At the Cinema - July 2013

White House Down – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a.  Popcorn
b.  Jamie Foxx
c.  Channing Tatum
Nobody blows up the White House like Director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day).  Throw in a little male bonding between the two charismatic stars, “daughter in jeopardy” and “who is the bad guy” subplots, and you’ve got a sure-fire box office hit. 

I bought this ticket expecting an “Olympus has Fallen” retread and was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining this was.  In fact, both movies are quite well done and are popcorn pleasers.  I didn’t even mind all the women oohing and awing when Tatum takes his shirt off, because I usually consider it a highlight when a starlet does the same.  Snappy one liners, a hip script, and a lot of believable special effects makes this one of the more enjoyable action movies of the summer.  Of course one comes away from this movie just like the other White House takeover movie with one question.  Could it really be this easy?

20 Feet from Stardom – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a.  Music
b.  Darlene Love
c.  Backup singers

I was really looking forward to seeing this movie.  It is a documentary about backup singers and the difference those 20 feet make between the lead singer and the backups.  There are a lot of interviews with stars and wannabe’s who never made it, and those who came close.
 
Unfortunately, my anticipation would have been better served waiting on ketchup.  For some reason, the movie never clicks into high gear.  This is a strangely edited movie.  Suddenly an image is inserted that stops the narrative in its tracks.  Bizarre at times, it seems like this could’ve been a lot better.  The most interesting aspect of this is the revelation of how many hit songs were “ghost-sung” by Darlene Love and many well-known singing groups who did the singing for fictional creations.  More of this and a more logical narrative and this would’ve been a fascinating movie.   Instead it just kind of lays there, in the background.

Fruitvale Station – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a.  Stories of Redemption
b.  Controversy
c.  Historical documents

This is a timely and straightforward depiction of the horrible shooting death of a young black man, Oscar Grant, at the Fruitvale BART station in San Francisco on New Year’s Day 2009.  Much like the recent Trayvon Martin death, it generated outrage in the black community.  The Bay Area Rapid Transit Policeman who shot Grant claimed it was an accident and he mistook his gun for his taser. 

The movie begins with real footage of the shooting filmed by by BART passengers, so there is little suspense.  The overreaction of the police and the subsequent brutality is hard to watch, and we will watch it twice.  Michael B. Jordan portrays Oscar as a young man in turmoil, inching toward redemption after a prison stint.  Jordan’s portrayal of an often angry man who loves his family but can’t seem to find his way in life seems indicative of the whole community, and a sense of hopelessness permeates it.

Even though the movie is only 90 minutes, the first hour is a long and rather boring assumption of Oscar’s uncertain journey to redemption.  Who knows?  Is this the real story or is it dramatic license?   Was this what his last day was really like?  Oscar’s life generates interest, but not a lot of sympathy.  By the time events get us to Fruitvale Station, we are more than ready to see the rest of the story.  The last half hour is what we’ve been waiting to see, and it is an excellent depiction.  It’s unsettling and not just because of the racial aspect.  Was it excessive force?  Racism?  Overzealous security?  You’ll get to judge.