Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Deb 9         Me 9

I didn’t expect to like this movie. First of all it’s English. I usually have trouble understanding what they’re saying and the references and humor often escape me. The movie is filled with English stars and I figured it to be a sort of Oceans 11 for old limies. And I’m no fan of India, Its over run by monkeys and too busy, crowded and chaotic for my taste. They still endorse the caste system, one of the most horrible strikes against human rights; where humans count for less than cattle. Although it’s not their fault, I resent that we send our jobs there.

But it’s a really good little movie. The cast lives up to their living legend status. There are new people too and they do a swell job. It’s a good-looking movie, I’m guessing it was shot on location and has the same sort of old world charm that Cuba offers. But there’s a story there, actually about seven stories that are all interesting and connected like different flowers in a garden. Its not a travelogue, as many of these things turn out to be and its not an overly preachy story about old people, but offers a valid message in an entertaining and effective way. I think you outta see it.

Marley

Deb 9        Me 9

This is a straightforward well done documentary on Bob Marley, one of the originators of reggae music and an advocate of the Rastafari movement. Now this is embarrassing to admit, but I knew nothing about Bob. I'm not a fan of reggae and turn the radio channel whenever I hear that peculiar rhythm, so I don't know Bob's songs. That's all changed now.

The documentary takes us from Marley's mixed lineage, the social circumstances he was raised in and his development as a musician. It is really an inspiring rise as told by friends, family and collaborators in archival footage and new interviews that are artfully woven.

Like so many great men with a universal vision, they often overlook those closest to them. The cat is not a god and even though this film focuses on the buttered side of the toast, flaws are revealed too. But in the movie the things he stood for and accomplished so heavily outweigh his weakness that some of them seem almost incidental. 

The little bit I heard about the Rastafarian religion, the little bit of the music I have heard (not knowing the artist), the little bit I've seen of his mug on tee shirts for the last forty years did nothing to prepare me for what a dynamic cat this is. The things that influence him are explained to a satisfying point without loosing sight that the subject is Marley the man, not his religion or music or environment. 

But these elements shape his vision. His impact on individuals collectively moved nations to change. I am really enthused about what this film gave me, a reminder that one man armed with universal positive values can have global impact. It could be and should be you and me doing the same things with whatever tools we have, there is a way to get good messages out there.

There were a few things brought up that weren't revisited or resolved, but the basic package of telling a life story in two and half hours is done Very well. Whether you are a fan or not, I hope you see it. The next time I hear that peculiar rhythm I will turn up the radio and listen to the words.

We Have A Pope

Deb 7     Me 6

I thought I saw this billed as a comedy; it's not. Had some light moments, but not a comedy. I don't mind giving the movie away because you probably wont see it. Its a movie about non-resolution. Ostensibly the movie is about the appointment of a new reluctant Pope. But really everything in the movie is unresolved which holds a modicum of interest, but not a lot of affection. It is beautiful to look at and I love the sound of the Italian language used in the film. The regency of the religious garb is pretty cool and the actors do a fine job in this beautifully directed film. But in an industry that has bred generations of viewers who rely on conflict AND resolution, they have really stirred the pot here by ignoring a key ingredient. This is to be expected in more guerilla type 'o underground flick and strangely out of place here. Whether dealing with parental deprivation or a game of football, there isn't one thing that gets taken care of here. On one hand I like that. Should the scenario that takes place in the movie actually happen, it would probably look And feel like this. Perhaps it is accurate, just not great to watch on the screen.

Jeff, Who Lives At Home

Deb 7 Me 8

Based on the previews, this is not the movie I thought it would be. The synopsis is much better, it reads: "On his way to the store to buy wood glue, Jeff looks for signs from the universe to determine his path. However, a series of unexpected events leads him to cross paths with his family in the strangest of locations and circumstances. Jeff just may find the meaning of his life... and if he's lucky, pick up the wood glue as well."
Jeff is a big and kind guy played very well by Jason Segel; I've never seen him before and I like him. His brother is played by Ed Helms who I've seen on TV and the previews for Cedar Rapids. He seemed pretty one dimensional but it works for him here. Susan Sarandon is her usual self and it was nice to see Rae Dawn Chong again. But their part in the movie is pretty incidental and really had little to nothing to add to the movie.
As a movie it's just fine. Nothing earth shattering but an enjoyable buzz. There are unanswered questions, a few holes and a lot of laughs. Short at an hour and a half so there's no big investment here, but I liked the payoff. The opening has a graphic with a Jeff quote about everything in the universe being connected. I like that thinking and enjoyed the rest of it with that perspective in mind. Sarandon seems to gravitate toward that sort of theme, here it is played out in a fun and plausible story.

Wanderlust

Deb 8 Me 8

First off, if you have any illusions of seeing Jennifer Anniston naked, forget it. It don't happen here. There is some nudity and they break the dick barrier frequently in this funny funny movie. I like that they got right into it. There is a brief introduction to the players then we're off, we learn as we go. The bulk of the movie is a send up of a hippie commune filled with throwbacks with outdated references and exaggerated ideals. I found you have to abandon continuity and credibility and put up with formulaic tedium. But if you do, there are laughs; big hearty missed-the-next-line kind of laughs. There is a lot said under the breath that you have to listen for, they provide laughs too. Although they make fun of individuals in the commune world, the collective premise is given some respect and again, laughs. And there's lots of swearing too. Good healthy non-viscious cussing up a storm. We saw it twice.

Boy

Deb 4 Me 6

Here's the latest film out of New Zealand, the current cinematic hot spot of the south Pacific. I nice little movie, I presume aimed at a younger audience. I think that because this is like a live action cartoon, the players are all sort of over-the-top caricatures and not always credible as real folks. It is based around a boy called Boy who plays the cute card quite well and does a good job for a youngster, but his little brother plays it a bit subtler which seemed to make him more interesting. The kid appears to have been raised by a nanny, and then falls under the influence of his estranged dad, who leads him down a road that (however immature it is) is not suitable for a kid. But the kid was raised well and reverts to his solid upbringing and makes good choices. A nice little fable told very slowly. I had to pee in the middle of the movie and found myself reading literature in the lobby rather than return to the movie, and according to those who stayed behind, I didn't miss much.

Hugo

Deb 7 Me 6

Martin Scorsese hasn’t really been in my film vocabulary. A quick look at his extensive filmography reveals my lack of exposure to his work, The Last Waltz and The Aviator are the only two I’ve seen, and I only liked half of those. In the last few years he has branched out from his usual fare and dealt with some subjects that I share an affinity with, but I haven’t seen them yet. We recently saw a short news-clip about an automaton; a fascinating machine, often built by watchmakers, that could perform human-like feats including writing and drawing. The news-show mentioned that the Scorsese movie Hugo featured one, so we went to see the movie that otherwise would not have made the list of possible movies to see.

I liked it okay, but came away feeling a little burnt. It was a beautiful movie to watch, the first hour was carried by rich color, great old textures, huge mechanical devises and neat imaginative settings. But that was it, otherwise pretty boring; I kept playing with the 3D glasses to keep occupied. Then about midway it took a turn for the better and became a movie about film pioneer George Melies. Scorsese has a genuine affection for the filmmaker and presents his life and work in the best (albeit fictionalized) light. From there on out, the film had a bit of substance that I could hang on to. I left the theater thinking it had redeemed itself from the first hour of glossy effects.

Then it started to wear on me. Here’s a movie, done by a recognized master film maker done about a most creative and inventive trail blazer and yet the film used a tired old formula that was no more sophisticated than Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I couldn’t figure out who the film was made for, or why he went to such great lengths to decorate a table with no legs. The recreations of Melies sets and the presentation of his and other early cineamteque fathers was admirable and really deserve a much better tribute than this (good looking, but) trite movie.