Things we found in the fire...

THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE
***
One man struggles with an addiction. One woman struggles with reality. They both are in desperate need of somesort of relief. The film "Things We Lost in the Fire" tells the story of these two wayward people. Halle Berry stars as Audrey Burke, a woman who has recently lost her husband, the love of her life, and the father of her two children. The violent death of her husband portrayed by David Duchovny also adversely affects Benicio Del Toro's character Jerry Sunborne, a heroin addict who has no one to lean on now that his best friend has died. During his lifetime Duchovny's character had tried to convince his wife that Sunborne is a good man who got a bad break. Berry's character on the other hand believes her husband's childhood friend is a loser who is using her husband to get another fix. When Duchovny's character is brutally murdered, his wife slowly comes to the realization that Sunborne is the only man she could really lean on as the difficulties of raising two children on her own become too much to bear. Sunborne on the other hand needs a reason to remain sober. Yet what they don't know is that they still need time to acclimate to each other and life with out their closest companion. Berry and Del Toro both turn in sublime performances, the rest of the cast however are lost in the background. Unfortunately Director Susanne Bier fails to captivate her audience, yet she does earn an E for effort because she motivates her two stars and they do not let her down. In addition to that Duchovny's character does not seem to have any personality flaws, and that is why it is difficult to relate to him. The way he meets his death is also quite unbelievable, although not improbable. Nonetheless the film is quite endearing which is why it will have staying power.

Love, Lust, Caution

Lust, Caution
****

Director Ang Lee’s latest effort Lust, Caution is truly a visually seductive film. The film takes place during WWII when the Japanese occupied Shanghai. Tensions were high among the Chinese, who at that time were a divided nation. Those Chinese who were well off were recruited by the Japanese and placed in positions of power. Others were subjugated to Japanese rule. Lust, Caution introduces us to a group of drama students that join an underground network of Chinese nationalist spies who seek to eliminate the Chinese traitors who work for the Japanese. Among these spies is a young actress who uses her talent and her beauty to capture her audience. She is chosen by the other members of the resistance movement to infiltrate the residence of Mr. Yee, portrayed by Tony Leung. After being introduced to Yee and his wife, as the wife of a prominent Chinese exporter she prepares for the most demanding role of her young life: the mistress of the distrustful and very dangerous Mr. Yee. Without a doubt Lee exhibits all of the skills that earned him his Best director Oscar. His fluid camera movements accentuate the superb performances turned in by the entire cast especially by Leung and the newcomer Wei Tang, whose performance as his mistress, in this film is so captivating that it seems as though she were a much more seasoned performer. This is probably why she was chosen from among 10,000 other actors for the role. Excellant performances, passionate direction, and a story that truly seduces are just some of the reasons why this film should be considered one of the best foreign films of 2007.

The Good Movie...

The Good Shepherd
***1/2

The CIA is shrouded in mystery. We might be given snippets of information regarding this covert organization from time to time however we are never allowed to know exactly what it is that makes the CIA tick. This longing to better understand the CIA is one of the major reasons why legendary actor/director Robert DeNiro chose a CIA agent to be the main character of his second directorial effort "The Good Shepherd". Edward Wilson is that agent. He is your all American boy. He goes to Yale, he is highly literate, and oh so composed. It seems as though in another world he might have been your friendly neighborhood librarian. However despite his efforts to live the quiet life, deception, secrecy, and an obligation to serve his country envelop him. And no matter what happens, he cannot trust anybody even those that are closest to him. Matt Damon portrays Edward Wilson with great accuracy. His every movement is subtle and full of tension. The rest of the cast turn in adequate performances, with the exception of Eddie Redmayne who shines in the role of Damon's bewildered son Edward Jr. DeNiro is obviously not the same director he was when he first stepped behind the camera as to film "A Bronx Tale." He clearly seems comfortable with the material, and does an outstanding job of portraying the world of espionage as one that is quite unremarkable, dark and devious. He refused to give any of the antagonists or protagonists of the film any James Bond or Dr. No qualities. This is a covert organization run by men who tell lies and keep secrets. Not men who walk around in tuxedos or use highly technological weapons that belong in science fiction films. Perhaps that is also the reason why the film tends to lag at times. The action sequences are limited to a few acts of violence and a brief torture scene, however Eric Roth who wrote the screenplay might be the one to blame and not DeNiro. In closing this film would have been more entertaining if their had been more confrontations between the good shepherd and the big bad wolf and less conversations.

ya miss me?

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

***/5

Westerns have always been burdened. Any western worth watching has to walk a fine line. It cannot be too dramatic or else the audience members who came to see gun-slinging action will feel deprived. On the other hand if there is nothing but action then story itself is put on the back burner, and the audience will feel as though the film lacks substance. The goal here is to know when to be dramatic and when to draw your weapon if you will. “Unforgiven” despite being heavily dramatized seemed to achieve that balance. And in fact the film “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” looks eerily similar to the aforementioned “Unforgiven” as it attempts to achieve that very balance. The film however stops short and relies heavily on the dramatic events that took place in the last year Jesse James’s walked this earth.
As the film opens up we are introduced to Jesse and his older brother Frank and their newly assembled crew of has-beens and lowlifes. They are recruited to perform a train robbery, possibly the last one for Jesse and his brother. Among these “men” are Charley Ford and his brother Robert Ford, portrayed by Sam Rockwell and Casey Affleck respectively. Charley is a sweet talking hillbilly who tries his best to avoid any sort of confrontation. His brother on the other hand is an overly confident loser with visions of grandeur who tries to make a name for himself as a member of Jesse’s gang. Frank James depicted in the film by Sam Shepard, automatically rejects Robert. It seems as though he can tell that Robert Ford should be avoided like the plague. Jesse on the other hand or Brad Pitt’s character seems attracted to Ford. The same way a celebrity would be attracted to their number one fan. Eventually Jesse and Robert Ford both come to the same conclusion: that a book should not be judged by its cover. Ford becomes disenchanted and realizes James is not the hero he thought he was. And James also comes to the conclusion that Ford is completely defective. It is Ford however who first takes action and only adds to the infamy of Jesse James by assuming the role of his “assassin”. Affleck is skillfully adapt at portraying a character that is a quite honestly a slime ball for the lack of a better term. Even his speech pattern is as repulsive to the ear as his appearance is to the eye. Pitt does an admirable job of portraying a legend that is at the end of his rope. He can trust no one and despite being a celebrity can hardly afford to let his true identity be known. The film is well thought out yet it lacks constancy. At times the story stalls and simply wallows, at other times thanks to the narration the story rolls right along. Overall the film does not disappoint. The acting is imposing and the dialogue has a truthful ring to it. The action nonetheless is much more mild mannered.

OSCAR WATCH

EASTERN PROMISES
****1/2 /5

Why do films about organized crime continue to intrigue the masses? Films describing gangsters and there way of life have been made over and over again so why would we think that one more film about the mob or gangsters is going to appeal to us? Well because every once in awhile a film like “Eastern Promises” reminds us just how enthralling the criminal world actually is. The tale of the film revolves around life in the Russian mob that operates out of England. Viggo Mortensen’s character Nikolai, is a “driver” and personal bodyguard, working for an influential Russian mafioso. The family is ruthless and yet they are very discreet, making sure every atrocity is neatly covered up. That is until a young prostitute dies during childbirth leaving behind a newborn daughter and her diary. A midwife depicted by Naomi Watts, bares witness to the birth of this child and the death of her mother, and seeks to find out who this prostitute was so that she could find a home for the child. Using the prostitute’s diary as a guide she finds out that her path leads her to Nikolai and his “family.” I refuse to divulge what happens next because that would be a great injustice to the person reading this review. What I am willing to say is that the film is refreshingly sharp and well developed. Director David Cronenberg does the audience a great favor and makes sure that he only filmed sequences that made sense, sequences that furthered the story. He never strays and remains true to the film’s basic premise rather than making just another gangster movie. Mortensen’s character is a stoic figure and throughout the film, Mortensen reminds us that even though Nikolai is involved with the underworld he never seems to relish his life of crime. If it weren’t for Daniel Day-Lewis and his performance in “There Will Be Blood” I would say that Mortensen should be awarded the Oscar for his vivid depiction. Lastly the film speaks about issues such as child prostitution and the rituals of the Russian mafia, issues that are overlooked in most films today. This makes watching the film that much more illuminating.

This 1 is for Heath!

1)I pray that Heath Rests In Peace
2)I pray that his family and love ones find some sort of peace during these dificult times
3)I pray that the media stops using his death as a get rich quick scheme
4)I like to thank Heath for all that he gave this world.
5)I like to point out that it was Heath's time to leave us, so let us remember him and thank God that he lived for as long as he did.

I did not know the man. And I was not very familiar with his work. But one thing I was aware of was his talent. So I will mourn for him. Having said that I present to you...

Monsters Ball
****/5

It’s truly a small world that we live in. Nowhere is this more evident than in the film “Monster’s Ball”. There are critics that would denounce this film’s story as being unrealistic. How could Hank Growtowski a racist corrections officer, supervise the execution of a black man, and then fall in love with that man’s widow? How could that same officer played by Billy Bob Thornton, hate his son so much that he would standby and watch as that son ended his life? Well to those critics I say only one thing: it might be unlikely, but it could very well happen. “Monster’s Ball” is a movie that truly pushes boundaries. It is a film that asks audiences to feel sympathy for characters that are a step above lowlifes. Yet when a cast gives performances that are so impassioned that we can feel empathy for the characters that they portray, and when writers and directors put their best foot forward as well they usually produce a film that has some sort of hold on us. “Monster’s Ball” is that film we just can’t seem to forget. We can’t forget Halle Berry’s character, the newly widowed Leticia Musgrove. Berry’s portrayal of an emotionally bankrupt woman who always seems to be teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown is disturbingly vivid yet graceful as well. Heath Ledger who plays Billy Bob Thornton’s son in the movie is not given much screen time, however he certainly leaves an indelible mark on the entire feature. As strange as it may seem “Monster’s Ball” leaves a similar type of imprint on all those who watch it. It is a small world after all.

THE TREASURE...