Entries from May 2011 ↓

IMDB: White Nights

Basic Plot: A dancer who defected from the Soviet Union finds himself trapped back in his home country when his plane has to make an emergency landing.

Outburst: This is less a dance movie than a political drama featuring lots of ballet and tap interludes. I especially enjoyed the introduction scenes for the dancers, from Le jeune homme et la mort and Porgy & Bess.

— It’s Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov, who do you think is going to like it? (Here’s a tip, if you know who both of those folks are, you’ll probably like this movie, and be pleasantly surprised at their acting ability.)

BUY IT NOW! White Nights (DVD)

IMDB: The Man from Earth

Basic Plot: At his going away party, a professor confesses to his peers that his is really a caveman who has been alive for 14,000 years.

Outburst: There is a reason this movie came out after the writer’s death; he never would have put it onscreen. All of these actors should be grateful they are in a movie no one will watch, because their respective talents range from mediocre to cringingly awful.

— Most people should give this movie a very wide berth, but in a very rare instance it would be okay to play this as background. That instance is in a group of your friends, preferably stoned, preferably atheists, who feel like having a Socratic argument about the mythos behind modern religion.

IMDB: Broken English

Basic Plot: Indie romance about a single woman in NYC, who bemoans her inability to find the right guy. Then she meets a visiting Frenchman who begins to change how she sees relationships.

Outburst: I’ve seen folks with Aspergers who are less socially awkward. This being an indie movie, while she does find romance, it’s not the unrealistic magic sort. It would be a very real and watchable date movie if she were just a tad less graceless and anxiety-ridden.

— If you can pull this movie up for free with your significant other, it’s a great at-home date movie. Most people will find this enjoyable, but not especially memorable.

Official Website: Broken English

IMDB: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Basic Plot: After discovering his ex-girlfriend has undergone a procedure to have him erased from memory, the socially awkward Joel Barish decides to do likewise.

Outburst: This is the strangest, and possibly one of the most original, romance movies I have seen. It’s nice to see actors display awesome portrayals of roles we do not associate with them.

/CULT — It’s a great cerebral date movie, or a movie to watch together with your significant other. Good for those of us in imperfect relationships; the characters are so dysfunctional it won’t leave you feeling unfulfilled.

Wikipedia Entry: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
BUY IT NOW! Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (Widescreen Ed.)

IMDB: Hot Tub Time Machine

Basic Plot: Four guys travel back to the 1980′s in a resort hot tub.

Outburst: Why does every mainstream comedy have to feature gay-bashing as humor? It takes a little more wit to be funny and politically correct, so I expect that of cookie-cutter movies. Despite the homophobia, awful title, and a genuine cheese factor ending, there were some surprisingly original and laughable bits.

— It’s pretty good mainstream potty-humor if you like those sorts of films.

BUY IT NOW! Hot Tub Time Machine (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack)

IMDB: A Walk to Beautiful

Basic Plot: This is a documentary piece about obstetric fistula in Ethiopia and the hospital that treats them.

Outburst: I magically pulled up this documentary on the same day I finished a book on the very same subject. Before the book, I’d never heard of fistula. I did not know of this ‘hidden’ epidemic or the suffering faced by these women. This was a the perfect film piece to complement the story.

— I firmly believe you should first read the book Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese before you see this documentary. Together, they will change your view of the world.

Official Website: A Walk to Beautiful
WATCH IT FREE ON YOUTUBE — If you are not going to buy the dvd, please support the cause by donating (through the official website).

BUY THE BOOK: Cutting for Stone
KINDLE EDITION: Cutting for Stone

IMDB: Agora

Basic Plot: Historical drama about the city of Alexandria, the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire, and the famous female philosopher Hypatia.

Outburst: It has all the elements of a great movie, but I still didn’t like it. In the end, I decided this long epic tale simply lacked a definitive focus. Is the story about Hypatia or the brutality of fanatics? Maybe the best part of this story occurs in the talks about this movie after it is over.

— Philosophy and history majors should plummet through the depths of this movie. This is a thinking person’s movie, not one to kick back and enjoy. Best for classes and discussions.

Wikipedia Entry: Agora (film)
WATCH IT NOW: Agora

IMDB: All In This Tea

Basic Plot: Documentary following David Lee Hoffman as he seeks out handmade teas in China.

Outburst: The cinematography is very well done. I didn’t think I’d be able to sit through an entire documentary about tea (especially considering I’m more of a coffee drinker), but the story was actually quite engaging. Best served with a cup of oolong.

— This documentary will only be of interest to tea connoisseurs (or wannabe tea connoisseurs). The damp skylines of China will put non-tea aficionados into a drowsy state.

Official Website: All In This Tea
Official Les Blank Website

(amazon)

IMDB: The Thomas Crown Affair

Basic Plot: A rich billionaire decides he’d rather steal art than buy it, but a seductive insurance agent sets out to retrieve the painting.

Outburst: A glorious crime caper movie, too bad the leading lady does nothing for me and the sparks are pretty much nonexistent. Not my ideal ending, but quite satisfactory overall.

/DVD — If you like a witty, rich bad-boy with the mythical heart of gold, this movie’s for you. One of the few movies to portray a mature woman as a seductive siren.

Wikipedia Entry: The Thomas Crown Affair (1999 film)
BUY IT NOW! Thomas Crown Affair (DVD)

IMDB: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Basic Plot: Based loosely on the X-Men comic books and movies, this is the origin of the character Wolverine.

Outburst: What’s up with the bad special effects; is it a lighting problem? Some of the scenes are obviously fake, and some are obviously shot in a Hollywood studio with painted backdrops. And bits of dialogue are, um, weak. Numerous plot inconsistencies between this and other X-Men movies and the fact that some of the characters seem to waffle in their actions for no reason make this the weakest of the X-Men series so far.

— Taken as an alternate universe Wolverine story, it’s okay for a mainstream movie. Unfortunately, those who love Wolverine (aka the target audience) will be disappointed in the fact that this doesn’t match the storyline of any of the comic books or the preceding X-Men movies.

Wikipedia Entry: Wolverine (movie)
WATCH IT NOW! X-Men Origins: Wolverine