It's been a long time since a film touched my heart, and then came Gran Torino. On the surface, it's a story about a grouchy retired auto worker living in a neighborhood that has changed from suburban family to inner-city roughness.
What's moving about this film and refreshing is that the main character, Wallis, is pretty unlikeable character. He's rough around the edges, doesn't mince words and by all estimates, lacking in most social graces.
What he does have, however, is a good heart which is something we start to slowly realize as the story slowly unfolds. I don't want to spoil the plot for those who haven't seen it, but trust me, it's a meditation in human nature, it's funny and moving. And it's not fluff, rather it has a gritty feel making it that much more authentic.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Full Frame - April 2008 - summary only
Films I saw at Full Frame this year - April 2008:
1) Encounters at the Edge of the World - by Werner Herzog about a visit to the South Pole. Lovely, but not much of a narrative.
2) Song of a Sperm Donor - a short film about a sperm donor and a daughter who wishes to meet him through an ad placed in the NY Times.
3) Surfwise - about the legendary Paskowitz surfing family. This is an odd true story of a Stamford educated doctor who decided to give it all up and live in a Winnebago with his 9 children, and surfing all day everyday.
4) Man on a wire - about Philippe Petite who walked on a wire between the Twin Towers in Manhattan in August 1974.
5) Myths of .... About the original Mardi-gras which started in the 1700s not in New Orleans, but in Alabama.
I hope to write more about these great documentaries when I have a chance. I enjoyed the event!
1) Encounters at the Edge of the World - by Werner Herzog about a visit to the South Pole. Lovely, but not much of a narrative.
2) Song of a Sperm Donor - a short film about a sperm donor and a daughter who wishes to meet him through an ad placed in the NY Times.
3) Surfwise - about the legendary Paskowitz surfing family. This is an odd true story of a Stamford educated doctor who decided to give it all up and live in a Winnebago with his 9 children, and surfing all day everyday.
4) Man on a wire - about Philippe Petite who walked on a wire between the Twin Towers in Manhattan in August 1974.
5) Myths of .... About the original Mardi-gras which started in the 1700s not in New Orleans, but in Alabama.
I hope to write more about these great documentaries when I have a chance. I enjoyed the event!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Penguin Movies abound!
How many penguin movies have you seen?
Well, there have been a lot this past year. I've heard that there's a new one - something about penguins surfing, but I haven't seen that one yet. I managed to catch that animated flick, "Happy Feet" recently and a few months ago that great documentary about penguins, "March of the Penguins."
"Happy Feet" is billed as a kids movie, but it really touches on some meaningful themes. It shows the proverbial 'ugly duckling' (a penguin in the film obviously) who doesn't fit in, who doesn't have the presumed required 'heart song' to find his one true love. What he does have is an ambition to find out what happened to all the fish and what he can do to solve the food shortage. He also has a lot of courage. In addition to being a touching story, there is just some music and foot tapping dance scenes. It's overall an uplifting film and it feels good to see a film that manages to entertain without violence or foul language (a refreshing change). Other messages in the film?
I joked with some friends, "it shows that not all humans are evil, that some want to help the penguins." Okay, so maybe that wasn't the main message, but I hope that kids, like adults, walk away feeling like they can make a difference. That's a message, given the events in the world today, that truly needs to be remembered.
Well, there have been a lot this past year. I've heard that there's a new one - something about penguins surfing, but I haven't seen that one yet. I managed to catch that animated flick, "Happy Feet" recently and a few months ago that great documentary about penguins, "March of the Penguins."
"Happy Feet" is billed as a kids movie, but it really touches on some meaningful themes. It shows the proverbial 'ugly duckling' (a penguin in the film obviously) who doesn't fit in, who doesn't have the presumed required 'heart song' to find his one true love. What he does have is an ambition to find out what happened to all the fish and what he can do to solve the food shortage. He also has a lot of courage. In addition to being a touching story, there is just some music and foot tapping dance scenes. It's overall an uplifting film and it feels good to see a film that manages to entertain without violence or foul language (a refreshing change). Other messages in the film?
I joked with some friends, "it shows that not all humans are evil, that some want to help the penguins." Okay, so maybe that wasn't the main message, but I hope that kids, like adults, walk away feeling like they can make a difference. That's a message, given the events in the world today, that truly needs to be remembered.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
"Deja-Vu" (fiction film)
This is a thriller at first sight when I picked it up at the video store. (Yes, I actually go into the video store occassionally).
But this movie is much more than a thriller. It is about time travel, about physics, about terrorism, and even a little about love. It was slightly confusing at times, but it kept me interested. I liked how the film had many layers like a mystery. It really made you think about what's possible with technology and with time travel as well. It also strikes a nerve since it's filmed in New Orleans and you are forced to remember Hurricaine Katrina and its devastation. Also, in the current tense times we're in, terrorism is a daily news story and this film touches that nerve as well.
The main character, played by Denzel Washington, is a caring investigator. He brings most of the humanity to this story. Instead of just focusing on the perpertrator or the nitty gritty of the investigation, as most thrillers do, his character focuses on the life of one of the victims, a beautiful young woman.
The film pushes this idea that there are surveillance cameras everywhere and that the FBI can piece the images together to create a constant stream of video from four days earlier. Okay, it feels like a stretch, but I could run with it. But the detailed footage of the female character eating dinner and brushing her teeth in her own house just seemed outrageous to me. I just couldn't get over the unlikelihood of even the FBI having such detailed footage. Also the character wasn't a suspect, just another civilian woman who happened to sell her car to the terrorist. Perhaps I don't know enough about surveillance and what cameras are used in cities like New Orleans, but it really didn't feel authentic that they'd be videotaping all their residents _inside_ their own homes.
Worth seeing? Yes.
Refreshing & different? Yes.
A favorite of mine? No, but definatly refreshing.
But this movie is much more than a thriller. It is about time travel, about physics, about terrorism, and even a little about love. It was slightly confusing at times, but it kept me interested. I liked how the film had many layers like a mystery. It really made you think about what's possible with technology and with time travel as well. It also strikes a nerve since it's filmed in New Orleans and you are forced to remember Hurricaine Katrina and its devastation. Also, in the current tense times we're in, terrorism is a daily news story and this film touches that nerve as well.
The main character, played by Denzel Washington, is a caring investigator. He brings most of the humanity to this story. Instead of just focusing on the perpertrator or the nitty gritty of the investigation, as most thrillers do, his character focuses on the life of one of the victims, a beautiful young woman.
The film pushes this idea that there are surveillance cameras everywhere and that the FBI can piece the images together to create a constant stream of video from four days earlier. Okay, it feels like a stretch, but I could run with it. But the detailed footage of the female character eating dinner and brushing her teeth in her own house just seemed outrageous to me. I just couldn't get over the unlikelihood of even the FBI having such detailed footage. Also the character wasn't a suspect, just another civilian woman who happened to sell her car to the terrorist. Perhaps I don't know enough about surveillance and what cameras are used in cities like New Orleans, but it really didn't feel authentic that they'd be videotaping all their residents _inside_ their own homes.
Worth seeing? Yes.
Refreshing & different? Yes.
A favorite of mine? No, but definatly refreshing.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Kilowatt Ours by Jeff Barie
The tag line to this documentary is aptly," A plan to re-energize America".
This documentary is for anyone interested in how we produce energy in the US, particuarly in the South East. I learned about hill top removal in West Virginia to mine for coal. The images are really dreadful and eye opening. It will make you think twice about turning a light switch on if you don't absolutely have to. At first, the film is somewhat disheartening. The usage of electricity and the growing consumption and problem of supply seem insurmountable. And just when you can't take any more bad news, Jeff Barie completely does a 180 and starts showing and talking about what individuals and communities can do to reduce energy consumption. He even uses his own home as an example.
I really feel that I learned alot by watching this documentary. The nice thing is that there are action items at the end of the film that I feel that I can also engage in. I look forward to the next version of this film that will include information on this issue of energy production and consumption nationally.
This documentary is for anyone interested in how we produce energy in the US, particuarly in the South East. I learned about hill top removal in West Virginia to mine for coal. The images are really dreadful and eye opening. It will make you think twice about turning a light switch on if you don't absolutely have to. At first, the film is somewhat disheartening. The usage of electricity and the growing consumption and problem of supply seem insurmountable. And just when you can't take any more bad news, Jeff Barie completely does a 180 and starts showing and talking about what individuals and communities can do to reduce energy consumption. He even uses his own home as an example.
I really feel that I learned alot by watching this documentary. The nice thing is that there are action items at the end of the film that I feel that I can also engage in. I look forward to the next version of this film that will include information on this issue of energy production and consumption nationally.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Must Read Novels
Here is a quick list, that I will expand upon:
1) Historical fiction - my favorite category:
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry -- about the lives of four characters in India, during the separation of India and Pakistan that took place in the 1970s. I was so engulfed in this novel and the characters that I read this long novel in probably a week or so, almost non-stop. I learned about some important events in India, and obtained a window into the caste system history and it's painful and cruel continuance through this modern day. Having visited India, I felt that my imagination could really connect. Even if you haven't been to India, this novel will make you feel like you took a journey through time and space within India. This is a must read. In addition, the author's use of language was simply lyrical. Often, I'd find myself pausing at how refreshing his use of language was.
The Road from Chapel Hill - by Joanna Catherine Scott. The Civil War, honestly, is not one of my favorite periods to read about. That said, this novel really captures the time and serves up living and breathing characters. I was especially fascinated by the character Tom, whom we follow from escaping slavery, to being recaptured, to ultimate freedom again and all the struggles along the way. This book was a gift to me from a friend in my writing group and she gave it to me on the condition that I tell her what I thought about it. Well, all I can say is that I couldn't put it down. I stayed up late to keep finding out what would happen next. That is really rare and wonderful.
1) Historical fiction - my favorite category:
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry -- about the lives of four characters in India, during the separation of India and Pakistan that took place in the 1970s. I was so engulfed in this novel and the characters that I read this long novel in probably a week or so, almost non-stop. I learned about some important events in India, and obtained a window into the caste system history and it's painful and cruel continuance through this modern day. Having visited India, I felt that my imagination could really connect. Even if you haven't been to India, this novel will make you feel like you took a journey through time and space within India. This is a must read. In addition, the author's use of language was simply lyrical. Often, I'd find myself pausing at how refreshing his use of language was.
The Road from Chapel Hill - by Joanna Catherine Scott. The Civil War, honestly, is not one of my favorite periods to read about. That said, this novel really captures the time and serves up living and breathing characters. I was especially fascinated by the character Tom, whom we follow from escaping slavery, to being recaptured, to ultimate freedom again and all the struggles along the way. This book was a gift to me from a friend in my writing group and she gave it to me on the condition that I tell her what I thought about it. Well, all I can say is that I couldn't put it down. I stayed up late to keep finding out what would happen next. That is really rare and wonderful.
Namesake
April 2007.
This film really was great in so many ways. First of all, the story itself of touching and revealing. Secondly, the actual film was well done. Lastly, it's a story and film that has a universal appeal. It is namely the story of immigrant families straddling their "mother" country and that of the US. Specifically, it's a story of a young man who has grown up as a first generation Indian-American with Indian born parents. The story highlights his struggle for identity by focusing on his name and his name change throughout his life.
Having many friends from India and having observed these struggles between their customs and American ways of life, I found that this story really strikes a chord for me and also for our times. There are more Indian - American families today in the US than in history. Understanding their perspective through revealing novels and films like this really can be educational for those not famliar with this issue. It may also help bridge the gap in understanding between this community and other communites within the US.
This film really was great in so many ways. First of all, the story itself of touching and revealing. Secondly, the actual film was well done. Lastly, it's a story and film that has a universal appeal. It is namely the story of immigrant families straddling their "mother" country and that of the US. Specifically, it's a story of a young man who has grown up as a first generation Indian-American with Indian born parents. The story highlights his struggle for identity by focusing on his name and his name change throughout his life.
Having many friends from India and having observed these struggles between their customs and American ways of life, I found that this story really strikes a chord for me and also for our times. There are more Indian - American families today in the US than in history. Understanding their perspective through revealing novels and films like this really can be educational for those not famliar with this issue. It may also help bridge the gap in understanding between this community and other communites within the US.
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