Off to the races... a batch of mini reviews

I have been providing these little mini-reviews for years to friends and family, so I thought I would initiate my blog with a highlight reel of recent films. Thanks to a perfect Christmas gift in the form of an AMC gift card I have been able to catch up on most of my awards contenders. In no particular order...

The Great Debaters - Like Apollo 13 the film is predictable and at the same time a great 2 hours spent at the theater. The story is compelling and the acting was so strong it overcomes some of its cliches. Based on the true story of how the Wiley College debate team rose to be the best of the best in the country at the height of the Jim Crow south the film shows spirit, determination and fear in the most visceral of ways. It is interesting to watch the journey through the eyes of the debate team. Watching Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker going tit for tat makes for a glorious scene that left me wanting more of them sharing screen time. There is some sharp dialogue and a handful of poignant moments that are so honest you have sympathy in the bad choices. A horrifying lynching is painfully juxtaposed with an earlier scene involving Forest Whitaker's character that haunted me for the remainder of the film and its effect made an obvious ending resonate unexpectedly. Worth the time certainly, but not a must see.

Juno - This film I absolutely adored and it was probably my favorite film that I have seen in a year. It is smart, funny, wonderfully written and brilliantly acted. There are moments where it is so witty that it teeters on almost being too smart for it's own good - but I think the solid acting reigns that in and prevents the film from dipping into being pretentious. While I often thought teenagers don't speak with this level of wit you simply can't take anything away from Ellen Page who plays Juno. She deserves all the kudos she is getting because she is luminous on the screen. Her dialogue delivered sharp and indignant while all her vulnerability sits in her body language and face. It is difficult to not be drawn into her journey. For those who don't know, the film is about a 16 yr old girl who becomes pregnant and gives her child up for adoption. The supporting cast from Allison Janey who has two of the best lines in the film to interesting supporting roles from Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner as the potential adoptive parents I just can't say enough positive things. It is a must see if you are wondering "What should I go see?"

Sweeny Todd -- OK, I definitely think what I thought going in that the movie is a perfect marriage of Tim Burton's macabre style and the gruesome material. However, I was concerned about how Burton's direction would handle the music of Stephen Sondheim, and lets be honest the movie musical has had a bumpy resurgence (But more on that in another blog). My two major beefs with the film are as follows:
1)For the life of me I don't know why Tim Burton did not dub Helena Boham Carter. While her acting is solid, she absolutely could not sing it. I mean to the point that they removed lyrics in a pivotal song because she couldn't do it. UGH!!! Hire a singer and have them do a voice over, it worked for Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn it could have worked here.
2)My other major beef, for me an unforgivable choice - the fact that Burton uses the orchestrations from opening overture, The Ballad of Sweeny Todd but leaves out the lyrics entirely. It frames the entire show and is stunning musically and I am baffled as to why he left it out.

Johnny Depp hangs in there musically with the material and really captures the maniacal nature of the character. The supporting cast is strong as well and it is visually stunning all around in it's decay, grossness and darkness. All the other cuts of the music made the story flow better. So while I really liked it, those two hiccups kept me arms length from loving it.

No Country for Old Men - Disclaimer - I am completely biased when it comes to this film because it co-stars my beloved Javier "la la la" Bardem. That said it is as many have said the best film the Cohen Brothers have put out since Fargo. I honestly don't remember the last time my shoulders sat in my ears for that amount of time due to the intensity of a film. It grabs you by the jugular from the opening scene and doesn't release it until seconds before the credits role. Javier Bardem embodies evil in ways that are sadistic and cruel. It is a difficult film to describe without retelling the story, but suffice it to say the plot revolves around stolen money and various attempts to retrieve it. While the premise seems overly simplistic it is the way the film unfolds the characters' actions and motives that remains intriguing while a cat and mouse hunt/chase layers over it. Certainly not for the squeamish or easily creeped out. And for anyone thinking, well Fargo was great-- This makes Fargo look like "It's A Wonderful Life".