Inception

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Inception is the year’s most successful Hollywood blockbuster.  Because it’s written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Dark Knight), we expect it to be brilliantly inventive and it exceeds that expectation.  The story places the characters in reality and at least three layers of dreams simultaneously.  A smart viewer can follow 85% of the story – which is just enough.  Then you can go out to dinner and argue over the other 15%.  The Wife said it was “like The Wizard of Oz on acid”.

Leonardo DiCaprio leads the cast, but the supporting players give the best performances: Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard, Pete Postlethwaite, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, Tom Berenger and Tom Hardy.

Movies to See This Week

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I can’t speak to the three most promising new films, because I haven’t seen them yet: The Kids Are All Right, Inception and The Girl Who Played With Fire.  But that should be remedied by next week’s recommendations.  In the mean time, I can say that the “must see” films in theaters remain Winter’s Bone and Toy Story 3.  Winter’s Bone has been out for a while, so, if you haven’t seen it in a theater,  you’d better see it soon.  For trailers and other choices, see Movies to See Right Now.

My DVD of the week is Tortilla Soup.  It’s the closest thing to a chick flick that I’ll be recommending for at least a month.   For the trailer and other DVD choices, see DVDs of the Week.

      

John Ford's The Searchers

 

Movies on TV include The Searchers and Bad Day at Black Rock, coming up on TCM.   The Crying Game and Before Sunrise are still playing on IFC.

Cyrus

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John C. Reilly plays a sad sack who kindles a romance with a woman played by Maris Tomei.  So far, so good.  But then he learns that she lives with her very smart and very possessive adult son (Jonah Hill).  This is a very, very dark comedy and a showcase for Jonah Hill, who plays a very manipulative and creepy character with contained intensity.  Reilly, Tomei and Cathrine Keener are excellent as always.  But, overall, not the most accessible comedy.

The Social Network: new trailer

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Here’s the new trailer for The Social Network about the founding of Facebook.  It’s promising because it’s written by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The West Wing, Charlie Wilson’s War) and directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac).  The underrated Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, Zombieland, Solitary Man) stars as head geek.  Releases October 1.




DVD of the Week: Tortilla Soup

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In Tortilla Soup (2001), Hector Elizondo plays the retired chef who cooks a gourmet feast every Sunday for his three adult daughters.  The daughters are all seeking relationships and independence from their dad in their own ways.  There are lots of romance and lots of laughs and lots of amazing-looking food.  It’s a remake of Ang Lee’s 1994 Eat Drink Man Woman.  Elizabeth Pena and Paul Rodriguez give noteworthy performances.  The yummy-looking food was prepared by celebrity chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger (Too Hot Tamales).

The movie also has a fun soundtrack with Lila Downs, Eliades Ochoa, Pink Martini and Les Nubians.

Check out my other recent DVD recommendations at DVDs of the Week.

And this film makes my list of 10 Food Porn Movies.

Bella and Lisbeth – NPR's John Powers

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“Two Ladies:  Are You Team Bella, or Team Lisbeth?”  NPR’s Fresh Air’s John Powers has written a very insightful essay on this year’s two most popular – and contrasting – female role models – Bella of the Twilight series and Lisbeth of Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy.  An excellent read.

Note to Patricia:   The only reason that I haven’t yet seen The Girl Who Played With Fire, is that I’m waiting for my wife to finish the book before we go; she assures me that we’ll make it to the theater this weekend.  I’m glad that you found Played With Fire gripping.

The Town

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The trailer for The Town has just been released:

Ben Affleck proved in Gone Baby Gone that he is a fine director.  Now, in The Town,  he brings us another Boston crime drama about thieves desperately evading the FBI.  Stars Affleck, Mad Men’s Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Chris Cooper and The Hurt Locker‘s Jeremy Renner.  Releases September 17.

Kisses

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I just saw a preview of Kisses, which releases August 6.  It’s a sweet Irish indie about two suburban tweens who run away to Dublin for a very exhilarating, then scary night.  The first time lead actors are excellent.  There is a very inventive chase.  Stephen Rea has a brief uncredited cameo as a Bob Dylan impersonator.  Writer-director Lance Daly kept the film only 75 minutes long – which is just the right length, and won the Irish Best Director award.

Danny Trejo and his scary friends

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Danny Trejo in Machete

 

I just saw an ad for Danny Trejo in Machete.  Danny Trejo is one scary looking dude and has 188 acting credits, often as One Scary Looking Dude.  Danny has brought to life more fully formed characters in indies like Mi Vida Loca and Sherrybaby.  And the guy is a legitimate action star at age 66, which must be some kind of record.

Still, I get the feeling that Danny is often cast for his intimidating appearance.  Here are some similar guys that you’ll recognize.

Danny Trejo

 

Sid Haig (117 credits)

 

Sid Haig in Brotherhood of Blood

 

Timothy Carey (86 acting credits)

 

Ron Perlman - 174 acting credits

 

Ron Perlman in makeup

D-Box motion effects seats

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Color me unimpressed.  I have endured a test run of the latest Hollywood gimmick – D-Box motion effects seats, which will be in use for the release of Inception this week in a few theaters across the nation.  To “enhance” the action or tension on the screen, the theater seat jolts, wiggles, tilts, swerves, etc.

First, which really engrossing movies need to be “enhanced” by the furniture?

Second, this technology just isn’t that impressive to those of us who have experienced virtual reality rides (like Disneyland’s “Star Tours”) at amusement parks, boardwalks and carnivals.  (BTW “Star Tours” is over twenty years old and is closing this summer for a “re-imagining”.)  The D-Box is more like the experience of dropping a quarter in a motel massage bed.

3-D is here to stay; but I think that motion effects seats will go the way of Cinerama and Smell-O-Vision.