CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY

Documentary

REVIEW
Although the central point of the movie is indeed about capitalism, in typical Michael Moore fashion more than a few other subjects are presented. Much of the film content will be familiar to most people but he has come up with a few lesser known things such as the Second Bill of Rights, life insurance policies to name but a few.

As usual he pulls off a couple of stunts to make his point. Certainly if what he says is true, there is a lot of food for thought.

CLASSIFICATION
for some language.

P.S.
The title is never explained.

THE INFORMANT!

Crime drama

F.Y.I.
The food additive Lysine is an essential amino acid, which means that it is necessary for human health but cannot be made by the body. For this reason, lysine must be obtained from food. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Lysine is important for proper growth, and it plays an essential role in converting fatty acids into energy and helping to lower cholesterol. It plays a major role in calcium absorption, in building muscles, in recovering from surgery or injuries. It aids in the body's production of hormones, enzymes and antibodies.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Matt Damon: Mark Whitacre, Corporate VP with Archer Daniels Midland
Tom Papa: A.D.M. Chief Operating Officer Mick Andreas
Melanic Lynskey: Mark's wife Ginger
Scott Bakula: F.B.I. Special Agent Brian Shepard
Rick Overton: Mark’s boss Terry Wilson
Joel McHale: F.B.I. Agent Robert Herndon

REVIEW
Loosely based on a true story and promoted as a comedy (even including an explanation point in the title), I didn’t see it that way at all. There really is nothing funny about corporate malfeasance nor the difficulties one encounters as a whistleblower.

That’s not to say there are no comic moments because indeed there are quite a few. But not of the gut-busting variety, just the incongruity of the situation that evokes a smile or two.

Matt Damon gives one of his best performances ever.

CLASSIFICATION
for language (in my view, hardly justified)

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS

Animated story

WITH THE VOICES OF
Bill Hader: lifelong inventor Flint Lockwood
James Caan: his father Tim, owner of a bait and tackle shop
Neil Patrick Harris: Flint’s “assistant” Steve, a monkey
Bruce Campbell: Swallow Falls Mayor Shelbourne
Andy Samberg: “Baby” Brent, star of the sardine ad campaigns
Mr. T: Earl Devereaux, the town policeman
Anna Faris: Sam Sparks, the weather network intern
Benjamin Bratt: Manny, the cameraman

REVIEW
Definitely geared to children, anyone who is not should avoid being too harsh in judging its excesses. Adults will see it as a pleasant diversion with lots of clever lines providing more than a few comic moments (and some outright laughs) even when things get a little bit gross.

The technical aspect is beyond reproach: the CGI rendering is stunning, the detail quite amazing, the colours brilliant. The quality of the 3D version is the best I’ve seen so far.

CLASSIFICATION
for brief mild language.

OWL AND THE SPARROW

Drama
In Vietnamese with English subtitles

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Pham Thi Han: 10-year-old Thuy
Nguyen Hau: her Uncle Tran Le Minh
Cat Ly: 26-year-old Lan, a flight attendant
Le The Lu: Hai, elephant keeper at the Saigon zoo

REVIEW
A very pleasant oft-told story of struggling against the odds and dealing with chance encounters. Done in low key with no high drama to unsettle things, the endearing performance of Pham Thi Han really carries it off.

One minor criticism: possibly because of budget restraints, there is a lot of handheld cinematography that does not always serve the purpose well.

CLASSIFICATION
for thematic elements and some smoking.

ALL ABOUT STEVE

Romantic Comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Sandra Bullock: crossword puzzle constructor Mary Horowitz
Beth Grant: her mom
Howard Hessman: her father
Bradley Cooper: CCN cable news cameraman Steve Muller
Thomas Haden Church: CCN on-camera reporter Hartman Hughes
Ken Jeong: CCN producer Angus

REVIEW
The first requirement for viewing this quirky comedy is more than the usual suspension of disbelief otherwise there are too many gaping holes in the plot to try and resolve.

Relying on a “ditzy dame” persona and an unlikely premise, this is not your usual romantic-comedy, far from it. But that’s what makes it so enjoyable.

Crisp editing keeps things moving at a good clip and with a running time of only 90 minutes it does not overstay its welcome.

CLASSIFICATION
for sexual content including innuendo.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• While trotting beside the CCN van Mary is holding an umbrella in her hand. Seen from inside the van only the wood handle protrudes while viewed from outside the handle and about 6” of the umbrella can be seen.
• While being hoisted out of the hole Mary is seated on a sling but once above ground the sling suddenly has disappeared.

P.S.
The smattering of applause I heard serves as a good indication of the audience’s reaction to the film.

P.S.S.
The reward for sitting through the end credits is one more look at a running visual gag.

THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE

Science fiction, romance

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Eric Bana: 30-year-old Henry DeTamble, Library researcher
Rachel McAdams: the adult Clare Abshire, an artist
Arliss Howard: Henry’s father Richard
Brooklyn Proulx: the young Clare
Ron Livingston: Gomez, boyfriend of Clares roommate
Stephen Tobolowsky: geneticist Dr. Kendrick

REVIEW
Watching this film about a time traveler (someone who can move from one instant in time to another) is like being bounced about on a rocking ship. Just when you think you got a good grasp on the situation, it all changes. An interesting premise this time travelling but it leads to a jumbled mess of encounters as you are witness to things happening totally out of sequence.

Any movie that is primarily a love story to my mind is best served in the traditional narrative form with the odd flashback as required. That way we get to see how things play out. Instead, as each new episode is presented, we know soon it’s going to disappear. Not much fun in that.

CLASSIFICATION
for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• With the bride and her father about to walk down the aisle, almost half the house behind them is in shadow. By the time they arrive at the altar moments later the entire façade is now in brilliant sunlight.
• While Henry is talking to the young Clare in the meadow, a white thread is clearly visible hanging from her left sleeve. It disappears and reappears between shots.
• Henry slides into bed on the left hand side. The next shot is a close up with him talking to Clare and as the camera pulls back we see he somehow in an instant has gotten over to the right hand side.

9

Science fiction

WITH THE VOICES OF
Elijah Wood: No. 9
Martin Landau: his first acquaintance, No. 2
Christopher Plummer: the group’s leader, No. 1
John C. Reilly: one-eyed No. 5
Jennifer Connelly: No. 7
and others no doubt

REVIEW
Another movie about the end of civilization with the survivors having to deal with a changed world, this one is too scary for children, too boring for everyone else. Offering up state of the art computer generated animation is not enough: there has to be a story worth watching. And that’s where it fails miserably.

Instead it is simply a series of action scenes while they run and hide from the mechanical monster followed by a brief period of inane dialogue until another crisis comes along which precipitates the next batch of action scenes. It soon becomes predictive and not very interesting. And not a funny line anywhere; not surprising given the grim, gloomy place they find themselves in.

With no opportunity to get to know these rag doll creatures (they have no names, just a number) it is impossible to be emotionally involved in their situation. So you watch them scurry about dispassionately. Seemed pointless so I walked out.

CLASSIFICATION
for violence and scary images.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
No. 9’s zipper is closed when No. 2 shows him the missing part. No. 2 then proceeds to insert it in No. 9 whose zipper has magically unzipped itself.

P.S.
I was not the first to leave the theatre part way through. Two couples had better sense than me and left before I did.