Movies

Micmacs

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Micmacs is the latest delight from French master Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie and the very underrated A Very Long Engagement).  France’s top comedian Dany Boon plays an oddball who is twice victimized by armaments sellers.   He is adopted by a group of eccentric and highly skilled outcasts who support his campaign of revenge against the arms manufacturers.

As in Amelie, Jeunet creates a gentle, charming and whimsical universe in modern Paris.  In Micmacs, he is ceaselessly inventive.  And he proves that sometimes the most effective political attacks can be the most gentle.

This film has been cursed with an absolutely insane and baseless R rating.  There is no violence, sex or language which justifies this rating.  It is a crime because this movie is a great choice for a bunch of 12-year-olds.  I would have given this film a PG.

Please Give

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Please Give:  This is another smart comedy from Nicole Holofcener (Love, Actually) starring the irreplaceable Catherine Keener.   Keener and husband Oliver Platt are waiting for the demise of the detestable neighboring nonagenarian so they can expand their Manhattan apartment.  Holofcener, a master at intelligent, character-driven comedy, has a Best Picture Oscar in her, but not this time – good, but not great.

Toy Story 3

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Just saw a preview of Toy Story 3.  It’s the best American movie of the year so far, and belongs in the elevated class of Toy Story and Toy Story 2.  I would recommend the film for anyone, not just kids.

Pixar understands that the best animation in human history is not enough by itself, and tells great, great stories.  Pixar screenwriting is incredibly superior to that of other animation studios.

The version I saw was in 2D.  The 3D version should make the opening and climatic scenes even more compelling.

The Secrets in their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)

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This is one of the year’s best.

I finally got to see The Secrets in their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos), this year’s Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Picture over A Prophet (which I admired).  It is an outstanding film, and  more accessible than A Prophet.

The Secrets in their Eyes is a police procedural set in Argentina with two breathtaking plot twists, original characters, a mature romance and one breathtaking, “how did they do it?” shot.  The story centers on a murder in Argentina’s politically turbulent 1970s, but most of the story takes place twenty years later when a retired cop revisits the murder.

Veteran Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin shines once again in a Joe Mantegna-type role.  Darin leads an excellent cast, including Guillermo Francella, who brings alive the character of Darin’s drunk assistant.

Director Juan Jose Campanella is receiving justifiable praise for the amazing shot of a police search in a filled and frenzied soccer stadium.  It ranks as one of the great single shots, along with the kitchen entrance in Goodfellas and the battle scene in Children of Men.

Touching Home

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Touching Home is a little movie with a big performance by Ed Harris  The film was written and directed by and stars the Miller twins, Logan and Noah, who tell the story of their own alcoholic father.  The authenticity of the writing and Harris’ performance make this an exceptionally realistic depiction of alcoholism.

Touching Home was also shot on location in the Miller’s home turf of western Marin County, California, around Lagunitas and Bodega.  Those familiar with West Marin will recognize many locations.

Iron Man 2

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Iron Man 2 is a superhero movie for people (like me) with no interest in superhero movies.  That’s because it is a roaring comedy clad in the superhero genre.  It’s just very, very funny.  There’s no one better than Robert Downey, Jr., to play a narcissistic brainiac.  Mickey Rourke again proves that he can act by portraying a mad Russian physicist (the physicist part is the stretch).   Director Jon Favreau, Scarlett Johansson, Gary Shandling and Samuel L. Jackson are all hilarious in smaller roles.