Recent Films - Spring Cleaning

I keep a notebook where I jot down notes about films that I watch.

Unfortunately, it seems I never get around to writing up full reviews of many of these films. So, to clear out the notebook, here are some comments about some of the films that I’ve watched in recent months.

STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING - While much has been written about Frank Langella’s performance, I want to mention both Lili Taylor and Adrian Lester. Taylor hasn’t been this good in years, and Lester (who plays her boyfriend) is also excellent. The film (about an older writer being profiled by grad student Lauren Ambrose) is quite good.

THE SAVAGES - Maybe it is the fact that I watched this right after STARTING OUT, and both films deal with aging parents, but this didn’t do much for me. Also, I thought the brother / sister dynamics were better explored in Laura Linney’s far superior other film YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. While this isn’t a bad film, I don’t know if it is one you really want to run out and rent.

RESERVATION ROAD - Mark Ruffalo is involved in a hit and run that kills Joaquin Phoenix’s son. He lives with the guilt while Phoenix can’t come to terms with the death. This film is essentially an endurance test. It is SO downbeat, so depressing that you kind of hope all the characters involved would commit suicide to see them out of their misery. Not that a good film couldn't have been made out of the material (I’m reminded of IN THE BEDROOM) but this seems to revel in the most depressing aspects of the story.

JIMMY CARTER: THE MAN FROM PLAINS - As Jimmy Carter says during one moment in this Jonathan Demme directed documentary "I think this is the most interesting book tour we've had yet!" He is right. Following Carter around the country promoting what is said to be an Anti Israel, pro-Palestine book, it is more eventful, and more watchable than you would probably guess.

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL - There are two schools of thought about this one. The first, that it is a cute and quirky tale of small town life. The other that it is a nauseating film about enabling mental illness. I'm with the second. Even though I liked Kelli Garner's performance in a supporting role.

WHO THE **** IS JACKSON POLLOCK? - Documentary about a woman who finds a painting in a thrift store for $5, only to discover that it could be an original Jackson Pollock that could be worth $50 million. Interesting subject, but it doesn’t really have enough of a story to sustain the feature length. It is a good short subject stretched to feature length. The other recent documentary, MY KID COULD PAINT THAT, is a much more interesting film.

THE KING OF KONG - Have no idea why I have yet to write about this. This is the documentary about guys battling for the high score on Donkey Kong. Nothing else to say other than I LOVED IT!!

RAT PHINK AND BOO BOO - Caught this on late night Turner Classic Movies. One of the strangest films you are likely to see (and it is on DVD). Two superheroes of sorts (who seem to be doing Yogi Bear and Boo Boo imitations) save the world, while sounds of flushing toilets and other cartoon sound effects are on the soundtrack. I don’t want to oversell it, but it is never boring.

LOVE SONGS - A new French musical playing on IFC On Demand and in theatres, starring Ludivine Sagnier. I should have learned from 8 WOMEN, that other than THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG, French musicals are pretty deadly. But I gave it a shot. Don't make the same mistake.

WEDDING DAZE - I meant to review this months ago. THE STATE’s Michael Ian Black directs this film about a couple (Jason Biggs, Isla Fisher) who meet and right away decide to get married. There are some BIG laughs here, mainly from Edward Hermann’s performance.

THE TEN - From the gang behind THE STATE and WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER (one of my faves), another very funny film. A comical take on the ten commandments, with ten short films each taking on one of them. Like Kieslowski’s THE DECALOGUE, only funnier. My favorites involve Winona Ryder’s falling in love with a ventriloquist dummy, guys listening to Roberta Flack, and MRI machine hoarders.

THE F WORD - This has been in my notebook for months. Josh Hamilton plays a radio DJ on the last day of broadcast as they are being shut down due to unpaid FCC fines. He takes to the streets of New York with a portable microphone, during the 2004 Republican Convention. He meets with real people, as well as actors (Callie Thorne and Sam Rockwell) playing real people. Sort of like the 2004 version of MEDIUM COOL, although not as dramatic (as far as the riots go). Very good film, that deserves more than this little capsule review. Try to see it.

And that’s about it for now.