Bernie

“Bernie” stars Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and Mathew McConaughey in this-black comedy which plays more like a documentary, especially since it utilizes many of the actual townspeople in Carthage, Texas where the true life occurrences took place. Directed by Richard Linklater and co-written by Mr. Linklater and Skip Hollandsworth, this movie is based on an article that Mr. Hollandsworth wrote for the  Texas Monthly magazine in 1998. Although Jack Black is not my favorite leading man, he does exhibit a wide and interesting range of acting in his portrayal of the main character in the film. Perhaps the defect in the movie is not so much the acting or the presentation but the lack of any depth or substance. This explains why what occurred in this small Texas town of 6500 people was only  described and written about in a magazine article…there just isn’t enough here for a full length theatrical feature. I give the film 2 and ½ stars for its effort and uniqueness. It’s a film that could have explored the complexity of the character played by Mr. Black instead of just reciting events as they took place and for that reason I found it, like the magazine article, short on substance.

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” was written by O.L. Parker and is based on the novel “These Foolish Things” by Deborah Moggach. The cast is a ‘who’s who” of seasoned British talent starring Tom Wilkinson, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighby and needs the full 2 hours and 20 minutes of time it takes to merge these fine thespians into the plots and subplots that Director Madden so nicely paces. The story of senior citizens relocating to a hopefully better and more meaningful life transcends the location although Jaipur, India is where this all takes place. Predictable in many respects and adorning its “feel good” halo, the film nevertheless holds our interest and involvement despite its length. Putting aside the rehashed jokes that make their way into the film every so often, there are moments of profundity that those of us eligible for AARP membership will appreciate and understand. Perhaps that is why the film works. I give the film 3 stars. Hopefully its commercial success will bring about the production of more such films where those in our demographic category will have better fare to choose from when we decide to go to the movies. After all, time is running out and as Ms. Smith’s character recites: “I don’t even buy green bananas”.

Monsieur Lazhar

“Monsieur Lazhar” is a French language Canadian production adapted from the play written by Evelyne de la Cheneliere. It stars Mohamed Fellag in a film written and directed by Phlippe Falardeau. Mr. Fellag, playing the title role, is a substitute teacher in the Quebec school system who takes over a class of students after their regular teacher commits suicide. How .the new teacher deals with this ensemble of children facing the mystery and awesomeness of death within their own school family makes this an exceptional film to view. Mr Fellag’s character, an émigré from Algiers who relocates in Quebec, is similar to his own life story since he himself left (or who was forced to leave) Algiers. Played with sensitivity and caring, Mr. Fellag brings to the part both pathos and humor as is often the case with comics who turn serious actor. Mention must also be made of the wonderful group of child actors who bring so much of their talent to the screen. I give this film 3 and ½ stars. It is really well worth seeing.

Bully

“Bully” is a documentary written by Cynthia Lowen and directed by Lee Hirsch. As the title indicates it tells the stories of a number of teenagers who are victimized by the bullies In their schools and the terrible effects occurring as a result.. More than that it tells the story of how society and school officials, in particular, attribute the acts and deeds of the bulliers as “just normal teen agers acting up” when, in fact, they are aggressive and disturbed students who are more afflicted than the vulnerable individuals they prey upon. This is, indeed, a film that every school in the country should exhibit in the hope that bullies will be deterred and well-intentioned peers of the victims will stand up and no longer be silent. The film, with no rating, became the “poster boy” for the problems in the rating system as its distributor, The Weinstein Co, refused to accept the “R” rating the motion picture council gave it.. Although the motivations of the distributor might have been significantly influenced by the publicity given the film as a result of the dispute, the distributor’s complaint does indeed have merit. This is a reality based project with real kids being highlighted and photographed and the language (the reason for the “R” rating) is an integral part of the film and, of necessity, must be heard in order to experience its real impact. Each of us, in one way or another, has been privy to the bullying of a fellow student or friend and can identify with such behavior. More than anything else, this film is relevant and a learning tool for all of society. The documentary gets 3 and ½ stars with a strong recommendation that this film be viewed by children, teenagers and adults for there is something in it from which all of them can benefit..

The Kid With the Bike

“The Kid With a Bike” is a French, Italian and Belgian joint venture in French and was written and directed by Luc and Jean Pierre Dardenne. It tells the story of a young boy abandoned by his father who struggles with rejection. The film has received all kinds of accolades and applause from almost every major periodical and quality and respected film festival including Sundance, Cannes etc.. The question I must ask is “Why?” The film’s main character, young Cyril, is a bad kid by any standards and almost totally dysfunctional as he struggles to come to terms with all that he has been denying. The only actor of note is Cecile De France (the newscaster in “Hereafter”) and even she could not fulfill the expectations of those like me who went to this film expecting something extraordinary and unfortunately getting much much less. As is many times the case, the merging of the role of writer with the role of director leads to what I like to call a “conflict of artistic interest” for it is very hard to edit out or amend, as a director, that which you have put down on paper as the film’s author. I give this film 2 and ½ stars and note that, for me, at least, its only redeeming quality is that it made me want to go out on my mountain bike once again. In the case of this movie,however, the bike ride lasted a little too long and without much to see or hear along the way.

Thin Ice

“Thin Ice” stars Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup in this 93 minute drama/comedy/crime thriller which, but for the locale and actors, is sort of a thinking man’s version of the film “Fargo” taking place in the State of Wisconsin as opposed to North Dakota. Much like the William H. Macy character in the latter film, Mr. Kinnear is also a salesman trying to better his life and work out his matrimonial and economic problems utilizing circumstances that befall him for exploitation and gain. Written by Jill and Karen Sprecher and directed by Jill Sprecher, the film is nicely paced and well written as it explores how Mr. Kinnear’s character winds his way through each of the many pitfalls and obstacles he encounters. Mr. Kinnear if, of course, why the film works so well for his acting is superb and gives meaning and credibility to the role he plays. I give the film 3 stars because it not only held my interest but made me become deeply involved in it up to, and especially at, the very end.

The Woman in Black

“The Woman in Black” stars Daniel Radcliffe, the now mature star of the Harry Potter films, as he finds himself as a young lawyer seeking the mysteries of a small suburban town on the outskirts of London in the early part of the 20th Century and the strange events that have taken place there..
The film was directed by James Watkins and written by Jane Goldman based on the novel by Susan Hill. Director Watkins takes us through 95 minutes of scares, darkness, fright and queries about what is happening and why. More like a horror film without the massacres or blood-letting, this movie has its fair share of “sitting on the edge of your seat” scenes as we travel through it with our young hero. It is difficult to berate or condemn the film because it does have an interesting plot and a host of questions that take a little too much time to answer. Whether intended or not, Mr. Radcliffe never seems to rise to the level of acting of which I am sure he is capable and, for that reason, he participates in creating a film experience that is more bland than supernatural although there is plenty of that as well. This is a movie that, done better, could really have set a high mark for terror without bloodshed but, alas, it is an average film and for that reason, I give it a 2 and ½ star rating. The caveat here is that this is the kind of film some will love and perhaps rave about although, truth be told, most will find it a little too tedious and dry. All, however, will agree that it does hold your interest and invoke many moments of fear in its audience.