Eva Green Shines and an Excellent French Film, Included
"Perfect Sense"
starring: Eva Green and Ewan McGregor
This is a romance saga set in the forefront of a disaster epic that sweeps through England, and we are to assume, the rest of the world, as a sort of apocalypse. We are introduced to Susan (played by the always great Eva Green, whom I remember being introduced to through "The Dreamers") who is an epidemiologist, and part of a group of scientists trying to solve the mystery of this strange new disease sweeping through England and infecting people at varying degrees, but the gist is as follows: the victims suffer through experiences of terrible sorrow and heightened grief before losing their sense of smell. We do not ever discover what the cause of it all is, whether it is ecological terrorism (what an incredible weapon) or environmental disaster. What seems to be the set up for another disaster flick, with a bit of an interesting twist to it (the loss of senses, especially during a budding romance), throws in a curveball: people adapt to their limitations and go on living, despite their limitations.
Susan meets Michael (Ewan McGregor) who is a chef (coincidentally) at the restaurant angled in position near Susan's apartment- close enough that she can smoke a cigarette out her window and chat with him while he is outside at the same time. Susan does get to taste one of his amazing dishes before she loses her sense of taste; and despite this, their romance builds as they are emotionally drawn to each other during this epidemic. It seemed a bit too cliche for Michael to be written as a chef, but it still works, because these two actors play well together. The ebbs and flows of the building and complex relationship is not because of the disaster, but rather in spite of it. The director's use of their relationship allows him to focus and create a vacuum of their personal details and these small, shared moments make the story hit harder. We value their story and experiences. The story itself is therefore more powerful.
This was a beautiful crafted film, with a lot more than just a surface of boy and girl meet, epic disaster on a global scale ensues, they suffer, they love, they lose each other. It's about more than just their love for each other and how it allows them to endure the supposed apocalypse. It says more about mankind adapting and pushing through. It certainly was not what I was expecting, and it sort of stopped me in my tracks and forced me to focus harder.
........................................................................
"Tiger Eyes"
starring: Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle, Cynthia Stevenson
directed by: Lawrence Blume
written by: Judy Blume (book) and Lawrence Blume
The book was written by Judy Blume in 1981 (the year I was born) and the film was adapted for the screen by her son, Lawrence Blume, recently. The story should mean more to me, but unfortunately it came off as just another humdrum life lesson 101 that could have been a Lifetime or after-school special movie, shown during the week. Perhaps it wasn't hard hitting because it (the story and the film take it too easy and not serious enough, given the tragedy).
It's the story of a 17 year old girl named Davey (played by Willa Holland, whom I remember as the troubled sister of Mischa Barton's character on "The O.C."). Davey is a grieving New Jersey high school girl who is uprooted and relocated by her widowed mother to New Mexico. Her mother is played by Amy Jo Johnson who is most famous for being the original Pink Ranger (yup, that's right you read that right), and honestly she looks like she has not aged much and certainly doesn't really look 44 years old or like she should be playing the mother of a 17 year old. They are living with Davey's aunt and uncle in Los Alamos, New Mexico and Davey feels and looks quite out of place. She makes a couple of crucial friends, one being a Native American boy who introduces Davey to the land, the culture and the healing powers of his ancestral grounds.
What should be an emotional journey during Davey's coming-of-age in a strange, new place is not, because the emotions are kept at a safe distance, which doesn't really allow the viewer to feel anything or any kind of connection towards the characters, even through the flashback, retelling of how Davey's father died. And the emotions run high is such a dramatic story, but the emotions take a backseat because of the inappropriate musical soundtrack that accompanies emotional scenes and makes each scene less dramatic or more like the aforementioned after-school special.
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"The Dirties"
starring: Matt Johnson, Owen Williams, Krista Madison
written and directed by: Matt Johnson
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"Tadpole"
starring: Aaron Stanford, Kate Mara, Robert Iler, Bebe Neuwirth, John Ritter, Sigourney Weaver
directed by: Gary Winick
written by: Heather McGowan, Niels Mueller, Gary Winick
Let's talk about the elephant in the room right off the bat. If this was a film where the protagonist was a fifteen year old girl in love with her stepfather (re: Lolita) we would be having a completely different kind of conversation- one involving statutory rape and how an older man took advantage of a young lady, etc. For some reason our society/culture deems it almost okay and a rite of passage for a teenage boy to have sex with an older woman, because, hey, she's an experienced woman who is just helping the young man ease into his manhood, because, I don't know, woman are seen as gentler. I don't know. I'm not sure. This is a conversation that has many different opinions, but I really think we can all agree, generally, that an older person taking advantage of the youth of a teenager is just morally and ethically wrong.
Anyway, with that aside, the film "Tadpole" is nearly perfect, thanks in large part to the triangle of characters and actors taking on the pivotal roles. Aaron Stanford is a great find as Oscar Grubman, a fifteen year old, private school, too smart almost for his own good, who is in love with his stepmother. He returns home for break hoping to make his feelings known to her. He is precocious as he quotes Voltaire in mid-conversation and speaks fluent French to impress anyone he converses with. And it all works. He is home for Thanksgiving break, back to Manhattan, to spend time with his history professor father (played by the excellent John Ritter, although it was bizarre seeing him in this film, which came out in 2000, before his untimely death), and Eve (Sigourney Weaver) his scientist stepmom and object of his affection.
Here enters the obstacle in Oscar's sexual fantasy's way: Eve's friend Diane (played perfectly by Bebe Neuwirth), who is a seductress and a chiropractor, conveniently. One night, back at her apartment or condo, who can tell in Manhattan, she convinces Oscar to hop up on her table and she works out his kinks, so to speak, which of course leads to them having sex (and Oscar immediately regretting it in the morning). Oscar was ultimately seduces by Diane because she was wearing one of Eve's scarves that night. He spends the rest of the film worrying that Eve will find out about his sexual transgression and so he stops at nothing to make sure she doesn't find out, especially from Diane.
The highlight of the film is the dinner scene at a restaurant with Oscar, his dad, stepmom, and of course Diane (who plays footsie with Oscar under the table and kisses him later). Bebe Neuwirth is probably the highlight of the film, even with the stellar performance by Aaron Stanford.
This is a great, humorous film, even with the touchy subject. Definitely check it out.
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"The Day I Saw Your Heart"
starring: Melanie Laurent, Michel Blanc, Florence Loiret Caille, Claude Perron, Guillaume Gouix, Manu Payet,
written and directed by: Jennifer Devoldere
I don't really remember Melanie Laurent from her role in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds" but after watching this French film, where she shines, I definitely want to go back and watch it again, and find her other films. This is a perfect, French actress who can play the quirky girl so well, her appeal just oozes off the screen. She is a great actress. The character profile for Justine probably read something like this: quirky, humorous, awkward. Justine is supposed to be an everywoman, an identifiable twentysomething girl that is relatable and Melanie Laurent shines. She is sympathetic and likable.
Everyone in her life, the rest of the cast, is also perfectly placed in this French film about relationships- failing ones, and familial ones. Its the relationship between Justine and her father that really gets put under a microscope in such a fine way with this great story. Nevermind the French subtitles, this is a perfect film. You must check this one out!
"Novocaine"
starring: Steve Martin, Laura Dern, Helena Bonham Carter
This is an intelligent, sometimes funny film noir that just misses its mark because of miscasting. I'm sorry but Steve Martin should have been in this movie (even if it's from 2001). The tone of the film is a bit off, uneven at times. And the ending/payoff is just a sorry excuse for a climax and wrap-up.
Steve Martin plays a successful dentist with everything going right in his life. He has a beautiful dental assistant girlfriend (played by the very attractive Laura Dern) with perfect, white, shiny teeth. He has a beautiful house, too. But then, one day, a supposed femme fatale, Susan (totally miscast Helena Bonham Carter) comes into his life.
Steve Martin usually plays it cool and makes his roles look ever so comfortable, even when the role calls for feeling quite uncomfortable. But here, the story seems to call for a "devil may care" attitude and an "I don't care" type of dude, which Martin just does not pull off, convincingly.
Laura Dern is the best, here, playing the attractive girlfriend, hiding something. I remember her from "Jurassic Park" back in the mid-'90s and she has clearly made a career for herself, but this film just doesn't showcase her talents like other roles have been able to do. I honestly expecting way more from this cast, but I was disappointed.
starring: Eva Green and Ewan McGregor
This is a romance saga set in the forefront of a disaster epic that sweeps through England, and we are to assume, the rest of the world, as a sort of apocalypse. We are introduced to Susan (played by the always great Eva Green, whom I remember being introduced to through "The Dreamers") who is an epidemiologist, and part of a group of scientists trying to solve the mystery of this strange new disease sweeping through England and infecting people at varying degrees, but the gist is as follows: the victims suffer through experiences of terrible sorrow and heightened grief before losing their sense of smell. We do not ever discover what the cause of it all is, whether it is ecological terrorism (what an incredible weapon) or environmental disaster. What seems to be the set up for another disaster flick, with a bit of an interesting twist to it (the loss of senses, especially during a budding romance), throws in a curveball: people adapt to their limitations and go on living, despite their limitations.
Susan meets Michael (Ewan McGregor) who is a chef (coincidentally) at the restaurant angled in position near Susan's apartment- close enough that she can smoke a cigarette out her window and chat with him while he is outside at the same time. Susan does get to taste one of his amazing dishes before she loses her sense of taste; and despite this, their romance builds as they are emotionally drawn to each other during this epidemic. It seemed a bit too cliche for Michael to be written as a chef, but it still works, because these two actors play well together. The ebbs and flows of the building and complex relationship is not because of the disaster, but rather in spite of it. The director's use of their relationship allows him to focus and create a vacuum of their personal details and these small, shared moments make the story hit harder. We value their story and experiences. The story itself is therefore more powerful.
This was a beautiful crafted film, with a lot more than just a surface of boy and girl meet, epic disaster on a global scale ensues, they suffer, they love, they lose each other. It's about more than just their love for each other and how it allows them to endure the supposed apocalypse. It says more about mankind adapting and pushing through. It certainly was not what I was expecting, and it sort of stopped me in my tracks and forced me to focus harder.
........................................................................
"Tiger Eyes"
starring: Willa Holland, Amy Jo Johnson, Tatanka Means, Elise Eberle, Cynthia Stevenson
directed by: Lawrence Blume
written by: Judy Blume (book) and Lawrence Blume
The book was written by Judy Blume in 1981 (the year I was born) and the film was adapted for the screen by her son, Lawrence Blume, recently. The story should mean more to me, but unfortunately it came off as just another humdrum life lesson 101 that could have been a Lifetime or after-school special movie, shown during the week. Perhaps it wasn't hard hitting because it (the story and the film take it too easy and not serious enough, given the tragedy).
It's the story of a 17 year old girl named Davey (played by Willa Holland, whom I remember as the troubled sister of Mischa Barton's character on "The O.C."). Davey is a grieving New Jersey high school girl who is uprooted and relocated by her widowed mother to New Mexico. Her mother is played by Amy Jo Johnson who is most famous for being the original Pink Ranger (yup, that's right you read that right), and honestly she looks like she has not aged much and certainly doesn't really look 44 years old or like she should be playing the mother of a 17 year old. They are living with Davey's aunt and uncle in Los Alamos, New Mexico and Davey feels and looks quite out of place. She makes a couple of crucial friends, one being a Native American boy who introduces Davey to the land, the culture and the healing powers of his ancestral grounds.
What should be an emotional journey during Davey's coming-of-age in a strange, new place is not, because the emotions are kept at a safe distance, which doesn't really allow the viewer to feel anything or any kind of connection towards the characters, even through the flashback, retelling of how Davey's father died. And the emotions run high is such a dramatic story, but the emotions take a backseat because of the inappropriate musical soundtrack that accompanies emotional scenes and makes each scene less dramatic or more like the aforementioned after-school special.
..............................................................................
"The Dirties"
starring: Matt Johnson, Owen Williams, Krista Madison
written and directed by: Matt Johnson
The Dirties is about what would happen if one of the budding filmmakers decided to take things further; or rather, it’s about the terror of not knowing whether one or the filmmakers is going to take things further. The 80-minute film builds its tension relentlessly and inexorably, until the climax feels like a balloon that’s past ready to burst.
The kids in question are Matt Johnson — played by the co-writer and director of the same name — and Owen Williams; also the name of his character. We meet them in the opening scene hard at work on their project, a violent revenge fantasy that’s equal partsBeing John Malkovich and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, although it’s mostly Pulp Fiction, at least when it comes to language and violence.
This is just a terrible film and I just could never get into it. At all...............................................................................
"Tadpole"
starring: Aaron Stanford, Kate Mara, Robert Iler, Bebe Neuwirth, John Ritter, Sigourney Weaver
directed by: Gary Winick
written by: Heather McGowan, Niels Mueller, Gary Winick
Let's talk about the elephant in the room right off the bat. If this was a film where the protagonist was a fifteen year old girl in love with her stepfather (re: Lolita) we would be having a completely different kind of conversation- one involving statutory rape and how an older man took advantage of a young lady, etc. For some reason our society/culture deems it almost okay and a rite of passage for a teenage boy to have sex with an older woman, because, hey, she's an experienced woman who is just helping the young man ease into his manhood, because, I don't know, woman are seen as gentler. I don't know. I'm not sure. This is a conversation that has many different opinions, but I really think we can all agree, generally, that an older person taking advantage of the youth of a teenager is just morally and ethically wrong.
Anyway, with that aside, the film "Tadpole" is nearly perfect, thanks in large part to the triangle of characters and actors taking on the pivotal roles. Aaron Stanford is a great find as Oscar Grubman, a fifteen year old, private school, too smart almost for his own good, who is in love with his stepmother. He returns home for break hoping to make his feelings known to her. He is precocious as he quotes Voltaire in mid-conversation and speaks fluent French to impress anyone he converses with. And it all works. He is home for Thanksgiving break, back to Manhattan, to spend time with his history professor father (played by the excellent John Ritter, although it was bizarre seeing him in this film, which came out in 2000, before his untimely death), and Eve (Sigourney Weaver) his scientist stepmom and object of his affection.
Here enters the obstacle in Oscar's sexual fantasy's way: Eve's friend Diane (played perfectly by Bebe Neuwirth), who is a seductress and a chiropractor, conveniently. One night, back at her apartment or condo, who can tell in Manhattan, she convinces Oscar to hop up on her table and she works out his kinks, so to speak, which of course leads to them having sex (and Oscar immediately regretting it in the morning). Oscar was ultimately seduces by Diane because she was wearing one of Eve's scarves that night. He spends the rest of the film worrying that Eve will find out about his sexual transgression and so he stops at nothing to make sure she doesn't find out, especially from Diane.
The highlight of the film is the dinner scene at a restaurant with Oscar, his dad, stepmom, and of course Diane (who plays footsie with Oscar under the table and kisses him later). Bebe Neuwirth is probably the highlight of the film, even with the stellar performance by Aaron Stanford.
This is a great, humorous film, even with the touchy subject. Definitely check it out.
.................................................................................
"The Day I Saw Your Heart"
starring: Melanie Laurent, Michel Blanc, Florence Loiret Caille, Claude Perron, Guillaume Gouix, Manu Payet,
written and directed by: Jennifer Devoldere
I don't really remember Melanie Laurent from her role in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds" but after watching this French film, where she shines, I definitely want to go back and watch it again, and find her other films. This is a perfect, French actress who can play the quirky girl so well, her appeal just oozes off the screen. She is a great actress. The character profile for Justine probably read something like this: quirky, humorous, awkward. Justine is supposed to be an everywoman, an identifiable twentysomething girl that is relatable and Melanie Laurent shines. She is sympathetic and likable.
Everyone in her life, the rest of the cast, is also perfectly placed in this French film about relationships- failing ones, and familial ones. Its the relationship between Justine and her father that really gets put under a microscope in such a fine way with this great story. Nevermind the French subtitles, this is a perfect film. You must check this one out!
Justine Dhrey (Mélanie Laurent) is a single woman drifting precariously close to thirty with a string of failed romantic relationships behind her, and practically nothing to look forward to. Justine works as an X-ray technician, and when the boss isn't looking, she troops friends, relatives, pets and inanimate objects in to photograph them for special collages she hangs on the windows of her married sister's apartment, where she's currently living on the couch.
Justine's older sister Dom (Florence Loiret Caille) is the sensible one, a little on the nervous side, perhaps due to her inability to conceive a child with Bertrand (Sébastien Castro), her equally sensible and nervous husband. A nice enough pair, they essentially exist here to emphasize the quirkiness of others by virtue of their own complete lack of…quirk.
Things get rolling at a small family get-together celebrating the sixtieth birthday of Justine and Dom's father, Eli (Michel Blanc), who has a surprise announcement: his (much younger) bride Suzanne (Claude Perron) has just gotten pregnant. The mother-to-be exudes giddy excitement, while her husband shows sheer indifference. Dom and Bertrand are appropriately congratulatory, but Justine expresses outright hostility and resentment.
The relationship between Justine and Eli has been complicated for as long as either one can remember, and their conversations are invariably cut short by misunderstandings and words that wound, intentionally or not. Like most close relatives at loggerheads, the pair resembles each other like the rope ends in a tug-of-war; both wield an aggressive cynical wit that lashes the heart as often as it tickles the ribs. Lest you wonder where Justine's quirkiness comes from, consider that Eli has an odd habit of maintaining close personal relationships with Justine's romantic cast-offs—a quirky and dangerous pursuit.
.................................................................................."Novocaine"
starring: Steve Martin, Laura Dern, Helena Bonham Carter
This is an intelligent, sometimes funny film noir that just misses its mark because of miscasting. I'm sorry but Steve Martin should have been in this movie (even if it's from 2001). The tone of the film is a bit off, uneven at times. And the ending/payoff is just a sorry excuse for a climax and wrap-up.
Steve Martin plays a successful dentist with everything going right in his life. He has a beautiful dental assistant girlfriend (played by the very attractive Laura Dern) with perfect, white, shiny teeth. He has a beautiful house, too. But then, one day, a supposed femme fatale, Susan (totally miscast Helena Bonham Carter) comes into his life.
Steve Martin usually plays it cool and makes his roles look ever so comfortable, even when the role calls for feeling quite uncomfortable. But here, the story seems to call for a "devil may care" attitude and an "I don't care" type of dude, which Martin just does not pull off, convincingly.
Laura Dern is the best, here, playing the attractive girlfriend, hiding something. I remember her from "Jurassic Park" back in the mid-'90s and she has clearly made a career for herself, but this film just doesn't showcase her talents like other roles have been able to do. I honestly expecting way more from this cast, but I was disappointed.
The dentist is a man who takes one look at a woman and is ready to toss his life overboard. Martin can't do it. It doesn't matter that the dentist is repressed in his emotions. Neither does it matter that he might have an unconscious desire to trash his life and is using sex as an excuse. Sexual attraction is what initially drives him, and sex is not Martin's strong suit as an actor. He's too reserved, too mature and too smart for that. This is Martin's essence. He can't help it.
Nor does the casting of Carter as the femme fatale make the dentist's recklessness any more convincing. For certain, Carter is cute, spunky, smart, naughty and kind of sexy, but a successful man in his 50s would have had ample opportunity, over the years, to wreck his life over a woman like that. He'd have done it already.
She has apparently wiped out his medical cabinet and given the drugs to her brother (Scott Caan) to sell, and so the authorities suspect the dentist of dealing drugs. At this point, it becomes hard to believe that the dentist -- at least the way Martin plays him -- wouldn't turn Susan in.
Curiously, as the dentist's troubles escalate, "Novocaine" becomes more frustrating and unpleasant, not more dramatic. Part of the problem is that the complications seem unnecessary, stemming as they do from the dentist's acting against his own interests. We also don't see the payoff. As Martin and Carter are brainy actors, not passionate, it's hard to imagine them risking much for lust.
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"Mercenaries"
starring: Zoe Bell, Kristanne Loken, Vivica A. Fox, Brigitte Nielsen, Nicole Bilderback
Call it sheer curiosity. Call it boredom. Call it intrigue. Call it whatever you want. I don't know what really complied me to watch this cheap thrill kind of film. I don't know how or why someone gave the greenlight for this film to be made, but nonetheless, here it is. Perhaps the studio-heads are riding the coattails of the "success" of the testosterone-fueled "Expendables" franchise with probably every single action movie actor in the history of movies. Here, though, are only 4 actresses and only one has really shown her chops as an action actress (re: Zoe Bell, who famously does her own stunts, most notably in "Death Proof").
The studio known for B- and C-rate horror films, The Asylum, put this one.
Mercenaries has a rather simple premise, the president's daughter is captured and the ladies have to go undercover to infiltrate a women's prison and help rescue her. For the most part, action films in general keep the plot and story rather basic as to not get bogged down in to much fluff, and lord knows action fans hate fluff, they want big guns, big explosions and big fights.
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"Mercenaries"
starring: Zoe Bell, Kristanne Loken, Vivica A. Fox, Brigitte Nielsen, Nicole Bilderback
Call it sheer curiosity. Call it boredom. Call it intrigue. Call it whatever you want. I don't know what really complied me to watch this cheap thrill kind of film. I don't know how or why someone gave the greenlight for this film to be made, but nonetheless, here it is. Perhaps the studio-heads are riding the coattails of the "success" of the testosterone-fueled "Expendables" franchise with probably every single action movie actor in the history of movies. Here, though, are only 4 actresses and only one has really shown her chops as an action actress (re: Zoe Bell, who famously does her own stunts, most notably in "Death Proof").
The studio known for B- and C-rate horror films, The Asylum, put this one.
Mercenaries has a rather simple premise, the president's daughter is captured and the ladies have to go undercover to infiltrate a women's prison and help rescue her. For the most part, action films in general keep the plot and story rather basic as to not get bogged down in to much fluff, and lord knows action fans hate fluff, they want big guns, big explosions and big fights.
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