Dean's rating scale: **** Exceptionally
good, *** Quite good indeed, **
I liked some things about it, but found it to be something closer
to average, * Not recommended.
| Almost Famous | *** |
| Bedazzled | ** |
| The Contender | ** |
| Girlfight | *** |
| Not of this World | * |
| Pay It Forward | *** |
Almost Famous -- This is a fun, gently amusing and nostolgic movie about 1970s rock-n-roll based on a composite of behind-the-scenes accounts from writer-director Cameron Crowe's memories as a 15-year-old prodigy journalist for Rolling Stone. Don't do as I did -- look for the band called Stillwater in any of your rock-n-roll history books. You won't find it listed anywhere. This story is a work of fiction, but unlike the movie This is Spinal Tap, it's not quite as much a much a work of satire, but attempts a more accurate portrayal of the music scene based on actual events, albeit with a lot of creative license. Everything about this movie seemed fun to me, but I heard a couple of women talking at the end saying that they didn't think the movie worked for them. I'm not sure what they were expecting. The acting is brilliant. The writing is brilliant, much of which is quite insightful, particularly as espoused through Crowe's rock-n-roll journalist mentor, partrayed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman (the nurse in last season's movie Magnolia). Francis McDormond is perfect as Crowe's protective mother, who's conflicted over how long of a leash to permit her gifted son, played by upstart Patrick Fugit. The movie probably works best for people in my age group who best remember the sounds and atmosphere of that era and have an appreciation for its free-spirited, self-absorbed, live-in-the-now ethos. Young folks might find it rather tame and quaint by today's standards. I must say, however, that I have tended to be a little disappointed these days by the soundtracks of movies that attempt to cover that era, and this film likewise disappoints on that score. It's not that they fail to select the right material since most of the music is quite good and reflects the times well. It's more that they tend to let it sit so far in the background that it seems like elevator Musak, and half of the time, you don't even know that you are hearing it subliminally. Turn up the volume!!! (Kids -- probably not (sex, drugs and rock-n-roll); teens -- yeah, I think most of them can handle it). ***
Bedazzled -- How I review a movie depends partly on my expectations before I see it. I was expecting nothing more than light-hearted silly entertainment from this film and was not disappointed. I can't say that it always had me in it's grip, but I was willing to cut it a fair amount of slack, and in the end it left both my niece and me in good spirits and feeling that it had done its job reasonably well. This is a remake of a 1960s film by the same name, and it attempts to juxtapose the relative innocence and optimism of those times with some of the nastiness and cynicsim of our current times. Still, this is mostly a fun, romantic comedy that doesn't aspire to anything beyond entertainment; and although it is absurdly silly at points, it doesn't resort to the toilet humor that plagues so many films principally aimed at teens these days. As long as you can accept the premise of the existance of a devil, something easy to do in the presence of someone such Elizabeth Hurley, and have a tolerance and empathy for pathetic losers such as is portrayed by Branden Frasier, then go and be entertained! (Kids -- perhaps not; teens -- yes) **
The Contender -- Hollywood hogwash!!! Just because I agree with the principle message (in defense of the right to privacy), it doesn't mean I agree with the message vehicle (left wing moralizing about sexual McCarthyism) or the message subtext (politicians are mean-spirited cynical people who generally don't give a damn about the principles for which they stand). And just because they give some depth of character, complexity and irony to some of the movie's characters, that's not going to win me over. Most of this is flat out good versus evil. The movie is a not so veiled attempt to stick it to the Republican representatives in Congress who sheparded the Impeachment process against President Clinton, even though the heroin of the movie, a U.S. Senator played by Joan Allen who faces confirmation to be Vice President and is under investigation for her own sexual pecadillos, voted in favor of President Clinton's Impeachment. These days, I often feel nearly as frustrated by left wing moralizing as I have always been by right wing moralizing. Anyway, as entertainment, the movie works for politicalphiles like me, and also for people who prefer to believe that most politicians are scum -- but that is what bothers me, because I am not one of those folks and I don't like vehicles that support that notion. Although the moving ending extracted tears from me, using a speach by the President to climactic effect in typical Hollywood fashion, I still felt manipulated into accepting the premise that it is only on rare occasion that politicians rise above their otherwise scummy nature. Many women might like this movie since it advocates for their equality in ways that's bound to make them feel inspired and empowered. People who don't care much about politics, and that seems to be most folks these days, need not attend this movie. (Kids -- probably not, mainly because they won't understand or care; teenages -- probably okay, but this ain't your kid's "The Matrix"). **
Girlfight -- Breaking new ground for films about boxing, Girlfight might be more accurately titled "Girl-Boy Fight" since that type of matchup occurs more frequently. Aside from the opportunity to vicariously gratify our own aggressions, perhaps part of the appeal of boxing films is that the dialog tends to be simple and unpretentious, and after all, we certainly don't always (or even usually) go to the movies to be intellectually challenged. Nevertheless, this boxing film challenges notions that remain in desperate need of challenging and at the same time delivers a more interesting and, for the most part, plausable storyline than most films in the gendre. In many respects, it puts the Rocky series of films to shame when compared for thoughtfulness. Although a couple scenes didn't seem entirely believeable to me, I won't give away any more of the plot to tell you which scenes those were. Debut director Karyn Kusama does well to make us care about the characters, and alhough there are no big name actors in the film, they all give respectable performances, and lead actress Michelle Rodriquez is superb. (Kids -- probably not since the film is violent and has colorful language; teens -- probably okay, if they're reasonably mature). ***
Not of this World -- (Italian with subtitles) -- An aspiring nun is handed an infant from a man in a park claiming that the mother of the infant did not feel able to take care of the child. The nun struggles with an attachment to the child, a hint of romance with a man who imagines himself to be the father, and her own doubts about her capacity to fulfill all of her commitments as a nun. Although the film has some lightly touching moments, it does not warrent your attention unless you are really after sleepy serenity. (Okay for all ages for those who can read rapidly passing subtitles, but the film is tame and uncaptivating). *
Pay It Forward -- Although Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt are among my favorite actors these days, I was skeptical about how the plot of this film would unfold based on the previews I'd seen. As it turned out, I was quite pleased. This is among the better major releases of the season. Some might complain that the unexpected twist at the end differs from the book and is unnecessary, but I just figured it fit with Hollywood's and America's normal philosophic outlook these days. Hollywood must figure that it's difficult for serious films to get away with full-fledged happy endings because they lack credibility and seem to be out of style. These days, we all feel obliged to use our cynicism to keep our idealism in check. Haley Joel Osment (of Sixth Sense fame) plays a 7th grader who, inspired by the promptings of his teacher (Kevin Spacey), manages to start a trend of good deeds. Life is not so simple, however, and good deeds do not always go unpunished. Although the film gives a thoughtful look at various topics, significant focus is placed upon the romance between Spacey and Hunt, who plays Haley Joel's mother. The film is not nearly as cynical as Spacey's last major outing, American Beauty, but as with that movie, it's hard not to see this movie without feeling somehow affected by it. (Kids -- perhaps not; teens -- yes). ***
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