There’s a new blog post category this morning: reviews. Never fear — they’re short. I’ll start with a few recently-watched movies:
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An American Crime (2007). Beautifully acted, and who doesn’t love Ellen Page? But now I better understand those who condemn movies about the underbelly of life. Yes, it’s a true story; no, this is not life as most of us experience it. What does it teach us? Nothing, other than what we already knew: there will always be someone whose depravity exceeds our worst imaginings. Is there a name for this genre? If not, may I suggest one? Depravity porn. |
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Sophie Scholl – The Final Days (2005). If you know your history you know how this story is going to turn out (not many Germans stood up to the Nazis and lived to tell about it), yet the story is edge-of-your-seat suspenseful. An adult film aimed at the heart and mind. |
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Get Smart (2008). I was expecting some sort of lowest-common-denominator, Leslie Nielsen-style farce, with endlessly repeated sight gags . . . or worse . . . but there was very little of that here. Sure, it’s fluff, but fluff adults can enjoy. Steve Carrell was absolutely terrific. Well done! |
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Black Book (2006). Our notions of life during times of war fall far short of reality. This movie gives us a glimpse of true horror, along with a remarkable story of bravery and heroism. When I watch foreign films like this, I have to fight the urge to delete Hollywood movies from my Netflix queue . . . one minute of Carice Von Houten is worth six hours of spurting blood and exploding cars. |
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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007). A brilliant adaption of Jean-Dominique Bauby’s book about his life after becoming paralyzed, written one letter at a time, by blinking to an alphabet code devised by his caregiver. Absolutely engrossing, rich, and deep. |
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The Incredible Melting Man (1977). The alert flick of alert flicks. If you’ve ever been a fighter or bomber pilot, or a fireman, you know what alert flicks are. They’re the ones you and your buds watch while on alert duty, then watch again and again. I wish I could find this on DVD . . . I’d subject all my friends to it. |