Links
That awkward space between reality and reality television.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
No news on the job front yet, but I should hear one way or the other any day now.
But,
Blood Diamond
Director: Edward Zwick
Possum’s Grade: B+
Children of Men
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Possum’s Grade: A-
The 2000s, particularly the past two years, have brought a steady wave of geo-political thrillers from Hollywood, and I just eat them up. Last year, one of them won Best Picture, and this year another is the likely front-runner. Oddly, I feel like those two (Crash and Babel) are among the weaker of the sub-genre. This past week, I took in two of the latest, and while I think they are probably two of the best of these movies, seeing them within a few days of each other nearly killed me. Blood Diamond and Children of Men were two of the most intense movies that I have seen in quite a while.
These geo-political thrillers can take four forms. They are all either A) based on true events and/or individuals (Hotel Rwanda, The Last King of Scotland, Motorcycle Diaries) B) fictional stories dealing with real issues (Traffic, The Constant Gardener, Maria Full of Grace) C) fictional stories that deal with broad social issues (Crash, Babel) and D) fictional worlds that are a direct result of current issues (A Scanner Darkly).
Blood Diamond falls into category B and reveals the treachery of the African diamond trade and its effect on the locals. There are a lot of things that I could say about the movie, but I think Sarah put it best when at the conclusion she said, “I just want to sit here for a while and frown.” Though completely engaging, it was one of the most emotionally draining movies I have watched in years.
Children of Men can be grouped into column D. Set in the 2020s, we learn that all the women of the Earth become infertile in 2009 and the youngest person in the world was just killed at age 18. The world is in chaos, and London is the only city that has some semblance of civility even though their immigration policies are brutal. Clive Owen is entrusted with the protection and transport of a young girl who is pregnant. While not the feel good story of the year, and at times I wasn’t sure it made complete sense, it stands as one of the most well-made movies of the year.
Life is still a little up in the air for me at the moment, but here is the list of movies I would like to see before I present my top 10 list for the year around Oscar time:
Volver, Dreamgirls, Letters from Iwo Jima, Pan’s Labryinth
But,
Blood Diamond
Director: Edward Zwick
Possum’s Grade: B+
Children of Men
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Possum’s Grade: A-
The 2000s, particularly the past two years, have brought a steady wave of geo-political thrillers from Hollywood, and I just eat them up. Last year, one of them won Best Picture, and this year another is the likely front-runner. Oddly, I feel like those two (Crash and Babel) are among the weaker of the sub-genre. This past week, I took in two of the latest, and while I think they are probably two of the best of these movies, seeing them within a few days of each other nearly killed me. Blood Diamond and Children of Men were two of the most intense movies that I have seen in quite a while.
These geo-political thrillers can take four forms. They are all either A) based on true events and/or individuals (Hotel Rwanda, The Last King of Scotland, Motorcycle Diaries) B) fictional stories dealing with real issues (Traffic, The Constant Gardener, Maria Full of Grace) C) fictional stories that deal with broad social issues (Crash, Babel) and D) fictional worlds that are a direct result of current issues (A Scanner Darkly).
Blood Diamond falls into category B and reveals the treachery of the African diamond trade and its effect on the locals. There are a lot of things that I could say about the movie, but I think Sarah put it best when at the conclusion she said, “I just want to sit here for a while and frown.” Though completely engaging, it was one of the most emotionally draining movies I have watched in years.
Children of Men can be grouped into column D. Set in the 2020s, we learn that all the women of the Earth become infertile in 2009 and the youngest person in the world was just killed at age 18. The world is in chaos, and London is the only city that has some semblance of civility even though their immigration policies are brutal. Clive Owen is entrusted with the protection and transport of a young girl who is pregnant. While not the feel good story of the year, and at times I wasn’t sure it made complete sense, it stands as one of the most well-made movies of the year.
Life is still a little up in the air for me at the moment, but here is the list of movies I would like to see before I present my top 10 list for the year around Oscar time:
Volver, Dreamgirls, Letters from Iwo Jima, Pan’s Labryinth
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
I usually spend this time of year watching as many movies as possible, taking in as many films as I can before the beginning of awards season. This year I have been somewhat distracted and unable to catch all the movies that I would like to see. For those of you who do not know, I am one of three candidates to be the first box office manager of the Granada Theatre which will house the Center for Performing Arts in Santa Barbara, California. I was flown out there last week for a couple of days to interview, meet with board members, and check out the town and I should here back from them within the next week and a half. That is to say, it has been an exciting time of uncertainty for me. Before I went to CA, I did have the opportunity to take in a film that had flown under my radar most of the year but that I had eagerly anticipated for the past month or so.
The Queen
Director: Stephen Frear
Possum’s Grade: A
The Queen is Stephen Frear’s fictitious speculation of the interaction of England’s Queen Elizabeth II and fresh-faced, newly elected Prime Minister, Tony Blair, directly following the death of Princess Diana. The wildly popular, modernizer, Blair, and Prince Charles clash with the Queen and her advisors over the position that the royal family should take regarding the funeral arrangements of an ex-member of the family that was not approved of by the ‘establishment.’ As her people mourn their beloved ‘People’s Princess’ and question the validity of a monarchy that appears so out of touch with the common people as they are holed up in their summer home making no statement, the Queen is forced to decide between tradition and pride or throwing that out the window for someone she did not like.
As an American, it is difficult to remember Tony Blair as anything but the staunch Bush supporter that we see on the news standing silently beside the President. However, Michael Sheen plays him well as a young, family man with a twinkle in his eye that represents the excitement of an entire nation that sees in him the hope of modernization after two decades of establishment Tory rule. Blair represents the voice of the people as he pleads with the Queen and her advisors to come out of hiding and engage the people of Britain.
Helen Mirren is brilliant as Elizabeth II, and again we see a portrayal that is much different than the limited image we see on America television. While we do see Elizabeth as a bit stuffy and caught up in preserving tradition, but we also see a strong woman who was a mechanic during the war and who takes off in the Land Rover through the country and attempts to drive across a river.
In the end, a fitting tribute is paid to Dianna and the country’s faith in the crown is restored. However, Elizabeth delivers a prophetic warning to Mr. Blair as they discuss, several weeks removed from the events, why Blair stood by the monarchy rather than let them hang themselves in the eyes of the media.
I can't make any firm promises as to my upcoming reviews as we go into previews for Stones In His Pockets at PlayMakers next week, as well as the possibility of having to plan a cross country move sometime in the next 3-4 weeks. However, I do have United 93 and World Trade Center at home from Netflix and plan what should be an interesting, if depressing, marathon for this weekend. I hope to find time to put together a dual review. As for movies in the theatres, I still hope to see Dreamgirls, The Good Shepherd, and History Boys as life permits.
The Queen
Director: Stephen Frear
Possum’s Grade: A
The Queen is Stephen Frear’s fictitious speculation of the interaction of England’s Queen Elizabeth II and fresh-faced, newly elected Prime Minister, Tony Blair, directly following the death of Princess Diana. The wildly popular, modernizer, Blair, and Prince Charles clash with the Queen and her advisors over the position that the royal family should take regarding the funeral arrangements of an ex-member of the family that was not approved of by the ‘establishment.’ As her people mourn their beloved ‘People’s Princess’ and question the validity of a monarchy that appears so out of touch with the common people as they are holed up in their summer home making no statement, the Queen is forced to decide between tradition and pride or throwing that out the window for someone she did not like.
As an American, it is difficult to remember Tony Blair as anything but the staunch Bush supporter that we see on the news standing silently beside the President. However, Michael Sheen plays him well as a young, family man with a twinkle in his eye that represents the excitement of an entire nation that sees in him the hope of modernization after two decades of establishment Tory rule. Blair represents the voice of the people as he pleads with the Queen and her advisors to come out of hiding and engage the people of Britain.
Helen Mirren is brilliant as Elizabeth II, and again we see a portrayal that is much different than the limited image we see on America television. While we do see Elizabeth as a bit stuffy and caught up in preserving tradition, but we also see a strong woman who was a mechanic during the war and who takes off in the Land Rover through the country and attempts to drive across a river.
In the end, a fitting tribute is paid to Dianna and the country’s faith in the crown is restored. However, Elizabeth delivers a prophetic warning to Mr. Blair as they discuss, several weeks removed from the events, why Blair stood by the monarchy rather than let them hang themselves in the eyes of the media.
I can't make any firm promises as to my upcoming reviews as we go into previews for Stones In His Pockets at PlayMakers next week, as well as the possibility of having to plan a cross country move sometime in the next 3-4 weeks. However, I do have United 93 and World Trade Center at home from Netflix and plan what should be an interesting, if depressing, marathon for this weekend. I hope to find time to put together a dual review. As for movies in the theatres, I still hope to see Dreamgirls, The Good Shepherd, and History Boys as life permits.
