Thursday, October 15, 2009
Movie #31 ........................."The Bicycle Thief"
I rated it 5 stars
Average rating: 3.819
The Bicycle Thief
Ladri di biciclette
(1948) NR
Widely considered a landmark Italian film, Vittorio De Sica's tale of a man who relies on his bicycle to do his job during Rome's post-World War II depression earned a special Oscar for its devastating power. The same day Antonio (Lamberto Maggiorani) gets his vehicle back from the pawnshop, someone steals it, prompting him to search the city in vain with his young son, Bruno (Enzo Staiola). Increasingly, he confronts a looming desperation.
Movie #31 "The Bicycle Thief" is truly a classic, filmed in the streets of Rome (since I'm going there in November, that made it doubly nice), black and white (my favorite) it truly showed the desperation of the poor. The bicycle gets stolen about 17 minutes into the film, and Ricci (and his little 7 year old boy) spend 70 grueling minutes film time in search of it ------- he must find it ------and he loses personal dignity along the way. The film speaks to us in our desperate times of a jobless world. I had read a lot about this one, and it's worth 90 minutes of anyone's time. The film truly draws you into this poor man's lot in life. And the son is every bit as good as the kid in "The Champ". I'm glad I finally got to see this gem of a film
Movie#30........................"Informant"
The Informant!(2009) While gathering evidence against his employer, ADM in Decatur, Ill., to help the FBI build a price-fixing conspiracy case, wealthy, affable executive Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) begins to piece together a fantasy world of his own. Based on Kurt Eichenwald's acclaimed nonfiction book about a true-life Corporate America whistle-blower, Steven Soderbergh's dark comedy co-stars Scott Bakula, Joel McHale andMelanie Lynskey.
Movie #30 "Informant" with Matt Damon --- to tell the plot is giving away too much, even comparing it to other movies you might have seen is telling too much, too. Out of 5 stars, I would give it 3. I don't think it was the cast (Damon and Scott Bakula are good), but the script. It could use a bit more information in certain places ----- but it is very entertaining and kept my interest throughout to see where it was going. I think I would wait to rent it, though.
Movie #29........................."Diggers"
Diggers(2006) Paul Rudd, Maura Tierney, Lauren Ambrose and Ron Eldard star in this coming-of-age story about a group of friends who reluctantly follow in their families' footsteps and face what they deem a bleak existence as clam diggers on Long Island. Directed by Katherine Dieckmann, this touching dramedy follows the companions as they struggle to cope with their predestined futures while dreaming of better lives.
- Movie#29 "Diggers"(see plot above) was billed as a comedy in my netflix cue and I was ready for one, and I only laughed out loud one time. It's mildly amusing (due to Rudd and Tierney mostly), language is pretty raw, and I think I would subtitle it: the film where everyone takes a drag and then throws the cigarette away. Because it was full of that annoying stage business, there was a smokescreen (sorry about the pun) in front of the real issues --- grief, not enjoying your job, raising kids and still maintaining a social life, having friends of people who have known you all your life, guilt, brothers and sisters, etc. So it has some good stuff, but I wouldn't label it a comedy --- more a slice of life film. And then it's still just okay.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Movie #28........................."Strangers in Good Company"
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Movie #27........................."Pretty Persuasion"
Pretty Persuasion(2005) Kimberly (Evan Rachel Wood), a sophomore at a posh Beverly Hills high school, is obsessed with the idea of fame and popularity. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants and has no thought for how her actions might affect others in her path. When Kimberly and two friends (Elisabeth Harnois and Adi Schnall) decide to file a sexual harassment suit against a teacher, the three girls find themselves taken for the ride of their lives.
Movie#27 "Pretty Persuasion" though a dark teen flick that allows Rachel Evan Wood to shine again, her other movies are so much better --- this attempts satire but is so raunchy in parts and overly sexual, that it becomes what it satirizes --- a homophobic, racist, mean-spirited film that is uncomfortable to watch. Too bad, because it reminded me of "Running with scissors" in the opening, or "Heathers.
Movie #26........................."Rory O'Shea was here"
You rated this movie: 5.0
Rory O'Shea Was Here
Inside I'm Dancing
(2004) R
Although he has muscular dystrophy, Rory O'Shea (James McAvoy) refuses to surrender to the desperation of his life and instead embraces the potential in every day. When he moves into the Carrigmore Home for the Disabled and befriends the deeply bored Michael (Steven Robertson), a young man with cerebral palsy, Rory infuses his pal's life with renewed hope even as he struggles with his own demons.
Movie #26 "Rory O'Shea Was Here", a no holds barred look at what life is like in a wheelchair. Locked in a Dublin home, one lonely cerebral palsy patient whom no one can understand (except Rory) makes fast friends with Rory, who only can move 1 finger and his mouth & through his snide comments convinces his friend they can strike it out on their own. Bravo!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Movie #25........................."Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont"
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont(2005) Joan Plowright takes the title role as the recently widowed Mrs. Palfrey, who moves into a hotel while she waits -- and waits -- for her 26-year-old grandson (Lorcan O'Toole) to return her calls after she relocates to London to be closer to him. Mrs. Palfrey is about to give up on her family when a fateful fall introduces her to kind young writer Ludovic Meyer (Rupert Friend), who -- improbably --becomes her closest friend in this engaging drama.
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