The Impossible

“The Impossible” stars Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor in this story of a husband,, wife and their 3 boys caught in the swirl and devastation of the tsunami which hit the country of Thailand where they were vacationing. The awesomeness of the ocean and its wrath is captured quite adequately by the camera and the viewer is indeed enmeshed in the ruins and chaos that follows.  Based on a true story, the film, much like Argo and other real life events adapted for film, uses these true episodes and then adds the “Hollywood touch” with a series of coincidences and dramas that enhance what really happened.  The success of the film is due largely to the performances of the 3 boys for they execute their roles admirably. However, in an almost Rube Goldberg-like

series of meetings and misses, the film ultimately unites its family members. The story is just that, nothing deeper or more meaningful than the ability and luck, and for the most part luck, for these 5 to experience and survive this watery nightmare. I give the film 2 and ½ stars with much of the rating attributable  to the visual effects and the performance of 3 very fine young actors.

Hitchcock

 “Hitchcock” stars Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johannson and Danny Huston in what basically is the story of the making of the movie “Psycho”. It’s also the story of a very involved and unusual marriage between Alva and Alfred and his apparent fetish for blonde starlets and stars. Written by John J. McLaughlin and abetted by first time director Sacha Gervasi, this is an interesting film which purports to take the audience behind the Paramount gates and reveal the ins, outs, ups and downs of the industry and those who, as the saying goes, “are only as good as their last picture”. Followed by “The Birds and at least 5 other films, Hitchcock never achieved that level of commercial success as he did with “Psycho”. Unlike the HBO special “The Girl” which basically told the story of “The Birds”, this film, although baring some negative aspects of the lead character, also shows him, and most importantly, his wife Alva, as talented and able members of the industry. It also highlights the important role of editing and, in the case of Psycho, how a badly received first cut of the film can, with proper changes on and from off the cutting room floor, become a major success. Perhaps, quite fittingly, being given the Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, (he never won an Oscar),  Mr. Hitchcock stated that he also accepts the award on behalf of his wife Alva. Proof once again that behind most great men are women in the shadows who should have been given the prominence they so often deserve but never receive.. Enough can’t be said of Helen Mirren and her performance. She enriches the screen in every role she plays and, in the subject film, does her participation great justice. For Ms. Mirren’s outstanding performance, it truly is her film, and the ability of the movie to tell the story in

an interesting and viewer friendly manner, I give it 3 stars.   

Quarter

“Quartet” stars Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and a host of aged British actors and singers who, in their golden years, get an opportunity to play octogenarians plus in the directorial debut of actor Dustin Hoffman. Based on the stage play by Ronald Harwood, who also wrote the screenplay, this is a simple story of aging, frustration and talent long forgotten or lost. More than that, tt is a subtle tale of aging ex-lovers who rediscover life and what they missed for so many years. The chemistry and on-screen presence of Ms. Smith and Mr. Courtenay is rare and wonderful and] kudos to Mr. Courtenay’s performance for it’s no easy chore to keep pace with and share the screen with Ms. Smith who, as always, is captivating and magnificent.. The film’s story is somewhat trite and is reminiscent  of the old MGM type musical where the “kids” put on a show to raise needed funds for a worthy cause.. Here, these elderly players are committed to the same kind of cause except that they differ in age by at least 65 years to those of the Rooney-Garland genre. I give this charming film 3 stars with a special appreciation to Mr. Hoffman who manages to make the most of his talented cast amidst a not too exciting  story and script.

Zero Deep Thirty

 “Zero Deep Thirty” combines the talents of scrrenwriter Mark Boal and director Kathryn Bigelow (the two who wrote and directed “The Hurt Locker”)  in order to produce a film that is detached from sentimentality and typical Hollywood antics in telling  the story of the locating and destroying of Osama Ben Laden. Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clark and Joel Edgerton, the film takes us through the painstaking efforts of the CIA and its staff to locate the compound in Pakistan where this most wanted terrorist resided. Kudos to Ms. Chastain and to the writer and director of the film for making the almost 3 hours of story-telling pass so quickly. True, we all know the ending, but the marvel of the film is that the viewer is still in a state of suspense until the last action packed episode is over.

The issue within the film and the cause of the controversy surrounding it are the scenes of prisoners being tortured and the practical but perhaps inhuman reasons for such conduct.  Breathtaking to the end I give the film 3 and ½ stars for its ability to tell a story in almost documentary form and achieving a sense of reality that most movies fail to reach. This is truly a film worth seeing.

Les Miserables

Les Miserables” stars Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Russell Crowe, Helen Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen in this theatrical production of the stage musical that has  entertained so many for so many thousands of performances. Utilizing the technique of “live singing” in the film, director Tom Hooper affords the viewer a more meaningful experience of this oft told story of Jean Valjean, his pursuer Javert, his adopted daughter Cosette and Cosette’s mother, Fantine.. Cleverly using outside microphones attached to the heads’ of the actors as they sing and later removing them digitally in post-production, the audience is able to appreciate on a more intimate and personal basis the talents of Mr. Jackman and especially Ms. Hathaway who, if the performance were live, would receive a standing ovation after her first singing number.. The film is truly a delight to see and listen to but, unfortunately, it is too long. One gets the impression that the producers, having built these impressive sets and hiring so many extras, sought to get as much mileage as possible from these assets without taking into account the audience’s stamina and capacity to absorb all of it. Remember, too, that this film has only a few spoken lines with 99% percent of the dialogue being sung and this, after 2 hours and 50 minutes, can indeed be trying, certainly at least to this viewer. Even Broadway shows have an intermission at the end of the first 90 minutes so, unfortunately, amidst all this grandeur and great filmmaking, I found myself looking at my watch at least 3X after the first 100 minutes. I give the film a well deserved 3 stars while remembering the old adage that  “too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing”

Flight

"Flight" was directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle and John Goodman. This is a film worth seeing if for no other reason than the first 20 minutes where action and drama take us into the stratosphere of emotion and fear. Written by John Gatins this is the story of an ill fated flight and the alcoholic pilot who, despite his addiction, attempts to perform a miracle of aeronautical maneuvering. Not to be understated, Denzel Washington once again proves his wide range as an actor and gives us a performance worthy of his reputation and past accomplishments. Though thin in story line and weak in some other areas (i.e. depth of the  characters etc.) I give the film 3 stars because, above all else, it was entertaining and certainly gets the viewer involved.

The Sessions

The Sessions" is not an easy film to either watch or review. If education and insight into the plight of the severely disabled is a worthy and constructive endeavor, then this film certainly meets that goal. If, however, the aim of a film is to afford the viewer the opportunity to relax and simply enjoy or experience the life or lives of others without feeling uncomfortable, then, of course, this movie will not be to the viewer's liking. Although in the same genre as "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (about a quadrapalegic who cannot speak but only blink to communicate), this film is much more than that since its character can, through his wit and intelligence, speak and communicate his thoughts and, as one of the actors in the film tells her "healthy" mate, "He (the disabled subject) is more of a man than you". Based on the true story of poet and journalist Mark O'Brien and his desire, at age 38, to experience sex for the first time in his life,  John Hawkes ((in the leading role) ably assisted by therapist Helen Hunt and priest William H. Macy, conveys to the audience the efforts by this prisoner in an iron lung to move forward despite his incarceration. Difficult at times to experience the film's message, for me at least, is that the power of the mind can meet and, yes, even overcome. the physical burdens, obstacles and pitfalls that the fates place in life's path. Mr. Hawkes' character plays the hand that life dealt him with charm, humor and intelligence and, to that end, he and the real life person he portrays is to be admired and respected. I give the film 3 and 1/2 stars for not only its message but for the skilled and sensitive manner in which this most difficult subject is treated.

Amour

“Amour” is a French film written and directed by Michael Haneke. The film stars  Emmanuelle Riva (who 53 years ago appeared in “Hiroshima, My Love”), Jean-Louis Trintignant (a well known actor in the 50’s and 60;s who will best be  remembered for his roles in  “And God Created Woman” and “A Man and a Woman”) and the ever favorite French staple, Ms. Isabelle Huppert. This is a difficult film to watch but yet it is beautiful in its tribute to the love a spouse can have for his mate who becomes disabled and on a predictable road to the disintegration of her body. Monsieur Trintignant is superb as the dedicated husband who refuses to surrender his relationship with his wife despite the urging and insistence of others who seek to bestow arm’s length advice and instruction. Why, with all that I have written, did I find the film troubling. Perhaps the best way to express my reaction is to quote someone who said “I know the film was in color but I remember it being in black and white”. It is a slow moving and unexciting film whose director takes too much time and delves into too much detail so that you want to go into the editing room and snip away these unnecessary reels that add running time but detract from the viewing experience. All of that being said, the performances of these two megastars in the twilight of their respective careers is worth the cost of watching this tedious endeavor. Although not as enthusiastic as most of the major critics who can’t write and say enough good things about Mr. Haneke and his film, I can understand what they saw but my eyes were not in the same focus as theirs. I give the film 3 stars because, when all is said and done, it is still a worthwhile film to see and appreciate.