Movie Review: Oranges and Sunshine (2010)

"Oranges and Sunshine" is based on a true story of the work of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker in the UK.  Margaret discovers a deportation scandal where British children were relocated to Australia and Canada.  Deported children were promised oranges and sunshine but often found hard labor, abuse, and long years separated from their families.  Margaret works to bring attention to the issue and attempt to reunite families though she is often at personal peril and must be separated from her own family.

This is a difficult film to watch at times, but it's an important story to tell.  The film does an admirable job telling the story but at times it's difficult to follow due to the accents of the actors (there was no subtitles available on my DVD).   It's not too hard to grasp the overall intent of the film and follow though but subtitles would definitely make this film a bit more user-friendly.

Good story but a bit difficult to follow due to accents - B

Movie Review: My Afternoons with Margueritte (2010)

"My Afternoons with Margueritte" is a French film about an uneducated laborer Germain (Gerard Depardieu) whose life changes when he strikes up an unexpected friendship with an elderly, well-read woman named Margueritte (Gisele Casadesus).  Through this friendship Germain learns about himself as well as the literature that Margueritte reads him.  His new-found confidence and thoughtfulness empowers Germain in other areas of his life including some challenging relationships.

This is a really sweet and enjoyable film.  The audience must endure subtitles but it's worth it.  It's a simple and a bit obvious of a story, but the acting sells it.  I liked Depardieu and his chemistry with Casadesus makes this odd couple one that the audience can root for and fall in love with.  The result is a heartfelt movie with a clear message: love can change us and that love can come in unexpected places.

A heartfelt film that you can enjoy despite subtitles: solid B

Movie Review: The Intouchables (2011)

France's "The Intouchables" is based on a true story and the story is told in flashback.  Driss is down on his luck and not seriously looking to get the job when he applies to be a live-in caregiver for Philippe, a wealthy quadriplegic.  Driss is shocked to be given a trial for the job but quickly earns Philippe's trust even when a friend reveals Driss' checkered past.  Philippe appreciates that Driss doesn't treat him with pity but rather as an equal.  The two develop a special friendship that is sure to inspire.

While it is a bit predictable, I felt that the cast sold this story and made it into something beyond what it might have been.  There have been other films made over the years about friendship, even between caretaker/patient, but there's a chemistry among the actors and a script that manages to be both touching and funny at points.  This is a case where script, acting, direction, and cinematography seem to be on point and come together to create a film that is a really good product. 

Good, touching, and heart-warming: A-

Movie Review: Burning Man (2011)

"Burning Man" is an Australian film about a chef named Tom (Matthew Goode) who is burning with anger and pain almost literally.  His emotions get the better of him in many situations including ones at work and with family and friends.  The storyline is presented with scenes completely out of order so the audience sees many of Tom's struggles and blow-ups before having enough information to piece together the source of the character's pain.

This film has some beautiful moments and I liked the artistic choice of telling the story out of order.  Goode does his best with the material while Bojana Novakovic did a beautiful job in her supporting role as well.  The film is bogged down by all the sex and language in it but more than that it's an issue with the development of the main character.  Even once I figured out the real story, I still had trouble with "Tom" because he's written so over the top that it's difficult to feel the level of empathy that I feel I should have. 

This one could've been better though it does have some bright spots - C-

Movie Review: Departures (2008)

"Departures" is a 2008 Japanese drama and winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009.  The movie centers on Daigo Kobayashi, a cellist in a Tokyo orchestra.  When the orchestra disbands, Daigo and his wife Mika move to Daigo's hometown and into the house his mother left him after her recent death.  Daigo begins to confront his feelings of guilt over not taking better care of his mother, who raised him alone after his father ran off, and his anger at his absent father.  Daigo finds a job ad for someone to "assist with departures" and eagerly applies.  To his surprise the job is preparing the dead for burial in ceremonial fashion in front of the deceased's family/friends.  Though he is originally reluctant, Daigo begins to see the value in the job and the joy he can bring to the grieving family.  His wife and friends, however, see the job as beneath him and insist he quit. 

Very beautifully done and moving, this movie is a treat.  You do have to use the subtitles but really the acting especially by Masahiro Motoki in the lead role conveys the message well.  The movie has moments of real beauty and emotion but there's some comic relief there too from Daigo's new friends in the "departure" business.  I think the movie really speaks to the ceremony and rituals that we go through dealing with death and how Daigo finds value in providing them.  Just a beautiful film from start to finish and a real treat to watch in any language.  Rent this one!  Solid A.

Movie Review: Norwegian Wood (2010)

"Norwegian Wood" is a Japanese film directed by Tran Anh Hung that adapts a novel with the same name written by Haruki Murakami.  I haven't read the book so I can only evaluate the film as a stand-alone product.  The film is the story of Toru Watanabe, who struggles with the unexplainable suicide of his childhood best friend and his later feelings for the late friend's girlfriend, Naoko.  As a romance develops between Toru and Naoko, she falls into depression and flees to a mountain retreat/sanitarium.  Toru loves Naoko but also feels an obligation not to abandon her as his late friend did.  Things get complicated when Toru meets a fellow student at his Tokyo university named Midori, who is almost an opposite of Naoko.

This film was beautifully done.  The cinematography is just outstanding and makes the film a visual treat.  I felt though that the pacing was a bit slow and the acting/dialogue stilted at times.  Since I didn't read the novel I can't say how much of the issues have to do with simply taking a novel and attempting to translate it into a film.  The characters other than Toru were underdeveloped and could've used a bit more fleshing out. 

Beautiful film with some issues - solid C+

Movie Review: Bullhead (2011)

"Bullhead" is a Belgian film about a cattle farmer named Jacky (Matthias Schoenaerts) who has been brought into a deal with a shady beef dealer along with others but he is almost immediately suspicious of the other players.  Though his involvement with the beef dealer is minimal, the death of a police officer investigating hormone-fed beef starts wheels in motion that threatens Jacky and brings someone from his past into his present.  Through flashbacks the audience sees a horrific incident in Jacky's past that led him to inject not only his cattle but also himself with hormones.

This movie is gritty and raw with a bit of violence as we see Jacky behave like an animal himself in several situations.  Schoenaerts is great in the lead role making Jacky sympathetic even when he's behaving erratically.  This movie really had an interesting story, good acting, good direction and cinematography.  My only complaint is that some of the flashbacks felt a little awkward and jerky and it's a tad long but otherwise this film is really solid.  I give this a B+ and hope that people will overlook the subtitles and give this film a chance.

Movie Review: Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2010)

I picked this movie based on seeing it in coming attractions on another rental and wish I hadn't.  The film is a biopic based on a book about the life of French singer/composer Serge Gainsbourg.  The film opens with Serge as a young Jewish boy living in Paris who is forced to hide from the Nazis.  Later he is a young painter playing the piano by night to pay the bills.  He begins to focus on the music and rises to fame singing and writing controversal music. 

I admit that I don't know much about Gainsbourg but I thought the film would be more about his music and even about his time hiding from Nazis but really the bulk of the film is about him chasing women and women being enchanted with his music.  Apparently he was quite the ladies' man from the content of the film: Juliette Greco, Brigitte Bardot, and Jane Birkin among others fell to Gainsbourg's charms.  The music and art are very much a small part of the film.  This film is not rated but with all the women and love scenes expect some nudity.

When Gainsbourg is not chasing women (and sometimes when he is) there are many scenes when he talks to his "mug" or alter ego.  This character is a man with what appears to be long thin fingers and a paper mache-looking head that features a long nose.  The "mug" encourages many of Gainsbourg's decisions though sometimes there is a battle between them.  It's certainly a creative move on the part of the director but at times such as the beginning of the film it comes across as a little odd.

Overall, I just didn't like this film.  It was two long hours of Gainsbourg chasing women and women throwing themselves at him while the "mug" is lurking about.  I really thought there'd be more music or something "heroic" since it's in the title.  Also the film seems to really lose steam in the third act.  I just didn't like this one at all - D-.

Movie Review: El Bulli: Cooking in Progress (2010)

This documentary takes the viewer inside and behind the scenes at the famous El Bulli resturant in the Catalonia area of Spain.  This is apparently one of the most inventive resturants out there as evidenced by this film.  The film follows chef Ferran Adria and his staff for a year.  The first half of the year Adria and his top staff close the resturant and head to a cooking lab in Barcelona to invent new tastes, flavors, receipes, and ultimately the new menu before heading back to reopen the resturant for the second half of the year.  Once reopened, the head staff work on creating and perfecting the new menu items before they are worked into the 35-course 3-hour meal served each night. 

I enjoyed this film because the food lab portion was so in-depth.  The chefs were scientific about their experimentation but there's also an art to creating innovation in anything so it's an interesting process they have.  Then there's seeing the research put into practice once they are back at the resturant.  Much trial and error goes into creating "magic" as Adria calls it. 

This film in in Catalan so subtitles are a must and also due to the subject matter this film isn't for everyone.  Serious foodies will love it and anyone who is interested in behind the scenes of such an innovative resturant.  Solid B in my book.