Quickie Movie Reviews
With Oscar season in full swing, I've been making it a point to see as many of the contenders for major awards as possible. In short order, I've seen 6+ films. Thought it would be an interesting exercise to run down the list in order and provide thumbnail reviews.
Notes On A Scandal: taut, riveting drama with superb performances by Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Both deserve nominations for best actress.
Babel: best story is the one about the deaf mute Japanese girl. Neatly links together four story threads that show how the smallest moments ripple throughout the globe, and how, despite the interconnectedness of the world, we really still can't communicate with each other.
The Queen: lighter fare than I expected. Quiet and dignified with an excellent Helen Mirren actually making Queen Elizabeth II a likable, sympathetic figure who is not sure how to mesh tradition with the demands of the modern world.
Little Miss Sunshine: thankfully rented this one through pay per view. Could stomach maybe only half an hour of this utterly depressing movie that made me cringe. Would like to make it through the whole thing, but I don't know if I can.
Pan's Labyrinth: no light fairy tell this one. A dark, grim movie, oftentimes brutal, but a top notch story demonstrating how we all need escapism from the real world. Deserves a nod for Best Picture period, not just Best Foreign Language Feature.
Venus: Peter O'Toole remains vibrant and charming, yet it's a highly disturbing story that is difficult to bear.
Letters from Iwo Jima: on a par with Babel and The Departed as a best picture candidate. In its quietness, despite the subject matter, it's similar to The Queen. Deftly humanizes the faces behind the war and makes you care deeply about the Japanese soldiers who are doomed from the start. It's amazing how Clint Eastwood has transitioned from star to one of the best directors of the last 15 years.