Saturday, March 28, 2009

The X Files: I Want to Believe

The second (and likely final) big screen adaptation in the X Files franchise doesn't bear much likeness to its predecessor.

While the first movie based on the beloved TV series dealt with many of the series' conspiracy theories and unsolved mysteries, this one feels more like a long episode from the series in which our heroes deal with a random mystery.

This doesn't detract from the movie's quality, but it does leave you wanting if you were a fan of the series' more long-range themes. Adding to this the many years passed in between releases helps explain the smaller amount of success The X Files: I Want To Believe found at the multiplex and why I liked the first movie a lot more than this one.

And yet, The X Files: I Want To Believe is a good thriller, it allows us to once again rekindle our affection for agents Mulder and Scully, and its production values are very high.

Grade: 7

Prayers for Bobby

An interesting and quite upsetting portrayal of what gay teenagers face when they come out to particularly religious parents.

I'm glad I never found myself in such a situation, but I can totally relate to what the character in this movie goes through, especially since you often read about similar experiences in the press.

Adding to its relevance, the movie is based on a real story.

Sigourney Weaver is very good in the role of the stubborn mother bound to learn a lot of lessons the hard way, and Ryan Kelley, as Bobby, is convincing and offers a touching performance.

Grade: 7

Friday, March 20, 2009

The biggest injustice

The Washington Post published an editorial about the unfair way in which gay and lesbian couples are treated by the US immigration system, where same-sex partners cannot sponsor their significant others for a green card like heterosexuals do through marriage, which results in couples being torn apart, forced to break or twist the law, or forced to move abroad.

It's short, but to the point. A few excerpts:
"Under current law, committed same-sex foreign partners of American citizens are unable to use the family immigration system, which accounts for a majority of the green cards and immigrant visas granted annually by the United States," Mr. Leahy said upon introducing the bill. "The promotion of family unity has long been part of federal immigration policy, and we should honor that principle by providing all Americans the opportunity to be with their loved ones." According to the most recent census, he added, about 35,000 binational, same-sex couples are living in the United States. The new legislation would ensure that the family connections valued under immigration law are extended to gays and lesbians.

The strain of the status quo on gay and lesbian binational couples should not be discounted. Because their relationships are not legally recognized by the United States, some couples have resorted to illegal marriages where the foreign nationals marry Americans to get green cards that allow them to stay in the country permanently. In other cases, Americans have exiled themselves to be with their partners. Sixteen countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, South Africa and the United Kingdom, allow residents to sponsor same-sex permanent partners for legal immigration. American gays and lesbians should not have to choose between their country and their partners.
Amen.

This bill would completely solve our problems.

Fingers crossed...

Under One Roof

That we sat through the entire film is proof of its improvement along the way.

A few minutes after it started, Ray and I were both very puzzled, because it looked like it had been made by a bunch of kids working on a school project.

The script was very poorly written, but the worst part by far was the acting, since none of the actors looked like they had any concept of how to interact with one another or how to emote.

It was really quite painful to watch at first, but after a while we got vested in the two characters' story, so we stayed put. In the end, the resolution was cute and sort of redeemed the movie, which in any case is very short.

At least James Marks, who plays Robert, was very cute.

Neither good nor bad. Up to you.

Grade: 5

Thursday, March 19, 2009

A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini

What an amazing book!

I also read (actually, listened to) The Kite Runner by Hosseini but I had a hard time warming up to it because it was read by the author himself, who didn't do as good a job of it as an actor would have. This one was read by actress Atossa Leoni, who did an awesome job.

While I liked that first book, I absolutely loved this one, even though sometimes it was so painful to listen to because you were afraid of what was almost inevitably going to happen next.

I have rarely felt so emotionally tugged left and right when reading a book, but this one packs a wallop.

My suggestion would be to mentally prepare for a tough emotional ride, but one that is also going to be extremely satisfying and even instructive of the Afghan culture and way of life.

Probably, given the news we've heard of life in the Arab world, the knowledge that what was described in the book was in no way an exaggeration or a fakery added to the feelings of powerlessness and sadness for the characters.

In any case, a great read and a very touching, emotional book. Don't miss it.

Grade: 10

Sex and the City

After loving the TV series, I couldn't help but wonder, Will I like the big screen version?

Sorry, I couldn't resist, I love Carrie Bradshaw, and the answer is a resounding "YES!!"

The movie, which I can't believe I waited this long to see, magically brings back all the characters we got to know over 6 seasons of beautiful clothes, innuendos, sexual encounters, love affairs Big and small, and bigger-than-life friendships.

The movie does feel a little like an oversized TV episode, but not in a bad way. It picks up where the show left off and carries the story forward to a satisfying conclusion for all our sexy friends.

I have to say that the way the writers handled the Carrie-Big story was very smart and Miranda-Steve's also was well done. Charlotte's and Samantha's stories did feel more like supporting to their counterparts' main storilines, almost as if there wasn't going to be enough time (and the movie is over 2 and a half hours long!) to flesh out a satisfying plot for all of them.

But overall the result is very good, and my grade reflects as much the movie's quality as its ability to rekindle my affection for these characters.

Grade: 9

Monday, March 16, 2009

Tropic Thunder

A greatly successful comedy that garnered impressive reviews, Tropic Thunder did not impress me too much. Based on what I had heard, it sounded like one of the greatest comedies ever made, but in the end it turned out to be the usual Ben Stiller slapstick tour de force that never elicits more than a few giggles.

Yes, the acting was good, and impressive above all were Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of a black man, which landed him his second Oscar nomination, and a barely recognizable Tom Cruise in perhaps his most histrionic role to date. Unfortunately, both Stiller and Jack Black simply played new versions of the same characters they always portray. Yawn ... zzzzz ...

Technically, the movie is incredibly well made, from visual effects to set design to makeup, and the screenplay isn't bad, aside from the too-far-out-there scenes that never impress me and always disappoint.

I give it a passing grade for the effort but I wouldn't watch it again.

Grade: 6

PS: how many hours does Matthew McConaughey spend exercising to keep up such an incredible physical shape??

Friday, March 13, 2009

Shortbus

John Cameron Mitchell's sophomore directorial effort is a lot better than his debut (the inscrutable, off-putting, and annoying Hedwig and the Angry Inch).

Shortbus is the typical movie with multiple storylines and characters that at some point intersect with one another. In this movie, however, there is no mystery about what the connections are, as they are shown early on and are part of the overall screenplay.

The movie is sprinkled with very explicit sexual scenes, so if that's not your cup of tea, you might want to steer clear of this one. Furthermore, the sex is both gay and straight, and there's even an orgy in which everything goes.

The acting ranges from good to acceptable, while the screenplay, written by Mitchell himself, feels at times more like a tool serving the director's goal of making a visually provocative movie rather than a means to showcase these people's lives at a certain point in time.

Overall though, the end product is interesting and comes together rather well.

Grade: 7

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Happy Feet

I was looking forward to watching this movie because it had garnered heaps of praise, tons of cash and even an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, beating out Monster House and, above all, Pixar's Cars.

What a disappointment!!

The concept isn't bad, but it's not new either: a young penguin that doesn't fit in is rejected by his community because of his diversity and has to show them his worth. We've all seen it before, but because of the botched end result, its mundanity is more striking here.

The technical aspect is astoundingly well executed, on par with Pixar's work or (GASP!) even better, and for that reason alone I accept this movie's victory over a much better (and more watchable) movie like Cars. Even Monster House's concept was more original, and the animation, although at times odd, was quite groundbreaking.

When Happy Feet was over, I couldn't believe how underwhelmed I felt. The movie just never made me "feel" or "care" for the protagonist. Sure, I didn't want him to end up badly, but I didn't care much about his fate either. That's the worst outcome on the part of the audience.

Ray felt the same way. A mediocre film that sported a cute character that in the end left you wanting. He couldn't believe it either when I told him this movie had beat Monster House (which at least offered some good scares) and Cars (which grows in my appreciation with each viewing -- the 7.5 I gave it would be 8 now for sure).

Like I said, the only superior thing in this movie is the animation itself. If you don't care for that, skip it safely.

Grade: 5

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Milk

Milk was a difficult movie to watch for several reasons. For starters, the passage of Proposition 8 in California, writing discrimination in the state constitution against gays, was paralleled in the movie by the failed attempt to pass a similarly discriminatory proposition in that very same state in the 70s.

Then, thanks to Sean Penn's uncanny portrayal of Harvey Milk (for which he deservedly won his second acting Oscar), there was the realization that what we lack most in our fight against those who hate us is a figure as articulate, smart, energetic, driven and charismatic in our own time as Milk was back then.

Unfortunately, the other side is full of fanatical religious leaders that will stop at nothing to prevent us from enjoying a decent life. We don't have a single name that is nationally recognized to rally us and our allies to our cause.

Finally, I had been reading so much about Harvey Milk leading up to the movie's release and subsequently, that seeing him so vividly portrayed, and knowing how his life would tragically end, I couldn't help but feel sad and angry and powerless.

Also, the movie starts out with Harvey recording the message to be released in case of his assassination, so his death's specter is never buried too deep in the viewer's consciousness.

I liked the movie a lot, and wished for an unlikely upset at the recent Oscar ceremony over the Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire, even though the latter deserved it more in pure terms of movie quality, simply because Milk's message is so important at this point in time in this country that a win would have been very significant.

As a film, Milk doesn't lack excellency. The acting is great, and Penn isn't the only one who shines. Josh Brolin (nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar), James Franco, and Emile Hirsch, among others, turn in top-notch work.

The poignant, intimate, and thorough screenplay by Best Original Screenplay Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black makes you feel like you're really in San Francisco, watching and hearing Harvey speak to the crowds or his lovers and friends.

Gus Van Sant's direction, paired with a great cinematography, score, and editing create a final product that deserves to be watched not just by cinephiles or historians interested in the gay movement's evolution, but by everyone else.

A movie that will stay in my memory for a long time.

Grade: 8

We are probably not alone

At least that would be the conclusion I'd make after reading this BBC article about new research stating that there are billions of Earths in the Milky Way Galaxy alone:
There could be one hundred billion Earth-like planets in our galaxy, a US conference has heard.

Dr Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution of Science said many of these worlds could be inhabited by simple lifeforms.
[...]
But, based on the limited numbers of planets found so far, Dr Boss has estimated that each Sun-like star has on average one "Earth-like" planet.

This simple calculation means there would be huge numbers capable of supporting life.

"Not only are they probably habitable but they probably are also going to be inhabited," Dr Boss told BBC News. "But I think that most likely the nearby 'Earths' are going to be inhabited with things which are perhaps more common to what Earth was like three or four billion years ago." That means bacterial lifeforms.
[...]
Recent work at Edinburgh University tried to quantify how many intelligent civilisations might be out there. The research suggested there could be thousands of them.
I wonder, the day scientists find evidence of any type of lifeforms on another planet, whether it's in our solar system or not, what will the response of organized religion be?

And what if they are able to cover it up?

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Enchanted

I enjoyed this movie even though I don't have much to say about it. It's an original Disney tale, but it borrows heavily from Disney's catalogue, from Beauty and the Beast to Sleeping Beauty, to Cinderella.

A nice score underlies the mixing of animation and live action, in which Amy Adams shines as the belle du jour who lost her world and must now make do in the one she's been thrust into by a mean Queen.

Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden are at their handsome best as the heroes fighting for the heroine's affections, while Susan Sarandon pulls off a good baddie in a very small role.

I guess the best legacy of this movie was the launch of Adams' career, which has been on the rise ever since. And justifiably so, since she can act, dance, and sing. All well too!!

An enjoyable movie.

Grade: 7

There Will Be Blood

2008's runner up for the Oscar for Best Picture (which went to No Country For Old Men instead) is the kind of movie that's not easily appreciated right away (it's long and slow, that kind), but that grows in your appreciation afterwards.

The story is that of a resolute and unyielding oilman from the beginning of the 20th century who finds himself at odds with a local self-appointed bible thumper who has no qualms about using the faith and the faithful to advance his cause and improve his lot.

As the oilman, Daniel Day-Lewis underwent an incredible transformation and collected his well deserved 2nd Best Actor Oscar, as well as a host of other awards. He carries the film on his shoulders, but every actor does a good job, including Paul Dano as his archenemy.

Paul Thomas Anderson's direction is flawless, as is the cinematography, full of indelible shots of the American countryside and the search for the black gold that turned so many lives upside down, whether for good or bad.

A good movie that requires some patience in order to be fully enjoyed and appreciated.

Grade: 8

Deep sleeper

Well, I wish I could sleep this deeply!

I always love watching our dogs dream, but this dog beats them by a mile!



and a longer one:



He's the cutest thing EVER!!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Sicko

The latest work by famed documentary filmmaker Michael Moore is an eye opener and a punch in the guts for all those who are willing to listen with an open mind.

The issue is health care and Moore shows us how the greatest democracy on Earth, the USA, is not only the lone developed nation that doesn't offer universal health care to its citizens, but it's also way below a lot of developing nations in terms of the level of health care it does offer.

How can this be when the US boasts the best health care apparatus in the world? How can it be when the majority of drugs and treatments are discovered or developed in the US? Alas, it's the truth.

In his usual style, which mixes deadpan and panache, Moore shows us how people live in other countries and how they all seem to be better off than Americans. For instance, in Canada you can go to a clinic for any treatment and it doesn't cost you anything. In France you get help from the government when you have a child in the form of a paid government worker who comes to your house a few hours a week and helps you with the baby, including making meals and doing laundry. In Cuba drugs that cost over $120 here in the US only cost five cents. In England, doctors receive bonuses if their patients get better.

In the US, any treatment you need will cost you thousands of dollars. Hundreds of thousands if you don't have insurance, but even if you do, it will still cost you something. Not only do you not receive any help when you have a child, but you don't get a lot of time off fully paid and if you need daycare, it will cost you thousands of dollars. Drugs cost you thousands of dollars, whether they are prescribed by your doctor or not. Insurances hand out bonuses based on how many claims are denied.

And this is all true. I know it first hand. When I had my abdominal surgery, the bill came to over $30,000. My insurance paid about $14,000 and the rest was forgone. But if I hadn't had insurance, I'd have had to pay for the whole amount. Does that make sense to you? Why would a hospital give a discount to a multimillion dollar organization but not to individuals who don't have the money to afford health care in the first place? I "only" had to pay my co-pay of about $1,000 but if I had been in Italy, I wouldn't have had to pay for anything but a few dozen euros as a co-pay (and $1,000 isn't pocket change for me or a lot of other people).

Coming from a country that offers universal health care, I can say that I really hope President Obama is able to implement it in this country as well, because the lack of it is medieval.

And to all the naysayers that always try to defame Moore's name and work, no one has ever been able to find any fact or piece of data that was false or misrepresented. He even offered money to whomever would actually find something wrong, so you can bet people tried.

Watch this documentary, show it to your friends and family, and then ask your representatives and senators why we live in such a rich country, where the possibilities are endless, and yet our health care system is substandard at best.

This documentary should be shown in all schools, yearly, starting in 6th grade.

Grade: 9

Monday, March 02, 2009

Revolutionary Road

Finally reunited after they first worked together in Titanic, the most successful movie of all time, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio give us another great set of performances in more mature roles that match their ages and allow them to show their incredible talents.

Winslet is amazing as an unfulfilled and disillusioned wife who watches her life pass her by and doesn't like what she sees. DiCaprio is just as good as the dutiful husband who gave up his dreams to provide for his family and is now at a crossroads where he feels pulled in the wrong direction by his wife, even if for all the right reasons.

Winslet was properly showered with accolades for her work in this movie as well as The Reader, for which she just won the Best Actress Oscar, but where is the love for DiCaprio?

I always felt like he had been snubbed by the Academy for Titanic, the only top billing actor who didn't get a nomination, and now this performance goes by without any mention again. Instead, the Academy nominated Michael Shannon for his portrayal of a guy who tells it like it is. I thought Shannon was terrific, but I also feel like he got the chance to show off in a very histrionic role compressed in a very short amount of time, while DiCaprio did just as good a job but spread over the length of the entire movie.

Another Titanic veteran that shows up in this movie is Kathy Bates, one of my favorite actresses, who, as usual, does a great job as the local gossiper and know-it-all lady.

Sam Mendes, Winslet's husband and the director of American Beauty, creates another great portrait of ordinary lives gone awry, and his direction is simple and effective. He doesn't make excuses for anyone and doesn't sugarcoat the issues for the audience.

This movie was passed over for a Best Picture nomination, although I think I prefer it to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (I have yet to see both The Reader and Frost/Nixon). Surely, however, Revolutionary Road's themes are tougher to deal with, and maybe the Academy just didn't feel like showcasing them too much.

Grade: 8