Madeleine the Movie Maven

On DVD: Little Children

Screenwriter: Tom Perotta, based on his novel of the same name

Little Children is a complicated tale of lost innocence and lost love. It’s complicated not because of a confusing storyline, but because it focuses on the behavior of ordinary people who are struggling to find meaning in their lives. And, as we all know, human behavior is anything but simple.

If someone had told stay-at-home mom Sarah Pierce (Kate Winslet) she would experience a life-altering event during another ordinary summer day spent at the neighborhood park with her daughter, Lucy (Sadie Goldstein), Sarah would’ve said, “You’re crazy.” But being an anthropologist, she should have known better. For what started out as a silly prank to teach a few self-righteous busybodies a lesson quickly turned into an unexpected relationship between she and “The Prom King,” a.k.a. Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson), a stay-at-home dad and neighborhood hunk. The question becomes: Can (or should) their relationship last?

At the other end of the neighborhood, convicted sex offender Ronnie McGorvey (Jackie Earle Haley) has just been released from jail and is back at home with his mother, May (Phyllis Sommerville). Ex-cop and father turned vigilante, Larry Hedges (Noah Emmerich) – who’s has serious problems of his own, forms a neighborhood committee to keep an eye on the registered sex offender’s every move. One night, as Larry puts up another ream of fliers regarding Ronnie’s recent crime, Larry runs into Brad – who’s supposed to be studying for the bar exam, but who spends his nights reliving his youth while watching kids skateboard at a basketball court. Larry convinces Brad to join his touch football team. Brad is happy to comply…anything to get out from under the thumb of his demanding wife, Kathy (Jennifer Connelly). This decision leads Brad down the path toward regaining the "pants wearer" status in his family and could lead to other life-changing decisions he may or may not regret.

As the story moves along, the lives of these characters and the decisions they make cause them to become more entangled until the tension becomes unbearable, causing the ties that bind them to unravel.

What I liked:  I was immediately drawn into this film from the opening shot. From the cinematography to the narration that conveys the characters' inner-most thoughts, this story kept my attention from start to finish. The acting was superb; the story, dramatic and well-written. There’s no wonder why this film received several Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

What I didn’t: I’m not sure I agree with the ending…which doesn’t mean I think it was bad…I’m just not sure I would’ve chosen the same resolution. Chalk it up to “creative differences.” However, I will say that I think it was more realistic in terms of human behavior. And, to be honest, less predictable. And for that, I could be persuaded to agree with it. Also, I'm not quite sure how the storyline relates to the title.

Madeleine says:  Worth full rental price, and some may find it worthy of being added to their collection

What do you say?

Movie Review & Lab Results for Pan’s Labyrinth

Screenwriter: Guillermo del Toro

Pan’s Labyrinth turned out to be another force to be reckoned with from 2006. With three Oscar® wins – for cinematography, art direction and makeup – it, too, proved it was worth its weight in hype.

It’s also the third subject in my first trailer experiment. Initially, I felt it had the look and feel of a film I would like (it did) but I was concerned the choppy trailer hinted that the film could have story problems (it didn’t). So, how did it all “pan” out?! [Ha, ha, ha, ha!!... Oh, come on, it was a little funny.]

For those of you who’ve been living on Mars for the past few months (or without cable), Pan’s Labyrinth is the ultimate fantasy about how an overactive imagination and love of fairy tales can get you through almost any horrible situation.

Young Ofelia (Ivana Banquero) travels with her pregnant mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), to join Ofelia’s wicked stepfather, Vidal (Sergei Lopez), a captain in Spanish dictator Francisco Franco’s army (post-World War II). Vidal is on the hunt for rebels who’ve embedded themselves deep in the forests of the rural countryside. His sociopathic tendencies make life very miserable for all those around him. Longing to be rescued from his egomania, sarcasm and downright cruelty, Ofelia spends time in a nearby labyrinth where she finds an unusual group of characters who are waiting for a savior of their own.

What I liked: Breathtaking cinematography, art direction and score… great story, acting, writing… I haven’t seen a villain this ruthless since the father in Karakter (Character).

What I didn’t: It was a wee bit violent for my liking.

I predicted: Worth full price

After seeing the film, I say: Worth full price

What do you say?

TEST RESULTS
So what did I learn from this test? I learned to trust my first instincts. When I initially saw this trailer, I said to myself, “Self, this is a movie for me.” However, if I wasn’t already a fan of sci fi/fantasy films, I may have been turned off by the somewhat scattered plot presentation in the trailer.

What did you learn?

Only one more test to go…

Groundhogs and Movie Marathons

6 degrees… High of 11… -5 with wind chill. No, these aren’t the names of upcoming indie films. They’re the recent temperatures (Fahrenheit) we residents of Northeast Ohio, USA, have endured over the past several bone-chilling, snot-freezing days. And if any of you readers in the upper Northern Hemisphere are thinking, “Wimp!”, let me just say that it’s so frickin’ cold in our part of the globe that FROST has formed on the INSIDE of my windows!

Some meteorologists and climatologists would argue that these torturous temps are “good for us,” that we need this weather to keep our ecological systems healthy. I say, “Hogwash!” The only beings on the planet that benefit from subzero events like this are penguins and polar bears! (And I bet even they get their tongues stuck on an icicle every now and then.)

So what does this ungodly weather report have to do with groundhogs and movie marathons? I don't know about you, but I don't plan to step one toe outside until my thermometer says at least 20 degrees. Punxsutawney Phil – one of many groundhog weather prognosticators – did not see his shadow last Friday, so that means we will enjoy an early Spring. (And he’s the expert around these parts.) I figured it would be a good time to get in a little extra movie watching while we await the early Thaw. Hence “groundhogs” and my new blog category, “Movie Marathons.” I expect this category to be a big hit with my fellow hibernators (and procrastinators).

Bruce Willis kicks off new blog category

When you think of Bruce Willis, the words “action hero,” “king of the one liners” and “brooding cop” come to mind. In honor of the fourth Die Hard movie due out this summer – which will be here faster than you can say “car chase,” I’m giving the inaugural spot to a “die hard” in his own right.

Here are 3 films I recommend for your Bruce Willis movie marathon:

Death Becomes Her – Believe it or not, this is my favorite B.W. character. It’s so far removed from what he normally does, and his performance as the hen-pecked, alcoholic plastic surgeon is fantastic. I plan to add this DVD to my collection very soon.

16 Blocks – I admit I was skeptical when I saw the trailer, but I really enjoyed this movie. It didn’t last very long in the theatres, but I think that was because it had a lot of summer blockbuster competition. Had it been released in March or April, I think it would’ve led the box office for several weeks.

12 Monkeys – Did I hear a few groans? Remember that open mind I referred to in my James Bond post? Go dig it out of the closet. Go ahead, we'll wait............. Yes, this is a sci fi flick. But in case you haven’t heard, sci fi is “in”. And if you don’t believe me, I have two words for you: Battlestar Galactica! 12 Monkeys is one of those flicks you have to watch a few times before you catch everything. In case you’ve forgotten, Brad Pitt was nominated for his performance as the crazy madman (which seems redundant, but it worked for him). Plus, Terry Gilliam directed it!

I can sense some of you heading for the panic button. Maybe you’ve never “coordinated” your own movie marathon before. Fear not! The great thing about films is that they’re inherently creative. That means no rules. You’re in control! No boss telling you that you’re not “following the process” by watching the deleted scenes first. You can watch these movies by yourself or with a dozen friends… You can watch all 3 of them in a row, or 2 in the afternoon and 1 with dinner… or one on Friday, one on Saturday and one on Sunday… You could even watch them in whatever order you want, or watch them more than once! You could say, “Guess what, Madeleine?! I’m choosing three Arnold Schwarzenegger movies instead." And to that I would say, Now you’re getting the picture!

By the way, I have a suggestion for those of you residing in the Southern Hemisphere…grab your laptop and BBQ supplies and head for the patio!

Happy viewing!

Movie Review & Lab Results for Rocky Balboa

L-L-Let’s get ready to revieeewwwwwwwww, Rockyyyyy Balboaaaaaaa! [cue Rocky theme music… “da-da-Daaaaa, da-Da-daaaaa…”]

Now that you have that memorable song running through your head, it’s time for me to present the results to part 2 of my first Trailer Experiment.

To recap, I predicted that I would rank the sixth installment of the Rocky movie series, Rocky Balboa, as “Matinee.” After watching the trailer, I was concerned that the story would be a rehashing of the previous five Rockys. Or is it Rockies? Either way, I’m happy to report that I liked this movie more than I thought I would.

Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, the creator of the Rocky characters, Rocky Balboa shows us where the champ and his family ended up post-boxing career. Adrian has passed on after a bout with “woman cancer.” Son Robert, a.k.a. Rocky, Jr., (Milo Ventimiglia, of TV show, Heroes, fame) is trying to go the distance working in corporate America (never an easy opponent, I assure you). And Paulie (Burt Young) is still drowning his sorrows in booze, lamenting that his meat-packing job is all he has in life.

So how is the champ doing? Well, he’s still a local celebrity/hero in his hometown of Philadelphia. Fans stop him in public to ask for an autograph. They patron his quaint Italian restaurant called "Adrian’s" to see his boxing memorabilia and have Rocky regale them with stories about his good ol’ days. [Check this out: One of my readers was an extra in a restaurant scene. Click here to read how Sly hand-picked her to be in his movie.]

But Rocky seems to be a little lost without Adrian and takes to reminiscing in the old neighborhoods, which unfortunately have not faired as well as he.

During one of his trips down memory lane, Rocky meets single-mom and barmaid Marie (Geraldine Hughes) at one of his former hangouts. They hit it off and start spending time with each other. Marie introduces Rocky to her son, Steps (James Francis Kelly III), who Rocky seems to relate to more than his son. But Rocky isn’t satisfied. There’s a “beast in the basement” that he needs to exorcise. Thanks to modern technology and an interesting hypothesis put forth by ESPN, Rocky gets his chance.

What I liked: This is an older, wiser, more endearing Rocky, who struggles to give his life meaning in the wake of the death of his beloved Adrian; Paulie’s reaction to Rocky’s musings, “You haven’t peaked yet?!” Great line!

What I didn’t: The editing was a little choppy; the script could’ve used a little polish in places

I predicted: Matinee

After seeing the film, I say: Yo! It’s worth full price

What do you say?

EPILOGUE
So, will there be a Rocky VII? I’m not up on the latest gossip regarding this topic, but let’s brainstorm a few ideas anyway…. I could see Rocky becoming boxing manager and mentor to Steps, which could lead to a showdown between Steps and Rocky, Jr. (this scenario might be too similar to Rocky V).... Or, Rocky could manage the next hot female boxer, something akin to Million Dollar Baby (which was good, but not worth all the hype/awards i.m.o.)… Or, there’s always the prequel option, examining the childhood experiences that led Rocky to the boxing ring. Whatever happens, Stallone can be proud that his timeless story has come full circle, even with the couple of “bumps” it hit along the way (Rocky IV and V).

What do you think?

TEST RESULTS
Part 2 of this experiment taught me that my instincts about a film based on its trailer are not always clear-cut. Sometimes I can’t figure out what my gut is telling me. When this particular feeling appears, I need to remind myself to give the film the benefit of the doubt.

What did you learn?

Stayed tuned for results from part 3 of this trailer experiment: Pan’s Labyrinth, which I’m seeing tonight!

Off I go to listen to my new Bitter:Sweet CD, “The Mating Game,” to get this Rocky theme out of my head….

On DVD: Little Miss Sunshine brightens any day

Screenwriter: Michael Arndt

Having a bad day? Bad week? Watch Little Miss Sunshine. I guarantee you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cheer for what has become one of my favorite movies of 2006. (And if you’re having a bad year – already – well, I suggest you call off work and watch it twice.)

Little Olive (Abigail Breslin, who played Mel Gibson’s daughter in Signs) caught the beauty pageant bug while visiting her out-of-town cousins. Now she dreams of taking that famous stroll down “runway lane” as a beauty pageant queen. As luck would have it, the winner of the regional pageant Olive participated in had to forfeit. As runner-up, Olive gets the chance to compete in the state competition.

Olive and her out-of-sync family – comprised of her motivational speaker father, Richard (Greg Kinnear); frazzled but supportive mom, Sheryl (Toni Collette); mute-by-choice brother, Dwayne (Paul Dano); suicidal, homosexual uncle, Frank (Steve Carell); and out-spoken paternal Grandpa (the one and only Alan Arkin), who also happens to be her choreographer – travel in their VW van to help Olive fulfill her dream and end up getting to know each other a little better in the process.

What I liked: Every single minute of this award-winning film! The acting is outstanding, the writing is believable and brilliant, and the story is simple yet highly enjoyable.

What I didn’t: Not a darn thing.

Madeleine says: Add it to your collection

What do you say?

Movie Review: Night at the Museum is good, clean family fun

Screenwriter: Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon; based on the kids’ book by Milan Trenc

Museums are elaborate time capsules stocked with information that tell us humans where we’ve been, what we’ve endured to get to the present day and, in some cases, how to avoid the past mistakes in the future. But, there are times when a museum becomes a time machine. When, you might ask? At night, of course, when most magical stories like this happen.

Besides a playful dinosaur skeleton, raucous Huns and cavemen, competitive cowboys and roman soldiers, an impish primate, and Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Night at the Museum unfortunately also features a familiar storyline and predictable dialogue.

Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is a divorced dad and wanna-be inventor/entrepreneur who’s having trouble finding his true calling in life (read: he's having trouble finding a job he likes). The pressure is magnified when Larry’s only son, Nick (Jake Cherry), begins to emulate his bond-trader stepfather.

Afraid of disappointing his son and losing visitation privileges, Larry accepts a mysterious job as the night watchmen at the Museum of Natural History, taking over for three retirees: Cecil (Dick Van Dyke), Gus (Mickey Rooney!) and Reginald (Bill Cobbs). But Larry’s responsibilities may be more than he can handle when he discovers that the museum’s exhibits come to life at night. And adventures ensue!

What I liked: The special effects; Ricky Gervais is funny as the museum curator/director; good way to spend some quality time with the family

What I didn’t: The back-story, predictable dialogue, and canned humor

Madeleine says: Matinee

What do you say?

And the Golden Globes went to...

The first award show of the year has come and gone, and left me cheering, dreaming and, at times, scratching my head.

In my last post, I picked the categories I was most interested in and shared with you my favorites along with a few predictions (I just wouldn't be me if I didn't share my opinions!). In case you didn’t watch the show or read about the results, here’s how it played out….

Best Motion Picture – Drama: Congratulations to Babel!
I still say Blood Diamond should’ve been part of this list, and dare I say, won this category. Maybe it’ll have a bigger presence at the Oscars. At any rate, Babel won and I'm glad for them. I meant to see it when it was in theaters but I ran out of time. With any luck, I’ll find it at a cheap theater or it will be re-released before the Oscars.

Best Performance, Motion Picture – Actor – Drama: Congratulations to Forest Whitaker!
Although I chose Leonardo DiCaprio, I had a feeling Forest Whitaker might take the prize and I was right. I missed this one also when it was in the theater, but maybe it too will be re-released.

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Congratulations to Dreamgirls!
My pick was Little Miss Sunshine, however, Dreamgirls topped this list. (I’m still scratching my head on this one, but good for them.)

Best Performance, Motion Picture – Actor – Musical or Comedy: Congratulations to Sasha Baron Cohen!
I was rooting for Will Ferrell in this category, but my hunch about Sasha Baron Cohen winning this award turned out to be correct. Admittedly, this movie doesn’t really snag my interest but I may watch it when it comes out on DVD just to see what all the fuss is about.

Best Performance, Motion Picture – Actor/Supporting Role – Drama: Congratulations to Eddie Murphy!
I’m a pretty big Eddie Murphy fan, but I have to say I was stunned by this outcome. And although I enjoyed his performance in Dreamgirls, I didn’t see the role as all that compelling. Maybe the HFP wanted to send a message to Murphy that we’re glad to see him back in “meatier” roles, and we’d like to see him do more of them.

Best Director, Motion Picture: Congratulations to Martin Scorsese!
Loved the film! Thrilled that Scorsese took home this prize!

Best Screenplay: Congratulations to Peter Morgan!
2006 seems to have been a good year for this screenwriter. Not only did he win a Golden Globe for The Queen, but he also wrote The Last King of Scotland. Well done! I hope one day to be in such good company.

Congratulations also go to these fine actors/actress from my favorite TV shows:
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) for Best Actress, Drama
Hugh Laurie (House) for Best Actor, Drama
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) for Best Actor, Comedy

And congrats to Helen Mirren – who was “queen for the evening” by winning two Golden Globes, and to America Ferrera and the cast of Ugly Betty.

Finally, I have a couple of awards of my own to give out:
Best Acceptance Speech – Actress: Meryl Streep
Best Acceptance Speech – Actor: Hugh Laurie
Both were funny, thoughtful and entertaining.

Next up, the SAG awards on Sunday, January 28….