Boring Jones

M. and I just came back from the nearby movie theater. We saw...no, not Sex and the City, but Indiana Jones. He actually wanted to see the Iron Man, but I thought that movie is ridiculous. Surprise, surprise...
O.K. I'll start with telling you NOT to see it in the theater. It is, at the very best, mediocre, and that's if I feel generous. The story is absolutely unbelievable, but in the worst possible way of that word. For one, aliens?! Give me a break.
Russians and aliens, during the cold war, I believe. The only thing selling this movie is Spielberg, Lucas and Ford. He, of course, did not age gracefully. But we already knew that. Karen Allen neither. Ford did not impress me with his performance either. He was an older, more tired, less attractive version on himself, from the 80s.
And Cate was just o.k. for me. She is a good actress but I guess Spielberg wanted her to overact the Russian woman in charge.
The movie is so packed with personal issues such as Jones' son, and his wife-to-be almost left at the alter, and the wedding...all that in just a little over two hours, though it seems longer. These topics were only brushed upon, so superficially that I was wondering why he brought them up in the first place?!
I think that sometimes the long break is anti-creative. This is a good example.

La vie en Rose

Last night I've seen one of the best movies ever--La vie en Rose. It was amazing in every aspect. Not a boring moment in the movie, impeccable acting, a workout of a sort for the viewer with the unconventional back and forth story line, but it all pays of at the end, when everything comes together.
For all of you who don't know anything about La vie en Rose, it's a French movie about a French singer Edith Piaf, who lived until 1960s.
The principal actress M. Cotillard is a true revelation. Who ever found her deserves kudos as well. Not a single moment of overacting, and she had totally transformed herself. She became Edith Piaf who looks and moves and seems as a completely different person.
I predict she will go for the stars. She certainly has it all.
It's one of those works of art you really must see. Really.

Becoming Jane

I've actually seen a movie recently that made an impression on me, and lingered with me for a while. I haven't seen Becoming Jane when it came out because The New York Times' review of it was just o.k. When there are so many movies out, you have to use some tools to sort them out and decide which ones are worth seeing in the theatre and which ones on your sofa. That's why we have Netflix.
But I do love Jane Austin. Especially movies made out of her books, such as an amazing Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice series with C.Firth. So, I was intrigued by Becoming Jane.
It turned out to be great! Again, McAvoy was very, very good, and the lead actress, Anne, was not bad as well. Not as good as him, but just fine. The story itself is interesting, romantic and you can't really predict what is going to happen at the end. Unless this movie is historical and you know of Jane Austin's life, as well as her novels.
It made me a bit sad though. And it made me think about life, and choices we make. And how they determine the rest of it. And do they? Or are they not ours to make at the first place?
Now, don't think I've told you how the movie is going to end. 'Cause I didn't. But you should see it. And then tell me what you think. And did it make you think.

Movie not meant to see

M. and I have been trying to see No Country for Old Men and Juno for months now. We also got these Regal Cinemas tickets as a part of our American Express rewards, so we thought, why not use it. But the closest Regal theatre is in Union Square, and it's not that we don't go to the Square often(we do), but the timing somehow, for the movie, was never good. Either we are late for one of those movies, or too early, or tired, or hungry...And when we finally today redeemed those tickets for Juno at 4:20p.m., the electricity went down! I am not kidding. We are sitting there, in a half-full theatre, excited while waiting for what everyone says it's a great movie, with our medium gigantic popcorn bag and a home-style lemonade with more ice than lemon, when the previews died, there, in front of us. Then they rose from ashes. And died again. For good. Someone came to tell us that the power is down and that we can use our ticket stabs any time. They even reimbursed our $6 bag of popcorn. Well, it was almost full anyway. And it's not like we are going to eat it walking out of the movie theatre.

3:10 to Yuma

When M. ordered a Western from Netflix I wasn't exactly thrilled, as you can imagine. What I remember as Westerns are bunch or dirty guys shooting at each other. Period. And they certainly appeal more to manly tastes. But 3:10 to Yuma has an interesting title and actors, so I gave it the time of the day. It actually, to my big surprise, turned out to be a great movie. Both Bale and Crowe, were excellent, and the story just flows, grabs you in, and you can't wait to see what's going to happen. At all that, it wasn't shallow nor predictable. And the characters were clearly and deeply drawn, and there's a whole variety of them. The music was good as well. All and all, a pleasant two hours of one's life. You should see it!

Time of the Miracles

M. and I have seen a great Serbian movie tonight-The Time of the Miracles. MoMA have had Serbian movies by a famous director Goran Paskaljevic, in its movie theatre, for the whole month of January.
We actually wanted to see more, but ended up seeing just this one. At least, a really good one.
Paskaljevic, as usual, picked skilled Serbian actors for this story, deriving from a book by another famous Serbian artist-writer Borislav Pekic. It's happening right after the World War II, when the communism in Yugoslavia suffocates the remains of the previous Serbian culture and outbringing, when Serbs were religious and faithful. There's a lot of symbolism and depth in this movie, as well as humor and just plainly interesting moments and characters. One can see through the symbols that are used, and know who certain characters really represent in historical sense, but still not know what is going to happened at the end. And the end itself is not as surprising, as it is effective. It leaves the lingering thoughts in the viewer, which is usually a sign of a good art work. If you haven't seen it, you really should. It stays with you, and makes you think. Which is always good, right?
The setting itself is supposed to be a village in Serbia, but Serbia is not that rocky. I believe it was filmed in Montenegro.
As it does give you an image of Yugoslavia after WWII, it embellishes everything, the fanaticism especially. But I guess you already knew that.

Atonement

Have you ever seen a movie you can't stop thinking about? I've only seen couple, in my entire life. One of them? Last night.
Atonement sounded compelling from the day I've read about it in the N.Y.Times and saw an add on TV. I enjoy war movies, especially wrapped around a love story.
It was all that, but very deep, with professional, natural acting, for the most part. I actually though that McAvoy was absolutely perfect at his role, while Knightley was good, really good. I still caught her acting couple of times. And that's a no-no. For example, the scene at the door (you'll know when you see this "must-see" movie:)She had her responses ready even before the main male character spoke.
Also,I think Redgrave was overrated as well. I'm sure she's a great actress, and she was good at her tiny role, but great? I don't think so.
Two other actresses,the blond girl and the same grown up, both with hard names to remember, were excellent at their performance.
The movie itself is a bit of a challenge to follow, while interesting at all times. It makes you think about how unjust the world and life can be. And why? Makes you think a lot about why? It also tricks you, spins you, which I love. For me, acting and the unexpected twists are the most important elements of a memorable movie. And this one reminds me of "The English patient" from 10 years ago. It is as good.
I predict it will swipe away the Oscars.

Stardust and Fracture

We had such luck with movies last two nights.
Yesterday, we saw a great thriller with A. Hopkins, called "The Fracture." Great acting, as you can imagine, and a very interesting twist. We found it intriguing, amusing and original. Definitely thumbs up!
And tonight! Tonight we've really enjoyed the "Stardust."It is much, much fresher and imaginative than I expected. I've been wanting to see it even before it came out, for the cast I like. But this fairy tale is original, romantic, seductive, funny and charming. And this comes from someone who watches a lot of movies. Even M. admitted the Stardust was very good. So, it's not a chick flick. It's not a typical fairy tale in any way. And the acting is almost impeccable. For example, I've never seen De Niro in a role like this before...
Let me tell you, this movie made my day brighter. And from our fellow viewers reactions-theirs too!I highly recommend it!

Apres Vous...

M. stumbled upon this charming french movie last night, starring the guy we stumbled upon in Paris in 2003-Daniel Auteuil. I only saw Auteuil's back 4 years ago. But I loved the movie. And the Rotten Tomatoes gives it only 55 percent?!Hence, I don't trust them anymore.
Auteuil plays the guy who saves another from committing a suicide and then feels responsible for him. He meets the girl who left his protege, and they fell in love. In a nutshell.But it's funny and cute,and very romantic. Just the way I like it. And almost painful to watch as Auteuil's character's out humans himself with the generosity and altruism. And as Matt pointed out, Auteuil is vicariously happy through his new found meaning of life. Also, the language and the land-it made me miss it and crave to go back. And brush on my French.
You have to see it!