Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 December 2006

After seeing the trailer for The Holiday, I braced myself for another predictable romance flick.  As the analogy goes however, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.  This film is surprisingly good.  To use a quote that belongs on a movie poster – it’s the best romantic comedy of the year.

Amanda (Diaz) lives in Los Angeles and works in the movie industry.  Her job is to make the film trailers that we see in cinemas and on TV (note the irony given the first sense of this review).  She may be successful at work but her life at home is anything but.  Amanda has just broken up with her long-time partner, Ethan (Burns), after finding out he’d cheated on her.  With Christmas just around the corner, she needs to get away from the big city.  She needs a holiday.

Across the globe in a small town outside of London lives Iris (Winslet).  Working as a journalist, Iris has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a fellow employee named Jasper (Sewell) for the past three years.  After learning at the office Christmas party that Jasper has recently become engaged to a another woman, Iris bursts into tears.  She loved Jasper and the fact that he had been truthful with her has left her crushed.  She too needs to get away from her problems.  She too needs a holiday.

Both Amanda and Iris investigate their options on the internet.  They come across a website which runs a home exchange program.  The way it works is that two people meet and agree to swap homes for a defined period of time.  I’m sure I’d do it but it sure saves on the cost of accommodation.  As you can guess, Amanda and Iris meet online and agree to go through with it for two weeks.  Within 24 hours, they’re both travelling on a plane across the Atlantic.

It’s at this point where the movie comes to life.  In the UK, Amanda meets Graham (Law), Iris’s brother.  There’s an immediate attraction but they sense the difficulty in getting involved given that Amanda is only there for two weeks.  In the USA, Iris becomes friends with one of Amanda’s elderly neighbours, Arthur (Wallach).  Arthur was once a famous screenwriter and the two share stories about what Hollywood was like in the “golden days”.  Iris also meets Miles (Black), a struggling film composer with an actress for a girlfriend.  Is she again falling for a taken man?

For romantics in the audience, the film will provide much entertainment.  It may not happen in real life but the characters in The Holiday express their inner-most feelings with brilliant clarity.  Many will relate to their insecurities and this only adds to our willingness for Amanda, Graham, Iris and Miles to find happiness.

I admit to finding the Kate Winslet / Jack Black story the more interesting of the two.  Black has the most laughs in the film and it’s a shame he doesn’t get more screen time.  Winslet’s performance was easily my favourite.  She has an endearing charm that makes her easy to like.  It’s no wonder that she was nominated for four Academy Awards before turning age 30.

Those who can’t be wooed by the film’s romance might find enjoyment in the fact that the movie revolves around the film industry.  With Amanda working as a trailer maker, Jack working as a film score composer and Arthur as a screenwriter, it provides much commentary about the industry in general.  There’s a cute cinematic trick that writer-director Nancy Meyers (What Women Want, Something’s Gotta Give) weaves into the film (concerning Amanda) that will leave you smiling.

With a few nice touches and something for almost everyone, The Holiday is a nice, light-weight film to be watching over the Christmas break.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 December 2006

It may be more than 200 years old but Marie Antoinette’s story continues to fascinate those who hear it.  She was born in Austria in 1755 as the last of her mother’s fifteen children.  To help secure the alliance between Austria and France, it was arranged for her to marry Louis-Auguste, the heir to the French throne.  She was only 14 years old on her wedding day.

When the king died four years later, Louis-Auguste (as Louis XVI) and Marie Antoinette became the new King and Queen.  There were constant rumours (such as why they didn’t immediately have children) but despite this, Louis and Marie were loved and respected by the people of France.

Times soon changed.  By 1789, France had slipped into a deep depression.  Food was scarce, unemployment was high and most were poverty stricken.  Unhappy with the King’s increased taxes and the Queen’s spendthrift ways, the people revolted.  A mob broke into the Palace forcing the King and Queen to flee.

It was the start of the French Revolution.  The monarchy would collapse not long after and both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were found guilty of treason.  Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine in 1793.

Sofia Coppola’s film on Marie Antoinette is strange to say the least.  It features a varied cast (with two Americans in the leading roles) and a soundtrack that mixes classical with rock.  It’s a bold project – one that is try to be cool and trendy whilst still somehow maintaining the aura of 18^th Century France.  It’s similar to what Baz Luhrmann did with Romeo & Juliet 10 years ago.

Unfortunately for Sofia, her gamble has not come to fruition.  Marie Antoinette is a jumbled mess of repetitive scenes.  Based on what’s in the film, you’d think that Marie Antoinette only did four things – eat, drink, party and pressure her husband to have sex.  Even if this is an accurate portrayal of her life, how should it keep my attention for two hours?  Why do I have to watch her party so often?  What is this telling me?

The film ends with Louis and Marie being kicked out their Palace.  Her death and the battles in the years leading up to it aren’t covered.  Sofia Coppola has tried to be original in telling the story from a different angle.  She wants to look at how Antoinette came to be instead of focusing on her famous death.  Again, it doesn’t work.  So many scenes felt the same.  It was only in the final 15 minutes (when France starts to revolt) that I had any interest.

My criticisms won’t be a startling newsflash for those who’ve followed this film’s release.  When in premiered in France at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, it was greeted with “a thunder of boos”.  That said, some critics have been are fond of its audacious style and have lavished the film with praise.  I can only assume that the film fits into that special category where “you’ll either love it or hate it”.

Sofia Coppola’s last film, Lost In Translation, was brilliant.  I’ve seen it many times and the Academy Award she took home (for best original screenplay) was well deserved.  In stark contrast, Marie Antoinette is a yawn-fest.  I intend never to see it again.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 18 December 2006

Babel marks the third time that writer Guillermo Arriaga and director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu have worked together on a major film.  In 2000, they crafted Amores Perros which is ranked the 142^nd greatest film of all time on the Internet Movie Database.  The equally powerful 21 Grams was released in 2003 and earned Academy Award nominations for stars Benecio Del Toro and Naomi Watts.  There’s no denying that this talented Mexican duo know how to make a great movie.

In Babel, four different stories are told.  Richard (Pitt) and Susan (Blanchett) are an American couple on a holiday looking to rebuild their troubled marriage.  Amelia (Barraza) is a housekeeper living in the United States who is about to return home to Mexico for her son’s (Bernal) wedding.  Yuseef and Ahmed are two mischievous children from a poor but tight-nit Moroccan family.  Chieko (Kikuchi) is a deaf Japanese girl who is sick of her father (Yasujiro) and longs to find a boyfriend.      

These stories overlap but more importantly, there’s a common theme – our struggle to connect with one another.  We live in a world where it’s physically easy to communicate (thanks to phones, the internet, etc) and yet we are still divided by culture, race, language and financial status.  Even within our own homes, we create imaginary barriers to avoid dealing with problems and conflict.

It’s an interesting topic to explore and the film does so without telling us what conclusions to reach.  All you need do is watch the drama unfold and make of it what you will.  What are these characters thinking?  Why are they like the way they are?  Why are they masking their true feelings?  What’s great about the film is that we’ll all have different answers to these questions.  Some you will relate to.  Others you will not.

Shot in three countries and featuring four languages, Babel is a true example of international cinema.  Funnily enough, Gonzalez Inarritu faced the same problems that some of the characters did in his movie.  Not only was he working with non-professional actors, he had to get them to speak in languages (such as Arabic) that he didn’t even understand.  Thankfully for us, we get subtitles.

The film has received much publicity in the past week having been nominated for seven Golden Globe Awards – more than any other film this year.  It includes nods for best picture, best director and best screenplay.  Three performances were singled out for nomination in the acting categories – Brad Pitt as Richard, Rinko Kikuchi as Chieko and Adriana Barraza as Amelia.  I’m not sure about Pitt’s nomination but the Globes have gotten it right by singling out Kikuchi and Barraza.  They were the two most interesting characters and the two I felt most empathy for.  I’d love to see them both nominated for an Oscar.

When it premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Babel won the best director prize.  Recent winners of the same award include Hidden, Elephant, Punch Drunk Love and Mulholland Drive.  It’s a magnificent list of films and I’m more than happy to see Babel join their company.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 09 December 2006

Dreamworks Animation has put together two animated flicks in 2006 – Over The Hedge (released in June) and now Flushed Away.  The quality of computer animation has improved greatly over the years but it sure has come at a cost.  Flushed Away cost a staggering $149m to produce.  How could a film with no live performances cost so much?

It’s a question that kids won’t care about.  They’ll be more interested in seeing the tale of Roddy St James, a loveable rat who lives his life as a pet.  With plenty of food and lots of space to play, Roddy’s existence is one of luxury.  Unfortunately, it is also one of loneliness.  There are no fellow rats to talk to.

That soon changes with the arrival of Sid, a sewer rat who has been unexpectedly shot up the garbage disposal.  Sid makes himself at home but his lack of hygiene and etiquette has left Roddy disgusted.  Looking to get rid of the new guest, Roddy suggests that Sid go for a swim in the toilet.  His plan is to pull the lever and watch Sid disappear.  It all backfires however and it’s Roddy who finds himself being flushed away.

At the end of his journey down the pipes, Roddy discovers a world he never knew existed.  Thousands of rats, slugs, toads and other creatures have created their own city deep in the sewer.  They go about their business just like humans do on the surface.  It’s all a bit scary for Roddy who just wants to go home.  Is there anyone who will be able to help?

The film has its moments but is it memorable enough to see a second time?  No.  I’ve said this about so many films of late.  My apathy is becoming monotonous.  A post by a viewer on the Internet Movie Database sums up my thoughts – “if we see one more CGI animal who has found himself placed outside of his usual circumstances with hilarious consequences we are all going to vomit to death.”

The best characters in the film are a band of shy slugs with a knack for good singing.  Also amusing is a team of French frogs who try to prevent Roddy from returning to the surface.  Sadly, the main players in the story don’t have the same humour and charm.  I smiled a couple of times but that’s about it.  Call me a cynic.

There’s an obvious message to the story which children should pick up on.  Those with a keener eye might also detect hidden references to other popular films.  There’s no denying that much effort has gone into Flushed Away but it lacks the originality and wit that I am craving.  Those judging the film on a different basis may find it more to their liking.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 15 December 2006

Night At The Museum is a cool family movie.  It’s not trying to tell us a message and it’s not trying to make us feel warm and fuzzy.  All it asks is that you sit back, relax and enjoy.

Larry Daley (Stiller) is a divorced father who is struggling to make ends meet.  He’s been fired and it looks like he’ll have to move out of his apartment.  Worst of all, Larry just found out that his son, Nick (Cherry), didn’t invite him to his school’s career day.  It seems that Nick is embarrassed by his dad’s inability to hold down a job.

Desperate to win back his son’s respect, Larry goes to a job agency looking for anything that’s available.  The only position is that of a nightwatchman at the Museum of Natural History.  The previous three guards leave Larry a book of instructions and a set of keys.  They also give him an important piece of advice – “don’t let anything in or out”.

Larry realises the significance of their comment when the sun sets and the front doors are closed – the museum comes to life!  The human statues and the stuffed animals all start to move.  As you can imagine, mayhem ensues.  He is attacked by a dinosaur skeleton, has his keys stolen by a monkey and is chased by Attila The Hun.  Larry sums it up best when he mumbles to himself that “this is so not worth $11.50 an hour”.

Many viewers will see the obvious similarity in the story with that of Jumanji (the Robin Williams flick released in 1995).  I can forgive the lack of originality because of the wonderful characters that make Night At The Museum so entertaining.  Ben Stiller is great as Larry.  After getting over the initial shock of the situation, Larry has a few laughs by trying to outsmart the museum’s inhabitants.  He doesn’t always find success but his ridiculous plans are amusing to watch.

The funniest scenes in the film are those between Stiller and English actor Ricky Gervais (The Office).  As the museum’s curator, Gervais gives new meaning to the word “eccentric”.  He’s always trailing off and you never know what he’s trying to say.  It’s a shame he only appears in a handful of scenes.

Rounding out the diverse cast are legends Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs who play the three former guards.  With an average age of 79, their appearance will bring back many memories for older members in the audience.

There are two types of “family films”.  In the first category, we have films targeted purely at kids – those where children go to have fun and adults go to keep an eye on them.  In the second category, we have films targeted at everyone – those where both children and adults can have a good time.  Night At The Museum easily falls into the later category.