Inglorious Basterds

Quentin Tarantino takes his time making films but his results never disappoint."Basterds" is his latest triumph. This is a revenge fantasy farce, clear from the start, whereby Mr. Tarantino rewrites history in a most entertaining fashion. The films works on every level and if there is anything I can find fault with, it's probably some minor editing in a couple of scenes.

The trailer doesn't even begin to reveal the complexity of the story. It misleads you into thinking this is just a film about a squad of Jewish soldiers killing Nazi's during World War Two in occupied France. It is that but so much more. In fact, there are actually just a few scenes of the "Basterds" actually carrying out their missions. While some of these scenes are violently graphic, most of the violence is implied and off screen. The film really concentrates on it's characters and they are all fascinating to watch.

Brad Pitt is obviously enjoying himself as Col. Aldo Raine, the leader of the "Basterds", but the film completely belongs to Christoph Waltz as the charming but very evil Col. Hans Landa. Whenever he is on screen, the tension is unbearable. It is a remarkable performance that should easily be nominated at Oscar time. Melanie Laurent shows great range as Shosanna Dreyfus, especially in a restaurant scene with Col. Landa.

Mr. Tarantino's writing and direction is terrific. It is clear that he loves film, referencing cinema past and treating his actors with much generosity. The film is comical and yet, deadly serious with terrific tension induced scenes. The opening chapter, in particular, is spectacular from the first shot to the last.

All of the dialog is spoken in native languages so there is much use of subtitles but don't let that stop you from enjoying one of the best films of the year.

District 9

Writer/director Neil Blomkamp has created a fantastic morality play about discrimination and prejudice using alien creatures nicknamed "prawns" as his metaphor for the minority populace.

The film is set in South Africa, which in itself is a blatant statement but also a refreshing location, rather than New York, Washington D.C. or Los Angeles. It is set twenty years after a huge alien population is stranded on earth and forced to live in a confined shanty town on the outskirts of Johannesburg. When the government decides to relocate the aliens, the plot is really set in motion and it is fascinating to watch.

This very easily could have turned into a comedy of sorts but Mr. Blomkamp writes and directs with a serious eye and very quickly you are caught up in the drama of the alien plight. Using hand held cameras and shooting documentary style, makes "District 9" very plausible. The Aliens themselves appear to be a combination of CGI, costumes, makeup, and puppetry and they blend in perfectly with the human actors.

The cast does a fine job but the standout performance is by Sharlto Coply as Wikus Van De Merwe, the government official put in charge of the relocation. Wikus becomes the central figure in the story when his world is shattered and a new reality becomes all too apparent.

The action is turned up to eleven in the last act of the film, along with the tension but it also sets up a poignant ending with a haunting final image. "District 9" gets high marks for a low budget Sc-fi film.

Ponyo

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese director well known for great animation, "Ponyo" will not disappoint. The "G" rated film is beautiful to look with vibrant colors and fluid motion. The story itself is a variation on "The Little Mermaid", except this time it's a fish who wants to become human.

What's very trippy about this film is the little fish has a human face, turns part chicken before becoming human and falls in love with a five year old boy, wise beyond his years. While it's a simple tale at the core, it's also very weird and that gives it some extra appeal for older kids and adults.

The film takes place in a coastal Japanese village but all the dialog is in English by an A-list of actors including Cate Blanchett, Tina Fey, and Liam Neeson as well as Betty White and Cloris Leachman. For the kids in the audience, they will recognize Noah Cyrus as Ponyo and Frankie Jonas as SoSuke, the little boy who finds her on the beach.

There is some sub text about saving the planet and restoring the balance of nature but it gets so strange, that you shouldn't try to figure it out. Keep it simple and enjoy the heartwarming story of Ponyo's adventure.

Funny People

"Funny People" is the new film from Judd Apatow. If you go expecting another "40 Year Old Virgin" or "Knocked Up", you will be disappointed. Let me be clear, "Funny People" is not a comedy. It is a serious film about comedians. Now having said that, there are funny moments in the film but for the most part, this is Adam Sandler in "Punch Drunk Love" mode, angry and morose for most of the film.

I was happy to see a new maturity in the writing and the acting. In particular, Seth Rogan does a fine job as an struggling comic who ends up as Mr. Sandler's assistant and confidant. While the story is more serious, the humor is still juvenile and vulgar. Mr. Apatow wants it both ways, to up his game but not lose the fans that got him here in the first place.

The strangest thing is that halfway through "Funny People", there is a plot twist that spins it into a completely different movie that now puts the emphasis on Mr. Sandler's relationship with his lost love, played by Leslie Mann and her husband, played by Eric Bana. I sympathized with Mr. Rogan's character at this point, who just wants to go home rather than be stuck in a bad sitcom subplot.

Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill play Mr. Rogan's roommates and I honestly don't see the appeal of Mr. Hill. While Mr. Schwartzman brings some depth to his character, Mr. Hill brings nothing to the table. Of course, that may be attributed to the underwritten character but so far in his career, he's a one trick pony.

Ultimately, "Funny People" left me depressed.

In The Loop

This new film is a hilarious biting satire of government officials and the inner sanctums they inhabit. The film is a BBC production that takes place in England, Washington and The United Nations. The beauty of this film is in the razor sharp dialog and you must pay attention or you'll quickly be lost.

This is a very funny film following hapless British officials back and forth across the Atlantic to either help start a war or avert one (at some point I don't think they are even sure). The film will demand multiple viewings as much of the dialog is drowned out by audience laughter.

Many of the stars are not familiar to US audiences but you will be sure to remember Peter Capaldi as the senior official with the most foul and funny language. Tom Hollander is also brilliant as Simon Foster, another hapless diplomat. There are some familiar American names in the cast. James Gandolfini plays a very funny General (who would have been right at home in Dr. Strangelove), Mimi Kennedy and David Rasche play the American Government counterparts and they are both excellent as well. And rounding out the great cast is Anna Chlumsky as Ms. Kennedy's assistant. I don't think Ms. Chlumsky has been in a feature film since she co-starred as the title character in "My Girl" with Macaulay Culkin.

The screenplay is by Jesse Armstrong and it is Oscar worthy. It is smart, cutting and just plain hysterical. In a summer laden with CGI effects and animation, "In The Loop" is an original breath of fresh (and funny) air.

Julie & Julia

Based on the book by Julie Powell, this new film juxtaposes two stories about the art of cooking. The film alternates between 1949 Paris featuring a wonderful Meryl Streep as Julia Child and 2002 Queens, New York featuring an always reliable Amy Adams as Julie Powell.

Julia Child's story in 1949 is very much the stronger of the two. With Stanley Tucci playing Paul Child to Ms. Streep's Julia, they recreate the years when Ms. Child learned the art of French cooking that led to her world wide fame. Ms. Streep and Mr. Tucci are terrific together and we get to see a very human side of a woman many of us only remember as a TV chef and author.

In 2002, we watch as Ms. Powell decides to recreate every recipe in Ms. Child's book over the course of a year. Amy Adams is always fun to watch even when her character becomes whiny and annoying. Many critics didn't find these sequences well done but it's a rare actress that can still make annoying tolerable.

The film is light as a soufflé and fun to watch as Ms. Child goes to cooking school and Ms. Powell has meltdowns cooking every recipe. I would have enjoyed watching an entire film just about Julia Child and sometimes found it intrusive bouncing back and forth but the modern story holds together on the strength of the captivating Ms. Adams and ultimately the two stories work their culinary magic.

(500) Days of Summer

"A story about love that is not a love story". So says the narrator of this smart, honest look at 500 days of a relationship between Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel).

Not since "Say Anything" has a film about love been written this honestly from the male point of view. Mr Gordon-Levitt is known for quirky Indy dramas and "Third Rock From The Sun". It's refreshing to see him here in a lighter more natural role and as usual he does not disappoint. You feel all the highs and lows of his emotions as the film leapfrogs between the 500 days of his life with Summer. Ms. Deschanel is also excellent as Summer, the non-committal love of Tom's life.

Leapfrogging through their relationship is an interesting plot device that takes us from day 488 to day 1 and back to day 342 and so forth, showing us pivotal moments in Tom's courtship of Summer. The film also makes good use of animation, split screen, and a particularly good dance sequence (that represents Tom's feelings perfectly).

Director Marc Webb frames Los Angeles much the way Woody Allen would New York, bringing the city to life as another character in the story. His musical choices also blend in beautifully further enhancing the story. A good effort all around.

Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince

This is by far the weakest of the six Harry Potter films so far. The film creeps along at a deadly pace for more than two hours without much excitement but plenty of exposition. It is clearly a setup for the final book (which will be broken up into two films). You can consider this film the Potter version of "The Empire Strikes Back", without all the action.

All the lead actors are back but appear to be going through the motions at this point in the series. The most interesting performances are by Jim Broadbent as the potions teacher, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin as the young Tom Riddle, and Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley. The budding teen romances are awkward and provide little comic relief.

Visually the film would be memorable but it's hard to tell as the entire film appears to have been shot in the dark. What is really disappointing is the editing. Many scenes are very choppy and lack a fluid and cohesive motion between them.

The film is rated PG but really deserves a PG-13 based on some scenes that will definitely frighten smaller children. Also for die-hard fans, be aware a major plot point has been tampered with and that should cause much debate among the faithful

Bruno

Even more outrageous and borderline pornographic than "Borat", "Bruno" tries hard at shock and awe but ends up with just laughs and yawns.

This time around, Sasha Baron Cohen tries to hard to top his last film. Much of the set up is the same, throwing an outrageous character into the figurative and literal laps of clueless people, it's not as fresh as the first time around. Don't get me wrong, there some some very funny moments but much of it has a "been there, done that" feel.

Bruno worked very well as a character on a sitcom with short skits. As a full length film, it runs out of steam and hopes the more outrageous "Bruno" gets, the less you'll notice how empty it begins to feel. There are moments of genuine satire and eye opening commentary of the ignorance and intolerance still in this country but like "Borat", some of the sequences feel staged and that lessens the impact.

Of course real or staged, many scenes are really quite funny and if "Borat" worked for you, "Bruno" will too.

Moon

Writer/director Duncan Jones borrows some elements from "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Silent Running" and creates a fascinating tale of isolation in space. Sam Rockwell stars as the sole mining company employee serving a three year contract on the Moon. His only companion is a robot named Gerty voiced by Kevin Spacey.

Mr. Duncan does a nice job creating the claustrophobic environment for Mr. Rockwell, especially when thing may no longer be what they seem. Without ruining the plot, I can say that Mr. Rockwell delivers a knockout performance in what must have been a difficult acting assignment.

Because of the basic story elements, the film does tend to border on tedious at times but stay with it as there is an emotional impact at the end and the final outcome should stir some thought provoking conversation.

The Proposal

Romantic comedies are not really my favorite genre but my daughter picked this one so off we went. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is a stereotypical story of opposites attracting and fairly unbelievable but it works because of the chemistry of it's stars, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.

Ms. Bullock is adept at physical comedy and not afraid to poke fun at herself. Mr. Reynolds has an easy charm about him and wonderful facial expressions. The two stars really click together and combine to make the film a lighthearted romp that works even though you know the end even before the film starts.

Betty White co-stars as the feisty grandmother (also a very typical role) but finds a way to infuse her own charm into the character. Other co-stars are Craig T. Nelson (nice to see him working again) and Mary Steenburgen as the parents, Denis O'Hare as a cocky Immigration officer and Oscar Nunez (so good on The Office but a setback for Latin American actors here).

There's a fun epilogue during the credits so don't rush to leave when the film ends.

The Hurt Locker

Simply the most intense Iraq War movie since "Black Hawk Down". "The Hurt Locker" grabs you by throat from the opening minutes and never lets go. Director Kathryn Bigelow has made an visceral stunner of a film, based on the account of an embedded journalist who spent time with a bomb squad in Iraq.

This is an intimate portrait of three men and how the war affects them as they serve out their last month in rotation. While trying to survive the horror of the war itself, the intensity of serving on a bomb squad takes it to another level altogether. And to Ms. Bigelow's credit, her direction, camera work and editing put you, the viewer, right in the middle of this harrowing experience.

Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty make up the squad who's job is to solely diffuse both bombs and bombers alike. While all three actors are terrific, this is a star turn for Mr. Renner, who is just mesmerizing to watch. There are some blink and you miss them "star" cameos but the film truly belongs to Mr. Renner.

"The Hurt Locker" is authentic, suspenseful, tension filled and down right scary. It's a huge accomplishment for Ms. Bigelow and everyone involved and one of the best films of the year so far.

Whatever Works

Over the past few years, Woody Allen has tried many different actors to be his surrogate in his films. Some have worked (John Cusack) and some have not (Kenneth Branagh). Larry David is the perfect choice. His character in this new comedy from Mr. Allen is similar to his personality on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" but here it's even more abrasive and annoying. Boris worries about death and disease constantly, is negative about everything and appears to have no redeeming qualities at all.

Into his life comes Evan Rachel Wood (in her first comedy, I believe) and somehow these two completely different souls connect. Further complication ensue with the arrival of Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr. as Ms. Wood's parents. The material is dated (apparently the original script has been kicking around for decades) and the film feels like a throwback to earlier Woody Allen comedies but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

It runs out of steam in the third act but there are plenty of great one-liners and some good acting particularly from Ms. Wood. If you are a fan of both Mr. Allen and Mr. David, you will definitely enjoy "Larry does Woody"...Whatever Works.

Public Enemies

Nobody working today can touch director Michael Mann when it comes to crime drama. "Public Enemies" works on almost every level for an adult audience looking for a quality film among animation, CGI, and explosions.

Johnny Depp stars as bank robber John Dillinger and Christian Bale is Melvin Pervis, the FBI's special agent charged with bringing down. Mr. Depp reaches deep to bring Dillinger to life and no one can top Mr. Bale when it comes to intensity. There are many scenes with little or no dialog and yet both actors convey so much through their expressions.

You can find similarities with Mr. Mann's earlier work, "Heat" starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. Mr. Depp and Mr. Bale only have a few minutes of screen time together but it generates the same excitement as that earlier film. And I found the gun play equal to or even better than the shootouts in "Heat".

Using hand held camera's, Mr. Mann draws us intimately into this violent world. His excellent cinematography, editing and use of the film's music adds so much depth and color to the story, at times scenes are just poetry in motion.

Marion Cotillard co-stars as Billie Frechette, Mr. Dillinger's "moll" and she proves here that her performance as Edith Piaf was no fluke. Billy Crudup makes an interesting choice as J. Edgar Hoover and the rest of the cast is filled out by very reliable character actors including Stephen Lang, Stephen Dorff and Jason Clarke.

"Public Enemies" brings the heat.

Year One

Director Harold Ramis tries for a "Blazing Saddles" vibe in this new comedy but completely misses the mark. By combining contemporary language and references in an early historical setting, Mr. Ramis expects big laughs. It just doesn't work.

To begin with, the story is a mess. It's starts with what appears to be cavemen, played by Jack Black and Michael Cera banned from their tribe and turns into biblical skits that fall short of laughs and ends in Roman times in the city of Sodom (which I'm not sure is historically correct either). What really kills any hope of a coherent film is the terrible editing. Multiple scenes literally stop in their tracks leaving the viewer to wonder what happened next.

Mr. Black doesn't bother with acting and relies heavily on his frat boy shtick. If you're a fan of his style of humor, this film is for you. Mr. Cera fares somewhat better, actually eliciting laughs with his timing and deadpan humor. However, he deserves far better than having to urinate on his own face for laughs.

The film co-stars Oliver Platt (in the most embarrassing role of his career) as a gay high priest and David Cross as "Cain" who serves as a plot device to further the lame story.

If you want to laugh, watch the trailer and skip the movie.

The Taking of Pelham 123

There is no mistaking a Tony Scott film. They are all built for speed and "Pelham" literally fits the bill. Not exactly a remake but based on the 1974 film of the same name, "Pelham" is about a hijacked subway train and the interplay between the criminal and the transit worker who answers his call.

The original starred Walter Matthau as the transit worker and Robert Shaw as the ringleader. It was a tense game of cat & mouse between the two that turned on a clever plot point. The new version stars Denzel Washington as the transit worker and John Travolta as the hijacker. The intelligent interplay of the original is lost here, replaced by 21st century secrets and motives.

The two actors are very effective in their roles. Mr. Washington, in particular, is quite believable as the dispatcher with a secret of his own. Mr. Travolta is menacing enough but takes his part over the top, at times chewing up all the scenery. The film also stars James Gandolfini as the "Mike Bloomberg" mayor of New York and John Turturro as a hostage negotiator.

Everything about the new film is ramped up for speed. Much of the early part of the film is dialog between the leads and even that is short snappy patter. The "beat the clock" race through the streets is exciting enough but dumb. As one character suggest in the film, "why not take a helicopter". Why indeed?
And as a native New York, it bothers me no end when chase scenes through the streets of New York make no sense geographically. If you look closely, the runaway train passes Shea Stadium which is nowhere near where the train is supposed to be (and that's just one visual gaffe).

The film is decent summer entertainment but for an intelligent and tense thriller, rent the original.

Away We Go

An indie charmer from director Sam Mendes. This is the story of an expectant couple, Burt & Verona, who set out on a road trip across America to define their life and put down roots for their new family.

Starring as the 30 something couple are Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski. They are wonderful together (although the character of Burt could easily be related to Jim, the character Mr. Krasinski plays on "The Office"). As they travel from state to state, they meet friends and family who provide different directions their life together may take.

The film co-stars many familiar actors such as Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janey, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Paul Schneider. Representing the people that Burt & Verona meet along their journey, their respective roles amount to cameos during various points in the film. Burt & Verona are the glue that holds the film together (exemplified by a pancake & syrup metaphor) and the one constant throughout.

The soundtrack is comprised of songs by Alexi Murdoch, a singer/songwriter in the Cat Stevens vein. His songs form a sweet backdrop as the couple follow their odyssey.

Written by Dave Eggers and Veldela Vida, this is a comic drama about a really nice couple that you will enjoy spending time with and will probably miss them when you leave the theater.

The Hangover

The raunchy buddy comedy gets a welcome makeover in this very humorous film. The premise sounds familiar when four friends decide to take a road trip for a bachelor party in Las Vegas but writers Scott Moore and Jon Lucas take a fresh approach by adding a bit of mystery to the plot. Think "Memento" as an "R" rated comedy.

Rather than follow a linear storyline, "The Hangover" really starts the "morning after" in Las Vegas when three friends try to piece together what happened the night before and why the groom is missing. When they wake in their trashed suite, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms have no memory of what transpired and spend the majority of the film piecing it all together. The three actors have wonderful chemistry and that makes the film's sum greater than it's parts. It's a very funny ensemble piece.

Director Todd Phillips keeps things moving at a brisk pace and never lingers too long on a joke. The film contains some great lines and even better visuals as we see Las Vegas in a familiar yet fresh way. Mike Tyson has a cameo that would have been funnier had it not been shown in the trailer but it's still pretty funny.

There is even more to laugh about during the credits so don't leave too early.

Up

Pixar does it again. The track record for this studio is simply amazing. I never expected the emotional impact of "Wall-E" and I never would have believed an animated film starring and old man and a boy would be such a touching and emotional thrill ride.

Up is an original story with so many adult themes, you can't simply dismiss this as a kid's film. Realizing one's dreams, dealing with loss, reconnection, love, faith, friendship, and the importance of a strong garden hose all come together in one man's quest to fulfill a dream.

The opening montage that sets up the story is beautifully written and very emotional. It will, however, go way over the heads of small children like the thousands of colorful balloons that carry our hero, Carl Fredrickson off on his adventure. The emotional plot continues as a genuine and touching relationship develops between Carl and his accidental guest, Russell.

Besides the emotion, "Up" is filled with exciting chases and many funny moments (provided by in large by "Dug" the dog and "Kevin" the bird). The menacing dogs may frighten young kids but the lighter moments of the film more than make up for it.

And I can't say enough about the animation. I saw the film in 3-D and the effect is not used for cheap visual gags but rather to enhance the colors, depth and detail of this wonderful film.

"Up" will not let you down.

The Brothers Bloom

Adrian Brody and Mark Ruffalo star as con artist brothers in this low key quirky comedy. The basic idea is a familiar one, one brother wants out and the other convinces him to do one last con. Their final mark is a wealthy young woman played by Rachel Weisz. Rinko Kikuchi as co-stars as "Bang Bang", an almost silent accomplice to the brothers.

Of course things do not go as planned and Ms. Weisz becomes the most interesting character in the film. Just who is conning whom becomes the central plot, along with exploring the strained relationship between the brothers.

The film takes us on a world tour from New Jersey to Greece with many other exotic stops along the way. There is a certain charm to the story as it unfolds with a fairytale-like quality. Mr.. Ruffalo, Ms. Kikcuchi and Ms. Weisz are all fun to watch, especially Ms. Weisz, who seems to be really enjoying herself. Mr. Brody on the other hand plays his usual brooding self and is rather a bore.

The highlight of the film is the opening sequence depicting the brothers as youngsters perpetrating their first con on the neighborhood kids, narrated by Ricky Jay. I would have really enjoyed the film more if it hadn't jumped to 25 years later.