Movies

"Shrek" Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jensen. Screenwriters: Ted Elliott, Terry Russo, Joe Stillman, Roger S.H. Schulman. Staring (the voices of), John Lithgow, Camoran Diaz, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy.

I really enjoy animation and fantasy in general. Books, film, art and comics ect. I was a comic-book junkie (Marvel) thoughout my childhood. Saturday cartoons were and still are a treat I enjoy. All the technological advances that have made in the past few years with film animation have just been a boon for those of us who enjoy the visual. Only on paper or film can whole worlds and stories be created that would otherwise reside only in active imaginations. With that preface aside I want to tell you a little bit about Shrek and invite you to treat yourself to a truly fun little movie (90 minutes). The storyline is your basic fairy tale- beauty and the beast kinda thing- but with a healthy twist of 21st century cynicism that is perfect! The central characters are the ogre Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) and his talking donkey sidekick {sic} (voiced by Eddie Murphy). The ogre's swamp has become inhabited by fairy tale creatures and the ogre loves his privacy! Grrr..... So along with the donkey he sets out to rescue the beautiful princess and bring her back to the prince so that she can marry Prince Farquaad (voiced by John Lithgow) so that HE might become a king. THEN the prince promises Shrek he can have his beloved swam (and privacy) back. It is during this adventure that the writers take the opportunity to gently poke fun of all our "manners, mores and whiles". Stereotypes are dashed left and right. Everyone comes in for a bit of ribbing ( especially Walt Disney!) and a rich screenplay keeps things moving along nicely. A very good music tract underlines the different scenes ("Hallelujah" sung by John Cale!!). I can say I really enjoyed myself and laughed a lot during this 90 minute flick. the friend I was with even had tears in her eyes at one point. Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers are very, very funny in their respective vocal roles, playing the parts with grace and much restraint. The intelligent script is well and tastefully moved along by an excellent director(s). Although it is true that young children will miss most of the jokes, they will still very much enjoy the visuals. Excellent sets, colors and scenes. There is no blood or gore (ok one broken gingerbread mans leg), bad language, sex scenes ect. A little violence (squashed bad guys- no blood) but certainly not even as bad as your typical American Saturday cartoon fare. For those curmudgeons out there saying "yeah, right........not for me" let me warn you not to miss this. It really is a fun movie and for you "blue bunnies" out there, this is the perfect solution. Extraordinary visuals alone make the movie worthwhile. Go see it!! PS: Seeing this movie in the original language version (VO) is a must. I know it will be easy for the different countries to overdub their own languages but believe me when I tell you that you must hear Myers and Murphy (and the others) vocal nuances for this movie to have the correct impact. I'm not sure it will work otherwise. enjoy..........

 

"Almost Famous" Directed by Cameron Crowe, Edited by Joe Hutching and Saar Klein, original music by Nancy Wilson and Cameron Crowe and also featuring songs by Simon &Garfunkle, The Who, The Beach Boys, Elton John, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rod Stewart, ect. ect……… Featuring Frances McDormand (Elaine), Patrick Fugit (William), Billy Crudup (Russel), Kate Hudson (Penny Lane), Jason Lee (Jeff Bebe), Anna Paquin (Polexia).

I guess I’m a little late in seeing this movie but that comes from living in Europe for sure. Movies tend to get released later here then in the states plus the fact that I need to be able to catch the movie in a big city that I happen to be in when the movie is also there (and in English as well!). I had heard about this movie from some friends who’d recommended it to me but for some reason I never got around to going. Finally in Frankfurt, on an off night, I sat down in a small theater and for the next 2 hours was transported all the way back to 1973 and my teenage years. And what a glorius trip it was too! I really love and respect this director. All of his movies (Singles, Jerry Maguire) have been good I think and Mr Crowe always kinda stays with the same themes- innocence or the loss thereof . Almost Famous is basically the story of William, a teenage wannabe rock and roll critic in love with the music and desperate to sell a story to a major rock magazine. The movie twirls around an up and coming band (Stillwater), their manager, girlfriends, groupies and all the rest. Also a great performance by Frances McDormand as Williams over protectecting but well meaning mother who is petrified that her son will be consummed by sex, drugs, rock and roll or all three at once! Many, many things worked very well in this movie. Excellent performances by the cast, a goovy sound track, beautiful filming, a great script ect. ect all contribute to making this a real enjoyable 2 hours. I think what I liked the best though was Crowes ability to capture the innocence of those early rock and roll years. This was before the big buisiness of music really kicked in (although it was just around the corner!) and depersonalized the music. I think in those days dreams and dreaming for the musicians and fans alike was as much a part of the music as the actual notes themselves. At least this movie touched that part of me and brought back all the memories of those long ago years. I was lucky to have been alive then and the age I was. Those times are certainly one of the reasons I am who and what I am today and there is no doubt about that. This movie says a lot about those times. Thank you to Mr. Crowe and your superb cast and crew for the revisit! I look forward to your next one.

 

"Being John Malkovich" Directed by Spike Jonze. Written by Charlie Kaufman. Music by Carter Burwell. With John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich, Kay Place and Orson Bean.

This is flat out a wonderfull movie! On every level it works. The writing, acting, direction, sets, music and on and on. I don't want to tell you the plot because it really must be enjoyed with an open mind for your first viewing. From the first moments to the very end you are literally transported to another galaxy which,for me, is exactly what a movie is supposed to do for you. This movie challenges you on many levels and never lets you rest. I don't know anything about either the director or writer I'm sorry to say but if this movie is a true indication of their talents I'm thinking that there is hope for a rather bleak Hollywood after all. See this movie! I intend to see it again myself.

 

"American Beauty" directed by Sam Mendes, written by Alan Ball.

Ok, so it has kind of a stupid name and it won 6 Oscars. So what that it's about the "American way of life". See this film. I can't say to you that it's the best movie in the past year ("Magnolia"?) but I can say that it is highly entertaining, well written and thought provoking. All the actors give really outstanding performances (Kevin Spacey is super!). This film is at times hilarious,gripping, sobering and sad. The fact that it comes out of Hollywood is a point in its favor as it's not the usual movie that one would expect from "plastic-land". Perhaps there is hope still? I went to see this film with a French friend who usually does not like American films and even she enjoyed it. The best recommendation I can think of to give this movie.

 

"The Million Dollar Hotel" Directed by Wim Wenders, Written by Nicholas Klein. Music by Bono, Jon Hassel, Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. Starring: Jeremy Davies, Milla Jovovich with Mel Gibson Jimmy Smith and Amanda Plummer.

This is a movie I very much enjoyed. Basically it's a strange little love story that takes place in downtown L.A. in a run-down hotel named (what else) Million Dollar Hotel. The hotel itself is inhabited by all sorts of oddballs, misfits, castoffs and down-and-outers. Mel baby acts the part of a FBI agent that's assigned to an unsolved murder that is central to the plot and he plays the role in a very unlike himself kind of role. Kudos for him. Without giving anything away, this movie is a high octane drive through a darker but no less real picture of modern day America. Davies and Jovovich together are great finds. As you might expect from Herr Wenders the excellent film making and photography add to the tension and beauty of this movie. The sound tract is really steller! As a matter of fact I will buy it for the listening. I was pretty drained by the end of this emotionalflick but satisfied as well. I would guess this movie is not for everyones tastes but it has the kind of twisted writing, cinematography, music and acting that I enjoy. Check it out.

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