At The Cinema - May & June 2014

Life Itself – 10

You’ll like this documentary if you like movies.

If you were a fan of the late Pulitzer Prize winning film critic Roger Ebert, you will be thrilled with this intimate and moving portrait based on his memoir.  His on-screen persona is how most of us knew Ebert and it was easy to see his passion for movies.  What we couldn’t see was his passion for Chicago, his passion for literature, and even an overcome passion for alcohol.  The film reveals the depth of his rivalry with his on-screen partner Gene Siskel and it is often petty and hilarious.  It also shows the depth of his love for his wife Chaz, whom he met late in life.  Nobody is perfect and imperfections are on full display here.  It includes graphic scenes of his treatment for the thyroid cancer that cost him his verbal abilities in 2006, but not his true voice, as he continued to review movies while building a social media following that few can rival. 

I remember very well the day Ebert sent out his last blog, “Leave of Presence.”  He said he wasn’t going away, he was just taking a break.  He died the next day.  He had set his web site up to carry on with a cast of film reviewers and I still await the email arrival on Friday. 

While the movie is titled “Life Itself,” it very much reveals the tribulations of the journey to death that Ebert followed.  He died during filming and it makes the story that much more poignant.  The documentary is directed by Steve James.  James’ documentary Hoop Dreams was one Ebert championed in 1994 and James is one of many directors, including Martin Scorcese and Werner Herzog who pay their debt to Roger Ebert in interviews.  If you ever watched a “Siskel & Ebert” you shouldn’t miss this.

Edge of Tomorrow – 9

You’ll like this movie if you like:

• Science Fiction
• Tom Cruise
• Groundhog Day

I like science fiction.  So does Tom Cruise.  Last year he did Oblivion and it was enjoyable if not epic.  This movie is significantly better, and at the halfway pole of 2014 is my favorite movie so far. 

It doesn’t appear it’s going to be a big hit, and that’s a shame.  I don’t know whether it’s because the armored soldier theme (Elysium, GI Joe) is a little over-used, or Cruise is losing his box office appeal, or there’s too much science fiction, but this movie is so well executed that it deserves to be huge.  That the Transformers latest retread would trounce it at the box office saddens me a little.

Cruise plays a reluctant soldier drawn into a conflict with aliens advancing across Europe.  One of the great things about this movie is the aliens.  One of my pet peeves has always been that aliens always look like us.  Two Eyes, one nose, etc.  Never understood that.  Here, the creators are a lot more innovative.  It’s like they’re having to fight spinning buzz saws.  You can’t learn to fight them very easily.

What’s the solution?  Die a lot.  So with some pretty cool Groundhog Day plotting, Tom and war hero Emily Blunt try over and over to beat the aliens.  Well done and very cool.

Big Star – Nothing Can Hurt Me -7

You’ll like this documentary if you like rock and roll.

This is the story of a legendary 1970’s rock band that you’ve probably never heard of them.  How can they be called legendary?  Because of their status within the rock community.  They have been cited as a musical influence by many famous rockers.  You’ve also probably never heard any of their music.  They recorded 3 albums then disappeared.  Those three albums are in Rolling Stones’ top 500 rock albums.

Their lead singer and cofounder was Alex Chilton.  You may not know his name, but you know his voice.  Before he joined Big Star he was with the Box Tops, and the movie tells the story that the second time he had ever stepped up to a microphone he recorded the vocals for “The Letter.”  He was 16. After he left the Box Tops he joined Big Star.  Later on he moved to New Orleans and became a beloved local musician who loved to sit in on local gigs.  When he passed away in 2010 I caught a tribute performance by the local musicians during the New Orleans Jazz Fest and it was terrific.  I first learned about Chilton and his love for New Orleans in Keith Spera’s book about local musicians after Katrina, “Groove Interrupted.”  Here’s a great article by Spera about Chilton:  http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2010/04/post_7.html

Million Dollar Arm – 8

You’ll like this movie if you like

• Baseball
• Jon Hamm
• Playboys getting rehabbed.

Jon Hamm is an agent/playboy who is in trouble because he’s losing clients and income to the point that a career change may be inevitable.  Then he comes up with a ridiculous idea one night while watching Cricket players in India.  Go to India and stage a contest to find a major league fastball amongst the millions of cricket players.  This is a fun movie that has the Disney stamp of family wholesomeness.  For a good time, see Jon.

Chef – 8

You’ll like this movie if you like restaurants.  Director and lead actor Jon Favreau has captured the joy of being a chef, and the travails of the restaurant business.  A great chef with an impossible owner played perfectly by Dustin Hoffman, he leaves his LA restaurant and a viral video of a rant makes him hard to hire.  So, on a suggestion from his ex-wife, played by Sofia Vergaro, he opens a food truck in Miami and takes a cross country trip with his son and his sous chef.  The son, played by Emjay Anthony, nearly steals the movie.  What’s a little different about this movie is that there is a nice relationship with the ex-wife.  I love road trip movies, and that’s the highlight of the movie.  The only downside of this flick is that it goes on too long, and could have used a little editing.  Nevertheless, it's a crowd pleaser.

Neighbors – 7

As Seth Rogen comedies usually go (poorly) this one isn’t too bad.  Rose Byrne and Zach Efron add ample support in the story of a couple who has the house next door purchased by a Fraternity.  What starts out as fun soon disintegrates into a war.  It’s raunchy and funny.  Just what you’d expect.

Scanning the Satellite

The Case Against Propositon 8 - 8

When the two lawyers who had argued against each other in the Bush/Gore Florida mess in front of the Supreme Court, teamed up to try to overturn California’s Proposition which had outlawed gay marriage, the next natural step was to film their efforts.  This is a fascinating look into not only he legal world and the appeal process, but an intimate look into the painful lives of the plaintiffs and others. 

Disconnect – 8

You’ll like this movie if you like internet pain.

This movie which I had never heard of until I ran across it on the satellite is the story of a cyber-bullied teen who commits suicide, and the heartbreaking impact it has on all involved.  Hard to watch and harder to fathom, this is a perceptive movie that is beautifully written and acted.  It will break your heart.