“Babies” and “Please Give” — Two Great Films

Regular readers know that one of the things Sue and I most enjoy is going to the movies.  This weekend we saw two terrific films. 

"Babies" is a marvelous documentary that traces the first year in the life of four babies from four very different parts of the globe.  See trailers and film information here, A.O. Scott's review in the New York Times here, and an article about the film in today's Times here.  We didn't stop smiling for the whole 80 minutes of the film.  It is thoroughly delightful and heart-warming.  

Of writer-director Nicole Holofcener's new film "Please Give," reviewer David Denby writes in The New Yorker that "Holofcener’s radiant comedy of middle-class mores depends on
observations so acute, and a touch so accurate, that the movie, even as
it borders on satire, strikes us as intensely sympathetic to its
characters."  Denby continues:

Holofcener is great at awkward social scenes in which conversation goes
absurdly awry, but she’s ambitious, too, and her movie explores such
large and grave matters as the ambivalent nature of benevolence and the
exhausting but inescapable necessity of family loyalty.

This is a wonderful film — warm, funny, heart-wrenching, and authentic. See here for trailers and film information.

Each of these films demonstrate what good cinema is all about: they move us, enlighten us, and reveal life to us. 

A Single Man

 Colin Firth deserves at least an Academy Award nomination for his performance in "A Single Man," which we went to see this afternoon.  A superb film.

Avatar

I am not a fan of science fiction or fantasy in any medium — books, movies, comics, etc.  On the few occasions when a family member drags me to such a movie, I usually fall asleep in the first ten minutes. 

But, I am here to tell you that “Avatar,” the new movie from James Cameron, is one of the most amazing, original, wonder-filled films I’ve ever seen.  I never liked the “Star Wars” movies very much, but I still remember the experience of seeing the first one.  Well, “Avatar” blows “Star Wars” out of the water.  Out of the universe.  Here is Manohla Dargis’s review from Friday’s New York Times. 

I doubt that this film will fix my aversion to sci-fi.  Movies this original, this dazzling, only come along every twenty years or so.  But, wow, what a trip this film is.  Go see it. 

(Sue and I saw it in 3D at the Harvard Square theater.  That’s definitely the way to see it.  Search for a theater where you can view it in 3D.  But beware the pitfalls.)
 

New York — and a Film

We were in Brooklyn, NY, this weekend, visiting son Tom.  He and his two roommates have done a great job with the challenging living space they have available to them.  New York sucks, in my opinion.  But when I look at it through the eyes of these young musicians, I see its magic.

Also magical is a movie we took in over the weekend — Bright Star, Jane Campion's superb new film starring Abby Cornish, with Ben Whishaw as John Keats.  A lovely, literate film.  Go see it.

Movie Update

I mentioned recently that I was rereading The Time Traveler's Wife, hoping to finish a second reading of it before the movie version came out on Friday.  I made it by about four hours.  But, as anticipated, Sue and I found the movie to be really inferior to the book.  No surprise.  Movies are seldom as good as the books on which they are based, but the better the book, the greater the gap.

In this case, the film makers did an adequate job with the storyline, which posed formidable obstacles to a smooth transition to the big screen.  But the casting was horrible, especially the decision to put Eric Bana in the role of Henry.  His performance was incredibly monotone, offering no emotional range at all.

A Must-See

Run, don't walk, to the nearest movie theater showing "Julie and Julia."  It's enormously entertaining.  Meryl Streep is fabulous as Julia Child, and Amy Adams is very good, as are Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina.

La la la la la la la la

Over breakfast this morning, Sue and I were talking about "Away We Go," the new movie opening today that stars John Krasinski (of "The Office" fame) and Maya Rudolph.  We'll see it because the previews look good and we both like Krasinski a lot.  

I uncharitably said that I wish the director and producers had chosen someone more appealing than Maya Rudolph to star opposite Krasinski.  Sue said, "You know who her mother is, don't you?"  Naturally, I had no idea. 

"Minnie Riperton," she said. 

 

"Who?" 

"You know.  Minnie Riperton.  The singer from the 1970s with the really high voice."

Well, we had to Google her for me to realize who Sue was talking about.  

OF COURSE, Minnie Riperton!

You remember.  She sang the "lalalalalalalala" song – "Loving You."  [See and hear the ridiculous 1970s video below.]  It was saccharin sweet, but I always liked that song for some reason.  It made me happy to listen to it.  Who the hell knew it was Minnie Riperton?!   And couldn't she have given issue to someone more appealing than Maya Rudolph?

The One to See

According to A.O. Scott's approving review in this morning's New York Times, "Duplicity" is the movie to see.  Starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.

Cinema Greats

So, tomorrow night is the Academy Awards Ceremony.  If Kate Winslet does not win Best Actress for her spectacular performance in “The Reader,” which (if there’s any justice left in this world) should also win the award for Best Film, she’ll have been robbed.

Meanwhile, we can think back to some other great cinematic performances.  Here’s Meg Ryan in “When Harry Met Sally,” giving Billy Crystal a life lesson in the great, memorable scene in Katz’s Deli.   Enjoy. 

Movies to See

We've seen two great movies this weekend, both of which I recommend:

• Slumdog Millionaire

• Australia