American Cinema, Part Deux

The Blind Side… my absolute fave…especially as it was produced by Molly Smith, though objectively it’s a great, great film; we need more of these…the message and all the little oh so powerful phrases and the humor make it a winner. And Sandra Bullock deserved the Oscar, by far her best role.

Films about love (being a hopeless romantic, no surprise that these were also my top picks….)

An Education is one of the best films I’ve seen in recent months. It’s all about self-discovery. One pleasure is the way that education evolves over the course of the film: new experiences, lessons learned, choosing between life and love or all of the above? The tension throughout is particularly enjoyable and so is the seduction (and dangerous moments) between a 16-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man. A whirlwind romance with a great, healthy ending.

Bright Stars is another that counts among the best, though much more of a tragic and impassioned relationship between the romantic poet Keats and Fanny (who is a beauty). Though it’s a story of first love with a sad ending, it’s not a depressing film as it gives value not only to love but to tenderness and sensibility.

Broken Embraces: This might be the third favorite film seen in the last few months. Having a weakness for any film by the oh so talented Almodovar (not to mention a great admiration for the oh so talented and radiant Penelope Cruz), his latest film has a bit more mystery on his usual themes: love, passion, jealousy, sex, regret and fatality. A must see, and there is no doubt a lot to reflect about after seeing the film.

And then some “feel good movies” like:

Looking for Eric: A wonderful comedy with lots of laughs about the story of a middle-aged postman whose life is falling apart.

Whatever Works:  As a fan of Woody Allen’s (like a lot of French people), I was glad to see a film based in New York again after his Barcelona and London detours. A bitter, retired New Yorker has a dim view of just about everyone but himself and changes only after he lets a young and naïve runaway stay in his apartment. Great dialogues and acidic reflections. A vintage Woody Allen.

The Last Station is another love story which is funny, complex and richly emotional with two terrific actors, Helen Mirren (as Countess Sofya) and Christopher Plummer (as Tolstoy), stressing the difficulty of living with love and the impossibility of living without it.

Up in the Air: Can any woman resist a film with the gorgeous George Clooney (made even more famous in France with his appearance in the Nespresso “what else?“ ad)? A “coup de maître” if he ever needed one! In Up in the Air there is a seeming disconnect between the star and his character, and it does take time to notice the approaching darkness. The subject is rather appropriately fitting with the present reality of an economically failing America. Subplots help to have a few laughs while making fun of traditional coupling.

Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer: My kind of woman when it comes to taking risks, living in the moment and much more. So much talent, but another sad example of the effect of drugs throughout her life, though she managed to live to 87.

Not a feel-good movie, but nevertheless an important subject:

Food, Inc.: With so many books, TV shows and films about our food industry and the corruption of our agricultural process, one wonders why the overweight/obesity is not decreasing. We need to ask ourselves what the missing element(s) is/are so we can make a difference in the 21st century. Time is of the essence and individual responsibility paramount. Of course, parents, schools, communities, the food industry and the government need to do their parts, too. It’s a concerted effort where consumers have a powerful voice. For sure, this film will cut your appetite for at least a few hours.

Plus some disappointments…

Sherlock Holmes: The true pleasure in this film was watching Holmes and Watson act. For the rest, although Ritchie’s visual style is admirable, I miss the Dickensian/Carollian side of the treatment. An age factor, for sure, but this overproduction was at once excessive and exhausting, and were it not for the ending I would have left the theater much sooner.

Avatar: I had no strong desire to see the film until I read something like, “the most beautiful film I’ve seen,” and other strong comments. Ok, it is well made (at that price, it should be), but I truly don’t get all the hoopla. Yes, great special effects, 3D, etc., but cliché themes of love, much too much violence and at least 45 minutes too long. It seemed that the viewers around us agreed.