REVIEW: The Informant!

Here's a quick plot synopsis of Steven Soderbergh's latest, The Informant!, from IMDb.com:

Mark Whitacre has worked for lysine developing company ADM for many years and has even found his way into upper management. But nothing has prepared him for the job he is about to undertake - being a spy for the FBI. Unwillingly pressured into working as an informant against the illegal price-fixing activities of his company, Whitacre gradually adopts the idea that he's a true secret agent. But as his incessant lies keep piling up, his world begins crashing down around him.

If you look at the history of movie trailers, there's an interesting progression. The earliest movie trailers contained extended scenes from the movie, with all kinds of white text sliding in and out, and usually with some clever narrator talking about how the film stars are "back at it again." Then you got Don LaFontaine with his booming voice and his trademark "In a world..." phrase. Nowadays, trailers either give away the plot of the film or make the movie seem like something its not. The Informant! trailer is one of the latter. The film is pitched as an absurd comedy, but is much more serious than the trailer lets on. Sure, there are elements of dark humor and Matt Damon seems like a buffoon (key word "seems") but this really is a fairly serious film, like a somewhat light The Insider or All the President's Men.

And kudos to Steven Soderbergh, by the way, for taking a novel about corporate espionage in the agricultural sector and turning it into a good film. It is a good film, with the performance of Matt Damon being its centerpiece. Its really Damon's film more than Soderbergh's. It hinges on certain believable nuances of Damon's character and Damon definitely pulls them off.

I think Matt Damon is underrated as an actor. I told this to Kinsey the other day and she didn't buy it, saying he gets tons of praise already. Yeah, the guy's got an Oscar, but its for writing, not acting. He has an Academy Award nomination for Good Will Hunting, his first lead role, but since then, nothing. The Talented Mr. Ripley, Syriana, The Good Shepherd, The Departed, heck, even the Bourne movies; his performance in any of these films was good enough for a nom. The guy should have at least one Best Actor trophy on his mantle. Maybe it'll be this year, his performance in The Informant! is definitely worthwhile.

Kinsey: 3/5 stars

Wade: 4/5 stars

Mon meilleur ami (My Best Friend)

I decided to change up how I do these movie reviews. The part that I'm the worst at (and like the least) is trying to sum up the plot in a nice little package. I feel like I ramble a bit and leave out important items. So instead I'm just going to borrow a plot synopsis from imdb.com and then get on to the fun stuff: what I think about the film. So here is the IMDB synopsis about My Best Friend:

François is a middle-aged antique dealer. He has a stylish apartment and a fabulous life, but at a dinner with a group he considers his dearest acquaintances, he is blindsided by the revelation that none of them actually likes him. He's arrogant, self-centered and harsh, and they don't believe he knows the meaning of friendship. His business partner Catherine makes him a bet: if he can produce his best friend, she will let him keep the massive Greek vase he acquired that afternoon on the company tab. If not, it's hers. Having accepted the wager, François naively tears through his address book, trying to shoehorn an increasingly unlikely series of contacts into the all-important role. Moving through Paris, he keeps encountering a trivia-spouting, big-hearted cabbie named Bruno. Bruno's chatty, lowbrow ways grate against François's designer temperament, but he covets the other man's easy way with people. He convinces Bruno to teach him how to make friends and sets about learning the "three S's" - being sociable, smiling and sincere - though they don't come easy. Ultimately, François victory will depend on Bruno's naiveté in playing along, but what's the cost of cheating at friendship?

OK, now that's out of the way.

This film was recommended to us by Anthony, my brother-in-law, a little bit surprisingly because he doesn't watch a ton of foreign films. I think the fact that it was foreign was a big reason he loaned it to us.

Personally, I was able to sympathize with the main character Francois' dilemma. I also find it difficult to make friends at times, to "socialize." But Francois has a much more semi-tragic, semi-comic arc than what I've experienced. This stems mainly from what he thinks are the best ways to procure quality friends. His whole notion on this matter is symbolized in the Greek vase mentioned in the synopsis above. The Greek vase, as described at the auction, was created in tribute to a dead friend, and the creator then filled it with his tears. This is the devotion that Francois desires. But instead of simply keeping the idea of the vase in his mind, he gets in to a bidding war for it, spending 200,000 Euros of company money. The film constantly demonstrates how Francois attempts to buy friends. He goes up to strangers in a cafe and attempts to pay their checks, offers to buy the next round, he even spends 10, 000 Euros on a worthless table in an attempt to make Bruno's parents like him. It becomes pretty pathetic.

Francois doesn't improve much when Bruno, the chatty cab driver, becomes his friend out of pity. It reaches a culmination when Francois tricks Bruno into committing insurance fraud for him. When the trick is revealed, Bruno smashes the symbolic vase. It is only at this point that Francois sees clearly. This vase, which he valued as the utmost symbol of friendship, was only brittle terra cotta that was easily shattered, and by someone he considered a friend. It didn't have the tenacity that real friendship does. It's place on the Pedestal of Ultimate Devotion was too much to live up to; it was holding Francois back. Only after he thinks the vase is gone does he act as a true friend towards Bruno.

The movie makes a big deal out of Francois' "friends" stating that the hate him. They say he's self-centered, arrogant, obsessed with money. And although that is true in a way, I don't think Daniel Auteiul's (also in Cache) portrayal totally brings that home. But I think that's a good thing. It would have been bad for the film if it portrayed Francois as some Ebenezer Scrooge-like curmudgeon, not too mention a French one. Who's going to feel for that guy? Kudos to Auteiul for keeping the Francois character somewhat likable.

Overall, a funny, enjoyable to watch French film.

Wade: 3.5/5 stars Kinsey: 4/5 stars

REVIEW: Inglourious Basterds

Quentin Tarantino is one of those directors who usually inspires a whole bunch of disproportionate criticism/praise. There's no middle ground with him; it's a love/hate type of thing. Unless you're me. Personally, I could lean either way. I've seen almost every film he's directed (the exception being Deathproof) and while I've enjoyed the majority of them, they're not knocking on the door of my favorite movies of all time. So while I was expecting a good film when I went to see Inglourious Basterds, I wasn't expecting anything amazing.

I was wrong. Inglourious Basterds is one of the best films I've seen this summer and one of Tarantino's best.

Inglourious Basterds definitely fits into the director's style. Instead of gangsters or assassins, this Tarantino film deals with characters in the realm of WWII. The film, broke into five chapters, has three major character groups that become more interwoven as the film progresses. There's the evil Nazi, the femme fatale Jewess, and the gung-ho American soldier.

Even though this film uses actual history as a starting point, that doesn't mean that Tarantino is going to take said history seriously. Has he ever taken anything seriously? The intentionally misspelled title should tip you off that this is going to be parodic in nature. And it is. Actual facts are thrown to the wayside as fictional characters mingle with real people and major aspects of WWII are changed drastically. How to explain the over-the-top accents of Brad Pitt (his character, Aldo Raine, pronounces Nazi like Yahtzee with a N and a hard A), Michael Fassbender, and Mike Myers than to realize that the director/screenwriter is just having a good time? And, in that same thought, how to justify the inclusion of a comedic actor like Mike Myers?

But the parodic nature of the film doesn't mean that it lacks gravitas. Two scenes in particular, the opening scene on a dairy farm and the basement bar rendezvous, deliver tension and suspense in spades. Both feature inordinate amounts of talking capped by moments of extreme violence. That would be a good description for the entire film, lots of talking punctuated with violence. But that's not a bad thing. It's the great verbal banter that keeps this film moving through its 2 1/2 hour runtime.

The true surprise of this film is unknown (at least in this country) Austrian actor Christopher Waltz as Col. Hans Landa, the Jew Hunter. Waltz takes the character of Landa above and beyond typical villainy, creating a smooth-talking, smarmy, evil Nazi that you can't help but stay focused on. Rather than casting a "name" actor for his villain, Tarantino searched for someone who was right for the character, who could act in four languages, and Waltz is his perfect match. Great casting is another strong point of the film. Other than Brad Pitt (who is just a piece of the ensemble), there are no big names. Actors are cast for their similarities to the characters. Germans are cast as Germans, French as French. Its another quality aspect of the film that can be chalked up to Tarantino (I sure am giving him a lot of praise, but its really his movie, through and through).

So whether or not you enjoyed Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, or Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds is really something to behold.

Wade: 4.5/5 stars

Wade's Ultimate Top 100 Mega List!

I don't know what drove me to do this. I must've been thinking about the American Film Institute or something. But anyway, I decide to compile my top 100 favorite movies of all time. Mainly I was trying to stay busy and out of Kinsey's hair while she studies for her certification exam. I do have a few criteria for these films. I ranked them based on rewatchability, initial impressions, and also a general notion of film quality and originality. Now, I'm not a professional film critic or anything so I'm sure there are hundreds and hundreds of great films out there that I haven't seen. This list will probably change in a few years. But, for better or worse, here it is, with the occasional descriptive blurb.

1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

The most quotable movie ever. I could watch this every day for a year and not get tired of the popping verbal gymnastics.

2. The Apartment (1960)

A great mixture of lighthearted comedy and serious emotional issues. Plus Jack Lemmon is a dynamo.

3. 12 Angry Men (1957)

Tension filled. And it all takes place in one room.

4. Modern Times (1936)

I never realized how great an entertainer and comedian Charlie Chaplin was until I saw this film.

5. It Happened One Night (1934)

A timeless romantic comedy featuring two stars with actual chemistry together, Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.

6. Pollock (2000)

A biopic about my favorite artist. I want to paint every time I watch it.

7. Young Frankenstein (1974)

Mel Brook’s best film and, thusly, one of the best comedies of all time.

8. The Third Man (1949)

Watching this makes me wish movies were still filmed in black and white. Amazing use of light and shadow. Plus a scene-stealing supporting turn from Orson Welles.

9. Finding Nemo (2003)

I think this is the most aesthetically impressive work from Pixar and its already six years old. Great voice work.

10. The Big Lebowski (1998)

It took awhile for me to comprehend this Coen brothers classic, but once I did I couldn’t get enough.

11. The Lion King (1994)

I like Disney and I like Hamlet. It makes sense I would like the Lion King.

12. Wayne’s World (1992)

My go-to movie during high school. I almost wore out my VHS copy.

13. Die Hard (1988)

The greatest action movie of all time.

14. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

Clint Eastwood figures prominently on my list.

15. Blazing Saddles (1974)

Not quite at the level of Young Frankenstein, but close.

16. Toy Story 2 (1999)

One of the rare instances where the sequel is better than the original.

17. North by Northwest (1959)

Suspense! Hitchcock! Cary Grant! The perfect grey suit! Killer crop-dusting airplanes!

18. In Bruges (2008)

A pleasingly profane and superb script makes this film one of the best and most memorable films of the last couple years.

19. The Sting (1973)

Newman and Redford and the Batman and Robin of mid-20th century cinema. They’re the dynamic duo.

20. Unforgiven (1992)

Eastwood, Eastwood, Eastwood.

21. Rio Bravo (1959)

I’ve always been a fan of John Wayne and the subtle nuances of his persona shine through in this Western.

22. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The best of six Star Wars movies.

23. Some Like it Hot (1959)

Another great duo, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Plus they’re in drag. And Marilyn Monroe!

24. Fargo (1996)

Gotta love the Coen brothers and their “true story” of murder and deceit in Minnesota.

25. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Indiana Jones is the penultimate man’s man for most youth, including me.

26. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

More Newman and Redford in a great revisionist Western.

27. No Country for Old Men (2007)

Is there any better use of silence in a modern film?

28. Amelie (2001)

Adorable French film.

29. Children of Men (2006)

One of the better sci-fi/dystopian/whatever-you-want-to-call-it films to come around in a while. Wonderful cinematography.

30. Rear Window (1954)

Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart is a slightly better team than Hitchcock and Cary Grant but not by much.

31. The Blues Brothers (1980)

Great car chases/crashes.

32. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

I wish I had the extroverted qualities of this guy. But I can’t imagine myself singing Wayne Newton and The Beatles during a parade.

33. The Departed (2006)

The only Scorcese that makes it onto my list. I enjoy the guy but not to the point of exhaustion that some people do.

34. Cast Away (2000)

Only Tom Hanks could express true sorrow over the loss of a volleyball.

35. Brick (2005)

The best high school-set noir ever made. And probably the only one at that.

36. Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Classic banter between Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn.

37. The Great Escape (1963)

A great WWII movie with an all-star cast.

38. Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977)

No list is complete without this one.

39. Raising Arizona (1987)

Another classic Coen brothers picture.

40. Rififi (1955)

The heist film to end all heist films.

41. Babe (1995)

Can't get enough of those singing mice.

42. For a Few Dollars More (1965)

The second film of the Man With No Name trilogy. Sergio Leone is a master.

43. Ratatouille (2007)

Even though the chef is a rat, this movie still makes me hungry.

44. Fitzcarraldo (1982)

The best on-site film production ever.

45. Wall-E (2008)

46. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

47. O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)

Criminally underrated Coen brothers movie.

48. Toy Story (1995)

49. The Truman Show (1998)

50. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

51. Spiderman 2 (2004)

52. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Another Eastwood classic.

53. Man on Wire (2008)

54. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

55. Big (1988)

56. Little Children (2006)

57. There Will Be Blood (2007)

58. A History of Violence (2005)

59. 8 ½ (1963)

60. This is Spinal Tap (1984)

61. The Incredibles (2004)

62. American Splendor (2003)

63. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

This film literally crackles with James Cagney’s screen presence.

64. Groundhog Day (1993)

65. The Dark Knight (2008)

66. Romeo and Juliet (1968)

67. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

68. Moulin Rouge! (2001)

69. The French Connection (1971)

70. All the President’s Men (1976)

71. Le Samourai (1967)

Great French film noir with the quite handsome Alain Delon.

72. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

73. After the Wedding (2006)

74. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

75. The Princess Bride (1987)

76. Amadeus (1984)

77. Pride and Prejudice (2005)

78. A Night at the Opera (1935)

79. Batman Begins (2005)

80. Adaptation. (2002)

81. Ed Wood (1994)

82. A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

83. The 400 Blows (1959)

If Francois Truffuat’s childhood was really like this, then… yikes.

84. Sense and Sensibility (1995)

85. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

86. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

87. Fight Club (1999)

88. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

89. The Return of the Jedi (1983)

90. Caddyshack (1980)

91. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

92. Up (2009)

93. Aladdin (1992)

94. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

95. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

96. Citizen Kane (1941)

97. Almost Famous (2000)

98. Elf (2003)

99. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Never has someone done so much acting with just their eyes.

100. Abbot and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950)

Recasting the Matrix

The Matrix was first in theaters on March 31, 1999, a little over ten years ago. I'm a little late on this, as there were a bunch of tributes to the film around its anniversary three months ago.

Anywho, last year I entered this "recasting" contest on the website SpoutBlog. They had sponsored a bunch of these contests where readers would send in new cast lists for famous movies, like Caddyshack. I decided to enter and, lo and behold, I got second place, which netted me a T-shirt and a free DVD (it was Amelie). So, in reference to the tenth anniversary of The Matrix, I'm republishing my second-place entry.

Here's the original cast list just to jog your memory:

Keanu Reeves ... Neo
Laurence Fishburne ... Morpheus
Carrie-Anne Moss ... Trinity
Hugo Weaving ... Agent Smith
Gloria Foster ... Oracle
Joe Pantoliano ... Cypher
Marcus Chong ... Tank
Julian Arahanga ... Apoc
Matt Doran ... Mouse
Belinda McClory ... Switch
Anthony Ray Parker ... Dozer
Paul Goddard ... Agent Brown
Robert Taylor ... Agent Jones

And here's my winning entry with comments from the contest-runners at the beginning:

Second place: wadetown for his BBC production. My favorite part is Alan Rickman as Agent Smith--that guy always brings a campy danger to his villainous roles. And I'd love to see Paddy Considine (one of the two Andy's in Hot Fuzz) play Cypher. Considine has an uncouth charm, always greasy-looking and sporting bad facial hair.

The BBC presents The Matrix

Clive Owen ... Neo

When you think about it, this would be a lot like his role in Children of Men. A disillusioned character frustrated with his reality, except with a lot less baby-protecting and a lot more kung fu.

Sir Ben Kingsley ... Morpheus

Morpheus has to be bald.

Cate Blanchett ... Trinity

She can wear her wig from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Alan Rickman ... Agent Smith

This pick hinges on the availability of using a time machine to go back and get the Hans Gruber Alan Rickman from Die Hard.

Dame Judi Dench ... Oracle

A small role for her, but since its Judi Dench she'd probably get nominated for an Oscar.

Paddy Considine ... Cypher

Something about Paddy Considine screams for a role as a double-crossing weasel.

Chiwetel Ejiofor ... Tank

Not much reasoning behind this pick other than the Zion-born humans should be healthy and attractive.

Steve Coogan ... Apoc

Bringing much needed comic relief to this movie.

Freddie Highmore ... Mouse

His first adult role. And I really want to see him whip out two huge machine guns right before his character gets killed.

Thandie Newton ... Switch

Colin Salmon ... Dozer

My only obscure selection. He was in a couple of the Pierce Brosnan Bond films I believe. Plus he kind of looks like Chiwetel Ejiofor's brother.

Jeremy Irons ... Agent Brown

Another Die Hard villiain as an agent.

Hugh Laurie ... Agent Jones

For some reason, all my agents ended up being the snide, sarcastic Brits.

Growing Up in the Midwest, Watching Westerns

Today happens to be my Grandpa's birthday. When I think of him, its hard not to remember watching our favorite movies together while I was growing up. There were two movie types that were overly prevalent in my youth: Disney cartoons and Westerns. The Disney cartoons are a given; what kid doesn't love Aladdin? But the Westerns, I think, have a lot to do with growing up on a farm in southwest Nebraska. Now to put this to rest at the beginning, this wasn't a stereotypical "farm." We didn't ride horses or raise pigs. I didn't wear a cowboy hat or boots (but my Dad and Grandpa did). But there was still a connection to the Old West, with the wide open spaces, working the land, and machismo, which is why I had an enjoyment for Westerns as a kid.

Recently, I've gained more appreciation for Westerns as true classic films. Unforgiven; Rio Bravo; The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly; all classic films. But as a kid, I just thought they were a good time. And I've also come to appreciate the occasional modern rediscovering of the Western. There was a mini-renaissance a couple years ago with The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, There Will Be Blood, and No Country for Old Men. But what hasn't been reinvented and what seems to have totally fallen out of the spotlight, is the light-hearted comedic Western. It is this brand of Western that I really remember enjoying.

The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968)

This was my favorite movie as a child for a long time. In my book, there's nothing funnier than Don Knotts, and this movie takes his meek bumbling persona out West as a fresh-faced (not literally, of course) dental school graduate, looking to spread oral hygiene. Along the way he gets into his fair share of scraps, but is constantly bailed out by his wife Penny, who is a pardoned outlaw helping to break up a gun smuggling ring. There is a ton of great physical comedy in this film. And physical comedy coming from Don Knotts is hilarious because the poor guy looks so terrified all the time. The following video clip has the unforgettable theme song and a hilarious dental examination scene.

Support Your Local Sheriff (1969)

Another Western comedy that I watched again and again with my Grandpa. Isn't James Garner a slick operator? In this movie, The Great Escape, The Rockford Files and Maverick TV shows, he's always the guy with the plan. Would it be sacrilege to say he rivals Steve McQueen for on-screen cool? Maybe. In this movie, Garner is a small town sheriff who uses wit and ingenuity to overcome the local baddies. It's a "fish out of water" story in that Garner is the one smart guy in a town full of idiots. There was a sequel or companion film made called Support Your Local Gunfighter that was decent but not nearly as clever as this one.

Maverick (1994)

This is what I remember as the most recent attempt at a comedic Western. And it's, of course, a TV adaptation. Be that as it may, this film has one of Mel Gibson's best comedic performances as the suave gambler and Jodie Foster playing against type as a conniving Southern belle, and, of course, James Garner. Fifteen years since the last decent Western comedy. This movie was very funny and did pretty well at the box office if I remember correctly. It makes you wonder why they don't make movies like these anymore. Oh, well.

I still have fond memories of watching all these movies on VHS with my Grandpa. We'd sit with our stash of candy recently acquired from cleaning out the candy aisle at the local grocery, he'd repeat the witty phrases right after they happened in the movie, and then, inevitably, fall asleep halfway through the movie (don't tell him that though; he was just "resting his eyes.") So, on my Grandpa's birthday, I'll dedicate this post about our favorite films to him.

Foodie Film Featured Moments

A couple weeks ago, Kinsey and I saw Julie & Julia, which focuses much of its time on the life of esteemed chef Julia Child. It made me realize something: I love food. And I love watching food in the movies and on TV. And, very recently, I've also developed a newfound enjoyment of cooking food. So that got me thinking about my favorite food moments in the movies:

Babette's Feast (1987)

I had to watch this movie three times (that's right, three) during my first semester of architecture graduate school. We were doing a project involving slow food and deconstructing a walnut... anyways, at the time I wasn't really able to appreciate the film. I still hadn't really become aware of the glories of foreign cinema. But what I do remember is the namesake feast. Its the type of extravagance that I know I've never seen. I don't know if I ever will have a meal that includes turtle soup, buckwheat cakes with caviar, quail in puff pastry shell with foie gras and truffle sauce, and rum infused yeast cake with dried figs, but at least I can watch people eating one.

Big Night (1996)

The Big Night is a delightful little romp starring Stanley Tucci and a post-Wings, pre-Monk Tony Shaloub. These two star as brothers who run an authentic, struggling Italian restaurant in New Jersey. There is one dish that is served in the final third of the film that just looks crazy good: the Timpano (see picture above). A crazy combination of pasta, meat, pastry, and eggs that makes me drool. Now, I'm pretty far away from having any Italian blood in me (I'm German and Czech), but there's something about Italian food that draws me in. Maybe I'm watching too much Lydia's Italy on PBS, but I can envision Kinsey whipping up a Timpano some Sunday afternoon, cutting that first delicious slice, me going back for seconds and thirds, then realizing I ate the whole thing, and spending the rest of the evening lying on the floor moaning in agony/ecstasy while Kinsey stands above me, shaking her head. Yeah, I could totally go for that.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

This one isn't nearly as delectable but still a clever scene. I'm talking about the scene in Temple of Doom where Harrison Ford and Kate Capshaw are served monkey brains, beetles, eyeball soup, and pregnant python. This scene is so over the top that it goes beyond insensitivity. I've never eaten anything that looked as gross as this meal, but the character reactions remind me of a bear stew that Kinsey and I whipped up once. We took one jar of preserved bear meat and assorted vegetables, let it cook all day, and were greeted with the worst smelling, worst tasting meal we had yet made together. Thank goodness for Papa Murphy's pizza.

Spanglish (2004)

I don't think this film got much acclaim when it came out, but Kinsey and I both really enjoyed it. It's nice to see Adam Sandler in a serious role, this time playing a chef. We enjoyed the movie so much that we bought the DVD (it was also really cheap). One of the special features is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a special sandwich featured in the film. Its really just a BLT with cheese and an egg on top, but it is so good. Kinsey and I have made it a couple of times, and I think the DVD gives it an appropriate title as the "world's best sandwich."

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

This is a movie that Kinsey appreciates a lot more than me. I don't know why, I just don't get into it that much. It does have a memorable food fight scene with flour and blackberries that reminds me of Kinsey's cooking style a bit. The optimal comparable word would be messy. I could go on and on about the messes Kinsey has made in the kitchen, but the piece de resistance is the infamous hoison sauce incident. This involved a pan of hoison sauce, a wooden spoon, and the propellor-like motion of that spoon as it sprayed wall, ceiling, and floor with the sticky Asian sauce. Like Fried Green Tomatoes, quite the mess indeed.

Ratatouille (2007)

This is probably my favorite film about cooking. I can't even pick out one moment to mention because the whole movie is just so delicious (I've been using that word a lot in this post). Actually, if I had to, I would mention an early scene in the film, where Remy (the rat) is cooking a mushroom along with a few paw-picked spices over a chimney. If I had seen this movie in my youth, there's no way I could've appreciated this scene. I was a very picky eater. I especially had an aversion to mushrooms. I didn't have dietary problems or was allergic, I was just picky. And stubborn. But know, when I see that fresh mushroom post-lightning strike, well, I just wish it was real and on my plate, not animated and on a screen.

REVIEW: District 9

Have you ever thought that you were well informed about something but then found out that you weren't? I always thought I was pretty knowledgeable about major world events of the last couple decades, but after seeing Distric 9, from first-time writer/director Neill Blomkamp, I found myself doing a little online research about apartheid, and I definitely did not know the entirety of the events.

District 9 is an allegory for apartheid in South Africa, swapping out Africans for aliens. These aliens, degradingly known as prawns, have stalled out over Johannesburg and are being forced to live in squalor. The main focus of the film is an attempt to move the aliens far away from the city.



I think Kinsey summed it up best when she said this film was unlike anything we've seen in quite a while. Most summer movies can be easily locked into a specific category. Let's take a look at the movies we've seen so far this summer:

Julie & Julia - biopic
The Hurt Locker - war movie
Public Enemies - biopic
Rudo y Cursi - buddy/sports movie
(500) Days of Summer - romantic comedy
Up - animated movie, but I guess it would fall into the original category


(Wow, we really haven't seen that many movies this summer)


So we've got one fairly original concept and five movie types that we've seen before. And we don't even go see your typical summer fare. Now, on the surface, District 9 seems to be just a sci-fi film. But once you see it, you realize its a sci-fi/deep character study/action/mockumentary/political statement/social parable/father-son film all rolled into one. And what's even more impressive is that it did all that on a $30 million dollar budget, miniscule compared to most big summer movies.


Originality is a tough cookie. Anymore, its seems like originality is more about the parts then the whole. No one is going to say that Neill Blomkamp came up with the idea of aliens landing on Earth. That would be ridiculous. But he is one of the first to take those earthbound aliens and make them the meek instead of the mighty. It reminds me a bit of architecture school. We (the students) would pour over the works of famous architects, Louis Kahn, Herzog and de Meuron, MVRDV, Frank Gehry,Peter Zumthor, looking for bits of inspiration, looking for precedent. And in the end, if you were lucky, you had a mostly original work. It wouldn't be Peter Zumthor; it would be Peter Zumthor-esque. I would love to hear Blomkamp talk about his inspiration or precedent for District 9.

There are other fields of science fiction (which I have limited knowledge of) besides film, so maybe the concept of refugee aliens isn't as original as it may seem. But when it comes to the world of movies, District 9 is a novel and very thought provoking film.


Wade: 4/5 stars
Kinsey: 4/5 stars

Hidden Gems of the Public Library

Ah, the public library. Purveyor of books and, uh . . . other media. And also a very nice resource for free movie rentals, if you live near a good library. The Minneapolis Central Library had a great collection of films. I was able to see Modern Times, The Public Enemy, The Cabinet of Dr. Caliguri, all for free. I was sad to leave it behind.

But, lo and behold, Rochester's library has an even better selection, complete with organization by category. Today I checked out Croupier, The Legend of Drunken Master, and the Criterion Collection of The Red Shoes. And today I watched...


I'm sure most people have seen a Jackie Chan movie or two. Probably one of the Rush Hour films or maybe Shanghai Noon. But if you really want to see Jackie Chan in all his kung fu glory, you need to rent one of his Hong Kong made movies, like Rumble in the Bronx, First Strike, or Who Am I. Sure the acting is unintentionally hilarious, the English dubbing is awful, and the plots don't make sense, but these movies have some crazy awesome action sequences. There are three particular ones that stood out:

Jackie Chan vs Lau Kar Leung under train fight scene

This fight scene happens early in the film and is instigated because Jackie Chan's character, Wong Fei-Hung, has something stolen from him. The best part of the this video is the first two minutes, where Jackie Chan and Lau Kar Leung fight crouched under a train with a sword and spear, respectively. Notice how the camera actually sits still and focuses on the fight choreography, rather than having all kind of crazy jump cuts like you see in the typical Hollywood action movie.

Jackie Chan and Lau Kar Leung vs. the Ax Gang

Nothing like two guys fighting a hundred guys. This fight mixes in some comic relief and the ever-enjoyable use of everyday objects as weapons, this time a shredded bamboo pole and a table.

The Final Fight

Three things mesmerize me about this climactic fight: (1) Jackie Chan's lucid, flowing "drunken boxing" fighting style, (2) the fact that Jackie Chan crawls across actual burning coals, and (3) apparently the guy he's fighting has no joints below his waist.

If you're looking to not think and have a good time with a movie, check out The Legend of Drunken Master.

Julie and Julia

Due to the fact that we could not for the life of us get a TV signal with our rabbitt ears, Kinsey and I had to break down and buy cable for our new apartment in Rochester. Just basic cable, mind you. Very basic. But the great thing is that we get six PBS stations. It might be a bit dorky, but we watch the crap out of these stations. Lydia's Italy, Barbecue University, Mexico One Plate at a Time, we eat these shows up (pun!).

So it goes without saying that we were definitely in the mood for a foodie movie when we went and saw Julie and Julia last night. Julie and Julia is a based on a book which is based on a blog written by Julie Powell. In said blog, Julie chronicles a year-long expedition of cooking all 524 recipes in Julia Child's landmark cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The movie spends half its time with Julie and her challenge and half its time with Julia Child coming into her desire to be a cook while in Paris in the 1950s.

The first thing that has to be said about this film is that Meryl Streep nails it once again as Julia Child. Not only does she nail the vocal tones and fluctuations and body movements, she takes it beyond mimicry and makes her "make-believe" Julia Child a full-fledged personality. Her interactions with Stanley Tucci (playing her husband) are subtle and fantastic. I was smiling every moment she was on-screen.

I wish I could say the same thing for the Julie part of the film. Not to take anything away from Amy Adams, who plays Julie, but her character is boring and self-absorbed. There's just no stakes, no conflict to really care about. With Julia, you have her attempt to break into a male-dominated profession, to break through a culture barrier, to rewrite the history of cooking. With Julie, you have burnt beef bourguignon and stupid fights with her husband. Frankly, I could have done without the Julie in Julie and Julia.

Wade: 3/5 stars
Kinsey: 4/5 stars

DVDs of the Week... or Month or whatever...

Kinsey and I have officially moved to Rochester from the Twin Cities and that means we have to say goodbye to our beloved Uptown and Lagoon Theatres. Farewell, quality independent cinema! Hello, craptactular multiplexes. Thankfully there's Blockbuster-by-mail so we can still get to see some decent films. And, in order to keep this blog up and running, I thought I'd start writing more about these DVDs. So here are some quick thoughts on DVDs we've seen in the last month or so:

Rebecca (1940)

Kinsey is a big fan of the du Maurier novel and I really enjoy Hitchcock, so it seemed like the perfect mix. It wasn't. Kinsey liked it much more than me, I thought it was a disappointment all the way around.

Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)

Kinsey saw the first half hour of this in a hotel and wanted to see what it was all about. The only reason to watch this is for the unintentional comedy of Patrick Bergin and his dense moustache.

Modern Times (1936)

I've always been aware of Chaplin, but this was the first film of his I've actually seen. I've got to see more now because this film was outstanding. Hilarious, moving, an all around wonderful movie experience.

The General (1927)

I was in the same boat with Buster Keaton as I was with Chaplin. But this disappointed. There were a few scenes that were clever and entertaining but it just didn't have the heft that Modern Times had.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Ebert wrote gushingly about this so I had to see it. One word: strange. This film is the height of German expressionism and its definitely worth seeing if only for the incredibly out there set design.

Le Samourai (1967)

A very good film noir that was I believe discussed on Filmspotting at one point. That Alain Delon is quite a looker.

8 1/2 (1963)

I've been wanting to see this for a while because it is constantly mentioned on film blogs and message boards. The epitome of movies about movies. A little trippy and dense at times, but definitely worth checking out.

At home, in the blue envelope, next to the DVD player as we speak: Y Tu Mama Tambien

(500) Days of Summer

It kinds of pains me to say this, but I have a special feeling for a select few romantic comedies, particularly ones that fall into the category of "chick flicks." Legally Blonde is one. Mean Girls, I suppose, would count. And the one that pains me the most, because it is so cheesy and weepy, Where the Heart Is. There, I said it.

Well, I'm glad I got that off my chest. Luckily, (500) Days of Summer, a film Kinsey and I saw this weekend, isn't as thoroughly lowbrow as the previously mentioned movies. The concept seems to be (guy meets girl, cheesy jokes, a large quantity of quirk) but this film is very self-aware and, when taken in context, all these rom-com cliches come together in a highly entertaining movie watching experience.

Early on, the film introduces us to Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Summer (pun!) played by Zooey Deschanel. They both work at a greeting card company and the film takes us on a non-linear ride of their 500 day relationship, showing their good times, bad times, and how they fall apart.

As Kinsey said as we were leaving the theater, (500) Days of Summer is really an amalgam of a bunch of different stuff we've already seen in other movies. There's talking head interviews, split screens, winking at the camera, a dance sequence in the park, the advice-giving little sister, really nothing that we haven't seen before. But you have to give credit to first time director Marc Webb for being able to bring all this together into something entertaining.

The real strong point of the film is the two leads. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel really bring a sizzle to their on-screen relationship and are definitely two actors who I would love to see play opposite each other again. Gordon-Levitt especially is an actor who draws me to any movie he's in (but will that entice me to see him as Cobra Commander in the new G.I. Joe film? no, probably not).

Overall, (500) Days of Summer is a really good if not great film. It definitely had me laughing.

Wade: 4/5 stars

Kinsey: 4/5 stars

The Hurt Locker

What are the best modern war films? And by "modern war film" I mean about wars since Vietnam, not recent movies made about World War II and whatnot. I racked my brain and could only think of two: Black Hawk Down and Three Kings. Notice that neither of these films are about the current war in Iraq. Sure, there have been a bunch of movies that cover the most recent Iraq war, but most of them have been critical and commercial failures. Rendition, Redacted, In the Valley of Elah, Stop-Loss, Grace is Gone, all collapsed pretty quickly. In fact, all those films looked so bad that I didn't bother to see a single one.

What's with all the failures? Is the Iraq war still too present? Are they too preachy or one-sided? I don't know. But what I do know is that it finally seems like we have an Iraq war film that's worth its weight. The Hurt Locker is an extraordinary film. It's not trying to push any message. It presents its soliders and its war in the most truthful way possible.

The Hurt Locker (directed by Kathryn Bigelow) follows the arc of Staff Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner, career-making performance). It is the responsibility of James, along with Sergeant JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Gerahty) to disarm the deadly improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq.

The film doesn't have an overall arc. We set down with the squadron and stay with them over the course of their 38 remaining days in Iraq. The movie is mostly a series of episodes, different bombs to disarm, different tasks to do, as I'm sure it is being an actual solider. The tension of the film stems from the bomb disarmaments and, more specifically, how James approaches them. Jeremy Renner plays James as a loose cannon, someone for whom war, as the film states early on, is a drug.

The Hurt Locker is less of a drama and more of an action thriller. There are four scenes involving roadside bombs and a shootout in the desert that are some of the most tense and invigorating scenes I've seen in a while. The Hurt Locker is one of the year's best so far.

Wade: 5 out of 5 stars

Kinsey: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Public Enemies

There are a few great directors out there, that, while I'm certainly very aware of their work, I have never actually seen any of it. David Lynch for example. Jean-Luc Godard and Ingmar Bergman also. And, up until recently, Michael Mann would've been on that list. But then I saw Public Enemies and realized I have a lot of catching up to do.

Public Enemies follows a small portion of the life of John Dillinger (astutely played by Johnny Depp) during his bank-robbing heyday. Dillinger is relentlessly tracked by FBI G-man Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale, slow burn). The film also delves into Dillinger's private life, examining his brief love affair with Billie Frechette (2007 Oscar winner Marion Cotillard).

Even though the movie clocks in at almost two-and-a-half hours, there is never a dull moment in Public Enemies. Shootouts, prison escapes, and car chases abound. Johnny Depp plays Dillinger with such managed charisma that even silent moments sparkle with electricity. Depp's performance highlights the inherent contradiction in Dillinger, astute tactician on one side, "carpe diem" renegade on the other. Depp's charisma is keenly balanced by Christian Bale's Purvis. Ever the dutiful lawman, Bale portrays Purvis with a restrained intensity as he attempts to capture Dillinger, despite the ineptitude displayed by his comrades. In my opinion, the weak point in the film is Billy Crudup's J. Edgar Hoover, who comes across as way too much of a caricature. Oh, and Depp spouts some one-liners that are a bit ridiculous.

The most memorable thing about this film, and the thing that will continue to be talked about, is that it's filmed with digital HD cameras. I think this is probably the first film I've seen shot like this, and definitely the first period piece. For what it's worth, I really enjoyed this change from the norm. The period costumes, cars, and settings all pop a bit more and really bring the viewer into the life of the film. In fact, the handheld camera work lends the film a documentary feel at times especially during the bank robbery scenes. The HD technology really stands out during a shootout in the woods, which is one the most intense and exhilarating action scenes I've seen in awhile. There is something about the way the HD cameras capture the muzzle blasts that is borderline epileptic.

Even though Mann plays fast and loose with the facts at times, Public Enemies is a wonderful film that I highly recommend. Now excuse me while I go put the collected works of Michael Mann on my Blockbuster queue.

Wade: 4.5/5 stars

Kinsey: 4/5 stars

Wendy and Lucy

Wendy and Lucy is writer/director Kelly Reichardt's follow-up to 2006's Old Joy. Wendy and Lucy is a no-frills tale about Wendy, played wonderfully by Michelle Williams, her dog Lucy, and her stop in a small Oregon town on her way to Alaska. Wendy encounters many difficulties, some through bad luck and some through bad choices.

Wendy and Lucy is the type of film that is quickly becoming my favorite: low-key, simple story, attention to minutae, and well-acted. In fact, it's a good companion piece to one of my other favorite films of the year, The Wrestler. Both films center around the difficulties of a conflicted character. Both films offer a gritty sense of reality. Both films have characters who are slaves to their life choices. Plus, both films are really good.

I do have to admit that Wendy and Lucy does take some patience to sit through. The plot is sparse. There's no soundtrack and little dialogue. But it is still appealing, at least to me. Kinsey didn't go to see this with me because she thought it looked cliche. A young character out of society, someone we're supposed to feel sorry for, emotional distress, etc., etc. But Wendy and Lucy doesn't play out that way. The viewer is not asked to feel sorry for Wendy but we're not asked to judger her either. The film is as far from manipulative as you can get. It is simply a glimpse into Wendy's life. And its a glimpse we can all relate to, how we have to face the results, good or bad, of our choices, good or bad.

After much deliberation, I'm revising my Top 5 and sticking Wendy and Lucy at number five. It pains me to take out Wall-E. If it was the first 2/3 of Wall-E vs. Wendy and Lucy, Wall-E would definitely take it. But judged as a whole, I think Wendy and Lucy just edges out Wall-E.

Wade: 4 stars

Kinsey and Wade's Top 5 films for 2008

The big event, our top 5...

Wade:

5. Wall-E

Another great film from Pixar. The first half of this movie, almost completely silent, is amazing. From the gorgeous landscapes to the subtle Chaplinesque humor, it's as good as it gets. The film drops off a bit when Wall-E makes it up to the spaceship and its human inhabitants, but still a great film.

4. Slumdog Millionaire

So much has already been said about this film, and its probably on its way to an Oscar win for Best Picture. I found the visuals about this film to be the most intriguing aspect, with its frenetic pace and saturated images. This was probably the "feel good" movie of the year, at least of the movies that I've seen.

3. The Wrestler

You can't talk about this film without focusing on the performance of Mickey Rourke. The best performance of the year, incredibly natural, moving, and heartfelt. Also, an A+ directing effort by Darren Aronofsky.

2. Rachel Getting Married

Ten minutes into this film, I was hating it. I thought it was cliched and forced. And then something happened. I became sucked in to the lives of this family and all its difficulties. This was the closest I came to crying at the movies this year.

1. Man on Wire

One of the best documentaries I've ever seen. It is amazing how much suspense a film can develop when you already know the results beforehand. It might be the subject matter, but Man on Wire was just as entertaining and intriguing as any narrative film this year.

This Top 5 list is tentative until I see one more film that I'm looking forward to: Wendy and Lucy.

Kinsey:

5. The Wrestler

A great movie with a real and touching look at some amazing characters. Well acted and very well directed.

4. Milk

Inspiring and informative. While a standard biopic format, it succeeded in express a clear concept and was very powerful.

3. Wall-E

Fantastically beautiful! An incredible achievement, heartfelt, topical, humorous, and memorable.
2. Man on Wire

Its hard not to be swept away by the charisma and passion of Phillipe Petit. The format of this documentary leads to excitement and suspense despite the audience knowing the outcome.

1. Slumdog Millionaire

This movie deserves all the praise and awards it has earned thus far. This movie takes the viewer through some of the worst happenings imaginable, yet still conveys such hope in mankind. I can't remember leaving a theater with so much excitement and happiness as I did with this film. Once it is available on DVD, I expect that I will rewatch it over and over again.

Waltz with Bashir

Waltz with Bashir is an Oscar-nominated animated film from Israel dealing with one man's recollection of the Israeli Army's involvement in the first Lebanon war of the early 1980s. Ari Folman discovers that he has no distinct memories of his involvement in that battle, so he seeks out old friends and comrades to fill in the blanks. A surreal portrait of war, youth, and the Middle East emerges.

This is the second year in a row that Kinsey and I have seen an animated film that involves strife in the Middle East. Last year, it was Persepolis, which deals with a young girl's youth during the Iranian Revolution. There aren't really many similarities between these two films, especially in tone. Persepolis is almost playful at times, while Waltz with Bashir takes a much darker approach.

The one item that seems to come up a lot with this film is whether or not the animation separates the viewer too much from the horrific events taking on screen. Can a war film have an impact on its viewers if it's animated? My answer would be yes and no. There are times when the animation in Waltz with Bashir is very obvious and makes you feel disconnected from what's happening. But its a credit to the filmmaker that this isn't always the case, especially at the end of the film. Not to spoil anything, but the ending does drive you back into reality and makes you reconsider all those animated images that you've seen.

Being a visual person, I was very fascinated by the animation style of this film, especially the separate treatments for character and scene. The characters are animated in a very stylized manner, high contrast with no grayscale shading, very 2D, almost in a comic book fashion. The scenes, meanwhile, are very highly rendered, and if it wasn't for some color choices, could be approaching photo-realism. This contrast in techniques tends to both bring the viewer into the scene yet keep them separate from the characters.

Kinsey and I both appreciated this movie, especially the way that it brought to light certain historical atrocities that we were not aware of. However, I don't think that either of us would ever want to see Waltz with Bashir again. The subject matter is just too depressing.

Kinsey: 4 stars

Wade: 4 stars

Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road is the latest drama from director Sam Mendes and features the reunion of Titanic co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The film follows the self-absorbed lives of Frank and April Wheeler during one tumultous summer when they try to change the overall arc of their lives.

This film is one of the first ones that we've reviewed for this blog that Kinsey and I disagreed on. We disagreed pretty vehemently. Kinsey really enjoyed it; me, not so much. So this review will probably reflect my more negative view of the film.

Revolutionary Road, which is based on the Richard Yates novel, is nothing you haven't seen before. The featured couple are selfish and fear the cloak of suburbia closing around their self-declared "special" lives. I guess the biggest issues I had with the movie didn't involve the plot but how the plot was delivered. The script was a problem. A lot of the scenes felt heavily, well, scripted would be the best word. Specifically the fight scenes, which are a large part of the film. Anytime Frank and April begin fighting, they spout all this overwrought exposition on their feelings and lives, and it just doesn't feel real at all. Even a couple of actors who had pretty good chemistry in Titanic couldn't pull off these heavyhanded scenes.

I didn't really know what Revolutionary Road was trying to make me feel. Was I supposed to feel sorry for these characters? That was difficult considering how loathsome Frank and April are as human beings. Was I supposed to be happy that I'm not them? Or was I just supposed to watch all these tragic events unfold? I guess it just might be my personal preference that I could in some way connect with films that I enjoy. I definitely did not connect with Revolutionary Road.

OK, this is Kinsey. In response to Wade's last paragraph, its not a movie's job to dictate how you feel - that's up to you and your interpretation. As for me I found this movie very powerful and moving. I understand how Wade thought it felt scripted, but he seems to have missed Mendes' different style. I thought the movie felt like a play. I almost thought I was in a theater watching actors on a stage. This may be a bad or a good thing, but the content of the script and the way the lines were delivered was different than other movies with similiar themes. It added to the overall concept that Frank and April were playing a part in life rather than really living. While I wouldn't consider this the best movie I've seen this season, nor is it better than Little Children with Kate Winslet from 2006 which has a similar concept, it is very good and I would recommend it - despite what Wade says!

Kinsey: 4 stars
Wade: 2.5 stars

The Wrestler

Darren Aronofsky's latest film The Wrestler follows the life of washed-up professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, portrayed by Mickey Rourke. The film also stars Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood.

The Wrestler is a wonderfully touching and chilling look at the life of a broken down man. It's even more engrossing when you start looking at the parallels between Randy "The Ram" and the actor who plays him, Mickey Rourke. Mickey Rourke was an up and coming actor in the early '80s garnering critical acclaim in films like Body Heat, Diner, and Barfly. His eccentric choices (he gave up acting to become a boxer) led him to direct-to-DVD releases in the late '90s.

It's safe to say that Rourke's performance is one of the best of the year, even perhaps the last several years. Its amazing that someone portraying a professional wrestler, a most bombasitc figure, could convey emotion with such subtlety and nuance. Body language, small eye movements, and subtle facial changes define his character with much depth.

Besides Rourke's performance, this film should also be seen for the director's complete 180 switch in style from his last feature. The Fountain was an effects heavy fantasy while The Wrestler employs a guerrilla style of handheld camera work to bring a gritty sense of reality to the film. I particularly enjoyed all the shots following Randy "The Ram" from behind, taking the joy Randy feels when entering the ring and applying different emotions when Randy is faced with reality.

There wasn't much I didn't like about this film. Maybe one thing would be how Randy's relationship to his estranged daughter is portrayed. I wish the film would have given this relationship more screen time. It seems a little tacked on and Evan Rachel Wood's anger seems a little forced. This is especially true in a scene where we see what is apparently the end of a heartfelt conversation. Couldn't the film take the extra ten minutes to show us the whole thing?

Kinsey: 4 stars

Wade: 4.5 stars

Drive Home Review: The Wrestler

Click on the title of this post to listen to our drive home review of The Wrestler.