In the Wings - Films

IN THE WINGS by HARRIETTE SMITH December 2010

SUMMER TIME IS OVER, AND WITH FALL AND NOW WINTER here, there’s lots of action ahead both at the movies and on the stages about town. This past summer has been bedecked with listening and viewing under the stars and clouds. More on this later.

There have been and are computer-generated and animated films, sequels and prequels: SHREK 3, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, IRON MAN 2, THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE, THE LAST AIRBENDER, on mythology. Enough of the computerized kiddie films? How about films for you and me. Some intelligent, adult films we want to see.

NOW FOR THE MOVIES, past, current, and coming A beautiful film was THE CONCERT, billed as a comedy but it’s far from that. Witty, it does have comedic overtones in the dialogue, but comedy, NO. A former celebrated Russian conductor of the Bolshoi Ballet orchestra who, with his fellow musicians, have hit rock bottom because the orchestra members, most of them being Jewish, were fired. He masterminds a plan to make the orchestra’s comeback. They had to have a star violin virtuoso, the luminous Melanie Laurent (of ”Inglourious Basterds”) for an outstanding first night’s performance at a prestigious theatre in Paris. The Tchaikovsky Concerto was played beautifully. This is a truly an adult film. I saw it twice and liked it even better the second time around. Another one is THE TILLMAN STORY, about the death of Pat Tillman, former pro football player who turned Army Ranger and was killed in Afghanistan, but the real story was covered up. He was killed by friendly fire. Josh Brolin narrates. Two lovely foreign films: MAO’S LAST DANCER is the true story of a small boy’s steps from poverty as a classical dancer in communist China to international stardom as he dances with the Houston Ballet. Li Cunxin is an amazing dancer and humanitarian. A beautiful film.

WAS ANXIOUS to see the life story of John Lennon, NOWHERE BOY, celebrating his 70th birthday. His life as a young boy in Liverpool was very good. Gave me more of an insight in his later life, with and after The Beatles.

Writer/director Rob Reiner had another charmer out: FLIPPED, a ‘60s coming-of-age story of two families with children who live across the street from each other and are quite different. It’s lovely. The two kids (male and female) do a flip-flop while growing up. Lots of period detail typical of the ‘60s.

The second film of the Swedish Stieg Larsson trilogy, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, has you literally sitting on the edge of your seat from beginning to end with brutal violence, rape, strong sexuality. The third film of the trilogy, THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, is the least violent of the three but excellent. Next year will see us watching these three films remade in America with English dialogue, starring Daniel Craig (James Bond) and newcomer Rooney Mara. Her two great-great-grandfathers, Tim Mara and Art Rooney, founded the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ben Affleck directed, starred and co-wrote THE TOWN. Will this be another GOOD WILL HUNTING for him? Maybe even better than good. Michael Douglas reprises his role of the past hot film, WALL STREET, with WALL STREET, MONEY NEVER SLEEPS. .

Had enuff? Wait, there’s more. In BLUE VALENTINE, Ryan Gosling and beautiful Michelle Williams use one night to try and save their failing marriage. Some of the most explicit sex scenes I’ve ever seen. Their NC-17 rating is being
challenged as I write this. Russell Crowe was wonderful in THE NEXT THREE DAYS as he tries to get his wife out of, or escaped from, prison for serving a murder she did not commit. FAIR GAME was excellent with Naomi Watts playing Valerie Plame, the CIA agent who was “outed” by the Bush White House.
Her husband, former Ambassador Joe Wilson, played by Sean Penn, fought the charge. Didn’t see BURLESQUE yet, but expect to see Cher at her best. MADE IN DAGENHAM has female workers in an English Ford plant walk out because of discrimination in ’66. Sally Hawkins shines, as does Bob Hoskins, Miranda Richardson and the lovely Rosamund Pike.

Kevin Spacey heads up an excellent cast in CASINO JACK, the story of jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff. COMPANY MEN was good with Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper and Kevin Costner; it’s about down-sizing work forces and redefining their lives. Affleck directed, starred in and co-wrote THE TOWN, a subtle thriller also starring Jeremy Renner and Rebecca Hall. Looks like it’s Affleck’s year.

BLACK SWAN, Darren Aronofsky’s dark ballet film, stars Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder. Competitive intrigue occurs, along with sex scenes. Ballet master is played by Vincent Cassel, who was compelling in the two French MESRINE films. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart give outstanding performances in RABBIT HOLE as the grieving parents of a deceased son. Equally fine performances by young Miles Teller, Dianne Wiest and Sandra Oh.

Javier Bardem and the remarkable Argentine actress Maricel Alvarez give heart-wrenching performances in Alejandro Gonzáles Inárritu’s BIUTIFUL.

In my opinion, the best picture this year is THE KING’S SPEECH, starring Colin Firth as the would-be King of England who must conquer his uncontrollable stammer. Geoffrey Rush plays his speech therapist, excellently. Helen Bonham Carter heads an outstanding supporting cast, including a surprise turn by Guy Pearce as Edward VIII. It’s already racking up major accolades, with more to come, no doubt.
That’s it folks.