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December 21, 2006
What does your moviegoing weekend look like?
Since it's Christmas and all, maybe not much. But it's one hell of an opening slate we got going.
CHILDREN OF MEN, which I and every other critic in the known universe recommend highly, starts in limited release. But don't let critical acclaim scare you -- it still kicks all kinds of ass as a sci-fi/action movie. The only difference is that your non-geek significant other will find stuff to like in it too. And I suspect political pundits of all stripes will find ways to say that it justifies their arguments.
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA is running for one week in L.A. before a wider opening next year. If you wait, nobody's going to "spoil" it -- Japanese troops fight a battle, and we know how it ends. But fans of war movies in general, and Clint Eastwood's brand of aging, tragic machismo in particular, will dig it like the Japanese dig tunnels in the film. HA!
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER completes a trilogy of sorts from Zhang Yimou, which began with HERO and continued with HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS. HERO was a period art-house action movie for guys, FLYING DAGGERS the chick flick version, and I'd have to say GOLDEN FLOWER is the same thing for old people. Which isn't a knock on the movie, but rather a commentary on the fact that plot and costumes are far more important than action this time, though the final action sequence delivers on most levels. Until you get there, though, it's a tragedy of courtly intrigue and familial betrayals that's more Shakespeare than John Woo. The ending is a bit of an off-note, which I think accounts for some disproportionately negative reviews (sending people home pissed off is a risky thing), but it's a beautiful film. A colleague even found it "too beautiful," and said it made her want to look at garbage out on the street afterwards.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD is a solid directorial effort from Robert De Niro, and might be considered an even more realistic version of CASINO ROYALE, all about how being a spy means neglecting your personal life and becoming a hardened bastard. The biggest problem with it is that Matt Damon ages 20 years, but seems to have skipped sessions in the makeup chair -- by the movie's end, his fully grown son seems to be the same age as him. It's not a very emotional movie, and I suspect that'll hurt it with Academy viewers, but for those who find the business of deduction fascinating, there's much to like here.
THE PAINTED VEIL has that classic '40s feel to it, where characters seldom say quite what they mean, but it comes through loud and clear if you're listening. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts are nearly always fun to watch, and don't disappoint, though Watts is given a look and accent that remind me a great deal of my mother, which was a bit of a distraction for me! Some great location shooting in remote areas of China.
VENUS is a triumph for Peter O'Toole, but maybe not so much for everyone else involved -- it definitely suffers from LOTR syndrome (i.e. too many endings). But it is the rare movie about an old man lusting after a hot young thang that doesn't merely feel like an exercise in actorly ego.
I didn't get to see the BLACK CHRISTMAS remake or NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. I will definitely see the former, mostly because I'll be paid to do so.
If you're reading this, you need to see at least one of the films mentioned above. Preferably more.
I figure you'll all probably choose ROCKY BALBOA, though. And you'll be glad you did.
Posted by LYT at December 21, 2006 1:22 PM [Message Board]
Comments
I've long anticipated seeing CHILDREN OF MEN this weekend. Seeing INLAND EMPIRE again tonight. There really are some killer flicks coming down the pipe!
Posted by: justin stone at December 21, 2006 2:22 PM
I don't know anything about "Children of Men" so, I may check it out for curiousity's sake.
What I am definately planning on seeing is "Little Children" with Kate Winslet and Jennifer Connelly and, most likely, "The Painted Veil" with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton as well as "The Good Shepherd." Hey, ya can't go wrong with DeNiro...
Posted by: Edwin A. Santos at December 21, 2006 2:35 PM
I expect that "Charlotte's Web" will be it... *sigh*
Did you review it? I'd better check...
I'd have to say that Zhang Yimou has never disappointed. And since I'm old, I probably won't mind that the action comes late.
I used to hate Clint Eastwood, particularly back in his "Dirty Harry" days. Now he's one of the few directors whose films I'll make a special effort to get out and see.
Your suggestion about unifying "Flags" and "Iwo" reminded me that Coppola did something similar for "The Godfather" and "The Godfather II" for a special network TV broadcast. I remember thinking at the time that it really didn't work too well. Still, an interesting notion.
Posted by: Tim McGarry at December 21, 2006 3:44 PM
Rocky! Rocky!! Rocky!!!
Posted by: David N. Scott at December 21, 2006 11:30 PM
My comment about old people is based on the fact that when I worked at the Sunset 5, period costume dramas were always huge magnets for senior citizens.
CURSE needs the Oscar for costumes. And APOCALYPTO for best make-up.
Posted by: LYT at December 21, 2006 11:45 PM
I had to check back in here. I saw Children of Men on Christmas day. What a stunning work of cinema! Let mine be another voice urging you to go see this movie on a big screen.
Posted by: justin stone at December 26, 2006 1:19 PM