Take Me To The River

Deb 8      Me 8

This is a movie made about creating an album of music fusing talents of the legendary STAX musicians and the popular rap artists of today. From the first scenes I could see that the filmmaker took the time to sync even the most incidental almost-off-camera performers to the music up front. That was impressive. Then there was a quick a capella performance of the Rhodes Sisters (who look like a bunch PTA moms) that could've been embarrassing but was terrific. That sold me. The rest of the movie was riveting. 

The STAX musicians are not only wonderful, but they're fun people too. The work of the rappers is integrated into the live recordings, and although the heartfelt words are strung together in a clever way they are all strikingly similar in delivery. There were moments when the film felt like a commercial for the pending album, and the unexplained absence of Steve Cropper stands out, but overall this was a great document of our society in the heyday of the STAX (from about 1960 through early 70s) and how the music shaped and reflected its times. A really nice way to spend the evening.

Love Is Strange

Deb 7    Me 6

Strange title. Didn't seem to fit anything. I didn't really accept the premise and there too many unrealized story elements and superfluous characters to make this feel like a whole movie. I get the feeling this was a book and they had to at least mention certain people or situations for fear of alienating the readers. The readers had their chance and including the peripheral stuff screwed up what could have been a better movie. It is about a long term gay relationship and that was presented well, but the supporting people and situations were half baked at best. Didn't get it for me.

The 100 Foot Journey

Deb 9    Me 8

Oh I dreaded having to see this one. I'm so burnt out on all this Baliwood kind 'o stuff. I know the English have some fascination with India but I don't. It's one of the few places on my list to avoid (which is probably true with a lot of people), hence all this "once you get past the rampant monkey shit and selling children as prostitutes stuff" there's a real charm and dignity in India. 

So this movie is different. It's not in England or India, but in France. It starts out spelling out the background and moves in exciting ways that threw me off balance, not knowing what to expect in the rest of the movie and what unfolded was a pretty neat little story, not at all what I  figured. There are holes and weirdnesses and a few odds and ends that maybe don't add up. There were several places where I thought the movie would end, but it didn't, so the 122 minute running time seemed like a long time, but it was a nice way to spend the evening.