At the Cinema - June 2011

Midnight in Paris – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Fantasy
b. Historical Comedy
c. Whimsy
I guess most would say Woody Allen returns to form in this often hysterical comedy. But the truth is that I can’t remember a comedy quite like this, by Woody or anyone else.
Owen Wilson plays an unhappy movie writer who is struggling through his first serious book. While vacationing in Paris with his rather obnoxious fiancée and her parents, he takes to wandering the beautiful streets at night. Soon, he is time-traveling into an old Paris and getting to meet its many famous artisans of the past.
Among those is his muse, the achingly beautiful Marion Cotillard who inspires him to complete his book.
Not only are the characters incredibly well drawn by another amazing Allen ensemble cast, but it is Paris itself that becomes the central character, as Allen films a virtual travelogue of the beautiful city. It is his “Manhattan” of this decade, but in vivid color.
Owen Wilson, whom no one could consider one of our great actors, is often perfect in his amazement at the beauty of Paris and its residents. There are many wonderfully funny moments, and as always Woody moves things along quickly. Anyone who hasn’t been to Paris that watches this movie, will want to go

Super Eight – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. The good JJ Abrams
b. The bad Steven Speilberg
c. Home movies
Super talented director JJ Abrams weaves an entertaining update of a certain Spielberg classic in this great half of a movie. It’s the first half that’s magical as a group of middle school boys spend their spare time filming a movie in the Super 8 film of the 70’s. The kids are amazing as the story unfolds. One night they sneak out to film a climatic scene in their little horror movie, when they witness, and film a train wreck. The train wreck was caused by their biology teacher who drives straight onto the tracks. Somehow he amazingly survives the most over the top train wreck in movie history.

The movie doesn’t quite go off the rails with the train. You see, there was some mysterious government secret on the train, and soon the town is in chaos. Things like car engines and microwaves start disappearing at night and I can only wish I could sleep as soundly as the residents of this Ohio town seem to sleep with a thief in their midst.

As the secret begins to unravel, so does the movie. Before long Transformers 26 breaks out and the Spielberg influence, an apparent fascination with how much detail he can put into something bizarre up on the screen at the cost of all credibility, takes over. JJ’s homage to Spielberg has a lot of in-joke moments, but the wonderful set up of the first hour isn’t recaptured til the closing credits – for which you should definitely remain seated.

SCANNING THE SATELLITE

Hot Coffee – 10
I’m really digging the HBO Monday night documentaries. This one’s fantastic. It’s an examination of tort reform in America, and when a documentary changes your mind on as many subjects as this one did for me, it’s achieved its objective. A friend of mine likes to say “never let the facts cloud your thinking.” Wow, do things get cloudy here as the movie chronicles several families who have been impacted by efforts to influence the legal system, including a Mississippi judge. This is a must see movie – a game changer. Let me know what you think.

Sex Crimes Unit – 8
A detailed look at the first sex crimes unit in America and how it has grown and been successful in prosecuting criminals, this is another top notch documentary.

http://www.hbo.com/#/documentaries/inside/summer-series-2011/video/life-happens-2011-documentaries-summer-series.html/eNrjcmbOUM-PSXHMS8ypLMlMDkhMT-VLzE1lztcsy0xJzYeJO+fnlaRWlDAXsjFyMjKyMbJJJ5aW5BfkJFbalhSVpgIATuUXOA==