Lust Caution
Starting with the movies ‘The Wedding Banquet’ (1993), ‘Sense and Sensibility’ (1995), ‘The Ice Storm’ (1997), ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000) and ‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005), Ang Lee is a director who is incapable of making a bad film. There is only one word to describe Ang Lee’s latest movie, and that is ‘stunning’! Set in Japanese occupied Hong Kong and Shanghai in the late 1930s, a beautiful aspiring actress joins the resistance movement, and she is used as bait in a plot to assassinate a ruthless intelligence bureaucrat. The movie occasionally brings to mind Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Notorious’ (1946), and brief glimpses of Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman reinforces the references, yet, Ang Lee’s indubitable style is clearly stamped onto the movie. However, a word of warning. The film contains some strong sex scenes and should be watched with discretion.
St. Trinian’s
Based on Ronald Searle’s famous drawings, those naughty schoolgirls from St. Trinian’s first hit the screen, with much success, way back in 1954. Now, the Ealing Studios have decided to revamp this cinema property with pretty much the same success. The schoolgirls are just as naughty as ever, as they get up to allsorts of high jinks and outrageous larceny. But, by far the best actor in the movie is Rupert Everett, who recreates Alastair Sim’s hilarious role of the dotty Headmistress. Rupert plays it in ‘drag’ and totally ‘straight’.
Walk Hard
The bio-pic of a ‘superstar’ musician is one movie genre that thoroughly deserves to be ‘sent up’. Whether it is Johnny Cash, Ray Charles or Jerry Lee Lewis the lay-out of a musical bio-pic follows a pretty standard format. Humble beginnings, early successes, a bad marriage, drug addiction, and, with maturity, world-wide acclaim. Director Jake Kasdan tackles each and every issue in his hysterical ‘send up’ of the genre. The story is beautifully clichéd, and as the movie moves from the fifties through to the present the music, costumes and locations of each era are wonderfully constructed. John C. Reilly stars as the ‘legendary’ singer Dewey Cox, and his comic timing and performance is fantastic. Reilly recorded over forty new original songs for the movie, and he makes a terrific ‘rocker’. The soundtrack is fabulous!
Bonneville
Early into the movie it is obvious that ‘Bonneville’ is going to be some sort of re-working of Ridley Scott’s 1991 classic ‘Thelma and Louise’. And so it is! It is hard to ignore the similarities. However, while Scott’s movie was a ground-breaking feminist narrative, which raised some pertinent social questions, director Christopher N. Rowley’s ‘Bonneville’ is just so much lightweight fluff! Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen star as a trio of girls who travel across America in a red convertible, scattering along the way the ashes of Jessica’s dead husband. All the actresses are noted Leading Ladies, but how could any actress compete with an insipid script and bland direction? The movie also has a sentimental quota that is just not acceptable.
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who!
Having never read a Dr. Seuss book I am hardly in a position to say whether or not his books are good or bad for children. However, I can say that this computer-animated cartoon is absolutely delightful. One day Horton the Elephant hears a cry of help coming from a speck of dust. Unable to see anyone living on the speck, all-the-same, Horton decides to help and protect the people he cannot see. From the creators of ‘Ice Age’, the animation in this cartoon is superb, and the principal characters are given added zest through the voices of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell. This story about worlds within worlds might be a bit sophisticated for young children, yet, again, I don’t know how sophisticated young sophisticated children are these days. I am a pretty sophisticated older person, and I thoroughly enjoyed the cartoon!
The Bank Job
Set in the early 1970s, this British crime caper is supposedly based on true events. A high ranking member of the British Royal Family is photographed in some compromising positions. The snaps are stored in a safety deposit box in the vault of a London bank. The British Secret Service doesn’t want to get its hands dirty, so they employ a gang of thieves to handle ‘the bank job’ for them. Director Roger Donaldson creates a suspenseful thriller, with many surprising twists and turns, while Jason Statham is pretty good as the gang leader, who eventually figures out what the politics are really all about.
Death Defying Acts
Gillian Armstrong is an International Australian based director of some note. Her works include ‘My Brilliant Career’ (1980), ‘Mrs. Soffel’ (1984), and ‘Oscar and Lucinda’ (1997). In her latest movie, ‘Death Defying Acts’, Gillian Armstrong explores the world of mysticism. After the death of his mother, Harry Houdini, the famous escapologist, offers a huge reward if a psychic can tell him his mother’s last words, known only to him. It is Houdini’s attempt to debunk the world of séances and psychics. During a performance tour in Edinburgh, he meets an intriguing Scottish psychic. The movie progresses at its own contemplative pace, as it slowly builds up an unusual love affair. The sets and costumes are wonderfully evocative of the period, and though I am not totally sold on Guy Pearce as Harry Houdini, Catherine Zeta Jones is mesmerizing and marvelous as the shrewd psychic.
Mr. Robet’s Best Buys
Lust Caution
Director Ang Lee’s sexy and suspenseful spy movie is simply a knockout.
Savage Grace
A searing drama, concerning taboo subjects, that is Strictly for Adults Only.
Walk Hard
The ‘bio-pic’ movie genre gets well and truly ‘sent up’, in this ‘hip’ comedy.
Vantage Point
An unusual political thriller, in which the action never lets up for a second.
Cloverfield
This amazing movie is often very scary, and features a curious visual effect.
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who!
This cartoon adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book should captivate most children.
The Bank Job
A sleek and stylish British crime thriller, supposedly based on true events.
The Other Boleyn Girl
A jolly good romp with King Henry the Eighth, and Anne and Mary Boleyn.
Death Defying Acts
A beautifully presented love story, set in the world of séances and psychics.
Shoot ‘Em Up
A movie that is totally devoid of plot, but is absolutely fascinating to watch.
The Mist
This horror movie is guaranteed to scare the living daylights out of anybody.
Sleuth
Michael Caine and Jude Law have a great time in this adapted theatre piece.
St. Trinian’s
A remake of a classic British comedy, which is just as good as the original.
Dan In Real Life
A gentle family comedy, starring comedian Steve Carell as a romantic lead.
