Robot & Frank

Stop what you're doing and watch this film. This movie sat on my Netflix queue forever. It got great reviews. Netflix said I would love it, but I always seemed to find something else to watch. I'm sorry that I didn't watch it sooner. This wonderful film, brilliantly acted by Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, and Liv Tyler, is about family and the inevitable changes we go through when we grow old.
Set in the near future, this film follows the title characters as an awkward but powerful friendship develops between them. At first, Frank wants nothing to do with robot, a service robot purchased by his son to monitor his health and every move. Technology has distanced him from everything. His children only connect with him through tv screens. Even his last oasis, the library, has been bought by quirky 30 somethings and is being changed to a social gathering place where people can have a 'library experience', minus the books. Yeah, I don't get it either. The only thing he feels connected to is the mechanical nurse who is devoted to making sure he is healthy and happy. He soon realizes that robot can help him get back all the things he's lost and give his life meaning again.
The screenplay is excellent. The cinematography is beautiful. The music sets the tone in every scene. I can't stop raving about this movie. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me want to watch it again and again. I couldn't wish for more from this movie. I can only wish for more of this kind of movie.

The Oscar doesn't always go to...

It's the night in Hollywood, at least it is for some people. I think everyone has heard about the blatant lack of nominations for African Americans. This is nothing new, but it bites a bit more considering Selma is one of the Best Picture nominees. The discrepancy is nothing new and it is egregious some years more than others. Unfortunately, Hollywood is white. They're not proud of that, but they are very white. And the award circuit, for the most part, is a political being. I can't comment on any performances this year because, as usual, I've only seen a few of the movies. But I believe too much focus is placed on an award system that has never been truly reflective of the talent that exists in the industry, regardless of race.
I thought I would share some interesting trivia about the Academy Awards. It is not my intent to belittle anyone's grievances, more to show that many have felt slighted and they all are in good company.

Let's start with 'the most':
Walt Disney was nominated 59 times, 22 of those were consecutive, and won 26 statuettes. All three of those records will never be broken. Ironically, he was only ever nominated for Best Picture once, Mary Poppins, but didn't win.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King holds the record for winning the most awards it was nominated for by taking the statuette for all 11 nominations.
Both Bette Davis and Greer Garson were each nominated a record 5 consecutive years. And Barry Fitzgerald is the only actor to ever be nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for the same role. The rules don't allow for this to happen anymore.

I could continue with 'the most', but I found 'the least' to be far more fascinating.
So here are 'the least':
Though I don't know if this is a record, I thought it was incredible that Anthony Hopkins was on screen for only 16 minutes in his Best Actor winning role as Hannibal in The Silence of the Lambs!
Federico Fellini was nominated 12 times and Ingmar Bergman 9 times and neither won one, though they both did earn honorary Oscars. And Alfred Hitchcock not only never won at the Academy, he was spurned at the Golden Globes, Cannes, the BAFTA's, and Director's Guild. Stunning!
Both Mary Poppins and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? won the fewest (only 5) of their nominations (13). Both Johnny Belinda and Becket only managed to win one of their 12 nominations! And The Turning Point and The Color Purple didn't win in a single one of their 11 nominated categories. Steven Spielberg wasn't even nominated for Best Director for the latter.
But the biggest slight by the Academy is this, neither Richard Burton nor Peter O'Toole ever won an Oscar, despite being nominated 7 and 8 times respectively. Both were nominated for Becket! O'Toole was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, the Academy's mea culpa.
In conclusion, it is shameful how much the Academy overlooks performances in all minorities. And perhaps they will change their ways. In the end, there will always be plenty of hurt feelings. What is most important is these talented people continue to produce quality films because there are plenty of us out there that appreciate them, whether they hold that little gold man or not.

And the Oscar went to...

This time of year always makes me miss my mom. We have watched so many movies together and many of them have been Oscar winners. So I thought I'd share some of my favorite moments, lines, and other trivia from some Oscar winning films.

Oscar winner 1951

 

 

Won Oscars for Sound, Costume Design, Screenplay, Director (Joseph L Mankiewicz), Supporting Actor (George Sanders), and Best Picture. Neither Bette Davis nor Anne Baxter won for Best Actress. Amazingly enough, Judy Holliday won for Born Yesterday, also beating out Gloria Swanson, nominated for Sunset Blvd.
Davis had no idea how true this line would be on that night: "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"




 

Oscar winner 1963

Won Oscars for Score, Film Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Cinematography, Director (David Lean), and Best Picture. 
Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif became fast friends during this film. O'Toole swore 'Omar' was not his real name and called him Freddy for the rest of his life. I don't know why I chose that tidbit. I just thought it was great.
One of the best moments ever caught on film is the scene where Lawrence (O'Toole) meets Ali (Sharif). In a wide shot, we watch with Lawrence in anticipation as a black dot on the horizon gets closer and closer, finally revealing itself as a lone rider. Everything about this scene is perfect and is best seen on the big screen.

Oscar winner 1969

Won Oscars for Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actress (Katherine Hepburn). She shared the win with Barbara Streisand for Funny Girl. I've seen both performances and they were both fantastic, but no one is better than glorious Kate. She delivers one of my most favorite movie lines of all time, "I'd hang you from the nipples, but you'd shock the children." In fact, every word of this screenplay is poetry and delivered perfectly by the entire cast.
I never tire of watching this stupendous film. The chemistry between Hepburn and O'Toole is genuine. She affectionately called him 'pig' onset and they sat together every day at five, winding down with a glass of white wine. Now that's a 'tea time' I would have loved to take.

Oscar winner 1983

 Won Oscars for Film Editing, Costume Design, Art Direction, Cinematography, Original Screenplay, Director (Richard Attenborough), Best Actor (Ben Kingsley), and Best Picture. Kingsley so resembled Gandhi that many natives believed he was Gandhi's ghost. Oddly enough, Kingsley's parents were from the same state in India as Gandhi. Perhaps he was truly meant for the role. Either way, his performance is outstanding.
I knew next to nothing about Gandhi before I saw this movie and learned so much about the strength of nonviolence and power of conviction. It's a lesson that should be embraced by everyone, everywhere.




There they are, some of my favorite Oscar winners. I love them all because, in some way, they all remind me of my mom. She is the best movie buddy in the world. I love you Mom, every single day!

J is for killer, pregnant, rock opera!

 J was hard! I had to struggle to find enough movies to review. And I tried hard to find another movie to start with, but when it comes right down to it, this is truly a great movie. The first ever 'summer blockbuster', this movie may have lost it's place at #1 for highest grossing film a long time ago, but it will always be the movie that kept more people out of the ocean than any other film. I was too young to see it in the theater when it came out, but I still remember my older sister's reaction. Not only did she swear never to go into the ocean, but I don't think she's gone in since. That's a testament to how powerful this film is. But this wasn't an easy film to make. The failure of 'Bruce', the mechanical shark, to work underwater necessitated using the camera as the shark, thus creating some incredible pov shots that heightened the suspense. The animosity between Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw translated well to the mutual disdain of their characters onscreen. And the boat built to be sunk at the end of the movie was much more seaworthy than the one used in the rest of the movie. With all this adversity, you'd think we would have never heard from director again. Fortunately, Steven Speilberg doesn't scare as easily as the audience.

Juno is such a fun film...about teen pregnancy, no less! Poor Juno. Her very first sexual experience was a complete disappointment AND she's pregnant. Fortunately, she is much more adept at handling the situation then most of the adults around her. It's her sharp wit and tenacity that create this wonderful story. This film earned a well-deserved Oscar for screenplay for Diablo Cody. Add incredible performances from Ellen Page, Michael Cera, and Jason Bateman, great direction from Jason Reitman and this is a fantastic film. Yet more proof that you don't need a big budget, star power, or special effects to not only make a great film, but also make some money, too

I don't remember if I saw this in the theater. In fact, I can't remember the last time I actually watched the entire film. But I had to include it in this list. It's not because of the incredible cinematography, it was filmed on location in Israel. It isn't the beautiful costuming. It's the music. I grew up singing this rock opera. Not the British stage version, either. This one. Because, in my opinion, no one evokes the helplessness of Jesus in "Gethsemane" better than Ted Neeley. No one shows the forsaken devotion of Judas in "Heaven on their Minds" more poignantly than Carl Anderson. I have been singing "What's the Buzz" since I was a little girl, dancing in my living room. Along with Hair (the original Broadway recording, not the horrible movie), JCS got me across the United States when I moved to California. There is so much history in these songs, they are so woven into my life, that I can't possible separate them. As I write this review, the verses are echoing in my skull. "I only want to say, if there is a way, take this cup away from me, for I don't want to taste its poison."

A relationship of the future...

Let's face it, relationships can be messy things. Communication can become stymied, resulting in misunderstanding and irreparable resentment. Fortunately, in this high-tech world, we have so many options for meeting that someone special. The internet offers dating sites for everyone, no matter race, creed, or sexual orientation. Social media brings the world to your fingertips, giving you endless choices for encountering the one. In Her, Spike Jonze suggests yet another method for making that all important connection. What if Windows 8 not only organized everything on your computer, but listened to you like no other human? What if it attended to your every cyber need and offered positive criticism of your life as well? What if Windows 8 made such a connection with you that you couldn't wait to log on and see what it was up to? Ok, maybe Windows 8 couldn't do this, but maybe 10 might. So many of us have become completely dependent upon various operating systems because we spend more time interacting with smartphones, laptops, and tablets than we spend on those around us. We seek so many answers from these devices that it seems completely logical that a person would also find true love within their electronics if, along with answers, we also received understanding and compassion.
Her is the story of Theodore, a man whose pending divorce haunts him; however, this isn't a typical relationship movie. Theodore finds the 'woman' of his dreams in his new operating system. Samantha offers exactly what he needs, despite lacking the physicality of a human. Theodore's new os is more than just a software program, it is touted as the first AI system that has consciousness as well. Jonze has outdone himself, creating a near-future that not only is possible, but highly plausible. Theodore works at a business that provides personal, handwritten letters to subscribers. He is a surrogate writer, composing beautiful correspondences by learning about the 'author' and the 'subject.' Interestingly, he is able to make a strong connection to those he never meets, but lacks the ability to maintain a healthy relationship with his own wife. With Samantha, he feels a strong association to 'someone' again.
I simply loved the premise of this film, recognizing that Jonze identifies the general disunion of people today. Initially, I wondered how others would react to Theodore's new relationship. His ex-wife responds to his confession in the way I assumed most would, with shock and confusion; however, others acknowledge it as something perfectly normal and not uncommon. Theodore's closest friend, Amy, admits that she has formed a very close friendship with her os. It's obvious that this is exactly what many hoped for from the software.
Jonze presents the story as happening in the near future. The audience knows it's location is Los Angeles, but Jonze uses Shanghai for the wide shots of the city; thus, giving a foreign, futuristic look. The colors he uses are gorgeous and the lighting adds to the mood of the narrative. Add a great soundtrack and this movie is well worth watching. Thought-provoking, visually stunning, and well-acted. My only criticism is the casting of Scarlett Johansson as Samantha. The entire film was initially made using Samantha Morton's voice. Jonze felt there was something lacking during editing and, with Morton's ok, re-cast the role with Johansson. Unlike many, I am not a fan of her voice. At first, I wasn't so bothered, but as the movie progressed I grew more agitated when she spoke. Despite my dislike of the lead actress, this film is one of my top 5 movies for 2014. Though mostly overlooked by the Academy, it did garner the Oscar for best screenplay. After watching it, I whole-heartedly agree. This film resonated with me and still does.

I is for Deceiving, F@#king, Wilderness

It's taken me so long to return to my alphabet movie reviews that I barely remember a lot of the movies; however, the few that I've chosen to talk about have resonated with me for many years. The first is the true story of the scientist who revealed the lies and deception of the tobacco industry. His decision to talk to Mike Wallace and 60 Minutes nearly destroys everything he loves. Russell Crowe shows Jeffrey Wigand's turmoil perfectly through silent suffering. Without a word, Crowe draws the audience into the man's anxiety. In my opinion, this performance was much more deserving of an Academy award than his role in Gladiator. Along with stellar offerings from Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer, Michael Mann brings one of the most important news stories of the late 20th century to the big screen. If you know nothing about this tragic tale, this is a must see.

Aaahh Bruges. Ray hates Bruges and he has no reservations using his favorite expletive to remind the audience of this fact. In fact, this film has so many cuss words that I have to tell my mother, 'I'm warning you now.' For everyone else, this is a fun buddy film. Colin Farrell (Ray) and Brendan Gleeson (Ken) are awaiting orders from their boss, Ralph Fiennes (Harry). Despite Ken's valiant efforts, Ray is resolved to have an absolutely horrible time. On the other hand, Ken falls in love with Bruges. And so did I. Although it is available to stream on Netflix, I highly recommend getting the DVD. Along with a hilarious gag reel, there is an extra that allows you to go on a video tour of Bruges via it's canal system, revealing why it's known as "the Venice of the North." You'd have to be as uptight as Ray not to love the city. But you may find yourself falling in love with Ray, Ken, and even Harry. This film is flat-out f@#king FUN!

This film is based upon the true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who sets out after graduating college to live in the wilds of Alaska. The story comes from the book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. I tried to read the book; however, I found that Krakauer enjoys putting himself in the center of the story. I wanted to know about McCandless' own journey. When I heard that this film was coming out and that Sean Penn had directed it, I had high hopes. I was not disappointed. This movie tells Chris' story thoroughly and beautifully. The cinematography was stunning. The acting was solid. And the soundtrack by Eddie Vedder was wonderful. Both inspiring and tragic, McCandless' life is celebrated in well-earned grandeur on the big screen.

I was pleasantly surprised at how many 'I' movies I had given at least 4 stars. Along with these three, there is Inside Man, an action-packed bank heist with an all-star cast. It is, by far, my favorite Spike Lee joint. In America tells of an Irish family who immigrates to America to try to put their lives together after a tragedy. Il Postino is a beautiful love story between a woman and a postman who woos her with poetry. And Iron Giant is an animated family film about a boy and his enormous robot friend. I could go on, but I think I've given enough homework for now. Enjoy!

and my award goes to...

After Wes Anderson's big win at the Golden Globes, I feel compelled to do a movie review. But not of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Don't get me wrong, I watched it a few days ago and it was very, very good; however, as I watched it, I kept remembering another Wes Anderson film that I absolutely loved, Fantastic Mr. Fox. There were several techniques Anderson used that made me think I was watching that film instead. On several occasions, he used wide shots showing people running across the scene in the distance. He also used sets that, if they weren't miniatures, definitely looked like they were. Grand Budapest was a good movie, filled with all the beautiful sets and costumes, quirky characters, and catchy music that has become Anderson's trademark, but I just didn't enjoy it as thoroughly as I did Mr. Fox.
Wes Anderson inhabits a rare class of director, those who see movies not just as a source of entertainment, but also as art. Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott, and Peter Weir have raised the bar for every other director. Their films not only contain well-developed characters and stories, they also create a world so vivid and beautiful that the audience is swept into their 'reality' completely. Wes Anderson has an amazing eye for detail and an uncompromising vision that, when applied to a movie that uses stop-motion animation, can only mean perfection.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is a children's story written by Roald Dahl, the first book Wes Anderson was given as a child that remains on his bookshelf to this day. His love of the story is reflected in the movie. He assembled a wonderful cast filled with old friends, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson and adds some great 'new' talent with George Clooney and Meryl Streep as Mr. and Mrs. Fox. But what truly endeared this film to me was the use of a kind of animation that is fast going the way of the dinosaur, stop-motion. The animal dolls are made with real animal hair, which moved with every movement of the dolls, thus creating a rippling effect that is quite fun. As is necessary for stop-motion, every day materials are substituted for substances impossible to manipulate manually: saran wrap for water, cotton for smoke, bars of soap carved to look like flames. And this film has a choppy look to the movement that is an homage to such holiday tv specials as Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town. That may be the reason why it captured my heart, it reminded me of my youth. Just like a child, I can watch this movie over and over, marveling at all the time and effort put into creating such amazing sets. One thing is obvious, Wes Anderson poured his heart into this film. It is fun for everyone, young and old alike.

My Life At The Movies

After looking over the previous posts, this blog has inadvertently become 'my thoughts on...movies!' And that's great, but I thought it would be prudent to reveal why I have so many thoughts about the cinema. That tale begins at my beginning. When I think back to my childhood, many of my most vivid and beloved memories surround movies that I saw. All the Disney films seen with my sisters at The State Theatre. Going to The Strand Theater with the whole family to watch Picnic, giggling with my sisters while our mother sighed in remembrance. Watching Superman with my dad and Picnic at Hanging Rock with my mom. Movies were what brought us together. I can't begin to list all the movies I've seen with my kin. But I do remember one of the first films I saw. Conrack, starring John Voight as a young, white teacher who is sent to a small island in a river delta in South Carolina to teach African American children, was an extremely powerful movie for me to watch. I couldn't believe that there were children who went to school, but didn't know how to read or write. These children seemed to come more from a third world country than from the South. I was mesmerized by the lives portrayed and by this wonderful teacher who came to mean so much more to his students. Several years later, I myself would have the pleasure of being taught by an educator very similar to the one I marveled at on the big screen. In his classroom, I was encouraged to nurture an already hyper imagination. I learned to put pen to paper, paint to canvas, and truly see the world around me. Perhaps that's why this film still resonates with me. And yet it is nowhere near the most important film in my life.
I was 10 years old and excited for the coming summer vacation. Leafing through our weekly issue of Time magazine, I came across this article and everything I thought I was looking forward to was forgotten. Star Wars was a movie unlike any other I had ever heard of before. I couldn't wait to see it. I wasn't disappointed. In two brief hours, new worlds came to life inhabited by weird creatures, swashbuckling heroes, and comical robots. I still remember how I felt when the credits began to roll. I couldn't wait to see it again...and again and again. In fact, I saw it thirteen times that summer alone. I've seen it so many times since then that I've lost count. I knew immediately that this was revolutionary film-making. I had never been so immersed in a story before and it was entirely due to the special effects, sets, makeup and costumes. Everything pieced together to transport me to that galaxy far, far away. And it stayed with me. I wanted to know more about Tatooine, Alderaan, and the Death Star. My imagination stole me away to those fantasy places where I fought alongside Luke, Leia, and Han against the evil Empire. Many Star Wars fans rank the next installment, The Empire Strikes Back, as the best of the original three. And it does have a more complex, stronger narrative and equally terrific effects, but Star Wars will always be my favorite. It awakened a curiosity about making movies. I had never given movies a second thought before this. I watched what was on the screen like the rest of the audience. With Star Wars, I realized there was a whole world devoted to creating what is captured on celluloid. And I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to know everything from sound effects editing to costume design. This movie changed how I watched films forever. I started seeing more of the illusions created and asked how they did what they put on the big screen. This interest has continued throughout my life. I never saw my dream of getting into the film industry come to fruition; however, I continue to enjoy movies on a whole new level. I see them both as a complete creation and as the parts that go into making them. Although I don't know that I would call Star Wars my all-time favorite movie, it has definitely had a direct effect on my love of all movies. And for that, I say "thank the maker!"