*dies from the cute*

Possible spoilers ahead....

I went to see Penelope on Friday. It was adorable. It was a nice, sweet piece of candy after all of the gloom and doom of the Oscar winners. There aren't enough movies like this- the ones that are funny, cute, and sweet without making the viewer want to throw up. The last one I can think of was Enchanted!

How can someone not love a tale of a girl cursed with a pig's nose until she finds true love with one of her own kind? Yes, that is the plot, such as it is. It doesn't need to be any deeper than that. There are charming performances all around, from Christina Ricci as the cursed girl of the title to James McAvoy as a potential suitor who isn't what he seems. Reese Witherspoon appears briefly as a friend to Penelope when she leaves home for the first time. There's also Peter Dinklage as a reporter who tries to expose Penelope's secret (and has a change of heart about that), Catherine O'Hara as her overprotective mother, and Simon Woods as the nasty Edward, a blue blooded suitor who is afraid of Penelope. It was hard to think of the nice Mr. Bingley from Pride and Prejudice as the bad Edward, but he was perfectly nasty and snobby.

I loved Penelope's delight at being out in the world for the first time. The movie is very colorful and playful in showing Penelope's world, both behind the walls of her home and beyond them. The whole Penelope/Max romance was a little bit rushed, but it is a fairy tale after all. Finally, I loved the film's "I like myself the way I am!" message. No magical first kiss to break the curse- it's more like Dorothy saying "There's no place like home".

This movie was on the shelf for two years. What a shame. It could have been seen and enjoyed so much sooner! And of course, it's getting trampled at the box office by 10,000 B.C.- give me pig-faced girls over woolly mammoths any day, please.



I would not be a very good Torchwood fan if I didn't point out that Burn Gorman (Dr. Harper) has a small role- he's the boss of the reporter. I'm wondering if his part got cut. His American accent was weird. Some British actors just don't do them well.

More sweetness and fluff at the movies next week for me- I'm going to see Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. It's based on a forgotten 1930's novel that is being rediscovered. It looks good.

12 hours, 5 movies!

AMC Theaters had an Oscar marathon on Saturday- all five Best Picture nominees. My mom and I went. She'd already seen Michael Clayton, and we'd both seen Atonement, but we enjoyed seeing them again.

Michael Clayton: It was a well-written, perfectly acted thriller with a style very similar to 70's classics such as All the President's Men. George Clooney deserved his Best Actor nomination, and if it had been any other year, he should have won! I was very happy that Tilda Swinton won Best Supporting Actress. That was one of the few surprises from last night's ceremony!

There Will Be Blood: An epic loosely based on Upton Sinclair's novel Oil! It was a wild ride, and in some places quite bizarre. It was a very interesting look at the oil industry in the early 20th Century, and what people would do to get ahead in the business. Daniel Day Lewis probably gave the performance of his career, and won his second Oscar for it. His character was conniving, heartless, and intense. I was surprised that there was so much humor throughout the film. Grim humor, but humor. "I drink your milkshake!!!" Hee. That was unexpected. I wish Paul Dano had gotten a Supporting Actor nomination as the rather hypocritical young preacher (there were shades of Elmer Gantry in his performance).

Atonement: I'm glad I got to see it twice. I loved this movie. I think it was my favorite of 2007. I loved the book, and it translated to the screen very well. I had no trouble with the time shifting/different character points of view (a quibble some viewers had). The acting, costumes, score, and photography were all perfect. I was disappointed that the only Oscar it won was for Original Score. It should have won Cinematography, and I'm still surprised that James McAvoy didn't get a Best Actor nomination.

Juno: I enjoyed this movie. I really did. Ellen Page is a terrific young actress, and I hope to see her in movies for many years to come. But I really don't understand why it got a Best Picture nomination. I felt that way about Little Miss Sunshine last year, too- and that was my favorite film of 2006. Juno was a well-written, touching, hilarious, heartbreaking, and charmingly acted film about a pregnant teen who searches for a perfect couple to give her baby to. But a Best Picture contender? Not really. That's just my humble opinion, though. I won't argue with its win for Best Original Screenplay, though- even though I thought Michael Clayton was far better. It's nice to have a comedy win a major Oscar.

And the winner is:

No Country For Old Men

Wow. That was really something. Another book adaptation (a novel by Cormac McCarthy) that was nearly perfect. And it's typical (meaning brilliant and bloody) fare from writers/directors Joel and Ethan Cohen. Murder, drugs, theft, morally ambiguous characters, dark humor, an ending that doesn't tie everything up neatly (and no happy endings, either)- it's all there. Great acting from Josh Brolin (another one who should have gotten a Best Actor nom but didn't!), Tommy Lee Jones, and Best Supporting Actor winner Javier Bardem. This was one of the few Best Pictures I've agreed with in recent years (hello, Crash over Brokeback Mountain, WTF??).

My rankings:

No Country For Old Men
Michael Clayton
Atonement
There Will Be Blood
Juno


So my viewings of the films of 2007 in the theaters is officially over. Bring on 2008! If AMC does a Best Picture Marathon in 2009, I am there.

Oops!

I forgot one movie on my 2007 list- Fred Claus. 3 stars for that one.

A quick Oscar note- my mother and I are planning to do the Oscar marathon at the nearest AMC theater. All day, all five Best Picture nominees: Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, Atonement, Juno, and There Will Be Blood. This should be a great deal of fun.

2007 in review...

Better late than never. I didn't see as many movies in the theaters as I thought. But here's a rundown:

Blades of Glory- 3 stars. Good, silly Will Ferrell fun!

Shrek the Third- 2 1/2 stars. Entertaining, but the charm has worn out.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End- 3 stars. A mess, but fun.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- 3 1/2 stars. I saw it three times in the theater.

Hairspray- 4 stars. My favorite film of the summer. I love musicals.

Ratatouille- 3 stars. Another excellent Disney/Pixar film. Much better story than Cars.

The Simpsons Movie- 3 stars. Fun, hilarious big screen adventure of TV's favorite dysfunctional family.

The Golden Compass- 3 stars First part of the His Dark Materials Trilogy- a lavish production. The film was a little rushed and themes were toned down from the book, but it was enjoyable. Unfortunately, it did not do well at the box office in the U.S., so it's unlikely that the remaining two parts will make it to the screen.

Enchanted-3 1/2 stars. Probably the most fun I had in the theater in 2007 (except for Hairspray). A delightful send-up of the Disney princess craze and Disney movies in general- with an animated princess banished to the real world of New York City.

Sweeney Todd- 3 1/2 stars. Gory and haunting adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical. Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton team up once again. Sondheim's music is mostly intact, and Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman can really sing. It's a little too intense. I spent large portions of the film covering my eyes!

Atonement- 4 stars. Best movie I saw in 2007. Excellent adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel. Beautifully shot and acted. A four hankie movie if ever there was one- the end of the film is heartbreaking.

Still hoping to see: Kite Runner, Michael Clayton, Juno, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. The last four and Atonement are this year's Best Picture Oscar nominees.

2007 was another good year for movies. 2008 and 2009 look a bit gloomy with the WGA strike still going on (though it may be over this week). There are still plenty of films already in the can, however, and I already have a list of what I'm looking forward to:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull- the title has me thinking WTF?, but it will be nice to have Harrison Ford back as Indy.

Mamma Mia- an adaptation of the hit Broadway show- a story about a wedding set to the music of ABBA. I loved ABBA as a kid. I'm getting "Dancing Queen" in my head now.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- Duh. Of course I'm looking forward to this one!

Star Trek- officially, Star Trek XI- but it takes place long before the original show's adventures. I can't wait to see what the new cast and crew does with the franchise. It needs some refreshing.

A long drought...

I went a full month between movie theater trips! I did manage to catch up on some films, though. In three days, I managed to see The Golden Compass, Enchanted, and Sweeney Todd. Last Friday I saw Atonement, which was definitely the best movie I saw this year! I'll post longer reviews and my year in review later this week.

Christmas is Coming!

Yes, it's time for the onslaught of holiday movies both in theaters and on television. I've already seen Fred Claus, which I enjoyed very much. It is full of every holiday feel-good movie cliché a moviegoer can think of, but it's still fun. Vince Vaughn plays the type of character he's best known for- a fast-talking, lovable imp. He is Fred, never do well older brother to the saintly Nick (Paul Giamatti), also known as Santa Claus. Fred goes to work at the North Pole, and chaos reigns. Best scene in the movie: Fred is chased through the streets of Chicago by a dozen angry Salvation Army Santas, and eventually dog piled by them in a department store. The North Pole sets were suitable colorful and corny. And I was very amused to see the rapper Ludacris digitally shrunk down to elf size. Vaughn and Giamatti work well together- and it's fun to watch Fred and Nick argue. I think this will be a classic!

One thing I look forward to every year is the 24 hours of A Christmas Story that airs every Christmas Eve. That is one holiday movie I will never get sick of. "I triple-dog dare you!" The leg lamp, Ralphie's bunny suit, the flag pole...it never gets old.

Another favorite of mine is Elf. Will Ferrell is terrific in this sweet movie. Like Fred Claus, it's corny and clichéd, but enjoyable all the same.

A Muppet Christmas Carol is another one I try to watch every holiday season. You can't go wrong with the Muppets! Michael Caine is a great Scrooge. And the film is very true to Dickens- if you can get past Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit!

It wouldn't be Christmas without television repeats of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (not the overblown Jim Carrey feature) or A Charlie Brown Christmas. I look forward to watching them...and if I miss them, I know I can always find them at the library.

I may be one of the few people out there who really doesn't care all that much for Miracle on 34th Street or It's a Wonderful Life. They're all right, but I don't go out of my way to see them. And I liked Tim Allen's The Santa Claus, but it's not one I watch over and over.

Of course, these are all very secular films. Only The Nativity (which I have yet to see) seems to be about the real meaning of Christmas!

Nuke Your Neighbor! A WWIII film sampler.

I grew up during the last years of the Cold War. I was a pre-teen in the early 80's, at a time when films about nuclear war seemed to be everywhere. The best known, the "Big Three", were The Day After, Testament, and Threads.

I was 12 when The Day After aired on ABC in November 1983. I was sick and home alone with the stern instructions from Mom to not watch the movie. Naturally, I ignored her warnings, and boy, did I regret it. I was so scared that I couldn't sleep for a week! Kids at school talked about it for ages after. The scenes of the missiles headed for the Soviet Union and the bombs hitting Kansas City and the surrounding areas are still pretty scary today. What doesn't hold up today is the hokey soap-opera storylines. And I get a laugh from watching Jason Robards survive the Kansas City blasts by ducking under his Volvo's station wagon. Come on, those cars are good but not THAT good! The cast was mostly unknown at the time- Steve Guttenburg, JoBeth Williams, John Cullum, Amy Madigan, and John Lithgow. The performances were generally good, and I still get a bit of a chill hearing Lithgow's final line: "Is anybody out there? Anybody at all?"



On a smaller scale, but somehow more devastating, is Testament (1983). Instead of seeing the destruction of large cities, the viewer witnesses what happens to a small town in the months after a surprise attack on the United States. Jane Alexander gives probably her greatest performance here as a mother holding what's left of her family together after a bomb destroys nearby San Fransisco. Her neighbors and children die off one by one, and it is very hard to watch. There are no special effects. There is no explanation given for the attack- all the news they get comes from an old man's CB radio. It doesn't matter- they are going to die no matter who fired first. And that's the point- this little film is about the people who are affected by war.



The last of the "Big Three" is Threads (1984). This one I didn't see until I was grown up and the Soviet Union was no more. I'm glad I waited to see it. It makes The Day After look like a trip to Disneyland. This time, the viewer sees WWIII from a British perspective. It begins with a young couple in Sheffield, England, preparing for a wedding as tensions in the Middle East grow. The man and woman are oblivious about the crisis until "Protect and Survive" films start showing on television. Everything deteriorates quickly, and Britain is hit with 80+ megatons. The film gruesomely depicts the lead actress struggling to survive the post-nuclear wasteland that was once Sheffield. There are no happy endings here- just charred corpses, no food, radiation sickness, rape, murder, looting, and birth defects. The special effects, real footage of nuclear detonations, and make-up are nightmare inducing.

The film begins with this narration: "In an urban society, everything connects. Each person's needs are fed by the skills of many others. Our lives are woven together in a fabric. But the connections that make society strong also make it vulnerable." Througout the film, the threads of society are pulled out one by one, and it is not a pretty sight.

This is currently only available on Region 2 DVD- VHS copies on eBay go for nearly $100. It has been floating around on Google Video and You Tube.




HBO got into the game as well with Countdown to Looking Glass (1984). This is a rather chilling film about a cable news network covering the events leading up to WWIII. Again, there are no special effects, just harried news anchors trying to make sense of the information they are trying to report. It ends with the network being turned over to the Emergency Broadcast System by the President's orders...and it's up for the viewer to imagine what happens next. Sadly, this well-made film is not available on either VHS or DVD. It used to air often on the Fox Classic Movie network, but they stopped showing it after 9-11-01. HBO has no plans to release it on tape, either.

From WWIII to nuclear terrorism now- Special Bulletin. It originally aired on NBC and causes a bit of a panic in some areas, despite repeated disclaimers during the film. The plot- anti nuke protesters get a hold of a small bomb, and threaten to detonate it in the Charleston, SC harbor if their demands (the destruction of nuclear triggers) aren't met. A cable news network covers the event, with one of their own camera crews taken hostage. The military intervenes, and Charleston goes boom. Pretty scary stuff- and quite possible. Also not avaiable on DVD- and VHS copies are hard to come by.

Finally, there's When the Wind Blows , an animated feature based on a graphic novel by Raymond Briggs. It's about a middle aged English couple who naively rely on the government to tell them "the correct thing to do" in the upcoming nuclear war. They study the "Protect and Survive" books (also seen in Threads ), and prepare. When the bombs hit, they think they will be all right. It's very hard to watch as they succumb to radiation sickness, even as they still think help is coming.

I never realized how much film and literature has WWIII "what-if's" as their focus. This is just a bit of stuff from the 80's!