movie reviews, Volume 7 number 9, September 2005, © by Thela Clayton Video Dreamland With the fall equinox looming so close at hand, you might want to take the time and ponder balance in your life. Are you facing the your dark side with as much concern as you face your good side? Time to do a little contemplation and get things in order. The word joy is used in so many holiday cards; it would be great to have it in your heart. The Upside of Anger, R Hurray, hurrah. Finally, an adult film with intelligence that assumes intelligent people will see it. To follow the message of this film, it’s important to remember that every human heart has some prejudice and bias that prevent us from fully allowing our hearts to lead our way. These dark seeds can often leave us isolated and cut off from others as we stand on our principles. From the beginning, you will easily follow and understand the message of this film, but I’ll bet you’ll be surprised by the swift kick to the gut after you see the ending. The film starts with the husband of Joan Allen deserting her and their four daughters. Kevin Costner is the neighbor who becomes her friend and confidant. Over a period of a couple of years, we watch how each character adjusts to the event that changed their lives forever. Not only do we watch the subjective mind of the female awaken to her predicament; we are also treated to the male objective viewpoint. Every one of the actors gives a heads-up performance and Joan Allen, as the lead, is outstanding. However, it is Kevin Costner who delivers such a realistic and earthy performance that we can’t help but wish we each had a person like this in our own lives. Men deal very differently with women than they do with each other, and Costner delivers this subtlety with exact precision. Regardless of it being rated R, this film should be seen by anyone over thirteen. The situations and dialog are things each of us has experienced and said in the past and there is instant recognition of what is going on in the family. Put it on the top of your list. You’re in for a treat. Guess Who, PG-13 So what is wrong with this movie? The story is fun, the dialog is good, and the actors are well known for being talented. Everything is there for a good movie, yet it drags on and on. I finally decided the actors did not deliver the dialog with the quick wit and high energy that we normally associate with Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac. This movie takes the original movie and reverses the characters. Here, we have the young beautiful black girl who falls in love with a white boy. The father is not happy with the daughter and all the old issues of race come out. Now, I’ve tried several times to rent the original, Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner, but it’s always been checked out when I was there. I remember it as a good movie, but that was 400 years ago, so I could be wrong. Unless you need to rest up from your busy summer and you need something to quiet the mind, either rent the original one or keep searching for something else. Otherwise, I warned you. Miss Congeniality 2, PG-13 For a standard “comedy in a can” movie, it’s not too bad. There I was in the middle of August and all the new releases were pretty questionable, and so I used up one of those back burner movies I save for the time I need them. The story starts right after the first movie ends. Gracie is so recognizable that she has been given a new job to promote the FBI image. Miss America, her friend, gets kidnapped by a couple of goons and so she is off to Las Vegas to rescue her. At which, of course, she succeeds. Sandra Bullock delivers her standard flair for comedy; too bad none of the rest of the characters helped her. The movie drags for lack of fresh new ideas and comedic surprises. And I must admit if Bullock smiled more, or anyone in the movie smiled more, we would have had a much more uplifting experience. It’s supposed to be slapstick, but the stick was more like a twig. For fluff, you could do worse. Believe me. Sin City, R After seeing this film on the big screen, the husband and I stop at the pub for a quick one on the way home. We insisted that the regulars should see this on the big screen. As far as I know, no one took us up on the advice. Well, so sorry. ‘Cause now, ya gotta watch it on the itty-bitty screen and it just ain’t gonna have the action punch it had on the big one. Too bad, my heart aches for you. Based on a comic book of a very dark nature, this film is very dark, but excellent. It is filmed in black and white with the occasional splash of color (bright red lips here, the taillights of a car there, the beer in a glass as the only light in a dark bar). There are about six stories interwoven together to produce a rich tapestry of depravity that ties together for a satisfying climax. Some of the scenes are almost shockingly violent and creepy. But, hey it’s a comic book; just shrug it off. You’ve never seen a film like this one. It’s new, dramatic, exotic, shocking, sexy, suspenseful, and just pulls you into its midst and chains you to the chair. Many of the stars are almost unrecognizable and the few you recognize, you wish you didn’t. An excellent beer and popcorn movie that the parents should watch, as all the teenagers will put this on their list. You would do well to know what the kiddies are up to in their rooms with their friends. Just think of Thai coffee: dark, strong, and high octane. A Door in the Floor, R So, I had seen this film on the shelf, but honestly, I thought it was about an older woman and her toy-boy; as that was what the description on the box said. Even the lure of Jeff Bridges didn’t make me come around. Then I saw Nancy and she insisted I see this and review it. Well, pour buckets of water on my head, I deserve it. This is an excellent film. While The Upside of Anger dealt with anger, this one deals with grief. It’s interesting to note that the cloak over these emotions is guilt with shame wrapped in the folds. This film is about the breakup of the marriage of Ted and Marion Cole, portrayed by Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. After the tragic death of their two sons, a move to the country, and a new daughter, Marion and Ted have decided to separate for the summer. Ted, a writer, has agreed to take on a young apprentice, portrayed by Jon Foster, who eventually has an affair with Marion. But that is just the action of the film. What is really going on is in the details of each conversation and scene. Based on just a small section of John Irving novel, we are treated to complex characters and relationships. Basinger and Foster are good, but Jeff Bridges shines in this film. His character is very multi-layered, and he never gives away his thoughts through his actions or facial expressions. He delivers one heck of a performance that is award winning in every sense. Rent this film for a heavy-duty drama that pulls you in slowly, then wraps its tendrils around you. A nice bottle of red and some aged cheese will transport you to the New England landscape for a few hours and make you happy to live back in dusty old Ester.
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