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Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
For love's sake, life is worth it
Even as we watch the bleak, matter-of-fact portrayal of the existence of people who live among garbage heaps, there is a delightful humor and hopeful strength throughout Danny Boyle's new film, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. It's an inspiring, brilliant, funny and epic underdog story set against the slums of Mumbai, India, (the city formerly known as Bombay), and a reminder that true love is worth life's trials, and indeed, worth the wait.
The movie begins with an intense, interrogation scene where a young man, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is being viciously questioned by local police because of his recent appearance on India's hugely popular TV show, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" The law enforcement isn't convinced that this lowly 'slumdog' could know so much and be on the verge of winning 20 million rupees.
So when the police review the game show tape with Jamal, each game show question brings up a specific memory in Jamal's life, and the seemingly predestined circumstance in which he learned the answer to each question. He simply tells his stories of the a poverty-stricken life in the slums, where he and his older brother, Salim, grew up, including their years on the road, train-hopping and hustling locals and tourists for survival after a tragic raid on their hometown. and the encounter with their "third musketeer", Latika (Freida Pinto) Jamal's long-lost girl he'd never stopped loving.
As his almost whimsical story unfolds, it becomes clear that the driving force in Jamal has always been the love for this lost girl. While Salim, the more entrepreneurial brother, had become hardened and driven mainly by money, it becomes clear as Jamal's almost-whimsical story unfolds, that the driving force in Jamal has always been his love for Latika.
Even through the years of odd jobs and hobo-like travels, Jamal never stops thinking of this beautiful orphan girl. Until one day along the way, while working as a "chai walla" (the Indian equivalent to a "coffee boy"), Jamal comes across Latika, now one of the girls belonging to an infamous gangster.
I don't want to give away anymore details, but the movie is awesome. And as this tale unfolds, we see how Jamal ends up on the television show, so close to winning the biggest prize ever in its history. He inadvertently becomes the symbol of hope for over sixty million viewers, the inspiration for so many who are like him from the slums with nothing but faith, hope and love to keep them going.
He ends up being a hero in the eyes of millions of poverty-stricken people who watch the show because it's a reminder of the possible chance to escape the sadness around them. Which is partly why SLUMDOG is so wonderful it is both escapist fantasy, reminding us the importance of dreaming while while never denying the reality around us.
So yes, in a sense, Jamal is another Messiah figure a hero willing to go through anything for love. And by doing so, he inspires millions of people who didn't have a voice the lost and broken swallowed up in life's toils and snares; the forgotten ones and those who've given up hope.
The subtle theme or running commentary of SLUMDOG also happens to be "It is written", referring to the predestination of life. The film gives us a 'big picture' view of life and the interconnectedness of all things. We realize that despite the ups and downs of Salim's and Jamal's lives, it all happens and comes together for a reason.
Even the smallest incident involving sacrificial love from one of the most crooked characters in the movie shows us that their existence too is a part of the Big Picture and even in death, they can provide life. Because of this hell and death that the characters experience, life can begin once again, and in many ways, start over. There is a beautiful scene where Jamal has a chance to kiss Latika, and figuratively kisses away her scars, a symbol of restoration and the beginning of a new life.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE will definitely inspire audiences and put a smile on your face, possibly through tears of joy. The film's message is one of hope and triumph in the face of life's most difficult circumstances. It's my favorite movie of this year so far, and I hope that many others will enjoy it as much as I did. Hopefully SLUMDOG is a reminder that when we 'cross that river' and look back over all the hardships and trials, we'll be able to smile in the face of the Creator and say, "because of Your Love, it was all worth it."
Pineapple Express (2008)
Apatow and Rogen are Hurting America
Generally, I'm anti- stupid, vulgar comedies and I avoid them, partially out of intellectual/film snobbery and mainly because of moral convictions. I also don't like that I could never in good conscience recommend some of these movies to friends or family.
So it pains me a bit to say that Pineapple Express, the latest shindig from the Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen gang, was actually entertaining. I had fun watching this offensive, pot-smoking caper unfold, and director David Gordon Green (of whose Undertow I am a fan) steps up the cinematic quality by adding some visual storytelling style to what could be just another crude comedy.
Now, before you go rushing to the theatre, let me make it clear: Pineapple Express was funny, and thankfully, not overflowing with a vulgar sex-obsessed storyline, but it's another dumb pothead movie, regardless of the filmmakers' intentions. Star and co-writer Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) said in an interview that he didn't want want Pineapple Express to be just another pothead movie; he wanted to make pot-smoking more commonplace and accepted in films, citing The 40 Year Old Virgin, as the first of their ilk's films to insert scenes of nonchalant pot-smoking.
Pineapple follows Dale Denton (Rogen), a pot-smoking process server who buys a rare strain of marijuana called Pineapple Express from his needs-a-friend dealer, Saul (James Franco). One night while on a job, Dale witnesses a murder by a drug lord and a dirty cop, and accidentally drops his joint nearby as he flees the scene. Since the weed is so rare, he and Saul are easy to track down. And so the murderers are after them, hilarious hijinks ensue.
The story is reminiscent of other pot-infused, crime-comedy caper, buddy movies like The Big Lebowski, Half Baked, How High, etc. In that sense, it's not original. But there is a certain well-crafted quality to the movie, not in terms of story structure, but in the way it's put together. It could be the director, but whatever the case, it certainly makes it a different kind of stoner movie. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, though.
Funny and strange, filled with the regular cast of Apatow slacker schlubs, Pineapple Express continues in the vein of Super Bad and Knocked Up, revealing what's apparently going on the filmmakers' hormone-driven minds. Unfortunately, America may think that Apatow and Rogen speak for all men when they portray them as clubhopping, sex-obsessed, potheads who refuse to grow up and that it's okay to be that way, because, as these movies suggest, all men really are like that. It may be obvious, but I feel the need to say that these guys don't speak for the rest.
It's unfortunate to think that this movie will probably enforce beliefs that it's totally okay to be high all the time, and that it's perfectly fine for grown men to act like they never matured passed third grade. Co-writers Seth Rogen (pro-weed) and Judd Apatow (anti-weed) reportedly disputed over the film's message regarding the use of pot. However, there is a somber moment in Pineapple where Dale and Saul get fed up with each other and life because of everything going wrong. The filmmakers get to slip in a "our lives suck because we're always high" moment which I think works, even if it's a sort of forgotten by the end.
Don't get me wrong, folks, I do actually see beautiful, poignant, sensitive messages amidst the overflow of offense in these vulgar movies, but there's too much release-of-pent-up-sexual-tension to consider them great movies. And it's not like everything is vulgar, there is plenty of clean material in Pineapple Express. But it's just the matter-of-fact lack of morality in both action and dialogue in the movie that bugs me when I reflect on the story.
I realize that these types of "chick flicks for guys" movies are exaggerated reflections of a hedonistic man-culture, and most of the content is so commonplace in that it no longer offends its target audience. Sadly, it is this adolescent mindset that views casual promiscuity and drug usage as common pastimes while tending to the more important activities of videogaming and beer-chugging. And somewhere in all this, sweet stories apparently can be found and made into movies. Movies with man-boy schmucks who take an extra 10 years after the teenage years to officially grow up. Movies that swim in vain and profane babblings, only to say, "See? We're men and we have feelings too." But surely there are other ways of telling the simply sweet messages of love, romance, and friendship that these movies try so hard to convey. Are there no writer-directors out there with more wit, class, and charm than those of the Apatow gang? Must we continue to endure the perverse teenage antics of men and women well into their 40s? Like all the Apatow-esquire movies, I may have been somewhat entertained, but mostly because of low-brow shock value appealing to the "primal" senses. There is a part of me that sees these types of movies like small silver coins embedded with poisonous impurities, rendering them without value. To remove all the impurities would take so much effort and time that it's just not worth it. Like that analogy that asks if you were offered some delicious brownies, but were warned that there were tiny pieces of dog poop in them would you still eat the brownies? Would be okay with just a tiny bit of poop in your brownies? No? Seriously, though, it may be an entertaining, raucous joyride, but Pineapple Express is not a good movie, in the moral sense, nor is it a good-in-the-cinematic-sense either. But based on the filmmakers' track record, I'm sure people will flock to it regardless of some critic's opinion. Unfortunately, if Apatow/Rogen builds it, they will come.
Swing Vote (2008)
Get Smart and Vote - Coaster and Carroll Charm and Convict Us
It sounds implausible and impossiblethat a man's accidental flub-up in the voting booth causes his vote to stall the election and coincidentally determine the next U.S. President. But Swing Vote has a great time using that as a platform to tell a really cool tale.
Besides, the movie wants to move past that impossibility anyway (suspension of disbelief, right?), and into the fun stuff. Swing Vote isn't necessarily about the likelihood of the above-mentioned phenomenon occurring; it's about bigger things, things like the nature of freedom in America, the right to vote, politicians and their campaigns, and various issues that unite and divide America as a nation.
Ernest "Bud" Johnson (Kevin Costner) is a beer-drinking, blue-collar simpleton whose wife left both him and his daughter, Molly, for a Nashville singing career. Molly (Madeline Carroll), a precocious little girl who is passionate about politics and the preservation of her country, and unfortunately for her, Bud couldn't care less, even if her were sober. Molly seems to be the parent in the relationship, taking care of Bud's daily hangovers and prodding him to get up for work.
Molly is in constant frustration with her father's apathy toward life and her interests, and is perturbed when Bud seemingly sets in motion an ironic, history-making turn of events where his vote actually ends up being the deciding factor in the election. This forces the Presidential candidates to campaign only to win Bud's vote. Along the way we are treated to a satirical look at the lengths campaign managers and the candidates will go simply to get a vote.
How this plays out is both hilarious and sobering, as well as inspiring and totally enjoyablethanks to some good storytelling and direction, as well as an excellent cast of talented actors who make this movie shine. The brightest stars on the screen, however, are Kevin Costner and Madeline Carroll as Bud and Molly. Costner has found a perfect role in the dimwitted Bud, and Carroll as Molly is a brilliant young actor whose performance almost brought me to tears at one point.
Like I mentioned before, though, Swing Vote is not a simple "voting is your civic duty" story. While the importance of voting is emphasized as both a privilege and a blessing in a great country, Swing Vote goes over the issues that affect daily life in America, and through the story reminds us how we can take some sort of action to better that life.
However, Swing Vote is careful not to play too much on the emotional arguments regarding various issues like abortion, immigration and gay marriage, making the movie all the more charming. There are a few emotionally charged scenes in the movie that give weight to the hilarity throughout, but within the context of the film, the story never speaks in self-righteousness.
At one point, Molly makes a simple yet convicting commentary about how much she appreciates her father at a "Bring Your Father to School" Day. Without giving too much away, Molly's emotional message about her father is a hopeful and heart-wrenching commentary about the beauty and freedom of America, along with the tragic complacency and apathy of its people.
And rather than going down the typical Hollywood route and picking a more liberal stance, Swing Vote instead manages to poke fun at everyone on both "sides" of various issues. It carefully gives respect to all Americans, while pointing out absurdities in America's political process. Although the mockery is at times absolutely hilarious, the film's humor never ventures into the vile and mean-spirited. There is purpose behind all the fun, and it is carefully crafted into the story, with the goal of giving a message of hope and focusing on the (hopefully) common goal of compassion, care, peace, and freedom to all people (to all Americans, anyway).
In that sense, Swing Vote could almost be seen as patriotic (even the movie's production design seems to have red, white, and blue hues throughout). There are many inspiring moments that make you think, "Wow, America is a great country," and "Shame on me for taking my freedom for granted." Okay, well, that's a little simplistic; but you'll understand what I mean: Swing Vote is an American story with a clear and powerful message.
It may be convicting in its truthful satire and simple wit, but it is also encouraging in that it promotes the hope that we can make a better country by actively changing (ourselves and our country) and refusing to passively observe our nation's future unfold... not only for us, but for generations to come.
Hancock (2008)
Hancock a fun and thoughtful action-comedy with Arrested Development references(?)
i saw a press screening of HANCOCK this week and I enjoyed it. At first it starts out with some typical hokey action-comedy, but then it starts getting 'serious'. I agree that there might be some imbalance of tone on occasion, but i liked the seriousness combined with big action, humor and a great message.
Some of the cgi work looks a bit too cartoonish and the movie could probably benefit from less of the typical 'comic hero' elements in regards to costuming and certain plot elements, but overall it's a cool movie.
If anyone is an Arrested Development fan, you might notice some odd visual references in Hancock (other than the fact that Bateman and Theron are in this movie). I wonder if any of the filmmakers are somehow connected to the show.
Beowulf (2007)
"Beowulf" is a visually stunning movie-going experience, but a so-so movie.
"Beowulf" may wow audiences with its bombastic re-telling of an Anglo-Saxon epic, but it's too preoccupied with visual indulgence, sweeping camera movements and flat characters usually reserved for elaborate video game prologues. Oh and it's in 3D.
"Beowulf" is a pretty straight-forward story: The buff and boastful warrior Beowulf ("played" by Ray Winstone of "The Departed") must fight and defeat the demon-monster, Grendel (Crispin Glover), who is terrorizing King Hrothgar's (Anthony Hopkins) realm. Beowulf later must face the monster's mother (Angelina Jolie) who is an even more terrifying and powerful monster (and Lara Croft look-alike).
Competing for your attention are big battles involving heroic and sometimes naked warriors, oozing monsters and fire-breathing dragons, not to mention the over-usage of a semi-nude, digitally-enhanced, gold-covered female demon with a square-ish face reminiscent of bee-stung-lipped Jon Voight, all offering feasts for the eyes and not too much for the brain.
Well, that's not completely true; the movie does have a weighty message regarding humanity's pride, lust, and greed, and the consequences that follow when indulging in temporal pleasure for temporal glory. A power-wielding, gold-dripping and naked Barbie doll version of Angelina Jolie sums up the temptation toward these deadly sins when she offers Beowulf everything he's ever wanted.
Amidst all of the dragon-slaying and jock Nordic rabble-rousing, the blood-curdling cry of 'the sins of the father' rings loud throughout Beowulf's kingdom years later, calling him to face up to his past sins (see Numbers 23:32). I think director, Robert Zemeckis, along with co-writers, Roger Avary ("Pulp Fiction") and Neil Gaiman ("Stardust), try to convey a simple "pride goes before the fall" message, but their message is lost in all the visual lasciviousness.
Speaking of pride, "Beowulf" isn't a likable character come to think of it. He's a haughty fool, strutting around exaggerating his mighty feats of monster-slaying and frequently declaring "I am Beowulf!" at the top of his lungs. I wonder if he's ever met King Leonidas of Sparta? For the young male target audience, "Beowulf" pushes the limits of a PG-13 movie, getting away with much dismemberment, disembowelment and semi-nudity. Zemeckis' clever misdirection emphasizes gore, butts, and boobs under the veil of the movie's unrealistic blend of animation and weird, live-action, motion-capture technology, also used in Zemeckis' previous film, "The Polar Express" -- another movie with interesting visuals, dead-looking 'actors', and a somewhat boring story.
Not that "Beowulf" is totally boring. While I could've done without Beowulf's need to fight in the nude against Grendel, the "RealD" experience allows for in-your-face effects like pointy swords, monster tails, guts and slobber, and yes, even Beowulf's butt. However, "Beowulf" is very self-conscious of its 3D world, spending a lot of time floating through prickly forests and damp caves, portraying illusions of depth while reminding us of how fake everything really is.
I wonder how interesting the visuals would be if it weren't on a big screen and in 3D. If you've ever seen "Spy-Kids 3-D: Game Over" or have experienced the 3D shows at Universal Studios, you'll know what I mean. The effect wears off after a while, and you just want something to blow up or get killed so you can stay awake.
The movie was a visually stimulating experience, but I couldn't help but think of "Shrek 4-D" and how it was almost better because it was shorter. "Beowulf" may draw comparisons to films like "300" and "The 13th Warrior", but only as a reminder that these movies do a better job of wowing us with the use of real people and stronger stories.
Lions for Lambs (2007)
Redford's Wordy but Goodhearted Sunday Sermon
A wordy and passionate lecture on the uncertain nature of our current involvement with the Middle East, "Lions for Lambs" focuses on some who have the potential to make a difference: young passionate minds, the media, and the government.
A political science professor (Robert Redford) at a California University challenges one of his smart-but-slacker student's disinterest regarding academics, politics, and the war in Iraq. This typical California college student has smart and bold opinions, but he prefers to scream in silent protest while pursuing his career in the rat-race of America.
This jaded complacency is contrasted with the hopeful and active idealism of two of the professor's former students, Arian (Derek Luke, "Glory Road") and Ernest (Michael Peña, "Shooter"), who, in response to the professor's inspiration to change their world, enlist in the U.S. military, much to his dismay.
Arian and Ernest are now braving the mountains of Afghanistan on a dangerous military operation created by a hotshot congressman (Tom Cruise) who may be as interested in winning the war as he is in setting himself up for the Presidency. A veteran TV journalist (Meryl Streep) interviews the congressman about this apparently beneficial military action, but has a feeling it may be too good to be true.
Got all that? Good.
The movie's plot elements are generic so as to reflect our current state of affairs in a sense of allegory. This, however, may also be where the movie suffers. Because Redford is dealing with such heavy and relevant topics painted so broadly, his good-intentioned, socio-political film starts to feel more like a lighthearted and thought-inspiring docu-drama (read: after-school special?).
That isn't a bad thing, but it sort of adds up to a Sunday sermon on our war-ridden era. Like a lot of church-goers may (or may not) know, sermons don't always inspire action (the world would be a better place if they did). They can at least inspire repentance, a change in thinking, which is what Redford, the director, tries to do with his new film. I didn't feel like he was waving his big gnarly finger at me though. It was like he wanted to say, "I'm not moving to Canada, so let's sit and talk about this." Okay well, not exactly like that, but you'll see what I mean. But the call for personal action and responsibility as American citizens is loud and clear in the film, its tagline being: "If you don't stand for something, you might fall for anything." However, the message may not be loud enough to get through to a "question everything, believe nothing, serve no one but my PlayStation" generation.
"Tsk!" goes the collective sound of a thousand college students. Seriously though, to balance that out, the message of standing up for something may not be heart-pricking to anyone.
Overall, Redford asks in regards to our involvement with the Middle East: "What do we do next?" Even as far as spurring us to action by having those words uttered by a smiling and seemingly perfect congressman who may have devious and ulterior motives.
"Lions for Lambs" is good, not great, but it's something to talk about; a definite must-see for those interested in thinking toward change in America.
Dan in Real Life (2007)
Dan in Real Life is Simply Awesome. Steve Carrell is sweetly normal. Juliette Binoche is perfect.
I loved "Dan in Real Life". A wonderful journey-to-love story like You've Got Mail or While You Were Sleeping, but not ridiculously full of sight gags and crude jokes, and not so romantic it makes you wanna throw up.
Dan Burns (Steven Carrell) is a popular advice columnist who can't seem to get things in his own life straightened out. Until one day, on a family gathering/trip, he meets and instantly connects with Marie (the always beautiful Juliette Binoche)a radiant specimen of a woman who seems to be framed in a hazy filter hearkening back to the starlets of classic cinema. Chemistry happens over a cup of tea and muffin, but Marie must be off for a previous engagement, and they must part ways.
Later we are treated to Dan's tight-knit, fun-loving relatives who not only have big breakfasts together but also enjoy using the intelligent and sweetly dorky Dan as the butt of many bachelor jokes. What I liked so much was that although the family's characteristics could be seen as obnoxious to some, I thought it was a great portrayal of a big family that doesn't venture into parody or crude exaggeration. The Burns family is simply a close, loving group of people who are truly interested in the best for Dan. There are wonderfully awkward family moments that aren't unrealistic. The family is nosey, but never mean-spirited or gossipy; quirky, but never outlandish.
And then Dan falls in love with his brother's girlfriend he's brought to the family gathering. And thus begins a roller-coaster of restrained longing and funny love-budding.
I could go on but I just thought this movie was simply awesome. It's not particularly "hip" or "clever", never too wordy and obsessed with dry humor or biting wit as many comedies are in modern cinema. There is a nice balance of storytelling visuals and funny-but-real dialogue. in fact, early in the movie, the initial spark of love begins with whimsical discussion in a classic Hollywood-style conversation where the characters say what they're thinking out loud.
So I've probably rambled and repeated myself, but I highly recommend "Dan in Real Life". It's a great date movie, trust me, you'll laugh, and only if you're a geek like me you'll get a bit teary-eyed. Filled with fun and magical love, "Dan in Real Life" won't disappoint.
=================== 3.5 out of 4 stars Grade: A