The Reel View

Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
Staring: Belen Rueda
             Fernando Cayo
             Roger Princep
MPAA: R for disturbing content

    I was expecting something completely different from The Orphanage that what I got.  This isn't a bad thing because I still enjoyed the movie a lot.  From what I heard from other people who have already watched the movie I thought this was going to be some kind of scary film.  Then again most of those that watched the movie were watching it in theatres in Korea and didn't have an idea what was being said (Spanish with Korean subtitles). 

    I can see how someone watching this with no understanding of the dialogue would find the movie scary.  There was a lot of creepy music and a few images would indicate a thriller of sorts.  Also there is some connection to the supernatural, spirits of children killed in the orphanage Laura (Rueda) was a part of until she was adopted.  Laura then goes back to the orphanage by purchasing the building and grounds and lives there in hopes to set up a home for children needing extra attention. 

    It's not until her son Simon's (Princep) birthday party does the film delve into the supernatural.  There are some hints earlier with Simon's imaginary friends but nothing like after he goes missing.  The story is very interesting and easily kept me drawn to it through the film. 

    Unfortunately, many movies these days don't have opening credits.  They can be rather dull at times so for good opening credits something stimulating needs to happen.  I enjoyed the opening credits for The Orphanage.  It was almost as good as the credits for Sweeney Todd.  I really enjoy the details they put into these opening sequences, it's something that should be done more frequently. 

    The Orphanage is a great film worth watching.  It's one I'll go back to again to pick up on the finer points.

Director: Tim Burton
Staring: Johnny Depp
             Helena Bonham Carter
             Alan Rickman
             Timothy Spall
             Sacha Baron Cohen
MPAA: R for bloody violence

Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite musicals of all time and I was very excited when I heard that it was being made into a film. The only way the film could be done well, I thought (before I knew any of the details), was if Tim Burton directed. And low and behold it was Burton. Needless to say I have great expectations for the movie, and I wasn't horribly disappointed.

The story is a very simple one. To put is simply it's your typical story of revenge and you obviously root for the underdog. Benjamin Barker (AKA Sweeney Todd, Depp), a modest barber in Victorian London, is tossed in prison shortly after marrying the love of his life and having a daughter. Judge Turpin (Rickman) is the man responsible and is now Barker's daughter is the ward of Turpin. This is the back-story, you learn this as a series of flash backs, and you come to Todd/Barker returning to London to get his revenge on Turpin.

Sweeney Todd goes back to his old home on Fleet Street and meets the most interesting character of them all Mrs. Lovett (Bonham Carter) the owner of a pie shop below Todd's old barbershop. Todd ends up setting up shop again and make an unusual arrangement with Mrs. Lovett that benefit both their needs. All of this done in the style of a great musical, the most composed by the superb Stephen Sondheim.

The movie was magical but there a couple items that I took issue with, they are minor and I can look past them. The first issue, and this is the one that bothered me the most, was that "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" was cut, only the ochestral music was used. I enjoy this song and really set the tone of the whole show, it would have been nice to have the song sung during the opening credits (which themselves are worth watching). Aside from that there isn't really any other negative aspect worth mentioning.

I loved the mood set in the film; it was dark as is typical Burton fashion, with just hints of colour. I loved the costumes and set design was wonderful. I don't they could have done a better job. Both these aspects were Oscar worthy but unfortunately they lost.

I know some people will take offence to the blood, and there is a lot of it in this one, but I thought it worked well. The blood was very red and didn't look real. I thought this was a great way to do this. The juxtaposition of the blood against the almost all black and white set really brought out the color. It couldn't have been done any better.

Below is the trailer for the film, enjoy.  Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a must see, the cast is at its best and it's visually stimulating.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Staring: Marlon Brando
             Al Pacino
             Robert Duvall
            

    Anyone who has viewed The Godfather knows it's perhaps the best movie ever made, as was the second part.  There's not much that needs to be said about this movie as it speaks for itself.  Marlon Brando is amazing as the Don, as is Al Pacino as his son Michael.  The movie is the most iconic film around and if you haven't seen it is a must. 

    The movie was made even better with the special Kabinett had going that evening, Chianti for 5,000 Wan (about $5) a glass.  Couldn't make the atmosphere more Italian if they tried.  I look forward to what they are offering for next month's film.

Director: Craig Gillespie
Staring: Ryan Gosling
             Emily Mortimer
             Paul Schneider
             Kelli Garner
             Patricia Clarkson
MPAA: PG-13 - some sexual content

    Lars and the Real Girl is one of the best movies I've ever seen.  It's a movie that has everything; humor, and emotion.  Ryan Gosling is truly at his best in this film, and the supporting cast did their job! 

    The story is of Lars Lindstrom (Gosling), a quiet man living in a small town with his brother and wife.  Finaly, after a lot of prodding from his brother and his wife Lars brings home a girlfriend.  And it is at this point the movie gets really funny, the girlfriend is a blow up sex doll.  Lars treats her as a real person getting her a wheel chair and bringing her everywhere introducing her to everyone in the town.  Rather than thinking he's crazy (like his brother does) the whole town accepts Lars' girlfriend.  

    Special attention should be paid to Patricia Clarkson in this film.  She plays the doctor deal with Bianca's (the sex doll) mortal illness.  He ability to keep a straight face and treat this doll as if it were a real person is phenomenal.  Her character is well rounded and well drawn.

    The story runs smoothly and easily moves from being comical to depressing.  I cannot think of a better person playing Lars and I'm not really a Gosling fan.  Everything just seemed to have worked out well for this film.  I don't think I could suggest a film more strongly than this.  Lars and the Real Girl is a film that can be watched over and over again. 

Director: Adrienne Shelly
Staring: Keri Russel
             Nathan Fillion
             Cheryl Hines
             Adrienee Shelly
             Jeremy Sisto
MPAA: PG-13 - sexual content, language and thematic elements

    Okay, this is an older film (2007) as many of the films I review on here.  Much of that has to do with living in Korea right now and the options.  Many movies come out here several weeks to months and even years later than they do in North America.  But I needed an outlet to talk about the films I see so I still put them on here.

    Waitress is a wonderful little film about a woman who wants to leave her husband but cannot because he is controlling and doesn't let her have any money.  She works at a pie diner and ends up having relations with her doctor.  It's entertaining and funny.  I've wanted to watch this film for a while now but haven't had access to it until recently.

    Keri Russell (you may remember her as Felicity) does a great job as the lead.  She is always creating new pie recipes, which are enough to make your mouth water.  They usually involve ingredients that you wouldn't usually put together.  Now, I should also say I love pie but it's difficult to get pie in Korea (I'd love to find a good pie shop), you can only get pie at Costco and there only apple or pumpkin (on holidays).

    There is a sad story behind the film.  Adrienne Shelly, the writer and actress of the film, was murdered in her apartment before the movie was even released.  The killer tried to make the death look like a suicide.  It wasn't until recently (a couple of weeks that they got the murderer.  More can be found about this on CBC and Wikipedia, I've provided a link to the Wikipedia article.

    Hearing what Jane (Russell) is thinking is often the funniest parts of the film.  It should also be said that one character is a little surly and he is played by someone you may not suspect playing a part like that, (not saying who it is, you need to watch to find that out).  This is a very fun movie and can easily be watched several times over. 

Director: Sean Penn
Staring: Emile Hirsch
MPAA: R - Language and nudity

    I first watched this when I went to Canada in November and really enjoyed the film.  When I saw the movie in Korea I told Charlotte that this was a movie she had to see.  The movie has me wanting to read the novel of same title by John Krakauer, especially after having read Into Thin Air. 

    Into Thin Air is the story of Christopher McCandless (which he changes to Supertramp during the film).  It's a true story of Christopher, who after graduation decides to make it on his own on trip to Alaska.  It's the story of a guy in search of himself and to prove to society that it has become far too consumer.  On his adventure he meets some interesting characters, in particular two hippies and they form a close relationship, almost like a family.  And he meets Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook) an elderly gentleman that builds a close bond with Chris.

    Given the high caliber acting in this film I'm a little surprised that more people weren't give an Oscar nod.  Holbrook is the only one in the cast to be given a Oscar nomination, and he did an incredible job. 

    This was a fantastic film and Sean Penn did a great job directing it.  It was fantastic given it was his debut.  This is one film that is great for discussion after.  It gives you lots to think about and realize that we do rely too much on what corporations.  Into the Wild is a wonderful film with a lot to teach any viewer.

Director: Eric Chaikin
Julian Petrillo

    Word Wars is a documentary featuring four amazing Scrabble players. Matt Graham, "G.I." Joel Sherman, Marlon Hill, and Joe Edley are followed for several months leading up to the National Finals in San Diego. This is one documentary that I really enjoyed. You will never know how intense this game is until you've watched this movie.

    Documentaries are films I don't typically watch but when I do they usually well advertised. I wouldn't have watched this one if a Susan hadn't passed it on to me. I was really glad that she did. I'm sure she passed this flick on to me because we are avid online scrabble players (we play on facebook).

    I found while watching this that I really wanted to become a much better player and perhaps compete in these competitions but I have yet to come close to a 400 point score on any game. Unless that becomes a regular occurrence in my games being in a competition just isn't in the stars.

    Word Wars is a great documentary and you'll probably find yourself rooting for one of the four. One of them does win the Nationals, guess what one...you might be surprised.

    Below is the trailer for the film. 

Director: Wes Anderson
Staring: Adrien Broady, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson
MPAA: R - language

The Darjeeling Limited is a wildly entertaining film by the acclaimed director Wes Anderson. The story is about a band of three American brothers on a quest in India to become better acquainted with each other. They reunited after a year being absent from each other by going on a spiritual journey planned by the eldest brother Francis Whitman (Wilson). As may be expected, things go from bad to worse ultimately leading them deserted in the desert.

Too often the story moved at a snails pace almost making it painful to watch. When the story does progress it is wonderful. The twists and turns the story takes keep you drawn into the film even during the low points. The choice of Broady, Schwartzman and Wilson for the brothers was fantastic as was having Anjelica Huston as their mother (Sister Patricia Whitman). The only down side to the cast selection is that the cast is the group will find in Anderson's other films.

There can be many benefits to working with the same group of people and can work sometimes (take for example the mocumentaries by Christopher Guest). Unfortunately, this choice doesn't work so well in this case. The characters in Anderson's other films all quirky and become indistinguishable when using the same actors. That's not to say the movie is horrible but it definitely works against it.

It's horrible to say but the best part of this film is the location and background. The vivid colours that continually pop during the film are fantastic. And ultimately pull you away from the story. The temples and shrines visited by the brothers are wildly colourful and stick with you well after the film is over. When you have these splashes of colour being dominant during the bulk of the film the scenes in the desert and monastery become very stark and just as memorable.

Overall, The Darjeeling Limited is an all right movie. It is best to be watched as a great example of set design rather than the story. But I would also have to say that for those that liked Wes Anderson's previous work (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) you will probably really enjoy Darjeeling.

I cannot end this post without mentioning the short film (Hotel Chevalier) that precedes the main feature. Hotel Chevalier was a great little story about the relationship between Jack Whitman (Schwartzman) and ex-girlfriend (Natalie Portman) is more entertaining than the main feature. Both characters are a little offbeat but they are both endearing. It must also say that Portman and Schwartzman play off each other very well. The short is good enought that you could shut off the DVD there.