Marie Antoinette (2006)

Director: Sophia Coppola
Format: theater
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Asia Argento,

I first became aware of Sophia Coppola as the director of The Virgin Suicides. Shortly before the movie was released in 1999, I had finished the novel of the same name by Jeffrey Eugenides. I was very pleased with Sophia’s remarkable adaptation of the book. When Lost in Translation came out in 2003, I was starting to get the idea that the young Coppola might be a good director to keep an eye on. So, finally, Marie Antoinette appeared in theaters and some friends and I made it a point to go. It looked refreshing, offbeat, and it had the Sophia Coppola stamp (she wrote and produced this film as well). Kirsten Dunst was another draw for me and I was looking forward to the modern soundtrack.

As you may have guessed from the title, this movie is about the life of the infamous Queen of France in the 18th Century. It covers the period from her marriage to Louis XVI at the age of 14 until The Fall of Versailles in 1789. In the beginning of the film, Marie (Kirsten Dunst), in the process of her transition from Austrian archduchess to French royalty, is stripped of her possessions, her clothing and even her dog, as a symbol of her new loyalty to France. That event marks the beginning of her discontent. She is married off to the young Louis (Jason Schwartzman) who shows no signs at all of wishing to consummate their union and therefore denying Marie’s hopes of validating her position by bearing a royal son. She is despised by the king’s consort, Cometesse du Barry (Asia Argento), scolded by her mother, and embarrassed daily by being forced to dress in front of an audience. The only things that seem to lift her from depression are gambling, partying and shopping, the three of which she does with fabulous indulgence.

Kirsten Dunst seems to be a favorite of Sophia Coppola’s. She played the lead character in The Virgin Suicides as well, and did an excellent job. However, in Marie Antoinette, she failed to entice any strong feelings from me. I couldn’t bring myself to feel sorry for the moping teenage queen, especially because she didn’t seem to be trying to do much for her situation. Likewise, I was disappointed by Jason Schwartzman’s performance. He usually brings so much personality to a character. Seeing him as Louis XVI was, well, boring in comparison to his previous roles in movies like I Heart Huckabees and Rushmore.

Part of what makes Marie Antoinette different from other films that focus on this particular time period, is that it has a modern soundtrack. Amidst montages of fancy shoes and elaborate cakes you’ll hear music from bands like Aphex Twin, Air, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, and The Strokes. Sophia is not the first director to use this technique, of course. Brian Helgeland did something similar with A Knight’s Tale in 2001. The wardrobes in Marie Antoinette were amazing enough to earn an Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design at the 2007 awards. The set designs are likewise lavish and impressive. The colors used in the film are interesting. Most of the palette is a dusty pink or beige.

Marie Antoinette is not a terrible film and is even fun in moments. However, I found it terribly lukewarm and mediocre overall. I didn’t care much for the characters and didn’t feel sympathy where sympathy was clearly solicited. Sure, it was offbeat and different, but it really takes more to entertain me than excessive spending. In comparison to Sophia Coppolla’s previous films, this one was a real disappointment.

Overall Rating: 2 ½
Hottie Rating: 3 (Dunst is pretty and her soldier is a hottie too)

Alternate Viewing: The Virgin Suicides
Official Site
IMDB Site
Appreciating Great Trash review

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The Fountain (2006)

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Format: DVD
DVD Features: trailer, featurette
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Ellen Burstyn
Trailer

I have a cousin, close in age and remote in distance, whose life parallels my own in many ways. His, like mine, has been laden with a series of unhappy events (I call them Little Tragedies) and thus, he is always recommending tragic dramas for me to watch. Last time, it was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. That one cut right to the heart. This time, it was The Fountain and I watched it with my grandmother and uncle. Neither of them seemed to grasp what the movie was about, and they expressed a sense of confusion at the conclusion. This cousin of mine is a writer, and thinks deeply on many levels, so I knew the movie was meaningful to him. I think I got a bit more from it than my companions did, but it is a highly interpretive film.

The “fountain” in the title refers to The Fountain of Youth in various senses. There are three storylines in the movie that parallel each other and each has to do with the search for immortality. In the primary storyline, Hugh Jackman plays Dr. Tom Creo. Creo is a medical researcher who is trying frantically to find a cure for the brain tumor that’s killing his wife. However, he’s spending so much of his time in this desperate quest that he’s missing out on the few precious moments he has left with her. She, however, has taken a more courageous view of her situation and prefers to consider death as the beginning of something new.

Creo’s wife, Izzi (Rachel Weisz), is in the process of writing a story, and this is where the second aspect of the movie comes into play. Jackman, this time, is a conquistador who is sent by his Spanish queen (also Weisz) on a quest for The Tree of Life. She hands him a ring and promises that when he’s returned successful, the two of them will join and the crown will be safe. He is relentless in his search for the Tree, to the point that his accompanying troops begin to believe that he’s gone mad.

In yet a third thread of The Fountain, Jackman plays a man traveling through space in an enclosed bubble of atmosphere. The only other traveler in the bubble is a large tree, from which he receives sustinence and companionship. His goal is to bring the tree to a nebula which will preserve the ailing tree’s life.

Aside from common theme and actors, the three tales are linked by two other elements. One is The Tree. It is The Fountain of Youth that the conquistador searches for. It is the man in the bubble’s only concern. It is also an ingredient that Dr. Creo uses in his experiments. The other associated object is a ring. In the main storyline, the doctor loses his wedding ring when he is washing up for surgery. It is also an object of promise from the Spanish queen. And in the bubble, the man has tattooed himself with rings signifying the years he and the tree have shared together. Eventually, some of these ingredients cross over from one stream of the story to another and the three become more entwined.

I cannot say enough good things about either Hugh Jackman’s or Rachel Weisz in this movie. Both of them make you care so much about their characters that it’s almost impossible not to become emotionally invested in what’s happening to them. Izzi is practically an angel and is so enlightened in her perspective but remains very human at the same time. Weisz as the Spanish queen is almost ethereal and likewise angelic. It’s hard not to sympathize with Creo, because it’s apparent that his every effort is expended on his wife’s behalf and that his love for her is very powerful. While there are a few supporting roles, none of them seem of any consequence compared to Creo and his wife.

As I mentioned earlier in this review, The Fountain has many different layers and I think that it can be interpreted in several ways. It can either be terribly depressing or gently uplifting, depending on your perspective. The overall message can be one of despair, or one of encouragement. However, there is a difference in the way I interpreted this film and the comments I’ve read online about it. Generally, people seem to view the three storylines as past, present and future. Contrary to that, I believe that the three stories indicate the same message and longing for discovery, but rather than being a difference in time, they are a difference in the way that Dr. Creo chooses to consider the battle between himself and his wife’s illness.

The main story is what happens in actuality. The story involving the queen and her soldier is a tale that Izzi had written in order to express to her husband how she perceives his quest for a cure. Finally, the man in the bubble is the doctor’s personal insight into his relationship with his wife and his urgent desire to hold on to her. I hesitate to delve further into my explaination for fear of spoiling the film, but that is the basic concept of the film as I saw it.

It seems that The Fountain has some really nice CGI. But, in fact, the director wanted to stay away from computer graphics. Instead, he used microphotography to create many of the effects. The lighting in the film is effective in giving the entire story a sort of fantasy quality. However, some scenes were shot so dimly that it was very difficult to follow the action. That is probably my only criticism of the entire film.

Because there are so many layers of meaning to The Fountain, it really depends on one’s interpretation of the film as to whether or not that person will find it enjoyable. The Fountain is definitely not a funny, happy-go-lucky movie. Neither is it for the kids. Don’t look to the film for high action or witty dialogue and don’t expect a clear resolution. I think that it will appeal to fans of Aronofsky’s other work, but may turn off much of the mainstream movie going audience. While the two main characters are played by popular stars, the movie strays sufficiently off the beaten path to resist appeal to a wide selection of Jackman and Weisz fans. Personally, I found it engaging, asthetically appealing, tragic and deeply meaningful. However, it’s not a movie I would watch all the time because it is so heavy on the heart and mind.

As a final note, I would like to mention that The Fountain does depict animal testing (specifically on monkeys) which is something that I neither endorse or condone. So, as a warning to fellow animal rights crusaders, some scenes may be difficult for sensitive viewers.

Overall Rating: 4 ½
Hottie Rating: 4 (Jackman with his shirt off)

Alternate viewing: Pi
Official site
IMDB site
Cinepinion review

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Director: David Yates
Format: Theater
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Imelda Staunton, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
Trailer

I have to admit it; I was late jumping on the Harry Potter bandwagon. I only just began reading the novels in June, but I’m halfway through The Prisoner of Azkaban already. I’m addicted. I even bought a bag of Bertie Bott’s Every-flavor beans. So far, my only disappointment is that the film adaptations to that point are so close to the novels. So, having seen a majority of the Potter movies, there haven’t been any surprises in the books. That’s quite a turn from my usual book-to-movie experience. Having not caught up to the most recent movie: Order of the Phoenix, I don’t know if the adaptation of that particular novel is up to par. However, I have heard rumor that the thicker the books get, the looser the adaptations.

Once again, Harry’s mortal enemy, Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), seems to be on the rise to power. Cornelius Fudge and The Ministry of Magic are in a state of paranoid denial and launch a smear campaign in The Daily Prophet aimed at Harry and Hogwarts. The only people who seem to realize the truth about the Dark Lord’s return are a group of faithful witches and wizards called The Order of the Phoenix. Fearing that The Order is creating rumors in order to overthrow the Ministry, Fudge removes Dumbledore and Hagrid from the school and appoints the new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) as headmaster. Her enthusiastic attitude and cheerful tone of voice do little to veil the sinister creature beneath. Umbridge is obviously a fan of the “old school” methods of punishment. The students at Hogwarts are trying to do their best to cope with the stringent new rules, while Harry struggles with his own inner demons (and pubescent angst).

Daniel Radcliffe has played the character of Harry Potter throughout the entire series. In fact, one aspect I love about the films is that all of the original actors have stuck with their roles. But, contrary to some other reviews I’ve read, I don’t think that Radcliffe has developed much as an actor. Sure, he’s obviously grown quite a bit at a physical level, but Radcliffe seems to have relied on the same five facial expressions all along. I was a little more forgiving when he was still a kid. On the contrary, Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley and Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger have both grown nicely into their characters. Grint plays Ron exactly as I would have imagined him from the novels and he and Watson have only gotten more convincing.

The obviously more seasoned actors are a bit more consistent with their performances. My favorite characters in the series have always been Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) and Sirius Black (Gary Oldman). I love the way Rickman portrays the villain who is always really on the good side. He conveys his distain for Potter and his crew with just the perfect roll of the eyes and heavy sarcasm. I have to whine a bit that Black’s character isn’t around much in Order. There’s a new character in this movie; Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) and I was hoping that she would be a new love interest for Harry. I love the innocently creepy addition to the cast. However, Harry sticks with Cho Chang (Katie Leung). I hope to see Luna developed more in the next stage of the story. Nymphadora Tonks (Natalia Tena) is in the movie briefly as well. But, there are so many characters in The Order of the Phoenix, that many of the seemingly more interesting ones are only barely touched upon. I would have liked to have seen more character development with Helena Bonham Carter’s character, Bellatrix Lestrange.

Of course, The Order is filled with dazzling special effects, from ghostly dementors to a fierce lightning battle. But, this installment is a bit darker and more sinister than the others. It’s unsettling to see Hogwarts such a gloomy place. Most of the scenes are heavy with dark blue, black and steely hues that add a cold unpleasantness to the entire film. Of course, that must have been the idea. Despite the title of the film, the storyline doesn't do much more than touch on what the Order is about and how it was founded.

If you haven’t seen the other Potter movies, or read the books, you will be completely lost with Order. So, I definitely do not recommend this movie for anyone who isn’t already invested in the series. But for those of us who’ve been following the story, Order of the Phoenix is a very dark and menacing installment comparatively. It also seems as if it’s straining to fit too much into too short a timeline. I’d only recommend it as a reference to the next movie. I think most Potter fans will see it anyway, but it’s not one of my favorite Potter films.

Overall Rating: 3
Hottie Rating: 2 (is it okay to think Potter's hot now?)

Alternate viewing: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Official site
IMDB site
FilmJerk review

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Runaway Jury (2003)

Director: Gary Fleder
Format: DVD
DVD Features: commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes
Starring: John Cusack, Dustin Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Gene Hackman
Trailer

The latest trend arriving in my mailbox appears to be a series of John Grisham inspired films. Previously, I had never been partial to court drama. However, working in a law office has given me a bit of new perspective on the topic. I have also never been a reader of Grisham’s novels, although I haven’t intentionally avoided them. So, it seems slightly odd to me that at some point many months ago, I felt that I needed to add some legal material to my movie repertoire. It has become somewhat of an adventure to travel this seemingly random path I have chosen. It almost makes me wonder if I shouldn’t open up my Netflix queue to the general public just to see what I’ll end up with.

In Runaway Jury, Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman) and Durwood Cable (Bruce Davison) are attorneys on opposing sides of lawsuit that will ultimately decide whether or not gun manufacturers can be held responsible for the deaths of people killed by their products. The plot thickens, though, when a third party surfaces offering to sway the jury to either side in return for a cool ten million (give or take a few mil). On each side of the case, is a jury consultant who makes his living trying to judge which jurors will vote in their favor.

There are a lot of dual-sided elements to this film. Obviously, there is the conflict involved with the case itself. Then, just as obviously, there is the issue of gun control and constitutional rights. Two lawyers represent opposite sides of the case, two profilers attempting to aid either side, and two people working together to manipulate the case. But despite this black and white aspect to the film, the characters don’t quite balance each other out. Gene Hackman’s character, Rankin Fitch (I like the name), is working for the bad guys. He directs a team assigned to photograph, investigate and basically stalk all of the potential jurors in the case. After the jury is chosen, they continue to manipulate the lives of these people in order to convince them to favor their side of the case. Fitch is apparently an old hand at the business and his personality far overshadows that of Lawrence Green (Jeremy Piven), who is his counterpart on the good guy’s side. Rohr is counsel for the good side of the fight, but this is one of Hoffman’s weaker roles. Cusack is….well, typically Cusack. His girlfriend Marlee (Rachel Weisz) is a bit more hardcore than he is. Weisz is very strong in this role and gives an excellent performance. She is fast becoming one of my more favorite actors.

One particularly disappointing characteristic of Runaway Jury is that the filmmakers make it abundantly clear which side of the gun control issue the story favors. Hoffman and Piven are both the more humble, earthy type of people than their counterparts, who are greasy, big city men. The conclusion of the film, not just the verdict in the case, leaves no grey area as to how the audience should feel about the right to bear arms. I have not read John Grisham’s novel, and therefore cannot attest as to the accuracy of the movie, but I wish that Runaway Jury had shown more of a balanced argument. Regardless of my personal beliefs surrounding the issue, I always like to see both sides of a topic represented, giving more freedom to the audience; more respect for their right to make their own descisions.

I really did enjoy the story, aside from the weight so apparently shifted to one side. I did not see the ending coming (the verdict, yes, but not the true motives of Easter and Marlee), so it was refreshing to be surprised. The story is sufficiently intricate and most of the characters are very strong. I would recommend Runaway Jury if you are the type of person who enjoys a good court mystery. If you aren’t usually the kind to go in for this sort of thing, I don’t think it’s so distinctly different from the rest of the genre.

Overall Rating: 3
Hottie Rating: 2 (for Weisz and Cusack in general)

Alternate viewing: The Pelican Brief
Official site (I was unable to navigate to Runaway Jury at Fox’s site here, even though there is a link to it. Maybe you’ll have better luck.)
IMDB site
The Onion AV Club review

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Night Watch (2004)

Russian Title: Nochnoy dozor
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Format: DVD
DVD Features: featurettes, subtitles, English dub, poster gallery, trailers, animation shorts
Starring: Konstatntin Khabensky, Galina Tyunina, Dmitry Martynov, Aleskei Chadov
Trailer

On the back of the cover for Night Watch, there is a quote and endorsement from Quentin Tarantino. It reads, “Just after we’ve lived through The Lord of The Rings and we can’t even imagine another move spellbinding us, along comes Timur Beckmambetov’s fantasy masterpiece. Like Ridley Scoot, Timur is an astonishing visionary and Night Watch is an epic of extraordinary power.” Tarantino has endorsed a gaggle of flicks following his fame as director of Pulp Fiction. Most of which, I’ve already seen and form a stable foundation for B movie education. This one, however, is a bit above his usual recommendations.

Have you ever seen something you just couldn’t explain? Felt the tingle of the supernatural creep up your spine? Thought you may have powers no one could understand? Well, you might just be an “Other”. Anton Gorodetsky discovers that he’s one on the night he visits a witch in hopes of bringing back his cheating wife. And, since then, he has been fighting a battle on the side of light, the side of Night Watch. Ages ago, a battle between the light and dark forces of the world was ended in stalemate. So a truce was formed with two factions created to police each other under the rules of the truce. Day Watch is the dark side. They police the forces of good. Night Watch is the power of light, keeping watch on the vampires and evil-doers to assure their compliance. As the prophecy has foretold, there comes a boy who will decide who wins control and a virgin who’s curse may end the truce.

The visual effects and direction in Night Watch were truly superb. My favorite creature, although briefly glimpsed, is the spider-legged pixie doll. All of the CGI merges seamlessly into the true film footage. One particular demonstration of such technique is the sequence wherein a bolt flies off of a distressed airplane and finds it’s way down a ventilation shaft right into the virgin’s cup of instant coffee. Brilliant! This movie reminded me very much of the atmosphere Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet conjure up in Delicatessen. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101700/ . The entire movie is shot with a “dark and gritty” filter and really creates the perfect atmosphere for the story.

Konstatntin Khabensky plays the main character, Anton. At the beginning of the film, Anton is a dorky looking fellow, who’s wife has left him for another man. When Night Watch grabs the witch performing an abortion spell for him, Anton awakens to his talents as an Other. Afterwards, Anton becomes an alcoholic phsychic fighting on the side of light. Got to love the vodka/pig’s blood cocktail churning in his stomach as he prepares to seek a vampire. I loved his character. One role I was a bit disappointed with was Olga (Galina Tyunina). She’s is given to Anton in the form of an owl, to assist him on his mission to find the virgin and lift the curse. But, shortly after he scoffs at her abilities to aid him, she transforms into a woman in his kitchen. But, beyond that, the film never shows a lot of promise in Olga. She obviously has a keen sense of observation, but other than that, doesn’t exhibit any extraordinary powers. I can only hope that her character is further explored in the sequel.

Among the numerous lovely perks of the film, there is a kickin’ soundtrack and Anton’s neighbor. His neighbor, Kostya is a vampire played by Aleskei Chadov and he’s hot. If you’ve got a thing for vampires (like I do) you might just hope for a bite on the neck from Kostya. Too bad he’s not a main character. There is a faint element of romance as well, in the relationship of the two vampires hunting the boy Yegor (Dmitry Martynov). The head of Day Watch (those are the bad guys) loves to play out the plot in the form of a one-on-one fighting game. Keep your eyes open for the spine sword – classic Mortal Kombat type stuff.

The Night Watch DVD comes as a dual layer disc. One side is the English version, the other is the original Russian. If you prefer to watch the film it it’s original language, your only option for subtitles is English for the hearing impaired. So, there will be descriptions of the sound effects to tolerate. Quite honestly, I have never elected to view the English version, as I feel it takes away from some of the value of the film. There isn’t much in the way of special features on this disc. Director commentary is about the only extra available. But don’t let any of that stand in your way. Night Watch is a fantastic movie and I whole-hartedly recommend the rental, if not the purchase. I can hardly wait until Day Watch hits US shores.

Overall Rating: 4 ½
Hottie Rating: 4 (sexy vampires)

Alternate Viewing: Foreign pick - Tale of Two Sisters (Korea) Domestic pick – Underworld: Evolution (only if you’ve seen the first one)
Official Site: (Yes, it’s in Russian)
IMDB Site
A Nutshell Review

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The Ice Harvest (2005)

Director: Harold Ramis
Format: DVD
DVD Features: alternate endings, featurettes, commentary, outtakes
Starring: John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen
Trailer

As I looked over the description on the sleeve of The Ice Harvest, my heart sank a little when I read the words “…Harold Ramis’s outlandish holiday thriller.” Outlandish can be alright sometimes. Thriller is usually a good bet. But, holiday?! You see, I’m not fond of holiday movies at all, not when “holiday” means Christmas. Seeing as how I’m not fond of Christmas, unless there’s mass murder involved, I don’t appreciate the holiday interfering with my movie enjoyment. Naturally, there are a few exceptions. A Christmas Story is rather amusing, especially because it’s so dysfunctional.

The Ice Harvest takes place in Wichita Falls, Kansas. It’s wintertime (hence the word "ice" in the title). Charlie (John Cusack) is a mob lawyer who has a plan, but not the guts to follow it through. Vic (Billy Bob Thornton) is his partner, who has the guts but not the brains. After sneaking away from Charlie’s boss with two million bucks, the two of them plan to spend the night in town, acting casual, and then fly out nice and easy the next day. But, one night turns out to hold a lot of surprises. And by the end of that same night, Charlie proves to have more guts and Vic proves to have more brains than anyone thought.

As is characteristic of his recent persona, John Cusack plays the role of Charlie with a mostly calm and collected sort of cynicism. Although he is a bit of a nervous character at times, he holds steady through this caper. His lack of panic during the most stressful of situations is pretty much the only outstanding trait Charlie has. Billy Bob Thornton plays a creepy, suspicious character much better than he has ever played a fine, upstanding citizen. I think it’s his shifty eyes that give him away. One of the most simple, but enjoyable characters in The Ice Harvest is Renata, played by Connie Nielsen. She is the sultry club owner and target of Charlie’s affection. Or, rather, lust. She got a smooth, deep voice, bright red lipstick, a killer figure, and the word “danger” written all over her. Renata may have been more at home in a Bogart murder mystery. Nielsen practically steals the show from Cusack and Thornton.

It is difficult for me to decide on who I think must hate Kansas more – the people who live there or the people who wisely stay away. The entire landscape is bleak, rainy, and frigid. Only the indoor scenes hold any warmth or interesting décor. All of the main characters in the film hold a strong desire to escape Wichita Falls. Even though Charlie and Vic are looking to run from the man they robbed, the whole reason for grabbing the cash in the first place is to leave town. If it hadn’t been a hundred degrees outside, I may have welcomed the warmth of the indoor scenes. Practically every room held something warm, from lighted holiday figurines, to windows draped in red. The inside of Charlie’s former home, now that of his friend Pete, was decorated in steel and blue glow and even that seemed toasty in comparison to the weather outside.


The word “Christmas” in this movie’s description turned out to be a non-concern. Amidst the lighted trees and reindeer, so much foul spirited activity abounds it is easy to forget that the holiday is looming. So, I was relieved of that at least. But even despite the good work of the actors involved, The Ice Harvest lacked any real hook. I didn’t find myself routing for the hero (or anti-hero) or tense during any of the action. I basically didn’t care and I wasn’t so concerned about how the whole thing would turn out. It was truly as mediocre as the Kansas landscape.

Overall Rating: 2
Hottie Rating: 3 (Renata smokes up the screen)

Alternate Viewing: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Official Site
IMDB Site
Boston.com review

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