'The Hunger Games' review

Watch the preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9a5V9ODuY

I confess to know nothing about 'The Hunger Games' trilogy of novels. My 12 year-old nephew loves the books and was eagerly waiting for the movie as well as countless other fans. The movie based on the first one had a built-in audience lined up to make it a monster hit so it was time for us to see what the fuss was all about. Now that the crowds died down, we caught yesterday's matinee which was populated with mostly teenagers and a few adults who chaperoned the pre-teens. We were the oldest audience members but didn't feel we were out of place here. My wife's gal pals seen the film and recommended it. I must say you could hear a pin drop during the showing as everyone's attention was glued to the screen.
>>>The story takes place in the future after an unsuccessful revolt again the government. As punishment each of the twelve districts must offer two children known as 'tributes' to compete in a hi-tech televised survival fight to the death known as 'The Hunger Games.' Names are chosen by lottery and there will be only one winner rewarded with his or her life and other honors. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss volunteers to take her younger sister's place and she's the better candidate as she's damn good with a bow & arrow. Her fellow district member is a baker's son who excels in lifting. Woody Harrelson plays a former games victor who coaches them when he's not overindulging in booze & food.
>>>There are many good things to admire in this film starting with the production design.. The poor living conditions of Katniss's Appalachia-like district are contrasted with those of the affluent capitol city. I admired the exaggerated costumes and makeup/hairstyles of the upper classes as well as the simple garb of the lower classes.
>>>There's also a nice balance between good guys & bad guys. Each character is given the proper amount of screen time as not to overshadow others. Performances are generally good. Stanley Tucci skillfully plays an unctuous, TV host. Elizabeth Banks, who matches Tucci's character with her own brand of smarminess, is unrecognizable under her wigs & makeup as a government official. Donald Sutherland wisely underplays his role as the crafty President fearful of the outcome of this game inciting another rebellion. He's like a coiled viper ready to attack but subtly chooses his words to make his points or warnings. Lawrence shines as the central character portraying the reluctant and sympathetic contestant who is forced to kill when required. She carries the plot well without detracting from the others. Her unassuming performance catches you offguard.
>>>The film was given a PG-13 rating so younger viewers could attend. The violent scenes are quickly edited as not to dwell on killing & bloodshed and leave much to the imagination. Even a forced suicide near the conclusion is not shown but suggested.
>>>We came to this film with no expectations and enjoyed it as you should too. The story's moral dilemma of kill or be killed unfolds at a slow pace but doesn't drag. Some fans of the novel have seen the film more than once so I'm assuming they thought it was a good adaptation. I hope the next two installments as just as pleasing....

'Wrath of the Titans' review

Sam Worthington again as Perseus battling a Cyclops. Watch the Preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/wrath-of-the-titans/10044919/main?icid=mfm_poster

This is a so-so sequel to the recently successful 'Clash of the Titans.' I'm a sucker for these sword & sandal fantasy films. It's more of the same but with almost non-stop action scenes of humans battling gods, demi-gods, and monsters I have to admit it got a bit tiring after a while and we felt exhausted at the film's conclusion. (I can't believe I would ever say that....) It was as if each scene was trying to outdo the previous one with bigger fights, more explosions and damage. Sometimes more is not always better.

>>>Everyone here speaks in this mock Shakespearian serious tone found in these mythological and historical epics. Sam Worthington who plays a badly bruised Perseus from being constantly pummelled throughout the film is hard to understand at times as he swallows his lines. The Brits in the cast should have given him elocution lessons.
>>>The same major players reprise their roles with the addition of Edgar Ramirez as a new villain. You must see his portrayal of the title character in' Carlos,' a 2010 French TV mini-series about the real international terrorist, available on DVD or where I saw it on The Sundance Channel. Bill Nighy steals his brief scenes as a fallen god who creates magical weapons to defeat our hero Perseus's enemies.
>>>The 3-D was minimal and not worth paying extra to see. Except for a few brief shots, the film is comparable to looking into an old Viewmaster for depth-of-vision. This has been my main gripe against these so-called '3-D' films.'Wrath' is recommended only for fans of the first one. Don't expect a sequel unless they bring in new characters to replace those killed off here or the creators decide to bring them back since anything is possible in a fantasy, or more likely, if 'Wrath' is another blockbuster hit.

Monkees Concert DVD

In honor of Davy Jones's passing, we watched again the only available concert DVD of the Monkees. This show was filmed during their 2002 tour but not at the show we saw in Wallingford, CT. No Michael Nesbitt here but the remaining threesome did such a good job, we didn't miss his absence. Amazon customers who attended this filming complain that the DVD is lacking several songs and lots of their banter & antics between songs. Regardless, all the hits are here and it's a momento for us who got to see them live years after the cancellation of their TV show. A must for fans and let's hope to see the uncut version some day. This time my right ear didn't hurt after playing 'Im Not Your Stepping Stone,' since I controlled the volume level.

'Safe House' review

Watch the trailer: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/safe-house/52486/main

This afternoon I went to see 'Safe House' while the Mrs. lunched with her GF. First the previews were late in starting and then the film wouldn't start. We had to get the manager to get it going after waiting 2o minutes. After this rough start, the film wasn't a disappointment and we got coupons for free popcorn for our next visit. I was hoping for a free movie pass but....

>>>>There are certain actors who are worth watching even when their films are so-so or unsuccessful. Denzel Washington is one of these actors and this film has enough action sequences to hold your attention while the plot unfolds. Denzel plays a former master CIA agent on the run from the badguys who seek a certain file from him. He turns himself in at the American Consulate in South Africa and sent to a 'safe house' operated by Ryan Reynolds, a newbie CIA agent. Then the story revs up several notches as their not-so safe house is attacked and puts them on the run from the badguys and the CIA which wants Denzel at all costs.

>>>>There's plenty of chase scenes and gunfire while Denzel keeps his cool & wits in convincing Ryan there must be a traitor in the CIA who wants both of them eliminated but not until they can retrieve the elusive file. Both men need to trust each other as Denzel educates Ryan in survival skills. Ryan gets beat up a lot here, as we see in his action films. He's becoming rather versatile playing these kinds or roles as well as doing comedies & light romances with ease.

>>>>Denzel offers his usual good performance and Ryan holds his own against him, not an easy task, A co-worker warned me that the traitor was easily spotted and I admit I agree with him but it didn't stop me from enjoying this film. See for yourself.

R.I.P. Davy Jones

Davy Jones passed away today at 66 from a heart attack. I wasn't a huge Monkees fan like my wife Martha who's upset over the news. About 10 years ago we saw the Monkees Reunion Tour at a local theater. Martha had her teenage wish to see them in person finally come true. Michael Nesmith was the only one of the four members who was not present. To be honest, the other three put on such a good show, we didn't miss him. They sang as well as before.

>>>>We had sixth row seats and got pretty close to them when they walked to the front of the stage. Parents our age brought their children to see them as we watched the guys joke between songs. All their hits were presented. Martha remarked that Davy had the energy of two guys together half his age of 56 at the time. I shall never forget this concert because for the finale they played 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone.' What was so memorable about this song was that the volume was cranked up so high to permanently damage my right ear which was close to a bank of speakers. To this day my ear will hurt if concerts & movies are played too loud. I carry earplugs in anticipation.

>>>>We own the DVD of this tour and we'll have to replay it this weekend. Poor Davy.... Gone too soon.

Damn I'm good!

Michel Hazanavicius accepts the Oscar for best picture for the film "The Artist."

As you see, all of my predictions below came true. Although Viola Davis lost, I said Meryl Streep could 'sneak by' and so she did which makes me sorta right. The show wasn't as good as other years with Billy Crystal but it was still enjoyable seeing Hollywood's royalty decked out on their special evening.

Oscar Time

Jean Dujardin & Berence Bejo in 'The Artist,' the expected favorite to win Oscars in several catagories.

It's Oscar time so you'll know I'll be glued to the TV tonight. I haven't seen most of the films nominated for Best Picture but we got out to see 'The Artist', 'The Help,' and 'Hugo'. So here's my guesstimates for the major awards:

Best Picture: It's a toss between 'The Artist' and 'The Descendents'. 'Hugo' is also a love letter to the days of silent films and Hollywood loves their past. 'The Artist' is the favorite between the two. I expect it to win in several catagories.

Best Actor: A toss between George Clooney and Jean Dujardin.

Best Actress: Viola Davis (unless Meryl Streep sneaks by). We got to see Michelle Williams who was touching as Marilyn Monroe as she captured her vulnerable essence if not her looks. She could be an upset winner if the votes are split between Meryl & Viola.

Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer. His reviews has been the best in years and it's his time for an award since he missed out for 'The Last Station.'

Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer

Best Foreign Film: ' The Separation' (unless there's an Iranian backlash.)

Best Director: Michael Hazanavicus or Alexander Payne.

Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen or Michael Hazanavicus

Best Music Score: 'The Artist.'

My opinions are based on reviews, articles, and word-of-mouth. So let's see how I do....

I'm back!

I'm going to start writing again. Since my last entry I bought a 42" widescreen Panasonic Viera HDTV and installed AT&T's U-verse. Two years ago my previous cable outfit, Cox removed Turner Classic Movies/TCM from its basic package lineup. I was so angry as well as other viewers I told Cox and my local newspaper I would change to U-verse when it arrived in my neighborhood. It took me a while but I made the move one week after we got the new TV in December. Now I'm enjoying TCM again, a must for film fans and I also have The Sundance Channel that also offers uncut films with no commercials. Sundance shows recent foreign films we've seen in Portsmouth NH or I bought the Criterion DVD. Now I can see them as part of my basic package. We'll still make trips to Portsmouth and I'll wait until Barnes & Noble has their half-price Criterion sales. I don't care if I'm paying a bit more for cable as I have more channels I wanted like BBC America, VH1Classics, and others I never heard of until now. And these are included my basic package of 200 channels. There's a 300 and a 400 package but who's got time to watch all that? I have more than enough now for my tastes and Pay-Per-View when needed. I saved money by bundling cable, phone, and high speed internet. Thank you U-verse!

I highly recommend my Panasonic HDTV TC-L42E3, an LCD/LED combo with a nice picture. My LG DVD Player DN898 upscales to 1080 making DVDs look almost like Blu-Ray. Eventually I'll buy a Blu-Ray player but for now the LG works fine and better than before.

I have so many choices now to DVR that I don't need to go to the theater so often. We did see 'The Artist,' a love letter to the Silent Era which I predict will win several Oscars. I'll be writing about new & old films again. Meanwhile I'm still buying German films made during the Third Reich and books about that era as I mentioned in the previous entry. I've lent some films to German co-workers who've never seen them as some of the propaganda ones are forbidden showing to this day in Germany. As I mentioned not all films were propaganda as my friends are enjoying the musicals, comedies, and historical epics.

I was still writing online while away from here, mostly adding comments on Amazon. I got into a war of words with a customer reviewer over the DVD release of 'House of The Spirits.' Go to: http://www.amazon.com/House-Spirits-Jeremy-Irons/product-reviews/B005CFBZ3O/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Writer's Block

I haven't been in a writing mood. We've been to Portsmouth twice and seen a few movies in our area. I've been reading and watching more DVDs. The pile keeps growing faster than I can watch them due to good sales in stores and online with Borders discount coupons. More on these later...

I'm hardly online these days except to do mail, read articles, and chat with a few buddies. I don't enter chat rooms too much because of the room drama and to be frank, small talk bores me. I'd rather spend the time with a good book or watch a DVD. Lately I've taken an interest in German films made during The Third Reich. I own several of them as well as books about them. No I'm not a neo-Nazi but I find these films fascinating as they weren't all propaganda pieces although you can find some politics in the most innocent entertaining ones. More on these later; meanwhile here's a good article explaining about that era: http://www.stanford.edu/group/SHR/5-supp/text/thompson.html#note6

'Hanna' reviewed

Eric Bana & Saoirse Ronan in Hanna. Watch the preview:
http://www.moviefone.com/movie/hanna/51540/main

No this film isn't a Miley Cyrus vehicle although I will admit I watched a few episodes of her TV show while flipping channels. They were entertaining but enough about Hannah Montana....
>>>This Hanna (without the final 'h') was an interesting action thriller starring Saoirse Ronan from Atonement in the title role. The films begins with her hunting a deer in wintry Finland. She feels guilty about her arrow missing her prey's heart allowing it to suffer a slow death and quickly finishes off the job with a gun. (Spoiler Alert - This scene will be repeated at the end but you can see it coming a minute before.) We soon see her performing her martial arts skills with her father Eric Bana who's also responsible for her encyclopedic education. Hanna is no ordinary teenager with her extraordinary survival skills as she seems like someone from another world, and we slowly learn why these two have been in hiding for years.
>>>Meanwhile they are hunted by Cate Blanchette as a nasty CIA boss who knows the secret of Hanna's origin and forced them into hiding for years. Hanna & Dad separate to meet in Germany as now it's their turn to be the hunters. Cate takes her role to heart as the Queen of Mean. Part Wicked Witch, part Ma Barker. You will enjoy this performance probably more than the other two leads but that's not to undervalue them. Villains always have the best parts. This is a balanced trio of good actors meeting the demands of the script: The father as teacher, the student who surpasses the teacher, and the principal who closed their 'school' and wants to eliminate them. Cate's henchmen are as nasty as her if not worse.
>>>There's a fairy tale motif running through the story as well as plenty of action scenes of mortal combat, chases, and torture accompanied by a throbbing score by the Chemical Brothers. The secondary plot concerns the emotional waking of a teenager who has been raised away from civilization and who must learn to adapt with people as Hanna discovers when she tags along with an English family in Morocco on her trek to Germany. Saoirse is convincing here as in her action scenes.
>>>Hanna is a cut above the usual action thriller. Saoirse will amaze you and Cate will give you a good scare.

'Limitless' reviewed

Bradley Cooper in Limitless. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/limitless/1394087/main?icid=mfm_poster

Seeing the preview in the theater attracted us to Limitless. I enjoyed this fast paced thriller. The story is certainly farfetched but it moves so quickly leaving you no time to ponder over its logic and message.

Bradley Cooper who's becoming a major leading man since the unexpected runaway success of The Hangover stars as a would be writer suffering from writer's bloc. The bill collectors are one step away and nothing he does gets him ahead. One day he meets his ex brother-in-law who offers him a pill that will change his life. His mental ability increases at a staggering rate with each dose, demonstrated by neat visual effects. He speedily finishes his novel in four days and develops other abilities like learning languages, playing music, and making financial killings that attract the attention of an arrogant Wall St. mogul played by Robert De Niro who brings him onto his team. His girlfriend who dumped him takes him back and now he's got the whole world waiting for his taking.

Cooper needs more pills not only to expand his mental powers but also to keep them, and there's the danger. Meanwhile he's pursued by a mysterious stranger and a brutal European loan shark who wants his pills, both men creating problems on his way to the top. Toss in an accusation of murder and the complications keep piling up as fast as the plot races.

Cooper's performance and narration hold the fantastic plot together. De Niro gives his usual good performance that steals almost every one of his scenes and has the best lines in the film spouting seasoned advice to his young novice.

This thriller also presents a halfhearted warning about the dangers of addiction as we learn the fate of others who depended on the drug. Will Cooper succumb to its lethal attraction or can he control it? Only the ending lets us know and what an ending! See if you think it's believable.... but remember, it's only a movie and good escapism fueled by wish fulfullment. Ah but if only there was such a drug......

'Unknown' reviewed

From left, January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Rainer Bock and Liam Neeson in Unknown. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/unknown/10018662/main

We enjoyed this action thriller loaded with plenty of twists & turns to keep you guessing until the end. Liam Neeson plays a scientist traveling with his wife (January Jones) to a seminar in Berlin. He loses his briefcase at the airport and before checking into their hotel, he hops in a cab to retrieve it. An accident leaves him comatose for four days and his doctor warns him of possible memory loss. When he returns to the hotel, his wife says she doesn't know him and he has no papers on him to prove his identity. She introduces him to a man (Aidan Quinn) who claims to be her husband and has Neeson removed.
>>Nobody believes him as even his photo is changed to Quinn's on his internet biography so he begins to seek anyone who can verify his identity, starting with the cabbie (Diane Kruger) who abandoned him when they crashed into a river. Eventually he convinces her he's telling the truth and she decides to help him. A sympathetic nurse leads him to a former Stasi agent (the always wonderful Bruno Ganz) who is hired to investigate and gets in too deep in solving the mystery. Meanwhile he's constantly followed by killers who want him permanently silenced.
>>You have to pay attention to the plot as it moves fast while you learn the truth about Neeson's identity. I liked the way the story ends and I will admit it fooled me as well as the audience. There's plenty of well spaced car chases & accidents and one-on-one fights that propel the plot along. It takes a while for Neeson to realize who is telling the truth and that's what keeps us on our toes. If you like these kind of puzzle mysteries, this one's for you. Keep in mind that everyone here is not who they seem to be...

Colin Firth & Helena Bonham Carter as the real royal couple (shown here) in the acclaimed The King's Speech

It's been a while since I wrote an entry. I finally recovered from a lingering sinus infection that's left me tired and still playing hell with my allergy and asthma. At night I'm usually watching DVDs and reading about films, and I haven't had the creative spark to write about films. I have seen several Oscar contenders and will offer my thoughts about the winners & losers after the ceremony. I never miss the broadcast which is tomorrow night.

Here's a few quickies about what I've seen in theaters. Watch the previews.

True Grit.
http://www.moviefone.com/movie/true-grit/1430122/main

Very good period piece with marvelous performances. It will make you forget the John Wayne version as the new one is closer to the novel as I've been told. Jeff Bridges tosses off those humorous one liners better than anyone else. Matt Damon holds his own with retorts against Bridges in their friendly rivalry in tracking the villain. Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as the cool & confident young girl who joins them in her quest to find her father's killer might earn a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

Black Swan

http://www.moviefone.com/movie/black-swan/1441150/main

A disturbing picture not for the squeamish. It's about ballet but don't expect The Red Shoes or The Turning Point except for a superficial comparison. Young ballerina goes bonkers in her quest for perfection. You 'ld go nuts too if you had her possessive mother, a manipulative instructor, and jealous rivals, real or imaginary besides being under the pressure of rehearsing and performing the lead role in probably the world's most famous ballet. Natalie Portman might earn the Best Actress Oscar and deservedly so for her preparation for the role and she's onscreen for almost the entire film. The rest of the cast deserves praise. Here's a good article about Portman's role:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/movies/awardsseason/02scot.html?scp=45&sq=black+swan&st=nyt

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-chronicles-of-narnia-the-voyage-of/30385/main

More of the same in the series but this time in 3-D which was minimal/hardly noticeable. I'm guessing the film was later converted to 3-D for extra box office appeal. One good plot element: A bratty cousin learns compassion & humility the hard way.


The Tourist

http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-tourist/30768/main

An expensive-looking but limp thriller with Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, and other good actors. The plot is incredulous and at one point I yelled out: "Aww come on!" at Depp's unbelievable escape from inside a van. The film has nice European scenery and Jolie looking her classy best in gowns & jewels. Depp looks like he's sleepwalking through his role. A big disappointment that got bad reviews and small box office returns, considering the huge salaries for the two leads and the cheaper but first rate cast including Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton, Rufus Sewell, and Steven Berkoff as the nasty villain. The Mrs liked it more than me.

The King's Speech http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-kings-speech/10034251/main


The best film of the bunch and should earn Oscars in several categories. There's been articles about the film being not entirely historically accurate in favor of dramatic license but it doesn't matter. You will enjoy every minute of this inspirational story about overcoming adversity. Colin Firth should win the Best Actor Oscar as the stuttering king and Geoffrey Rush deserves the Best Supporting one as his irreverent teacher but Christian Bale is predicted as the winner for The Fighter. Helena Bonham Carter, who gets better with every role, should not be underestimated as Firth's understanding royal wife. She's nominated for a Supporting award. Every performance is a winner.

'Vision' reviewed

Barbara Sukowa as Hildegard von Bingen, with Heino Ferch, in the historical film Vision.

>>>>>It's been a while since I felt up to writing. I've been suffering with a sinus infection for seven weeks. Besides having a runny nose, it's played hell with my seasonal allergy, which should have been over by now, and it also triggered my dormant asthma. The first two meds didn't work so this week I'm on three meds that are kicking ass. I'm seeing an improvement every day so wish me luck. I want to enjoy the holidays while I'm off from work.
>>As far as the arts, I've seen two movies in the theater. Meanwhile I keep buying DVDs faster than I can watch them. I only get them if there's a good sale. I do trade in most of them when we go to Portsmouth. My rule is: It doesn't matter if the movie was good or bad, it's will I watch it again? If the answer is no, then it's adios. I've already started a bag for our next trip which will probably be in the spring since our winter weather is unpredictable.
>>If you go to Barnes & Noble, check out their Criterion section. These editions of classic and foreign films ( and recent films too) are for serious film buffs who want the 'scholarly' commentaries and supplements. B&N finished their half priced Criterion sale and I bought a lot of them since their regular prices are $30 - 80. To me they are worth every penny. I have a few still coming in the mail. Check out Criterion's website. I've made some comments there under John C.
http://www.criterion.com/

>>I saw the new Harry Potter which was good but more of the same and bigger in scope. The second half will be released in the spring. All these Potter movies blur together in my mind as I can't tell you which one was which.
>> An outstanding film was Vision, a German film about Hildegard Von Bingen, a twelve century German nun who was a mystic, a composer, an author, and an amazing person in general. Read about her life and watch the trailer here: http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/vision/
>>This is another of those historical films that make you feel you're living alongside the characters. They lived in harsh times governed by their religious leaders as well as their secular ones. Headstrong and determined to follow her divine path, Hildegard learned to play by society's rules and bend a few in getting her way. My wife has read some of her works

including those on medicine and science, and we have CDs of her music.

>>Again don't be scared off by reading subtitles. We're waiting for the DVD as this film is worth revisiting. This is an important work about the struggles of following your faith and placing your fate in the hands of God. Barbara Sukowa, who's not well known in this country but has done memorable work in Europe, delivers an austere but powerful performance. Although the film may seem slow moving, this pacing is needed to savor every bit of decor, costumes, music, and debates among Hildegard's allies and opponents.

'The Concert' Reviewed

Alexei Guskov and Mélanie Laurent in The Concert, a comedy about an orchestra that reassembles for a performance. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-concert/51102/main

Last Sunday (11/14) we drove up to Portsmouth NH for our last trip of the year. I've been suffering for almost a month with what I thought was a lingering head cold. My wife wasn't sure if I was fit for the trip but as she said, I would go to Portsmouth if I was on my deathbed. I'm on my second medication (the first antibiotic did nothing) for what appears to be a stubborn sinus infection. My nose kept running and I wasn't sure if I had the flu or a bad reaction from the recent flu shot. Since my wife & son didn't catch my malady, that ruled out having a cold or a contagious condition. So far the new medication seems to being working to dry me up. It's been a slowwww process but I'm improving.....
>>We did our usuals in Portsmouth and stayed downtown at our favorite inn. The off season greatly reduced rates is a plus. At my favorite store Bull Moose Music, I traded in three bags of CDs & DVDs to get $155 in store credit. I used most of it on new purchases and still have some left for the next trip which will probably be in April. It's hard to plan winter trips because of the weather.
>>Seeing a foreign film was the excuse for our trip.... as if we needed one. The Concert is about a Russian orchestra conductor who was banned from his job during the Brezhnev years for defending Jewish musicians and now works as a janitor in the same place, the Bolshoi Orchestra. When he intercepts a fax requesting.... damn I'm too tired and congested to write a plot summary so here's the one from Wikipedia: "A former world-famous conductor of the Bolshoï orchestra, known as "The Maëstro", Andreï Filipov had seen his career publicly broken by Brezhnev and now works cleaning the concert hall where he once directed. One day, he intercepts an official invitation from the prestigious Théâtre du Châtelet. Through a series of mad antics, he reunites his old orchestra, and flies to perform in Paris and complete the Tchaikovsky concerto interrupted 30 years earlier. For the concerto, he engages a young violin soloist with whom he has an unexpected connection."
>>Much of the humor evolves from the Russians speaking fractured French and enjoying themselves in Paris, perhaps too much as you would expect after living in their drab homeland and now tasting freedom. There's topical issues about the changing political scene and the new Russian millionaires who can buy everything, including one who thinks he's a good musician and buys a seat in the orchestra by financing their trip. The 'connection' between Andrei and the young violinist is revealed through his voiceover and flashbacks during their performance and it's not what you first think it is.
>>Besides you getting to hear the entire concerto played, the films ends on a happy note as it deserves. Even the Russian who banished Andrei has a change of heart and comes to everyone's aid to prevent a fiasco onstage. Besides the good performances from everyone who seem right due to proper casting, Melanie Laurent is appealing as the young violinist and I forgot she played the theater owner in Inglorious Basterds. Like that film, The Concert demonstrates the director's clever touch in mingling comedy, satire, and seriousness to the film's advantage and the audience's pleasure as everyone around us laughed in the right places and applauded at the end.

'RED' reviewed

From left, Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren in RED. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/red/10020540/main

It's been a while since I posted a new entry because I haven't seen any films in the theater since the previous posting. I've been watching a lot of DVDs that keep piling up due to good sales. I found a website that offers mostly old foreign films with low prices: http://germanwarfilms.com/index.htm The video & audio quality varies but at least I get to see classics and rare films that are sometimes not available anywhere. Like a 1935 German production of Joan of Arc. Check out my review, the second one, of Das Madchen Johanna on IMBd: http://www.imdb.com/
>>Also Barnes & Noble is currently having a half price Criterion sale so I've been stocking up on them. Maybe some day I'll post some reviews of worthwhile films.Next week we're off to Portsmouth NH for our last trip of the year and we'll see a French film which will be posted later.
>>I've been fighting a head cold for almost two weeks but I was well enough to catch last Sunday's matinee of RED. The previews promised an action comedy with good actors. Bruce Willis has grown in ability over the years. Although he made it big with the Die Hard franchise and other action films, he's not afraid to take small parts in small films that stretch his acting ability. I always knew he was going places since coming to attention in the TV series Moonlighting way back when and I plan to get the DVDs. He's a shrewd judge of picking parts in small films that get financed due to his box office clout.
>>RED is an acronym for 'Retired Extremely Dangerous.' Willis plays a retired CIA agent who becomes the target of a hit squad as well as others who were connected to a past event in South America discovered by an investigative reporter who was killed for her snooping. He enlists some former agents who help him crack the mystery.
>>And what a team of helpers. John Malkovich as a gun happy wacko.. a terminally ill Morgan Freeman who wants to go out in a blaze of glory... and the ladylike Helen Mirren who is another expert with weapons. Just watching her tote a gun is worth the price of admission. Their camaraderie after years of separation is one of the best parts of this film. Add scene stealer Brian Cox as a Russian agent who comes to their aid and you have quite a team of actors who never upstage each other. Everyone seems to understand the intent of the film as a nice combo of action and verbal & visual jokes.
>>Yeah Willis gets the crap kicked out of him in a fight with Karl Urban who played Dr. Spock in the recent Star Trek film. Damn I forgot that was him and he's good here too as their nemesis. Anyhow you know Willis always comes out the winner but this doesn't spoil your enjoyment. Throughout the story Willis uses persuasion as well as his deadly skills in assisting his friends and dispatching his enemies. He knows how to use one line zingers with good deadpan delivery.
>>If you enjoy Willis films and want to see him hold his own against some heavy hitters including Richard Dreyfuss and Ernest Borgnine who's 93 (!!), this one's for you. This sly comedy interrupted by plenty of gunfire & explosions is droll enough to keep the story moving along at a nice pace and the audience laughed in the right places. There's a few surprises and plot twists that add to the fun and I should mention two romances, one old & one new, but I'll let you find out who they are. If anything you learn from this film is, retirement isn't what you think. There's still a lot of life left in these 'old' folks.

'Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky' reviewed

Mads Mikkelsen and Anna Mouglalis play the lead characters in Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky directed by Jan Kounen. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/coco-chanel-and-igor-stravinsky/1435845/main

A few weeks ago we enjoyed another overnighter in Portsmouth NH. Our excuse for the getaway was to see this French film. We wanted to stay again at The Hampton Inn but the extra discount we used in July was not available. My wife mentioned we should inquire about the Comfort Inn where we stayed years ago and is located near downtown. This hotel had a much cheaper rate and we were not disappointed in the accommodations that included a free breakfast buffet. I enjoyed using the heated pool and Jacuzzi before we retired for the evening. When we checked out, we were given a 20% discount coupon with no expiration date for our next stay.
>>>We shopped before the seeing the Sunday 4:00PM matinee. I traded in two bags of CDs & DVDs at my favorite downtown store for $95 which was quickly used on items from my wish list. Bull Moose Music offers the best bargains on new & used merchandise. Their prices for Criterion DVDs are unbeatable and I found two I wanted and I had a tough time not buying more. The rest of the trip followed the routine mentioned in other blog entries.
>>>As for the French film, we were not disappointed too. Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky is a good companion piece or more like a sequel to Coco Before Chanel, an earlier blog entry, but made with different actors who are just as good as those in the first film. Even the previous film's handsome production is matched or surpassed here. It's too bad Audrey Tatou didn't reprise her role but Anna Mouglalis, an actress/model, is very good playing a not too much older Coco here who is more self-confident with her growing success.
>>>The story begins with the recreation (as we would imagine) of the disastrous 1913 premiere of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. The composer is ably played by Mads Mikkelsen who most people know as the villain in Casino Royale and a soldier (unrecognizable) in Clash Of The Titans. Mikkelsen is another actor who seems to melt into his roles. Coco, still mourning the loss of her tycoon lover, is in the audience observing the rioting ticket holders clashing with the ballet's defenders. A few years later she meets Igor who is down on his luck. She is attracted to his genius and offers to be his patron by letting him with his family live on her estate. Before you know it (as if their constant eyeballing wasn't a giveaway), the romantic sparks fly....
>>>The details of their portrayed affair is speculation so some artistic license is permitted. Their love scenes are displayed on the graphic, artsy side with various camera angles & movements. Mrs. Stravinsky is aware of their coupling that her husband won't confirm or deny and wants him and their children to leave Coco's generosity or captivity, depending on how you look at it. Their affair ends when Igor makes a callous remark comparing their talents, too good to be repeated here and spoil it for you. The rest of the story shows their slow departing and later life. Some reviewers thought the film lost steam here but we disagree. There's always interesting visuals to keep you from being bored.
>>>During the story we see enough depiction of their creative processes. Showing a composer at work is usually lackluster but Igor dabbling at the piano searching for the correct notes surrounded by luxury is contrasted with Coco's pragmatic working methods. She's always in control and her body language speaks volumes. I said it before and I'll say it again: The French know how to make the best costume/period films so rich with details where you believe history is living & breathing before your eyes and never dull. And all the performances here are convincing and rewarding.

>>>The preview here shows what to expect in the story's lavish recreation of a bygone era and seeing the film on the big screen was worth a trip up north. Call this one Clash Of The Titans 2 starring two giants with egos & temperments to match, one from the world of fashion and the other of music.

'Eat Pray Love' reviewed...

Xavier Bardem wooing Julia Roberts. watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/eat-pray-love/27799/main?icid=movsmartsearch

This movie is based on a best-selling memoir I haven't read and not any time soon. My wife read it and wanted to see the movie version so it's only fair we saw it together since I drag her to a lot of films she wasn't sure she would like. I could count on one hand the men in the audience during the Sunday matinee we saw it. Eat Pray Love is a cross between a chick flick and a travelogue but that could be an unfair capsule summary since I did enjoy it.
>>Looking back on it two weeks after we saw it has given me more time to evaluate it. It's a pleasant diversion about a woman (Julia Roberts) who's trying to 'find herself' after a divorce from her nice, handsome, but dull husband (Billy Crudup). Her new relationship with an aspiring younger actor (James Franco) also finds her unsatisfied so she decides to travel the world to find self-fulfillment. Along the way she meets people in three countries who want to help her.
>>The Italian scenes are the best ones, filled with local color and close ups of mouth watering plates of food that will make you hungry before you leave the theater. These warm scenes of local cuisine and camaraderie are contrasted with the starkness of India where she joins an ashram for spiritual enlightenment. Lots of praying & chanting this time. and the food's not as good. Here she meets a well-meaning but cranky American (Richard Jenkins) who badgers her to get over herself but he's no role model since he still carries a lot of emotional baggage that made him flee to India.
>>Julia's final journey ends in Bali where she meets a shaman (imagine a real life Yoda in attitude & size) and a woman healer who offer more advice and teach her to think about helping others than helping herself. She has the chance to find real love with Xavier Bardem playing a divorced Brazilian businessman. He's what every woman would want but poor Julia can't decide if finding real love instead of finding herself is the answer... as if you need to be a rocket scientist to decide... The only suspense, for a lack of a better word, in the film is will she make the right choice. You want to scream at the screen and say 'Enough of this! Get over yourself and marry him!'
>>This is a mildly amusing film with nice scenery and the humor is low keyed but hearing Julia talk about finding herself over & over and everyone giving her advice whether she wants it or not was a bit tiresome, and it made its length of 2 hours & 11 minutes seem longer. Her character is not a bad person, only too hard on herself . She does help the shaman and healer but she's almost one note to the point of boring as the other characters and native scenery become more interesting as the film plods along.
>>Eat Pray Love will induce a craving for Italian food but not for self-fulfillment. On a different note, our parish priest during last week's sermon thought it was almost blasphemous for Julia's character to move away from her Christian religion to try other ones in search of God. That's a topic for another discussion and probably more interesting than the film.

'Salt' reviewed

Angelina Jolie as agent Evelyn Salt. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/salt/37107/main

Salt's previews promised a big budget, kickass action/spy thriller starring Angelina Jolie. I enjoy these kind of revved up movies where you can turn off your brain and enjoy following the twisting narrative that usually ends with a surprise you should not see coming. Here Jolie plays a CIA agent named Evelyn Salt who is accused by a top Russian defector of being a spy who will kill the Russian president while attending a funeral in NYC. When she flees after his interrogation by her to warn her husband their lives are in danger, she is assumed guilty and goes on the run.
>>And what a run it is! She's clever, agile, good with disguises, and inventive in making use of any object to create a weapon. The action scenes and split second escapes are as tense and well choreographed as those from a James Bond film. These stunts are physically impossible but this is what you expect in this kind of film and its makers never fail to deliver. The action never lets up except to provide info we need to follow the story line.
>>Only one co-worker (Liev Sheiber) believes Jolie is innocent and he cannot persuade the others but is forced along to join the hunt from Washington DC to NYC. Can he be trusted to save her? What really matters is Jolie innocent, or a Russian mole, or a patsy duped by a conspiracy that's not yet revealed? The answer is finally revealed through flashbacks and conversations about previous incidents we witnessed. The revelation of the villain (I'm not saying here that it's Jolie; go see the film to find out.) caught me off guard because there were enough ambiguous plot points to sidetrack me. You had to briefly think back to connect the dots to find the answers.
>>People seem to like or hate Jolie depending on their view of her personal life. If you like Jolie, you will be swept along with the story. She's the best female action star around and comes across as Lara Croft without the self-serving smirk and with James Bond's survival skills. You really need to suspend your sense of disbelief to accept her as capable of doing anything but hey, it's only a movie that's meant to entertain. Bond movies are unrealistic too but never fail to satisfy audiences.

>>After struggling last week through Inception, Salt was a welcome relief on a hot summer's day. It all makes sense at the end unlike Inception ... at least to me... once you briefly thought back to mercifully few flashbacks and coversations about recent incidents to connect the dots to provide answers. Director Phillip Noyce who helmed 1999's The Bone Collector featuring Jolie in one of her first starring roles in a big feature (second billing to Denzel Washington) knows how to keep the pace moving fast enough to pull you through the story's bumpy ride.

July Vacation in Portsmouth NH

Seeing Joan live was a treat.

Amanda Seyfried in Letters to Juliet. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/letters-to-juliet/37890/main?icid=movsmartsearch

Vanessa Redgrave & Amanda Seyfried.

I was on a much needed two weeks of vacation during July. However it didn't start off well as I was called driving home on Friday/my last day of work and had to return for two emergencies that kept me there for over three hours. I worked one morning to cover for my backup who had an appointment he couldn't postpone. I was able to catch up on paperwork so I wouldn't have a ton waiting for me when I return. Meanwhile there was the usual phone calls about problems I fortunately could solve from home.
>>Last week we got away for a two night stay in Portsmouth. The weather was in the mid 80's and a bit on the humid/roasting side. It didn't stop us from doing our usual activities. I won't bore you with them since they're covered on older blog entries. DVD/CD/book shopping... lobster dinners.... sightseeing....
>>We stayed at a Hampton Inn next to the mall where there's a huge Barnes & Noble and it's a five minute drive to downtown where hotels are $200+ this time of year, even our favorite old Sise Inn. Because I paid ahead and used my AAA discount, we got a room with 2 beds and a free breakfast buffet and cocktails & snacks at 5:00PM. for $153 - taxes included. I prefer to stay downtown but we're watching our money. No free breakfasts at the big two and the inn has a continental one but no pool. The last time we stayed at the Hampton Inn was about 7 years ago with our son JR and his buddy/our neighbor Adam. It's a good place with a huge heated indoor pool. So we have to pay a few bucks for parking downtown and the inn has a shuttle van if we needed it.
>>Sunday night we saw Joan Armatrading in concert at The Music Hall downtown and a film the next night. Weather was in the high 80's so we wanted to go to the beach Monday afternoon. We went to the concert at 7:30PM at The Music Hall. A singer/songwriter named Jamie McLean opened for Joan. He was talented, pleasant, but unmemorable. This is not to knock him but he sounded like any other singer/songwriter strumming a guitar and we passed on buying his CDs he was hawking in the lobby. He played for over a half hour and announced that Joan would be coming out soon. By 8:40 still no Joan and I was tired/impatient/cranky/ while waiting. At 8:45 she came out with her band and stood motionless in front of the audience with a big grin that got larger with the mounting applause. It was worth the wait as she played for almost two hours including a two song encore and all was forgiven.
>>She charmed the audience with her banter between songs and playfully chided us for not waving during a song while she rocked the place with her three piece band (bass, keyboards, drums). She replayed part of the song for us to wave as she doesn't take no for an answer. Joan switched between four guitars demonstrating her skills. We were seated in the fifth center row of the balcony where we had a good view of the stage with no heads blocking our sight. She played most of her hits and several songs from her new/20th CD, This Charming Life, pictured above. She's been around for thirty years and will be sixty this year but you would never know it from her performance. She had us singing & clapping along and up on our feet with the up tempo numbers. You can see & hear the title track and some of her old songs on her website: http://www.joanarmatrading.com/ and more on You Tube. The video gives you a good idea of what she's like onstage. On the new CD she played all the instruments except for the drums. Here she was supported by fine musicians who were given chances to shine with solos.
>>The next afternoon we went to a nearby beach but my splashing around in the water was interrupted by a warning about a coming thunderstorm. So we left the beach and returned to our hotel to use the pool and Jacuzzi. At night we returned to The Music Hall to see a movie. On an earlier entry I mentioned how I became friendly with an employee who selects the films. He's booked some of my recommendations and a while ago I wrote to him asking what he will be showing the night after the concert since the schedule was empty at the time. He planned to show Letters to Juliet which we haven't seen.
>>The film can be described as a pleasant but predictable chick flick but I enjoyed its relaxing warmth and good natured humor. No heavy thinking demanded. Amanda Seyfried from Mama Mia plays Sophie an aspiring writer on a trip to Italy with her fiance. While he's too preoccupied with his business interests, she meets a group of women in Verona who pen answers to letters left for Shakespeare's Juliet asking for advice on matters of the heart. Sophie discovers an old letter from an Englishwoman named Claire who jilted her lover Lorenzo fifty years ago Sophie answers Claire's letter and as you would expect, Claire comes to Italy seeking Lorenzo.
>>Vanessa Redgrave is wonderful as the widowed Claire. I swear she gets better with age. Here she's warm, wise, and funny in a role you don't don't usually see her perform as she allows Sophie to join her on her search. Christopher Egan plays her accompanying, priggish grandson who feels she's wasting her time and he's constantly at odds with Sophie, the dreamer & romantic. Halfway through the film you can guess the ending but the movie ends the ways you want it. Call it contrived... corny... sentimental... but what's wrong with that? The audience was pleased and so were we.
>>The Italian scenery is a treat and Franco Nero, who was Redgrave's lover during the making of 1971's Camelot and has been married to her for the last several years, plays Lorenzo. He's aged well too. Seyfried is sweet and funny. This is a romantic comedy that delivers what it promises. When it comes out on DVD, we'll show it to Mom, another Italian who at 92 is getting too wobbly to take to movies.