PHILOMENA

Judi Dench, Steve Coogan

"These Two Unlikely Companions are on a 

Journey to Find her Long Lost Son"

This is a true story based on the 2009 investigative book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee" by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith. He is portrayed by Steve Coogan in a meaty role that truly exposes his raw talent with some appropriate comedic flair. 

Philomena (Judi Dench) seeks his help in tracing her son whom she gave up for adoption in the 1960s. Actually, she was forced by the nuns who run a home for unwed mothers to sign a waiver. This document states she will not be privy to any information about his whereabouts once he is adopted.    Years later, hounded by her conscience and her guilt she perseveres in finding her son and her only hope is to channel it through Martin Sixsmith.  Perfect timing as he has been disgraced and is willing to take on a human interest story to salvage his reputation.

A journey that takes them from the Irish convent (where her toddler son grew up) and all the way to America where her son lived upon his adoption by an American couple.   It isn't an easy journey as they both face upheavals and challenges along the way.  Such as the refusal of the convent to share any information to hitting a blank wall once they reach America.

Interspersed with flashback throughout the film, we get to see Philomena as a young woman with child. Her difficult circumstances as her Catholic upbringing reigns supreme. A child out of wedlock was a big taboo back in the 1960s in predominantly Catholic Ireland.  As a Catholic, it was uncomfortable for me to watch the nuns strict adherence to the doctrines of the Church.  Although, I admit it is no secret that the Church has committed way too many deplorable acts that truly counteracts their main purpose.  It is a very touchy subject to broach and one I am not willing to comment on in this review.

The versatile performances from the two lead actors as unlikely 'partners' in a daunting quest are brilliant. Their repertoire is spot on even as their characters are polar opposites of each other. It was interesting to watch the very different reactions of their characters to the numerous hurdles they faced in their hunt for her son. Although their search leads to a sad ending, the fact that they finally find a fitting closure to her long anguishing tale is worth all the hardships they encounter. 

"Philomena" is a tale of anguish, guilt, redemption and forgiveness. It had a tendency to drag on but surely the poignant characterization of Philomena and Sixsmith by Steve Coogan and Dame Judi Dench is enough to elevate this sad yet uplifting story to a movie worth watching.

ABOUT TIME

Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams,

Bill Nighy, Lindsay Duncan

"What if every Moment in Life, 

came with a Second Chance?"

I would be the last person on earth to appreciate a film about time travel. I consider myself a realist so fantasy and sci-fi themed movies don't necessarily fit into my realm. 

But there is something quite delightful about this particular film that made me appreciate this genre. It could be that the lead actor is not your typical oozing with sex appeal type yet he gets the girl (Rachel McAdams) through his charming wits.  It might be that the film had a light airy vibe that even a heavy downpour during their wedding didn't cast a damper.  

It could be that aside from the time travel (which dominates most scenes) there are also cherished life lessons to take to heart through the father (Bill Nighy) and son bonding moments.  It could also be the voice over narration (which I especially love in movies).  Or it could be a mix of all of these factors which make "About Time" quite a pleasant viewing experience.

Set in England with its lush countryside and the bustling city of London, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers at the age of 21 that he has the ability to travel back in time and alter his life course.  A trait he inherited from his father and somehow manifests in the men in their family.  He doesn't really do anything quite drastic as he cannot change history, only his life events.  But soon enough he discovers that this ability has its limits and can be quite dangerous too if he 'veers' in the wrong direction.   

A typical Richard Curtis fare (Love Actually, Notting Hill), this rom-com is well acted, beautifully told with some endearing characters, add in some heartfelt tender moments that will certainly put a smile on your face.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

Meryl Streep, Margo Martindale, Julia Roberts, 

Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Sam Shepard,

Julianne Nicholson, Dermot Mulroney, Juliette Lewis, 

Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch

"Misery Loves Family"

The only thing I believe I have in common with this film is the scorching hot weather that permeates during the unfolding of this heavy handed drama about a dysfunctional family. I could commiserate with the characters as they were sweating from the intense heat and humidity of an Oklahoma summer.

The film is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning Tracy Letts’ play and is an insightful experience, funny with all the absurdity of life, sad with its irreversible drive towards death.

It is the month of August, the Weston family is grieving as they mourn the sudden death of its patriarch Beverly Weston (Sam Shepard) through an apparent suicide.

The Weston family is led by his widow Violet (Meryl Streep), an over medicated, foul mouthed, heavy drinker who is also battling mouth cancer.  Her estranged daughters come home, each of them carrying their own emotional baggage. As they all gather for the funeral, long buried and hidden secrets are revealed and explosively expose their vulnerability and frailty as a family as well as individuals.

Since it is a play, most of the scenes are set in one location - the ancestral home. But it also incorporates the local landscapes of the real Osage County in northern Oklahoma.  Wide, open spaces that bear silent witness to the loud, in-your-face melodramatic moments at the Weston household composed mostly of strong willed women.

The storyline is quite dark and intense, and to a certain extent really tragic. It is mostly dialogue driven and it really helps that the lines are delivered by a cast of well trained actresses.

Meryl Streep is highly overbearing as Violet but at the same time, you feel her 'pain'. And even if we refuse to acknowledge it, we somehow understand why she is so bitter. Julia Roberts as the eldest daughter Barbara is in one of her most unglamorous roles - without any make up, she is able to relay her antagonistic attitude quite brilliantly.  For me, Margo Martindale was quite a revelation as the highly judgmental Mattie Fae, the sister of Violet.  She was basically the 'string' that held all the characters together.  Each of them fully immersing themselves in their roles with aplomb.

Most of the time, it is quite hard to watch as people are very mean to each other. Spewing vitriol, being very critical and using demeaning words like it was a natural thing to constantly dampen other people's feelings without any tinge of remorse.

People being harsh to their own flesh and blood is a highly foreign concept for me. Family should always come first and be treated with much deserved respect irregardless of our flaws and weaknesses as individuals.

The movie is also quite compelling to absorb as towards the end ... you sense that self awareness, redemption and remorse is actually possible. Never mind that there is such a tiny window for it to creep in. The fact remains that there is still a very small glimmer of hope even for such torn and conflicted characters.

12 YEARS A SLAVE

Chiwetel Eijofor, Lupita Nyong'o,

Michael Fassbender,  Sarah Paulson

"The Extraordinary True Story of Solomon Northup"

Any movie that handles the heavy theme of slavery is bound to be graphically violent. It is inherent to depict brutality to provide authenticity to the essence of the movie. Director Steve McQueen did an excellent job in constantly presenting complex emotions and thoughts manifested through the struggles of one man through such visual means. The vast cotton fields and painted skies of Louisiana provide an excellent backdrop to the terrible torment of Solomon Northup.

The film is based on the memoirs of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who was a free black man living in Saratoga, New York with his wife and two children in the 1800s. Lured to Washington, D.C under false pretenses, he wakes up bound and chained and is eventually sold to a plantation owner even though he insisted he is a free man.

Eventually, he is sold to a ruthless cotton farm owner (Michael Fassbender) and we bear witness to his daily hardships - a horrible existence that lasts for 12 years.

It is not easy to watch as there are several cringe moments which will make you avert your eyes away from the blood, the torn flesh, sweat and tears that abounds in many frames. But at the same time, these scenes are sporadic, well edited and serve the larger story of a man starved of his freedom.   There is also an underlying tone (however small it is) of hope, survival and a never giving up stance that sustains Solomon.

Much of the story plays out across the facial expressions of Ejiofor. A talented British actor whose repertoire of films consisted mostly of supporting roles. Here as Solomon Northup, he is devastatingly effective with a subdued performance that will tug at your heart strings. Even though he didn't get the Best Actor Oscar for this role, he will no doubt be long remembered for his heartbreaking characterization of a wronged man

When Solomon utters the line "I don't want to survive ... I want to live", you want to believe him even though you silently know it would mean having his soul crushed to its very core before he can achieve his desire.

"12 years a Slave" is a well executed film about slavery that neither condones nor glorify a period that has left an indelible mark in American history. It simply presents one long chapter among several stories about slavery in America.

With raw and brutal honesty, the devastating tale of Solomon Northup is  essayed in "12 Years a Slave",  in the hope that it won't ever be repeated.

This even as we all know that slavery (human trafficking) is still as rampant today as it was centuries ago, unfortunately!

NEBRASKA

Bruce Dern, Will Forte

June Squibb, Stacy Keach

This latest offering from director Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants) is shot entirely in black and white. It features his home state Nebraska as the background to a simple yet deeply poignant story about the road trip of one family.  

The elderly Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) receives a letter informing him that he won a million dollars in some sweepstakes marketing promotion. Driven by his desire to provide a 'legacy' to his family, he is intent on claiming the prize even though his son David (Will Forte) keeps telling him it is a scam and he hasn't won anything.   But as anyone who has ever dealt with an elderly parent knows, they can be pretty stubborn when they have set their mind on something and slowly obsession takes over. So I truly admired David for being kind enough to go along with his father's 'fantasy' by driving him across states to claim the prize.  

What ensues is an entertaining road trip where father and son get to bond together. Here lies the beauty of "Nebraska" as the scenery changes with every state (even though it is clearly in black and white frames). Their encounters with the residents of Woody's home town also provide some humorous moments. All of them 'excited' to have a millionaire in their midst. 

The ensemble cast composed of professional and non pro actors all mix together to provide a realistic view of life in the Midwest.  Led by Bruce Dern, his characterization of Woody is tragic yet funny. In the ultimate scene when he does find out that he in fact did not win anything, my heart was broken into pieces. His silent resignation that he was not a millionaire played out beautifully sans hysteria but his crestfallen facial expressions revealed his true sentiments.

June Squibb as his wife Kate absolutely cracked me up with her obscenities and foul language. Her believable performance also provided most of the laughs, albeit in a deadpan sense of humour way.

Once again, Payne truly delivers with yet another laid back story of ordinary people facing major changes in their lives. "Nebraska" offers just the right blend of humour and drama that pulls at your heartstrings. Further elevated by the raw and highly emotional acting talent of its cast.  A highly recommended film!

HER

Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams,

Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara

"Her" is set in a futuristic LA where technology has completely taken over our lives. We meet Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) a loner (going through a divorce) who works as a letter composer for a company.  Basically he writes love letters for other people and he is quite adept at it. 

When he installs a new operating system (OS) in his computer, it completely takes over every aspect of his life. From sorting his files to arranging dates for him, "Samantha" is the name of the female voice that assists him. Soon enough, Theodore develops a very special bond with Samantha and even calls her his 'girlfriend'. 

This Spike Jonze directed piece thoroughly explores their relationship. It is a complex love story of a lonely man and his endearingly adorable OS.  In this day and age where social media reigns and social isolation is quite rampant, "Her" is a fitting tale of a pure connection, albeit it is between a human and his self aware computer personality.   

But this romantic connection would certainly ring a bell with anyone who has been in an online relationship.  A bond that develops from spending hours on end chatting with each other through an IM (instant messenger) facility.  A budding relationship that mostly unfolds through a monitor and a keyboard. But where one's most intimate feelings and sentiments are shared without the awkwardness of a face to face encounter.  It most certainly feels 'real' between the parties involved even though some skeptic would say otherwise.

I admit I've been in several of these online relationships so I could surely commiserate with Theodore's sentiments.  But having said that, there comes a point when  the normal thing to do is to go beyond the online chats and have a face to face encounter.  There lies the 'obstacle' for Theodore and Samantha.  She is not human and as we find out towards the ending, she has been programmed and uploaded several times in different computers so let's just say her loyalty is questionable.  Plus the glaring fact that she is NOT human.

Most of the background and landscape scenes were shot in Shanghai, China. Apparently in Spike Jonze's brilliant mind that is how Los Angeles would look like in the future. Strange looking skyscrapers, minimalist apartments that rely heavily on computer gadgets, people communicating through an earpiece and a small rectangular device.  It is all very well represented on screen and it plays out well with the alternative subject matter.

But the praises must go entirely to Joaquin Phoenix. He is in almost every scene but he underplays, bringing a gentle irony to his role even at the most climactic moments. He is mostly lost in his thoughts and those of the operating system moulded to fit his psyche.  His awkwardness and boyish giggles make him seem authentically vulnerable yet at the same time a sympathetic somewhat endearing character.

Even though we can’t see what Samantha looks like, her sultry voice is warm, caring and a bit playful at times. One would imagine that someone with such a nice (for lack of a better term) voice would have quite a pleasing personality if she was a real person. But the mere thought that she is voiced by the sensual Scarlett Johansson, you can't help but personify the face behind the voice.

I'd have to say that "Her" is not for everyone. If it were a food item, it would take an acquired taste to really appreciate and savor its uniqueness.  Yet what makes the film so provocative is that the nature of love, companionship and obsession is both universal and timely.  The contours of the relationship between Theodore and "Samantha" can easily be read as one between two normal people with all senses in tact. It’s a love story for our time and for all time.

THE BOOK THIEF

Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush

Emily Watson, Nico Liersch

"Courage beyond Words"

This film starts with a creepy voice over. I say creepy because it is the Grim Reaper's voice and he is narrating the story of Liesel. A bit morbid if you ask me but I figure that is how it goes in the best selling book by Markus Zusak from which this film was adapted.  

Set during the second World War in a small German town, Liesel (Sophie Nelisse)  is adopted by Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa (Emily Watson). Her foster parents are a childless working class German couple and as the film progressed, they hide a young Jewish man in their basement.  He is the son of a former war buddy of Hans whom he credits as saving his life.

The film also mentions briefly the Holocaust - mostly in association with Max (the one hiding in the basement) but it also shows how the Third Reich banned books which they said would undermine their superior race.  It also shows how they trained the youth to be certified Nazis members. 

The actors speak English with an on and off German accent which can be a bit distracting. Yet they are still able to personify their characters with just enough emotional flair as they can muster. 

There are certain loopholes in the development of the plot.  Certain scenes carried on at length while other side plots were largely left for the audience to decipher on their own.

Perhaps as I haven't read the book, I lacked some background information which could have explained the circumstances better.  In particular, towards the end where the scriptwriters seem to have run out of time so they squeezed it everything before the credits scrolled.

Overall, the film teaches us the importance of reading and how books play such an important role in our upbringing. It also presents a perspective on the ordinary lives of the citizenry from the other spectrum of the equation - the Germans.

THE MONUMENTS MEN

George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman,

Bill Murray, Hugh Bonneville, Bob Balaban,

Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin

"It was the Greatest Art Heist in History"

All this time, I thought that "The Monuments Men" was shown in 2013. In most of his interviews, George Clooney kept talking about this project like it was an opus. Ok, granted that he was the one who directed it, I guess we should allow him to gloat a little.  

Yet half way through the film which is based on a true story, this nagging feeling crept up on me that Clooney was doing a poor job in presenting the story of this brave group of men. Towards the end of the second World War, a platoon was formed that consisted of highly esteemed art curators and art historians. They were tasked by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to salvage and redeem vast amount of masterpieces that was looted by the Nazis. Upon their retrieval, it should be returned to their rightful Jewish owners/collectors. They chose to call themselves "The Monuments Men". 

Instead, Clooney (yes I blame him since he co-wrote it as well) turned his film into a comedy. As Capt. Frank Stokes, (George Clooney) the head of the platoon, he paired his 'crew' into twos and assigned them to different parts of Europe to search for the hiding places of the valuable loot. Thus we are inundated with scenes of comedic pairings where one is basically a sidekick of the other.  Set along to really loud annoyingly irritating 'comical' music whenever they had a breakthrough in their task.  

Then Clooney throws in a love angle for Matt Damon's character, James Granger with Claire Simon (Cate Blanchett with a phony French accent), the secretary of a high ranking Nazi officer who kept records of every piece of artwork which passed through her office for documentation purposes. It is her record books which finally gave the Monuments Men valuable information on the whereabouts as well as the real owners.

The Monuments Men could have been a great movie, had it highlighted the dangers in the clandestine work of this special platoon. Instead, they were portrayed as caricatures who goofed around like they were on a picnic instead of being in the forefront of the various battlefields in Europe.  It is very unfortunate, they were not given a proper tribute for their thankless job in accomplishing such a gargantuan task.

I guess the mere fact that he cast comedians (like Bill Murray, John Goodman, Bob Balaban) would have been an indication. He added humor to drum up the interest in the story. But this angle immensely diminishes the very people he wanted to honor by making this film.  The ensemble cast though are composed of very talented actors who unfortunately were not able to draw out the true personalities of the characters they were portraying. 

"The Monuments Men" truly wanted to recall an important part of history by showing the effects of war on not only the soldiers, civilians, and society. But also the devastating costs on the damage done to art masterpieces. It is imperative we preserve the arts and culture for the future generation to have a better understanding of history.  But the film missed its mark by presenting a boring film that could not hold the audience's attention let alone its interest in knowing exactly what happened and how it happened.

AMERICAN HUSTLE

Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper,

Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence

"Everyone Hustles to Survive"

The film starts with Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) painstakingly arranging his comb over in front of a mirror with an unbuttoned shirt showing his beer gut hanging out of his hairy chest. If you are sensitive, you would cringe at this very unpleasant sight. But if you not, you will chuckle and watch as he puts in a lot of effort for his hair piece to look 'perfect'.

I believe it is the same with director David O. Russell as he goes to great lengths to showcase the compelling story about a pair of con artists.  His keen eye to make everything look authentic from the characters' wardrobe, their hair style as well as the entire neighborhood is praiseworthy.

Set in the 1970's and early 1980's, it involves an elaborate scheme hatched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation aided by a convicted con-man (Irving Rosenfeld) to set up corrupt politicians who accepted bribes. All of these incidents are captured on videos. This sting led to nearly a dozen arrests including U.S. senators, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and a handful of other politicians in the state of New Jersey. This is the reason, the disclaimer "some of this actually happened"  was flashed across the screen at the beginning of the film.

So while this whole sting incident did occur, Russell's film is also highly fictional with regards to the life of conman Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner in crime and in bed Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams). When Rosenfeld is caught, he makes a deal with an ambitious rogue FBI agent named Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) to help him capture other con artists.  

But the operation takes on a whole different dynamic when politicians enter the picture.  Suddenly, the entrapment shifts from simply setting up con men to capturing as many politicians on the take as possible. 

The viewer must be warned to keep their eyes and ears wide open and see beyond all the big hair, the comb over, the cleavage and the whole 70s retro stuff.   Essentially, there is a complex storyline which sublimely unfolds with a nice plethora of 70s songs in its soundtrack.  Many multidimensional characters are thrown in the mix and side plots overlap with the main story ... so it can be quite confusing to keep up with everything that is going on.  

Yet the impressive ensemble cast composed of talented actors (who have all worked together at some point in some of Russell's previous movies) do more than their share to make "American Hustle" an engrossing film to watch.  

There are lessons to be learned and messages to be absorbed even when we are distracted by the height of Jeremy Renner's hair, Christian Bale's comb over, Bradley Cooper's hair curlers, Jennifer Lawrence's nail polish and Amy Adams' cleavage!

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson,

Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson,

Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman

"Remember who the enemy is"

I saw the first installment of this franchise and I liked its premise. More so than the one with the vampires and the werewolves. Yet when "Catching Fire" first came out in the theaters, I passed on it as I tend to be a non conformist and didn't want to see it just because the whole world was viewing it.  Heh!

I just learned that one of my favorite supporting actors, Philip Seymour Hoffman died from a heroin overdose.  It's really sad but he leaves us with a wide array of movies to view and cherish. It will always be a worthy testament to his brilliant acting skills.

So to honor his memory, I searched my folder of movies to find an appropriate one that showcased his talent. I thought that "The Master" was too heavy (will probably see it one day!) so I settled with Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is cast as Plutarch Heavensbee, the overall coordinator of the Hunger Games. His character takes over the previous gamemaker who had to suffer the consequences of his bad decision to let two tributes win the Games.    It is a short role but highly significant and sadly he wasn't able to finish shooting his scenes for the final story in this trilogy.

"Catching Fire" takes off a year after Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) won. As part of their 'reward', they have to go on a propaganda tour to all the districts to promote the Games. But there is an undercurrent of rebellion festering in the districts as the citizens demand more freedom from the totalitarian form of government run by President Snow.

To get their minds off their grumbling rants, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) decides to stage another game, The Quarter Quell.  It is like an All Stars version of the Hunger Games as all 24 previous winners are the tributes who will battle each other for the ultimate title.

New cast members (Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer, Jena Malone) play some of the other tributes who are all well developed characters.  While Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks and Donald Sutherland all reprise their roles as the characters we have grown to like, love and/or hate.

The film still packs a lot of action filled sequences especially once the Quarter Quell games start rolling.  But there is a darker, more gritty edge to the plot as evidenced by the growing rebellion in the districts. It adds more intense drama in the backdrop while the the otherwise fun form of  "entertainment" is splashed across huge TV screens.  It is staged yearly as a form of escape from the doldrums yet now more than ever the populace are getting restless and use the Games as a catalyst for reforms from the oppressive regime of President Snow.

Of course, the real standout in the film is Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.  We see her grow from the naive 'hunter' in the first film to a more mature woman with a lot of anger and angst eating up inside her. She is torn between fulfilling her role as one of the winners and her personal battle to escape from all the pageantry and manipulation orchestrated by the authorities. She has more axes to grind even as she is seen parading in her full regalia to please the crowd at the Capitol.   Jennifer Lawrence was born to play this role and whatever role she is cast in, she never fails to disappoint.

"Catching Fire" ended quite abruptly perhaps to build up the excitement and anticipation for the finale.   Yet I think they should have handled it with more finesse as the sudden and quite brutal cliffhanger was too jarring to the senses. More so as you know you need to wait a whole year just to know the conclusion but by then our short term memory would have forgotten all the essential elements!