This movie already has a big “buzz” around it for Oscar considerations. Remember that the Academy Awards are going to be handed out about a month early this year-in late February, so it’s not too early to get that “buzz” going.
First off, I’ve already read a few e-mails from people who want you to boycott this movie. Why? Because it stars Sean Penn and Tim Robbins – remember that little disagreement over invading Iraq a few months back? Ah, it’s a movie – as I’ve said, that’s what these guys do best, let them stick to it. Besides, there will easily be two more guys to speak out to replace them. That’s Hollywood!
Penn and Robbins are joined by Kevin Bacon as a trio of buddies who grew up together in a blue collar neighborhood of Boston. The movie kicks off with a scene of the three boys playing street hockey. One of them, named Dave (Tim Robbins) is abducted and sexually tortured for four days by a couple of dirty old men.
It’s now twenty-five years later and the guys went their separate ways. Sean (Kevin Bacon) in now a cop, Jimmy (Sean Penn) owns a corner grocery store and looks a lot like the local thug, and Dave lives a sad life, marginally employed with a wife and son.
The three guys are reunited when Jimmy’s nineteen year-old daughter is murdered and Dave looks a lot like he’s the killer. It is the perfect emotional circle of morality – Jimmy the distraught and vengeful Dad, Sean the calm, but determined cop, and Dave, the seemingly guilty, mentally messed-up sad sack.
And, as a bonus, add in two more prime cast members – Marcia Gay Harden as Dave’s wife, a complete pushover with little doubt Dave’s the killer, and Laura Linney, as Jimmy’s wife, who loves her man and is as tough as he is.
I felt that things started rather slowly even though there was a kidnapping and a murder. Some of the Boston accents may drive you nuts until you get used to them, and the dialogue was simple and uninspiring. There’s also a side story about Sean’s wife – she’s left him and shows up every now and then as a partial face talking on a cell phone (and saying nothing), that really should have been left out all together.
Now, having given you some of my objections, let me say that this does become a very good potboiler as Sean works on tracking a killer and Jimmy and his thug friends do the same thing (on their own terms of course). It’s hard to take your eyes off of Penn- he is the one that makes this movie a cut above. First, check out his look – he’s a tattooed greaseball, looking like the “bad Fonzie”, but with his graying hair and reading glasses, he answers a question I’ve often wondered about – what happens to the bullies and street toughs when they hit age forty-somthing?
From angst to rage, Penn captures the heart of this movie and drives it home. The looks he gives people and the power he displays, this guy is the local “godfather”, even if he’d rather just be a good Dad and shopkeeper these days. A compelling performance- maybe he’ll finally get that Oscar he believes has been unfairly denied him.
“Mystic River” is not a “feel good” movie, so please don’t show up expecting to be dancing in the aisles. Go see it on a dark, late night. And try to figure out how it’s all going to end. I give it an “8.0”.
Friday, October 17th, 2003
Don’t mess with Gene Hackman. Doesn’t he just look like a guy that gets things done? Late in his career, he’s taken to the villain roles quite nicely and this time it’s easy as he plays a jury consultant. Not just any jury consultant, but a high powered one backed up by a technologically driven staff that will even know when you last pooped.
His character’s name is Rankin Fitch and his client is a major gun manufacturer. They’ve been sued by a widow whose husband was shot dead in one of those office massacres. She’s represented by Wendall Rohr, played by Dustin Hoffman.
Gene and Dustin have never been in a movie together, so that’s something right there. Of course, don’t get your hopes too high, they only have one scene together. Just know that Gene gets the best part as the evil one. But this movie has many other focuses. One of them belongs to a couple played by John Cusack and Rachel Weisz. He’s working his way onto the jury so she can extract big money from either side in order to dictate a verdict.
Many movies are won and lost with detail, and the attention to it here is top notch. While I find it hard to believe any one jury pool could be so spied on, it’s fun to watch Fitch size people up and dispense his goons to get the goods on them. Of course, he wasn’t counting on the inside job that Cusack is pulling, so that’s when the real fun begins. And, to believe that every stunt that Cusack pulls to sway people would actually work is a stretch, but the beauty of this movie is that I didn’t care. I still had a good time watching it unfold, ridiculous or not.
This movie manages to be tense without a lot of action or violence. I’m impressed. You’ll find yourself trying to figure how it’s all going to end and guessing right along- unless you read the book, then too bad for you. Of course, I did, but I forgot most of it. Thank God there may be a new Alzheimers drug soon.
“Runaway Jury” is about as good a movie adaptation of a John Grisham book as there has been , since, well, since, “The Firm”. Hey, they say that in the ads for this movie. Well, they’re right! I give “Runaway Jury” a “7.0”.
Friday, October 10th, 2003
You’ll hear a lot of the use of the phrase “style over substance” in reference to this movie. It’s the long awaited new film from director Quentin Tarantino. And, I know, I don’t mention directors much, but this guy is larger than life. He’s the guy who brought us “Reservoir Dogs” and “Pulp Fiction” and achieved instant cult status.
One of the things I liked about “Reservoir Dogs” was the in your face, up-front bloodiness about it. Super tough guys set up in a death match. Some of that also came through in “Pulp Fiction”, and you get the same in “Kill Bill”, except this time it’s super tough ladies.
Uma Thurman plays “Black Mamba”, a big time assassin. She used to be part of a squad of killers led by “Bill”. You don’t need to know much more except “Bill” decided to assassinate her on her wedding day (such bad manners). From there, it’s a revenge plot, most of which takes place four years later. Oh, you might want to know that “Black Mamba’s” weapon of choice is a samuri sword.
She’s out to kill five people to be precise, but ends up killing, let me see, about a hundred. And this is only part one in the two part story (yes, there is another “Kill Bill” coming out in February).
When they talk about this movie being about style, I guess that means blood, because there’s plenty of that to go around. I can’t complain – I’ve come to hate these kung-fu movies like “The Matrix” and “Crouching Tiger” that are all about big fights, but it seems nobody gets hurt. Not this time – whew! Heads pop off, arms fly around and blood spurts like Old Faithful. And to this I say- bravo! It’s about time some of these fights ended in dead bodies. Sometimes you’ll laugh, sometimes you’ll squirm.
Tarantino is a major film buff and has constructed this movie to meet his nerdy, inside-the-head visions. As an example, much of the film takes place in Japan and major fight scenes are filled with close-ups of the combatants faces preparing for the kill, sort of a homage to the old gunfighter movies. Plus, the music is a hoot as it swings from Oriental fare to sixties groove beats in seconds. Oh, and here’s a bonus – while “Black Mamba” is in a coma recovering from her wounds, a male nurse takes cash from guys who wish to have their way with her. Gross but funny, especially since you know what’s coming next from the victim.
I guess that’s what they call style – all I know is I love it when Uma, the irresistible force, takes on Lucy Liu, the unmovable object. Trantino has a knack for making these kind of showdowns really entertaining. I give “Kill Bill” an “8.0” and await the next chapter.
Friday, October 3rd, 2003
Not to be confused with “Under The Tucson Sun” which might be pretty hot right now, this is the story of a woman’s journey towards fulfillment and happiness. Boy, did I get that platitude right or what? Let’s face it right here and now – this is a girl’s movie. That can be a tough thing for guys on date night. Maybe you ought to veer over to the new “Rock” movie “Rundown” instead and meet her after.
Diane Lane plays the part of Frances Mayes, a thirty-five year old writer living in San Francisco who seems to have it all – a successful career as a professor and a book critic with a loving husband. Wouldn’t be much of a movie if it stayed that way, would it?
Frances soon finds out her husband is cheating on her and ends up in Italy, “under the Tuscan sun”. So, with that, I leave out the hows and whys and just tell you she’s on a search for happiness and fulfillment. Wait, I said that already. All right, I’ll be more specific and this is where the feminists leave the theatre-happiness and fulfillment for Frances seems to be being loved again, getting married again and having children. Oh, that novel she never gets going on? Ah, doesn’t seem important. Frances would rather wallow in her self-pity over her broken marriage, and if you can handle it, and this is a big if when you look at the beauty of Diane Lane, she would rather wonder if any man would ever want her again.
If it sounds like a being a little hard on the portrayal of women and their needs here, well, I am. But there is a second theme running that is carried out quite well and that is “you might get what you want in a different form if you can recognize it”. Yikes, I’m sounding cryptic again. I hate doing that, but this movie, based on a book by the real Frances Mayes, is rather well laid out. It puts you in one direction, only to pull you in another a short while later.
That’s because she has piled on many characters here to complicate Frances’ life. There’s a pregnant lesbian girlfriend and a couple of teenage lovers to distract her, but the strangest is a blonde sixty something woman who plays the town weirdo. Claiming to have once been an actress, she floats around town living the life of a free spirit and occasionally dispensing advice to Frances. You’ll either be amused or annoyed by her. I thought she was an embarrassing freak, but I think in this movie she’s supposed to be a source of wise inspiration.
I thought the best character is the Italian real estate agent who handles Frances’ home purchase – a dilapidated villa. I was fooled for a while too, because he’s interested in Frances, but like many of the men in this movie, he too is married. This guy really is the wise and calm presence she needs and keeps showing up at just the right moments.
“Under The Tuscan Sun” is just what it appears to be and many women will love it because they can relate. It’s a girlfriends “date” movie only – I give it a “6.0” on the scale.
