the sense of unknowing hangs thick. Every time they go into a mission, you think it's possible, or even likely that one or all of them could blow up. It may be a movie, but it didn't feel like one where the lead actors couldn't die. They could, and they let that be known in the first scene of the movie. 

Sure, all three characters want to live. But how they survive, and how they want to live, is the point. 

The scene at the grocery store, near the end, sums it up for James (Renner). And the film. The dichotomy of life that he wants and needs to lead - the chaotic, thrill of war, where the choices he makes will determine if he lives or dies vs. the sedate, suburban, grocery store existence. And in the bigger picture - the juxtaposition of a dusty, poor, devastated, war torn country, with the noise of constant gun fire, set against our quiet, American way of life, filled with aisles of endless choices of cereal. Kix, Cheerios, or Life. James chooses life. At least the one he wants to lead anyway.

I saw the film with my mom. When we walked out she asked what makes someone crave that kind of life, that kind of thrill. My response, what makes anyone be anything...  If I was thrown into a situation like that, I know I'd be most like the scared shitlesess Eldrige. I don't even like riding the roller coaster. I have absolutely no idea what makes a character like James tick. I'm just thankful they exist.

Great film - thoughtful, thought provoking, really well made.

Reviews

Every year I look forward to cramming in all of the "Oscar" films during Christmas and New Years. But my list is shockingly short this year. I'm actually stunned at how little I'm interested in seeing.

I saw Precious, which I loved. And Up in the Air, which I also really enjoyed - although personally, it made me sadly yearn for airports, airplanes and travel... But if you like the George Clooney, it's hard not to fall for it. Not quite sure it's worthy of all the awards it seems to be nominated for. But based on its (lack of) competition this year, I'm starting to get it. The two I saw Christmas Day... 

I'll start with the worst of the lot - Sherlock Holmes. Proof that the story IS - shockingly - at the heart of good story telling. Generally, wasn't all that drawn to Sherlock Holmes. But I was drawn to Robert Downey Jr. - and even Jude Law. True to their talent, they delivered - both individually and as a duo. (Good match - I'd like to see them together in something else....) And, the look of the film was actually quite beautiful as well. But it was that pesky story (and the annoying performance of  Rachael McAdams - who I usually like) that held no interest for me. Just not compelling. And in parts (many), boring. True sign of a bad movie: a consistent, unsettled rumbling in the audience, and a handful who walked out... 

Sherlock was sadly the first of our Christmas Day double feature. Certainly wasn't off to a great start. But after a lunch (not Chinese, but bagels), my mom and I were off to see It's Complicated. My friend Andy, a screenwriter, and someone whose film & television reviews sync up with mine about 98% of the time, told me it was "good." And "Alec Baldwin was excellent." Maybe it was because Andy saw it as an Oscar screener, at home, he didn't appreciate it as much. Or maybe it was because my expectations weren't set too high or that I was just happy to see a fully-realized story that day, but I thought it was absolutely adorable. Yes, it was exactly what you'd expect. Meryl Streep impeccable, Alec Baldwin genius (LOVE HIM!), Steve Martin a great straight-man (yet with a few shots of his "wild and crazy guy" dance...worth a few smiles.) And with every Nancy Meyers film - beautiful people, clothes, homes, and lots of food & wine... Made me want to move to Northern California and very hungry for dinner..   

Not every movie has to be a film.... But a good, solid, enjoyable movie that leaves you with a sense of hope, was a good start to the beginning of the Christmas viewing season. Hope there's a few others that hit the spot in the next week - movie or film.  

"To My Big Brother George....

... the richest man in town."  

I've seen "It's A Wonderful Life" literally countless times. I know just about every line. But when Harry Bailey comes in at the end, to toast his brother.....it gets me every time. A true classic, most certainly worthy of a watch through once a year - can't help myself. 

Precious

Too powerful for a few sentences let alone words. I'm so glad I don't read reviews (skim first & last few paragraphs) and somehow am able to filter out "spoiler noise." 

Dark theater, a box of milk duds...all you need to know. Must see.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

It's a rare thing when you watch a movie for the first time, already knowing you'll want to see it again - and certain you will. Fantastic Mr. Fox was that for me. At first I couldn't help but study the intricacies of what sounded like a painstaking production process - the results of which are pretty spectacular. But the story, script, talent/voices and music were so well done, and the epitome of Wes Anderson  - quirky, clever, charming -  that I quickly moved on and just found myself immersed - and in love with in the movie. Although it's supposed to be for kids - sitting through some fairly painfully tragic trailers, it's clear who they are targeting - I'm pretty sure I heard more laughter from the adults in the theatre. I being one of them, laughing out loud on more than one occasion. My nieces - 10 and 7 - seemed to like it, but I still think I might have enjoyed it more than them. 

What was truly amazing to me is how George Clooney, even without seeing that perfect face, can still steal a movie. Perfectly cast - lovable, mischievous, willful. And in this case strong, yet flawed, struggling between what he should be (or what he has promised his wife he would be) and what he really is - ultimately finding he has no choice but to stay true to himself. Although terrific, his performance doesn't take away from the supporting cast - no slouches, any of them. Bill Murray, Meryl Streep and especially Jason Schwartzman - all excellent. 

Incredibly well done. And yes, obvious as it may be... in a word, fantastic. 

Where The Wild Things Are

 

Hauntingly beautiful film. With the help of the soundtrack, will be staying with me for a while. 

And the Oscar goes to...

I actually have no idea.  And have no plans to predict - just yet anyway. I'm still checking out all the contenders. But of the ones I've seen to date (see left sidebar), there does seem to be a theme emerging. Maybe i'm just seeing it through my own eyes of aging, and maybe all good films focus on these themes, but there does seem to be a focus on the nuances and fragility of life and death - the sweetness and sorrow, the embrace and fear of it, and the randomness as well as our ability to control it. I'm thinking primarily about Benjamin Buttons, the Wrestler and Gran Torino. (Frost/Nixon and Milk are biopics of a sort and fall into a whole other category - although interestingly, they too relay history from more personal perspectives and the challenges/struggles of the individuals involved..) 

In all of these films, we see characters struggling with the ramifications of aging - to their looks, body and their identity - faced with the realization that life didn't turn out exactly as they thought it might. For all of us, there's a point in time when we're compelled to look back on our life, to try and make sense of it all, put it in perspective, how all our experiences have made us who we are. And each of these films portray characters that do that in their own way, telling stories about people who struggle with both what life has thrown at them, and what they've created for themselves. Each differing in how they choose to own it, whether to change it, fight it, accept it or embrace it.

Benjamin Button embraced it. At an early age (sort of), his mother let him know that he'd never know what's coming around the corner, and that life will change on a dime, as hers did when she took him in. Button's life, and the movie, insisted that age ultimately doesn't matter. That life and love can be embraced and changed at any stage of our life. Yet Cate Blanchett's character reminded us that even though we can't control it, it can be quite difficult to see ourselves aging, changing. 

And The Wrestler embodied this theme. Both Randy the Ram and "Pam" the stripper have hit middle age where because of their chosen professions, age has forced their hand. Pam, although saddened that her youthful beauty is fading, is more able to move forward. But Randy's whole being was defined by his celebrity. He doesn't want to let that go, and doesn't know how to.  He looks back on his life with sadness and regret, while accepting that he made his own bed. 

  

While the Wriestler focused on middle age, in Gran Torino, Eastwood's characters' has already led his life. His wife is gone, he knows he is dying, and in wanting to protect these kids from an early grave or worse, from experiencing what it's like to kill someone, he chooses to save them, and maybe save himself too. He ended his life in his own way, but not before he summed up his life and made peace with his own failings. As his priest said, he had more experience with death than living, and so he chose death.    

I don't know what, if anything, these films says about the time we're living in. Maybe they're a reflection of our aging boomer population.  Or maybe the enormity of the world's problems right now feel too overwhelming to comprehend or grapple with, so we look inward and focus on the more personal aspects of our lives - whether we can control them or not.  Or maybe it's just proof that the really good stories are about the nuances and intimacies of life.  And that 2008 proved to be a fruitful year for delivering on that. 

Sex and the City

It's one of those New York happenings that I felt compelled to participate in. My sister, her girls and a bunch of their friends were going, having bought tickets last week, so I glommed on.  Couldn't have been a better group to go with - those girls (high schoolers) couldn't have been more excited. As was the rest of the virtually all-girl audience.  After reading all the pre-release buzz and especially after reading yesterday's NYTimes review, I was pretty convinced it would be unwatchable.  But naturally I still wanted to go.  A friend of mine said it perfectly... "It's going to be awful, I can't wait to see it!" 

I have to admit it. I was very pleasantly surprised.  Hardly great cinema - and not even a great movie.  Much too long, and a little rambling.  And at the very beginning it felt incredibly stilted, just like I imagined it would - trying "too hard" to bring that sitcom camp to the big screen.  But after the initial awkwardness, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Silly, soapy, mushy, unrealistic - yes.  But truly great fun. You love the characters, know the story lines all too well, and so it felt just as it should - like meeting up with old friends, ones in which time apart hasn't made any difference. You go right back into that comfort zone.  If you loved the series (or even just liked it), you'll be completely entertained.  I certainly was!

Movie Friends

Today I picked up the paper, flipped it over and saw that Sydney Pollack had died. My heart dropped and my eyes got teary.  But why?  I don't know this man.  Never met him.  He might even be a schmuck as far as I know.  But yet I grew up with him. His career spanned my years of growing up, having directed, produced and acted in classics that are part of my own movie history - "Tootsie," "The Way We Were" through to "Michael Clayton" and a bit on "Entourage."  Naturally when a public figure dies - entertainer, politician, sports figure, or otherwise - especially when one dies too young (he was 73, but certainly could have been around another 20 years or so if dying from old age), the first reaction is "oh that's so sad."  And it is. But it is sort of strange to feel that sadness, as again, we really don't know them, they aren't part of our world or family. But I guess when a figure is pubic, we all do own a piece of them.  Whether it is their actual work, or gossip fodder or real tragedy. I truly don't know if he was a good guy or not.  But in my world, in addition to being a talented actor/producer/director who I enjoyed watching on the screen, he was.  And so I feel sadness.