3/26/07---Movie reviews

So I'm catching up on some movies I had missed in the theatre....away we go.

1) Borat--this might be the most politically in-correct movie that I've ever seen.  Borat, or Sacha Cohen, is a simple immigrant from a former Soviet Republic.  Well, that's the storyline at least.  He is obsessively in character as a t.v. news reporter who comes to learn the customs of the good old USA.  A couple of things that really strike you:
A) He is totally committed to the role, even staying in character during legitimate stops by the police.  You keep figuring that eventually he's going to be forced to tell SOMEONE that its all a goof...but God bless him, he keeps it up throughout.
B) Don't even think of watching this if you're easily offended.  He literally skewers everyone and every conceivable race, creed or ethnicity.
The good news is, if your open minded about it....you'll be laughing uncontrollably while your watching it.  This isn't just funny....its REALLY funny.  Uncomfortably so.  Because while your laughing...you'll probably be feeling guilty about it.   ****

2) The Illusionist--here's the first of our two "magician" movies that I recently watched.
This one stars the vastly underrated Edward Norton, who really should have received far more critical praise for this role.  He plays a young man in the late 1800's who becomes his country's most celebrated magician.  His success brings him to the attention of the crown prince, who just happens to be engaged to the magician's first and only true love.  This makes for some interesting melodrama....and its very well done.
Women will love it for the love triangle, guys will love it for the terrific ending.  The great Paul Giamatti plays a police investigator who gets mixed up in the triangle.  He & Norton are terrific as always.  ****

3) Babel--The big theory being expounded here is that we are intertwined on this planet we share, and a seemingly innocent gesture half a world away can have ramifications from one side of the world to another.   Or, you could say that what you have here is four (seemingly) unrelated stories that show what happens when a miscommunication leads to a misunderstanding that leads to....big drama.  Some terrific acting, and although Brad Pitt is the lead name on the movie posters I thought the storyline involving 1/2 of Brangelina was probably the most boring one of the bunch.  Pay particular attention to the story of the young deaf Japanese girl played by Rinko Kikuchi.  She was deservedly nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress.  Not for everyone, but a compelling movie.  ****

4) Zodiac--okay, I did manage to make it to the theatre for one film this week.  Here is the story of the search for the serial killer who terrorized the Bay Area in and around San Francisco in the late 60's and early 70's.  The story is not so much about the killer, but about the men of the police department and the local newpaper and their obsessive search for the answer of the killer's identity.  The movie is more "All the President's Men" than "Silence of the Lambs" though, although it does have several outstanding performances....Jake Gyllanhahl is particularly strong as an editorial cartoonist who finds himself becoming obsessed with the case.  The movie is directed by David Fincher, who has created quite a name and reputation for himself in examing the dark side of humanity in films like Se7en & Fight Club.  However, particularly chilling in a smaller but pivotal
role is John Carroll Lynch, who portrays one of the prime suspects.  This guy's performance will stay with you long after the movie is over--and I can guarantee you that after watching this movie you will never listen to the Donovan song "Hurdy Gurdy Man" the same way again.  Trust me on that one.  ****

5) The Prestige--this is the 2nd of this week's films about magicians.  This one concerns a rivalry between two magicians around the early 1900's and how it ends up consuming each man and all of those around them.  Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale (rapidly becoming one of our favorite actors--excellent here) play the rivals who live to out do the other...no matter what the cost.  Much like the earlier reviewed "Illusionist", this features an excellent ending that will catch you by surprise.  Both men are ably supported by the always dependable Michael Caine...good as usual.   All that plus a supporting role by Scarlett Johansson, who might be the best looking woman in movies right now, make this a good film--although I might have enjoyed The Illusionist a little bit more.  ***3/4

Later,
Jeff