Mao’s Last Dancer

Deb 8 Me 8

We both had some trepidation about this one. Deb because she thought it would be like Dancing Across Borders and me ‘cause I thought it sounded like Le Concert. It turns out to be its own movie and it’s pretty darn good.

The dancing in Dancer is ballet dancing. Something I know very little about and therefore have little appreciation for. That’s over. I’m blown away by what these cats can do with their bodies, and not in a clean and jerk motion, but smooth like flying. And the movie explores what it takes to get to that point, I really dug it.

Another thing I know little about and therefore have little appreciation for is China, where the movie has its origins. I know they make crappy products, own our debt and have no parallels to our view of civil rights, but the movie is sort of a sales pitch overtone that says things are a lot better now than under Mao’s influence. Still, no place I want to visit.

But the movie was terrific. It’s based on a real life guy, I have no idea how accurate it is, but it’s interesting as hell. The things this cat goes through in life, some of his own volition, some totally beyond his control, it makes for a good story.

It’s a very good looking movie. There were a few shots that were a bit digital looking, but they were very minor. Great music too. But I really was sold on the beauty of ballet.

When we left the theater I was happy about the movie, in subsequent conversations I found I had misunderstood one of the scenes and it changed the whole end of the film (in my misguided eyes). When I found out what really happened, I liked the movie even better. So if you run across a stumbling block, you’re not alone. But either way you see the movie, see the movie.

The Concert

Deb 9 Me 9

I love that the title is subtitled “Le Concert”, never would’ve figured that one out on my own. There’s not a lot of press on this one, apparently a Russian film that takes place in Russia and Paris (though I think it was shot in Austria). It is subtitled and the Russian language is very pretty to listen to. I like when I don’t know the actors, (at least most of them; two I’ve seen before) don’t know where the story is going and can sit back and enjoy the ride. This ride takes you through some fabulous scenery, political dynamics, great personal stories and some killer music.

I really liked it. The movie takes place in today’s times and reflects on times about thirty years ago when Brezhnev was in power in Russia. It follows a historical thread that I was unaware of and was fascinating.

There wasn’t a bad point to find. Out of 120 minutes there was less than one minute of confusion or distracting weirdness. Name the category, acting, set design, location, story, this was solid. It was great.

Flipped

Deb 8 Me 9

My motivation to see this was simply that it was a Rob Reiner film and rated PG. He usually makes terrific movies so it seemed like a safe bet. I was a little surprised to see all the people in the theater, most of the movies we see we are among an esoteric few who are willing to bet their two hours on little movie. But this is Rob Reiner, a lot of people showed up.

The movie is set in the late fifties, early sixties, the main people are about my brother’s age, so I have no trouble dialing in to the references presented here. It’s got a lot of narrative, sometimes that works and sometimes not, here it seemed a pretty essential part of telling the story.

This is not an action movie. It’s a story movie and with the narrative, it moves along at the pace of reading a story, not a lot of propulsion. This was fine with me, it was a good story, tight and well paced, and it didn’t need any more than what it gave you. The casting was good, they picked capable players who aren’t over used, in fact I haven’t seen some of them in decades. A lot of times big stars have signature moments, and you wait for the time when they become the actor instead of the charachter, and it distracts from the story. These are good performances. There were a couple goofs, and I think they were actual decisions to help make the movie more accessible to modern audiences, and not too big ‘o deal. The trailer plays Good Lovin’ by the Rascals, it was recorded years after the film’s setting and totally in appropriate because of its timing, but was fortunately not used in the movie. The soundtrack they did use was pretty great.

This is a sweet little coming of age tale, seen through the perspective of two evolving young people. There was a Juno-like person who was always interesting, smart and full of steam. It kept me involved all the way through. My mind wasn’t wandering around, wondering what was next or why they did this or that. In fact there are a few unanswered questions, but since it’s seen through the kid’s eyes, kids wouldn’t have known the answers.

I just really liked it. When it was done I thought, why don’t they make more movies like this? I’d go every day.

Get Low

Deb 10 Me 9

Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. From the moment I saw those names I knew this was a must see. For me, Duvall is defined by Santini, everything he has done is either a parody of Santini or an attempt to shake off the identity. Somehow he makes himself fit like a glove in just about every role he takes on. Here he manages to muster up a new persona that shows that he is a master of his craft. Bill Murray just seems to be comfortable wherever he is. I’ve always enjoyed watching him, and ever since The Razors Edge I’ve been taken with his ability as an actor. And what actress can stand among them? They picked Sissy Spacek who seemed to be a perfect match. These were supported by Bill Cobb who was just a treat, and a guy named Lucas Black as the token good looking guy who did a great job.

So the cast is in place, how about the rest of it? Set in 1930s Tennessee, it is a very pretty film. The art director looks like they had a good time, every scene is filled with subtle details. I really enjoyed the pacing of the movie; it enhanced the feeling of simpler times with out dragging.

Basically it’s a mystery. Duvall is a hermit, the subject of a million rumors, and has something to hide. Duvall seeks the help of Murray to clear things up by giving him a funeral party, which Duvall will attend. There is good story development, great characters, tension and release, a surprise or two and some laughs.

It’s a strong character driven movie. The story suffers in places. Toward the end I got a feeling a scene was cut and some sloppy splicing tried to cover the wound. This is why I dropped it to a 9. But the acting was so strong it over-rode any glitches or inconsistencies that occurred. And there were several. In the post-movie conversation a dozen problems came up, but none of them dampened the overall pleasure of watching the movie. It was a treat and it was the actors, director, art director and cinematographer that carried the weight.

Despicable Me

Deb 3 Me 7

This is flat out a kid’s movie. I don’t have much call to see movies for the younger set, and I don’t see that much animation for some reason, but there was an opportunity and I took it. The movie is rated PG for rude humor and mild action. I’m not sure what mild action is, the characters are supposed to move around in a movie, there has to be some kid of action or they might as well fade stills in and out. Anyway, there’s a guy who shoots people with a gun that turns them to ice. I suppose you tell the kids they defrost in about an hour and everything is okay. I just don’t like letting kids think pointing any kind of a gun at people and shooting them with anything is acceptable. Just not a good road to go down.

The thing that kept me going, astonished at times, were the surfaces of things. Metal, hair concrete, everything you looked at was beautifully rendered and it was a very pretty movie to watch. I didn’t recognize the actors voices, which I liked.

The story was complete, more so than many big budget adult movies. There was the overly cute stuff that adults seem to think kids need to see and there was a tender and moral side to it. I don’t know, it was just a nice little movie to see. I didn’t feel ripped off for spending one and a half valuable hours watching it.

Coco and Igor

Deb 7 Me 7

We saw the 2008 TV movie "Coco Chanel" and we liked 2009's "Coco Before Chanel" and so how could we miss the 2010 installation, "Coco and Igor". This seemed like a pretty specialized topic with limited appeal but was really a good flick. The main figures are Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky. Some big names. Diaghilev and Nijinski from the Ballet Russe were featured as they depicted the great classical music riot. I love the idea of a classical music riot.

I imagine that art directors live for this kind of project. All the details, the drapes, furniture, clothes, cars, buildings were all superbly detailed. And this is such an important element to understanding her position. She was a major contributor to style, fashion and the change of what was acceptable socially. Between the wars, from 1917ish to the early 1940s she rocked Europe. Then again after the big war in the 1950s she kicked America's fashionable ass with styles that are still contemporary. And that was a neat thing in this film, there was a scene showing her shop in Paris, with the now-familiar Chanel logo out front. The stone streets and worn buildings were so primitive looking, and here's this "look". It defines what we call contemporary.

So as a movie it was pretty neat. It was a great interpretation of the changes that were going on in the early 20th century. But the premise of the movie, an affair between Coco and Igor, is just based on rumor, there's no evidence they ever hooked up romantically. someone just made up how they thought it could have happened. So it's sort of a Oliver Stone thing. Really well done and based on lies. But somehow this wasn't offensive like Stone's films, it was entertaining. It kept me going all the way through, although at a snails pace, Coco's breakaway dress perked me up after a dry spell.

Good movie if you like fictionalized biopics about this period of time.

The Kids Are All Right

Deb 7 Me 4

First off, I have a problem with big budget movies that can’t think of anything more original than the name of a rock song to use as a title. Millions of dollars, focus groups, market research and the best they can come up with is a title that's already been used. And the name seemed to have little if anything to do with the movie. It’s a sure sign that this is a mainstream movie destined to annoy anyone regardless of their demographic.

The film centers around a lesbian couple who has raised two nice kids. You’d think their sexual preference would be a plot point, difficulties they might face socially, issues their kids might deal with, something with some meat to it. But no, it’s just someone’s idea of a new twist to an otherwise bland story. The kids are curious about their sperm donor father (even though they are three years apart each of them share the same donor) and that’s where the interest is focused. You’d think that could be made interesting, and it could, but they didn’t.

The humor comes from potty mouths. The audience is surprised when the actors use the “f” word or make some other sexual reference and that’s where the bulk of the laughs seem to come from.

The art director did a great job. There is some very interesting use of color in places and the art director probably had a good time too. The actors were fine, although the fifteen year old looked more like twenty. It was filmed in LA. It had to be in LA, NY or San Francisco, there doesn’t seem to be a lesbian population in middle America, only tomboys.

I got the feeling all throughout the movie that there was a very good screenplay at some point and it got lost in the Hollywood formula that serves the masses. This movie is the reason I try to stay away from middle of the road mainstream films. It’s just a waste of valuable time. On the redemption side, everyone here is a total basket case, but the kids are alright.

Oddly Deb gave it a 7 although she had very little good to say about it. I figure mainstream movies shoot for a 5, it’s the best they can do, and this one fell short to a 4.