Torn Curtain

"Are they ever going to get the heating fixed?"
  "They are working at it, Professor. Perhaps some of you scientists would like to give us a helping hand!"

On the way to a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, American scientist, Professor Michael Armstrong (Newhart), begins acting strangely.  He makes secret trips and tries to convince his assistant / fiancee, Sarah (Andrews), to stay home.  Then he takes a detour and goes to East Berlin... with Sarah on his heels.  Once they arrive, Michael announces his plans to defect to the Soviet Union, and Sarah half-heartedly agrees.

When they finally have a few moments alone, Michael reveals his real intentions: he is on a secret mission to find and steal an important formula from a Soviet scientist.  Then they will escape via an underground network called pi.  But their every move is shadowed by Professor Karl Manfred (Strack), who brought them to Germany, and Hermann Gromek (Kieling), the head of the security, who doubts their reasons to defect.  And the scientist they need to see, Professor Lindt (Donath), is getting ready to take a long trip and doesn't have much time left.


I like Alfred Hitchcock films.  They are full of suspense... excellent camera angles / techniques... talented cast and crew... all wrapped into a nice, neat story.  Yes, it is a beautiful thing.  Even when the film doesn't work, it is still better than most.  "Torn Curtain" is one of the films that doesn't work as well as you hope it will.  I'm not quite sure what the problem is.  On paper it should work.  Two big stars, Paul Newman and Julie Andrews, who made good films before and after this... but seem miscast (it doesn't help that Hitchcock wanted other actors).  They both do fine, but just don't fit the characters.

The story seems so dated now.  But this is Hitchcock, so the suspense is there.  There are good scenes, such as Michael's fight with Gromek.  The bus sequence is also well done... incredibly suspenseful.  It is a good film, but not the best in the Hitchcock cannon... but not the worst.

Torn Curtain (1966) 128 minutes

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Paul Newman as Michael Armstrong

Julie Andrews as Sarah Sherman

Lila Kedrova as Countess Kuchinska

Wolfgang Kieling as Hermann Gromek

Hansjörg Felmy as Heinrich Gerhard

Ludwig Donath as Professor Gustav Lindt

Gunter Strack as Professor Karl Manfred

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

"Have I gone mad?"
"I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are."

Alice Kingsley (Wasikowska) does not fit into her world.  She has a vivid imagination, "I often think six impossible thoughts before breakfast," and often gets distracted by intriguing thoughts, which get her into trouble.  When she is offered an unexpected / unwanted proposal that everyone assumes she will accept, she runs away.  Chasing a white rabbit in a waist coat, she falls into a hole... and enters a new world.

In this world, Underland, she is known as "The Alice" and is an icon of hope.  The Red Queen (Carter) rules the land with an iron fist and uses an array of terrifying creatures to keep her choke hold on the lives of her subjects.  Her army of red playing cards and personal assassin, Stayne the Knave of Hearts (Glover), roam the country looking for the resistance.

The resistance hates the Red Queen and want to put her sister, the White Queen (Hathaway), back on the throne.  They are lead by a trio of "mad" people, including the Mad Hatter (Depp), and a wise old caterpillar with a prophecy about Alice.


I have to admit I was pretty stoked about this film... despite my unfamiliarity with the Lewis Carroll stories (I have read portions), I have always loved the story of Alice in Wonderland.  It is my favorite Disney film... and she is probably one of my favorite Disney characters.

I had expectations for the film, and over all I think director Tim Burton delivered.  The writers and Burton created an interesting world (I did not see the film in 3D), with a story that was familiar (they combined characters and storylines from both Alice stories: "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass") while still being new / interesting.

I liked the new Hatter character played by Johnny Depp.  He has the ability to disappear into roles, making them relevant and memorable.  So far I have yet to be unimpressed by his performances.  Physically, Depp's Hatter was a lot to take in... but they gave the character a personality and a backstory and made him a bigger part of the story.  The rest of the cast (including the voice talents) was great.  They were able to blend with their characters without making the audience go "oh, it's (insert name of actor/actress)" and stepping out of the story.

A captivating take on a familiar story.  Worth the price of admission!!

Alice in Wonderland (2010) 108 minutes
Rating: PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Mia Wasikowska as Alice
Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter
Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen
Anne Hathaway as The White Queen
Crispin Glover as The Knave of Hearts
Matt Lucas as Tweedledee / Tweedledum
Stephen Fry as Cheshire Cat
Michael Sheen as the White Rabbit
Alan Rickman as the Blue Caterpillar

The 39 Steps (1935)

"Beautiful and mysterious woman pursued by gunmen.  Sounds like a spy story."

Canadian Richard Hannay (Donat) gets more than he bargained for on a trip to London.  During an evening at a local pub, a fight breaks out and then someone fires a gun.  While leaving he literally runs into a beautiful woman, Annabella Smith (Mannheim), who asks to go back to his apartment.  During the course of the evening it is revealed that Annabella is a spy... and being followed because she knows that someone is trying to sneak important information out of the country.

"Have you ever heard of the Thirty-Nine Steps?"
"No, what's that - a pub?"
"Never mind. But what you are laughing at just now is true. These men will stick at nothing. I am the only person who can stop them. If they are not stopped, it is only a matter of days, perhaps hours, before the secret is out of the country."

Hannay does not entirely believe the story, but lets her stay overnight in his apartment.  In the middle of the night she stumbles into his room with a knife sticking in her back.  Knowing he will be blamed for the murder, he sets out for Scotland to clear his name and pass along Annabella's information.  But travel is difficult when his picture appears in all the papers and he keeps running into the same woman, Pamela (Carroll), who continually calls the police.


Prior to seeing this film, I had only seen the films Hitchcock made in the USA: the big ones that everyone knows (by a quote or a clip or just the title).  I have a few more of the "British" Hitchcock films on my list, and I am excited by the prospect.

I almost liked this film better than some of the later ones... I didn't know the plot or the MacGuffin... I wasn't focused on finding specific things, specific shots or the Hitch cameo, and could just enjoy the film.  It kept me guessing and I didn't know the ending (which is one of the reasons I love Hitchcock films).  The cast was great and truly embodied their characters.  There is a little bit of everything: spy stuff, mistaken identities (a popular theme in subsequent films), romance, banter, smart dialogue, good camera angles... I love this director!

http://hitchcock.tv/mov/39_steps/steps.html

The 39 Steps (1935) 86 minutes

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Robert Donat as Richard Hannay

Madeleine Carroll as Pamela

Lucie Mannheim as Annabella

Godfrey Tearle as Professor Jordan

The Hangover

"To a night the four of us will never forget!"

Four men average men set off for Las Vegas for a bachelor party.  Before starting the evening, they go out on the roof and have a drink... The next morning, the room is trashed, they can't remember anything, and the groom, Doug (Bartha) is missing.

Stu (Helms), the uptight dentist, is missing a tooth.  Phil (Cooper), the confident family man and womanizer, is wearing a hospital bracelet.  And Alan (Galifianakis), the awkward brother of the bride, finds a tiger in their bathroom and a baby in their closet.  The vintage Mercedes convertible they borrowed from Alan's father (Jeffrey Tambor) is missing... and they are driving a police car.  People are chasing them, and they aren't sure what happened.  Will they find clues and Doug before the wedding?


It was purely out of morbid curiosity that I saw this film (and a free rental with redbox didn't hurt).  After months of hearing people rave about it... and seeing all the commercials / trailers, I had to see it.  It was funny and interesting... but pretty vulgar / disgusting in places.

It was great to see Ed Helms get some serious screen time.  He is my favorite character on the American version of TV's "The Office."  He plays an obnoxious character, but make him simultaneously annoying (I would not want to have him in my life) and endearing... and I think it is a tribute to Helms that the character works as well as he does.

I am not as familiar with the other actors.... I've seen Bradley Cooper channel his good looks in a few rom coms, but nothing significant.  Justin Bartha has been in a few decent films, but he is barely on the screen in this film.  And I had never seen / heard of Zach Galifianakis until this film... but he was probably the best part (other than Helms).

There are some interesting characters that pop up.  I won't go into detail here, but I was surprised a few times by the people who appear.  Overall, I'm glad I finally saw this film.  It was funny (not great with morals wise), and I got to see it for free, so I'm not really going to complain.

The Hangover (2009) 100 minutes

Rating: R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material

Director: Todd Phillips

Starring: Bradley Cooper as Phil

Ed Helms as Stu

Zach Galifianakis as Alan

Justin Bartha as Doug

The Hurt Locker

"The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug."

A group of three soldiers are called to handle a tricky situation.  They are the EOD, the U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and it is their job to diffuse bombs.  The leader, SSG Matt Thompson (Pearce), is killed when a bomb detonates too close.  He is replaced by battle weary, daredevil SSG William James (Renner).

Already on edge from Thompson's death, Sergeant J.T. Sanborn (Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Geraghty) clash with James' leadership style and count down the days left with him.  Sanborn wants to follow the rules / protocols to the letter to avoid injury.  Eldridge believes he will die while working with James.  Death looms with each call... will James' desire for an adrenaline high get the team killed?


OH! MY! GOD!  What an intense film.  From the opening sequence to the credits, you are on the edge of your seat... The music and editing combined with the serious / dangerous nature of the situations keeps your attention rapt and your heart racing.

Also, several big name actors appear in the film... but they are no! major characters.  They appear in a scene or two, but don't last long.  You recognize the face and see them interact a bit, and then whoosh they are gone.  It is a little unsettling at first, because you expect that they will be around for the long haul.

Gritty, realistic and suspenseful without turning to cliches or cheap tricks.  Excellent and worthy of all the accolades!!

The Hurt Locker (2009) 131 minutes
Rating: R for war violence and language.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Jeremy Renner as SSG William James
Anthony Mackie as Sgt. JT Sanborn
Brian Geraghty as SPC Owen Eldridge
Guy Pearce as SSG Matt Thompson
Ralph Fiennes as Contractor Team Leader
David Morse as Col. Reed
Evangeline Lily as Connie James

Oscar Picks 2010

 This is my 4th consecutive year blogging and guessing the Oscars.  Unlike previous years, this year I made a conscious effort to see more of the nominated films.  This year I saw 5 of the 10 nominated films (The Blind Side, District 9, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, and Up) and another film that has nominated stars (Julie & Julia).  So this will limit my random guessing (which is also tons of fun).

Last year I did pretty well.  7 out of 7... but I suppose they shouldn't all count because I had multiple guesses for at least 2 categories.  Let's see if I can do as well this year.

Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
*Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

...who will win... Christoph Waltz
...who should win... Christoph Waltz

It has to be Christoph Waltz... He plays a villain with such charm and charisma, that in the hands of a lesser actor would completely crash and brun.  I have not seen the performances of the other nominees and haven't heard muh about their characters.  I refuse to see Tucci as a villain.  Plummer and Damon haven't received much buzz.  The only one who could beat is Harrelson.  This seems to be a great year for him... how many films has he been in this year?  However, I still say Waltz for the win!

Best Support Actress
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
*Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

...who will win... Mo'Nique
...who should win... Mo'Nique

I'm fairly certain Mo'Nique will win.  She deserves it the most.  Everyone else, except for Kendrick, has had a nice career and some have been nomiated before.  Cruz's movie crashed and burned... Gyllenhaal - not so much... I don't have anything to say about Farmiga or Kendrick... so it's Mo'Nique playing against type who will sweep the awards.

Best Actor
*Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

...who will win... Jeff Bridges
...who should win... Colin Firth

A girl can dream.  Firth is a beautiful man, with a diverse career, and a first nomination.  I haven't seen the film yet, but I really want to.  However, all the buzz has been going to Jeff Bridges.  I'm not opposed to seeing him win.  Clooney winning would be fun too, but I don't really think that will happen.  And Renner was great, but he isn't big enough for the award (yet, but don't count him out in the future).  I forgot about Freeman, so I'm thinking he's a long shot as well.  So it will be Bridges (he sings on screen, so he has my permission to walk off with the statue).

Best Actress
*Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

...who will win... Meryl Streep or Sandra Bullock
...who should win... Sandra Bullock

It's about time!  Sandra Bullock.  Sandra Bullock.  SANDRA BULLOCK, please.  Mirren won a few years ago, and has anyone actually seen that film?  Mulligan and Sidibe are newbies, so it would be cool to see them take home a statue for their first starring roles, but I don't think it will happen.  Streep was great (honestly, when isn't she?), but Bullock was incredible in her film.  It could go either way, but I think it will be Bullock by a hair.

Best Director
*Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Lee Daniels, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

...who will win... Kathryn Bigelow
...who should win... Kathryn Bigelow

The film was well-made... and how awesome would it be for a woman to FINALLY win the Oscar for Best Director??

Best Animated Film
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
*Up

...who will win... Up
...who should win... Up

I'm glad Disney made a new hand-drawn princess film (yay!!), but "Up" was an animated film for the whole family.  It was smart and funny, and I never count out Pixar (they always win, with good reason).  It would be cool to see Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr. Fox" wins, but I'm 95% sure that "Up" will leave with Oscar.

Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
*The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

...who will win... The Hurt Locker
...who should win... The Hurt Locker

"Inglourious Basterds" is Tarantino's best film yet, and on any other year, that would be enough to secure my vote... but this year there are stronger contenders.  I know everyone has gone crazy over "Avatar," and I'm not trying to take away from the film (I haven't seen it yet), but I don't think it will take "The Hurt Locker" out.  "The Hurt Locker" keeps you on the edge of your seat for 2+ hours.  It feels realistic and gritty... the characters have a dangerous job, and could die at any minute.  The film doesn't pull away.  You feel the tension each time they go out... and you are still slightly on edge when they are off duty and trying to find ways to cope with their jobs.  The tone is strong.  The story is strong.  The acting is strong.  The effects are realistic and strong.  I don't think any of the other films can boast that.  Perhaps "Avatar" is visually amazing, but what about the story?  Do people love it because of the computer effects, or is the story strong enough to stand as a live action film?  "The Hurt Locker" needs to win.

EDIT: This year I got 7 out of 7, yay!  (Winners are noted with a *)  Congratulations to all the winners... to the other nominees... to the hosts, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, for being consistently funny... and to the producers / directors of this year's Academy Awards for delivering an interesting awards show.  Next year, please keep the introductions of the Best Actor / Actress and Director by friends and colleagues.

Julie & Julia

"What is it you REALLY like to do?"
"Eat!"

Julie Powell (Adams) is frustrated.  Everyday she sits in her cubicle and listen to people complain about their lives or yell at her on the phone.  All her friends are successful women, who have followed their passions and are well known in their respective fields.  Feeling frustrated, she decides to create a blog as a creative writing outlet: she will make all 542 recipes in Julia Child's recipe book in 1 year.

In the 1940's, Julia Child (Streep) is also frustrated.  She has moved to Paris, France with her diplomat husband, Paul (Tucci), and is bored.  She finds the people and food fascinating, but there is nothing for her to do, and there are no English cookbooks of French cooking.  So she enrolls in a series of cooking classes, with a group of competitive men... and she is a success.  After finishing, she meets two French women, Simone (Linda Emond) and Louisette (Carey), who are creating a French cookbook in English... and becomes a collaborator on their book.

Read most other reviews of this film and you will find the following: 1) Meryl Streep is awesome, and 2) the Amy Adams sections just aren't as good.  Well, I have to disagree.

Yes, Meryl Streep is amazing... but who didn't already know that?  She is a larger than life actress, playing a larger than life character.  And it works.  Then there is Amy Adams (love her)... her character is so much more attainable and relate-able.  How many people out there are in cubicle jobs where they have next to no power?  I can relate... it sucks when you are unhappy at work.  When you are miserable, it translate to other areas of life, and it is necessary to find a creative outlet: doing something you love.  It is endearing to see someone else struggling with the same things in life.  Yes, I looked forward to seeing the Julia portions of the film, but I understood Julie's spots as well.

I love the combination of Streep and Stanley Tucci.  They are a very believeable couple, who clearly are crazy about each other.  It is clearly Streep's show, but I enjoyed seeing the pair on screen at the same time.  The modern couple was o.k.  Their chemistry wasn't as strong.

I've never read Julie's book or blog, so I don't know if how faithful the film is... but I enjoyed it.  Not really what I was expecting, but a nice little film.

I would not suggest watching this film when you are hungry.  The film is like a love letter to food... all of the food looks incredible and your mouth just starts to water while they are cooking.

Julie & Julia (2009) 123 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality
Director: Nora Ephron
Starring: Meryl Streep as Julia Child
Amy Adams as Julie Powell
Stanley Tucci as Paul Child
Chris Messina as Eric Powell

Inglorious Basterds

"You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nazi business. And cousin, Business is a-boomin'."

Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France...
Colonel Hans Lada (Waltz), the "Jew Hunter", is sent to France to locate the remaining Jews living there...and get rid of them.  He discovers a hidden Jewish family and manages to kill everyone but the daughter, Shosanna (Laurent).

Three years later, a group of eight Jewish American soldiers are recruited by Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Pitt) to be in a special team, nicknamed the "Basterds," to kill and scalp Nazis.

A few months later, the Basterds are well-known and feared by German high command.  They have added a former German officer, Sergeant Hugo Stiglitz (Til Schweiger), who killed numerous Nazis before being caught.  They use Stiglitz and their other German speaking members to infiltrate German companies and then overtake a slaughter them.  The most notorious member, other than Aldo "the Apache" Raine,  is Sergeant Donny Donnowitz (Roth) who wields a bat and has been nicknamed the "Bear Jew."

High ranking Nazi officials are planning to host the premiere of a new propaganda film.  The theatre is owned by Shosanna under the name Emmanuelle Mimieux.  With the aide of her boyfriend, Marcel (Jacky Ido), she plans to get revenge for the death of her family and Jewish friends.

Meanwhile, the British high command find out about the screening, they send Lieutenant Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) to join the Basterds and German actress turned spy Bridget von Hammersmark (Kruger) at the premiere.  Once the show starts they will kill the Nazis and end the war.


Wow.  This is probably the most mainstream film Quentin Tarantino has directed.  Typically, his films are told out of sequential order... and bloody.... and they swear a lot.  I knew these things going into the film and was expecting more of the same, but was pleasantly surprised.  I like his films... except for the excessive blood... and this may be my new favorite (I own "Reservoir Dogs" and really enjoy "Pulp Fiction").

First of all, I need to gush about Christoph Waltz.  I can now understand why everyone raves about this character.  I mean, he is playing a Nazi and obviously the main villain of the film... but you can't help but be fascinated by the man.  He is charming and mesmerizing, while still being incredibly dangerous.  He steals the show and every scene he is in.

I don't think there were any weak spots as far as casting, which is surprising since many are playing against type.  Brad Pitt is great, spouting off some entertaining lines.  Eli Roth's Donnowitz is equally mesmerizing.  The woman are beautiful and deadly, and there are some great, unexpected cameos (which I won't spoil for you).  The writing was spot on... they juggle several characters with ease (this film is told in sequential order), and throw out some surprises.  The colors are vibrant and luxorious.

Highly recommended... unless you have a weak stomach or can't handle blood.  But overall worth the lengthy running time (although I was completely immersed and didn't notice the time).

Inglorious Basterds (2009) 153 minutes
Rating: R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality.
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine
Melanie Laurent as Shosanna Dreyfus
Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Lada
Eli Roth as Sgt. Donny Donnowitz
Diane Kruger as Bridget von Hammersmark

District 9

"When dealing with aliens, try to be polite, but firm. And always remember that a smile is cheaper than a bullet."

Over twenty years ago an alien spaceship appeared in the sky over Johannesburg, South Africa.  When the spaceship is finally investigated, they find over a million malnourished aliens.  The aliens are removed from the ship, and the government forms a new entity to regulate the actions of the aliens, Multinational United (MNU).  The aliens, referred to as Prawns, are housed in a slum called District 9.

In the present, MNU is preparing to relocate the 1.8 million Prawns to a new slum, called District 10.  The head of the relocation project is Wikus Van De Merwe (Copley), only received the job because he is the son-in-law of the director of MNU, Piet Smith (Louis Minaar).  Wikus and his team must notify all the Prawns of the move by going door to door.  During one visit, Wikus gets sprayed in the face by a mysterious substance and then his whole world changes.

I have been curious / interested in this film since the first moment I encountered it.  Posters, magazine articles, and trailers for this film teased me around ever corner... and before I knew it, District 9, was in theaters.  But I was unable to see it until now.

Where to start.... There have been countless films and television shows about humanities first encounter with aliens, or living with aliens, and yet this film managed to show something new.  We don't really see much about the initial contact or public sentiment when the Prawns arrived.  This information is revealed through interviews in the "documentary" at the beginning of the film.  In addition, I appreciate that the aliens in the film do not look like typical aliens (like E.T.).

The majority of the film is great.... setting up the world of the characters and the way the prawns and humans interact.  It makes prawn, Christopher Johnson (voiced by Jason Cope), sympathetic... and sets up Wikus and his role in the relocation.  It is pretty awesome... and then towards the end, it becomes a giant battle.  The battle is interesting, but it takes away from the earlier scenes.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film and think it deserves all the accolades it has been receiving (it's up for the Academy Award for  "Best Picture")!

District 9 (2009) 122 minutes
Rating: R for bloody violence and pervasive language
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Starring: Sharlto Copley as Wikus Van De Merwe
Jason Cope as Grey Bradnam
Eugene Khumbanyiwa as Obesandjo
David James as Col. Koobus Venter