ATONEMENT

2008 Best Original Score


Romantic drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Saoirse Ronan: 13-year old Briony Tallis, an aspiring writer
Kiera Knightley: her older sister Cecilia
James McAvoy: the housekeeper's son Robbie
Patrick Kennedy: Leon Tallis, the older brother
Benedict Cumberbatch: Leon’s wealthy friend Paul
Romola Garai: 18-year old Briony, a nurse in training
Vanessa Redgrave: the much older Briony

REVIEW
Right from the opening scene this period piece is beautifully photographed and nicely edited and so the two-hours do not seem that long. As with all beautifully made films the lighting is bang-on, the costumes are just right, the performances are uniformly excellent. What sets this one apart is the effective use of sound: time and again whether it is the music or the clattering of the typewriter or whatever, what is heard adds an element to the viewing experience that is solely lacking in so many movies.

The technique of replaying scenes first seen from Briony's perspective and then from someone else’s point of view allows us to appreciate how her imagination sometimes distorts things. It is left for us to judge which is real.

CLASSIFICATION
for disturbing war images, language and some sexuality.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
 During the summer of 1935 Robbie is laying on his back and sees a bomber fly over. Throughout the 1930s, the Royal Air Force was interested primarily in twin-engine bombers. The first four-engine British bomber made its maiden flight in 1938.
 When Robbie leaves in the black car standing behind Briony quietly watching him go are Leon and Paul. When seen again from Robbie’s point of view Paul is missing.
 The British Expedionary Force fighting in France was manned by volunteers not by conscripted prisioners.
 During her interview on television the Older Briony refers to “the evacuation to Dunkirk”. The evacuation FROM Dunkirk (not TO Dunkirk) by a hastily assembled fleet of seven hundred boats took nine days and saved the lives of some 300,000 soldiers.

P.S.
If they ever give an Academy Award for “the longest takes in filmmaking” the one of the beach at Dunkirk would be a real contender. It must be 3 minutes long.

I’M NOT THERE

Biography

BACKGROUND
Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman), May 24, 1941 is an American singer-songwriter, author, musician and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. Much of Dylan's most celebrated work dates from the 1960s, when he became an informal chronicler and a reluctant figurehead of American unrest. A number of his songs, such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-changin’” became anthems of the anti-war and civil rights movements.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Marcus Carl Franklin: a young African-American musical protege calling himself Woody Guthrie
Christian Bale: Jack Rollins, the early Dylan
Heath Ledger: Robbie Clark, the Dylan that gets married
Charlotte Gainsbourg: his wife Claire
Ben Whishaw: the talking-head Arthur
Cate Blanchett: Jude at the the top-of-his-career
Richard Gere: Billy the Kid

REVIEW
Those of you who are regulars readers know I purposely go to a movie knowing as little about it as possible (even to the point of going into the theatre only after the trailers are shown so not to "contaminate" future viewings) relying mostly on the ratings of a few critics (but ignoring their reviews entirely) to decide whether to see a movie or not. In this way I hope to replicate the experience of the average moviegoer who pays his/her ticket and sits down to watch what unfolds. Unfortunately that does not always work because sometimes unless you are “clued in” beforehand you find yourself in the wrong movie for you or simply totally lost.

This film falls into the latter category: I never figured out that the six story lines had anything in common. Only now having gone to the official website and watched two of the trailers did I find out that these six people reflect the different personas of one man, Bob Dylan. It’s a novel idea but one that was never made clear from either the brief ramblings of some fellow at the start or any other means such as an on-screen label “Bob Dylan, the wanna-be Woody Guthrie young, black, sassy kid” or something similar.

Now I can understand why the film begins with a 11-year-old black boy who tells his travelling companions he’s already been singing and writing music for years then proceeds to demonstrate his talent and then we jump to someone else (“Bob Dylan, the wanna-be Jack Rollins type of up-and-coming troubadour”) and never see the kid again.

But for reasons I have yet to figure out, they don’t even use the name of the singer being portrayed. Instead he’s called Jude. And played by a woman rather than a man. Why?

Frankly the whole thing is such a mess it’s not worth the effort of trying to sort it out. In addition it is long, running over two hours and lacking any linear time-line means these characters frequently reappear which just adds to the confusion. Switching from black-and-white to colour and back doesn’t help either. Nor does the weird Billy-the-Kid in a carnival setting.

It’s a wonder I didn’t walk out.

CLASSIFICATION
for language, some sexuality and nudity.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
 The reflective glass behind the music producer on the left-hand side allows you to see the camera tracking in for a close up.
 While performing in someone’s living room the strumming by the Woody Guthrie character is out of sync by at least half a beat to the music being heard.
 And his first vocal rendition is off by twice that to the words being heard.

P.S.
The title comes from one of Dylan’s songs.

ENCHANTED

Romantic comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Amy Adams: Giselle, a beautiful fairytale princess
James Marsden: the handsome Prince Edward
Susan Sarandon: the Prince’s wicked stepmother Queen Narissa
Timothy Spall: the Prince’s manservant Nathaniel
Rachel Covey: six-year-old Morgan
Patrick Dempsey: her father Robert, a NYC divorce attorney

REVIEW
It starts off like most Disney movies as an old fashioned animated cartoon but quickly becomes a live-action type film with real people. Well as real as they can get in a Disney movie.

Although geared to kids it is still an entertaining outing for all since it has some great music and dance numbers along with some pretty goofy humour. Giselle’s bright and cheerful outlook sets the tone and the colourful sets match her disposition.

Computer generated images (CGI) is used sparingly except near the end when they go a bit overboard with the dragon stuff which gets them the PG classification.

CLASSIFICATION
for some scary images and mild innuendo.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
 While strolling in Central Park Giselle gives an old lady some money which she holds in her hands as Giselle continues on. The scene shifts to Giselle looking back at the old lady who has her hands in the air with no money to be seen until it once more reverts to the original view of Giselle skipping away with the old lady firmly holding the money.
 When Robert and Giselle are in the Italian restaurant, the number of breadbaskets on the shelf behind them varies from one scene to the next although no one approaches them. Sometimes two piles, usually just one, sometimes piled six high, other times just four.

P.S.
Unlike most films geared to kids, there is but one instance of the requisite crude, vulgar bodily noises. Goes to show you, even Disney has to make some concession to meet the expectations of their younger audience.

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU ARE DEAD

Crime thiller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Philip Seymour Hoffman: Andy Hanson, a payroll executive
Marisa Tomei: his wife Gina
Ethan Hawke: Andy’s younger brother Hank
Albert Finney: Charles, the owner of a mall-store
Rosemary Harris: his wife Nanette

REVIEW
Using a rather unusual device of each scene being played out from someone’s point of view (as noted in the on-screen label) then later seeing it again from someone else’s perspective the movie advances then retreats a bit until it catches up where we left off. In this way the story unfolds in bits and pieces, which keeps you interested in the developments. Being a crime thriller the less said about these developments the better.

What needs to be said is the acting throughout is excellent, the editing crisp, the other production values first rate. In other words, a really good movie.


CLASSIFICATION
for a scene of strong graphic sexuality, nudity, violence, drug use and language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
 When Andy and Hank meet in a bar, the lemon twist in Andy’s drink flip-flops. Seen from Andy’s perspective it floats vertically but when looking over Hank’s shoulder it is horizontal.
 When first seen there are three gunshots some minutes apart. In the replay mode these shots occur within seconds of each other.
 When Hank is in Andy’s office the sun is coming diagonally from the 1 o’clock position. In the replay it is from 5 o’clock.
 Charles gets in his car and before he is even settled and has yet to reach forward to insert the ignition key the engine starts.
 The recorded message from the car rental company says to call 555-???-????; the sign outside the office shows the number to be 212-967-????
 Furthermore there is no such area code as 555.

P.S.
The title comes from the Irish toast “May you be in heaven a full half hour
before the devil knows your dead.”

LIONS FOR LAMBS

• 
  
  
  War drama
  
  PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
  Meryl Streep: cable television journalist Janine Roth
  Tom Cruise: Republican Senator Jasper Irving
  Robert Redford: political science professor Dr. Stephen “Doc” Malley
  Andrew Garfield: Todd Hayes, one of his gifted students
  Michael Peña: Ernest Rodriguez, recently enlisted soldier
  Derek Luke: his buddy Arian Finch
  
  REVIEW
  A well structured anti-war film seen from three perspectives: that of a Senator, as seen by soldiers engaged in fighting the enemy and viewed by the intelligentsia. However, the latter only serves to muddy the waters (except for one brief flashback) and it really just showcases Redford’s acting abilities. But it’s not needed.
  
  Another thing not needed is the static approach taken with the Senator and also with the professor. In both cases, two cameras are plunked down and the shots simply flip-flop back and forth so we can see the speaker. The cameras hardly move so it makes for a monotonous visual experience. The action shots in Afghanistan aren’t much better.
  
  The acting is fine with only Meryl Streep coming across as making any real effort. Although there are a lot of words, thankfully the movie is fairly short so we’re not totally overwhelmed.
  
  CLASSIFICATION
  for some war violence and language.
  
  FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
   The right drawstring on Todd’s hoodie has a mind of its own: a single thread hanging off the end comes and goes between shots.
  
   So do Doc’s glasses. They simply will not stay put, moving about on his desk pretty much at random.
  
  P.S.
  The name of the film is derived from Alexander the Great’s proclamation,
  “I am never afraid of an army of Lions led into battle by a Lamb”

CONVERSATIONS WITH MY GARDENER

Drama
In French with English subtitles
Original title: Dialogue avec mon jardinier

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Daniel Auteuil: a middle-aged Parisian artist
Jean-Pierre Darroussin: an old school friend
Fanny Cottencon: the painter’s wife

REVIEW
Talk about dull: there is no action, no plot, no violence, and no joviality. No nothing. It can best be described as a talkathon because that’s all they do.

Sittings listening to two people reminisce and chat amicably about a variety of topics may well be of great interest to some. But not for me, I left after half an hour.


CLASSIFICATION

CONTINENTAL, UN FILM SANS FUSIL

Drama
In French with English subtitles.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Marie-Ginette Guay: Lucette, a housewife
Réal Bossé: Louis, an insurance salesman
Fanny Mallette: Chantal, hotel front desk clerk
Gilbert Sicotte: Marcel, a pawn shop employee

REVIEW
If they ever have an award for the strangest movie title, this one would surely win. The direct translation is Continental, a film without guns. I’m not sure why this name was chosen; perhaps it’s an inside joke. Whatever.

In any event this is essentially a movie without any real story, just a collection of vignettes about four people who have basically one thing in common: they are lonely. How they deal with their situation (and in some cases with each other) often prompts quiet chuckles but for the most part it’s pretty boring stuff. Everything evolves at a snail’s pace and with hardly any emotion. That doesn’t mean the acting is lousy. The script does not require them to do much more than act themselves. So that’s what they do. Oh hum.

CLASSIFICATION
for mature themes and sexual situations.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
 I think the city of Laval should buy more buses. At the beginning of the movie a man gets off the bus and goes around behind it and we can see the bus to be number 6104. Near the end of the film a lady takes a bus ride and when she alights guess what? Good ol’ number 6104.

 From the hallway the door hinges to Louis’ room are on the left-hand side. Viewed from inside the room they should therefore be on the right-hand side. But instead they are on the left.