Knocked Up

FLICK I always thought knocked up was a derogatory term for something a guy did to a woman, making her barefoot and pregnant. So, instead of the crude parody I was expecting writer-director Judd Apatow, who also directed The 40 Year-Old Virgin, gives us a well-balanced romantic comedy that focuses on the people, with the situation as a jumping point. Apatow blends the right amount of frat boy humor with lighthearted commentary on singles and married couples, plus some well-placed pop culture references, to show how it takes two to make a thing go right. Grey’s Anatomy’s Katherine Heigl is the lovely Alison who goes out to celebrate her E! Entertainment job promotion and has such a good time she winds up the evening having unprotected sex with slacker Ben (Seth Rogan). Two months later, Alison decides to pop the news to Ben that they are with child. You end up believing in Alison’s choice to let a dorky loser like Ben take part in the situation because the sincerity in the acting convinces us that these opposites could work it out. Heigl amazingly has a way of conveying a look of doubt while exhibiting confidence in her decision. And Rogan has a light innocence instead of a brashness that is typical of over-the-top performances from actors like Adam Sandler and Jim Carey. Contrasting unplanned parenthood and presenting a cautious view of married life are Alison’s sister Debbie (a perfectly cast Leslie Mann, who is also Apatow’s wife) and her restless husband Pete (Paul Rudd, owner of the best smile ever) who have a few issues to work out. But the central question remains: can a responsible woman actually make a go of it with an immature guy with whom she’s had a one-night stand? In this case, knock on wood. My Score: 8 out of 10.

Mr. Brooks

FLICK Not being a Kevin Costner fan since way before he called Madonna’s Blond Ambition concert "neat" I wasn’t planning to see him star as Earl in Mr. Brooks, but I’m not disappointed that I did.
We get to see the duality of Earl Brooks up front at a banquet receiving a man of the year award and then going out for a night on the town as the elusive Thumbprint Killer. Costner gives a nuanced performance and has a way of making this unsettling serial killer so darn likeable that you hope he gets his wish to stop his renewed killing spree. He even goes to AA meetings for self-therapy thinking he’s on the path to quitting his addictive behavior. The most effective scenes show Earl having regular conversations with his conscience named Marshall, played with gusto by William Hurt. They make a great couple, like two-stepping partners dancing in rhythm and never tripping over each other.
The film begins promisingly but loses focus when it takes too many jarring turns away from exploring Brooks and his alter ego. Dane Cook gives a one-dimensional performance as Mr. Smith, a photographer who has witnessed one of the murders and blackmails his way into becoming Earl’s apprentice. Tracey Atwood (Demi Moore) is the detective hot on their trail. The script should have concentrated more on her hunt instead of investing time with distractions like her ongoing nasty divorce case, and that she is the target of an escaped convict’s revenge. There is also a dash of the film The Bad Seed in a subplot concerning Earl’s daughter (Danielle Panabaker). Though there is only one Rhoda Penmark, I never quite bought the central hereditary theory of that film either.
This visually stylish suspense-thriller succeeds as a Jekyll and Hyde tale but gets a little schizophrenic and distracted when adding others to the mix. My Score: 7 out of 10.

Disturbia

FLICK A mildly successful thriller, Disturbia presents what would otherwise be a creepy Peeping Tom and positions him as the hero of the ‘hood. When we first see Kale (Shia LeBeouf) he is on a fishing trip with his father, in the big, beautiful openness of nature. Their bonding is literally turned on its head when the car Kale is driving flips over, leaving him the lone survivor of the accident. A year after the death of his father, Kale is clearly distraught. Sentenced to house arrest for popping a teacher in the head, he must wear an ankle bracelet that limits him to 100 feet from the house. Kale’s working mother (Carrie-Anne Moss) attempts to make the uninspired teen productive by taking away his Xbox and iPod privileges. Ever resourceful, Kale finds solace in voyeuristic activity by keeping binoculars handy and watching the comings and goings of people in the block. His favorite activity, ogling at sexy Ashley (Sarah Roemer), is disrupted as he’s tormented by the neighborhood kids (they love their flaming poo bags) and thinks he’s stumbled upon a possible serial killer in their midst. But are his suspicions real or just imagined? The title serves to represent not only Kale’s changing state of mind but also what lies underneath the suburban landscape where he lives.
LeBeouf is very likeable and his confident performance easily carries the movie. The attempts of director D.J. Caruso to pay homage to Hitchcock’s Rear Window lacks the suspenseful subtleties of that classic and, though making good use of camera phones, gets lost when updating the material to accommodate the teen target audience. The set-up is solid but there are no surprises as it eventually dissolves into predictaburia. My Score: 6.5 out of 10.

Paris Je T’Aime

FLICK If you like attending shorts programs at film festivals, or have a little ADD, Paris Je T’Aime is sure to satisfy. The charming melange consists of 18 films by 20 internationally known filmmakers, which are approximately five minutes long and each set in a different area of the City of Light. The films in this mosaic appear unconnected but they actually create a portrait of a city with many perspectives. The shorts contain a variety of tones, with some having universal themes and others distinctly French, such as The Triplets of Belleville animator Sylvain Chomet’s live-action romance with two mimes.
There is a potpourri of well-known names turning in stellar performances, like American actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gena Rowlands Elijah Wood and Willem Dafoe, and French actors Fanny Ardant, Gaspard Ulliel and Juliette Binoche. Directors are as varied too, like Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven, and, pulling double duty, actor Gérard Depardieu. Some films are more successful than others like the Coen brother’s comedy featuring Steve Buscemi as an unlucky tourist waiting for a train in a Paris Metro station. Alexander Payne presents Margo Martindale (currently seen in FX’s "The Riches") as a Denver letter carrier narrating the experiences of her life-altering vacation in French with a typically American accent. Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) uses tricky speed photography to convey the mistaken romantic outcome of a blind student (Melchior Beslon) and his girlfriend (Natalie Portman). Craven sets Rufus Sewell and Emily Mortimer in a cemetery with the ghost of Oscar Wilde. And Gurinder Chadha comments on perception as a teen boy looks beyond religious and racial stereotyping. There are also scenes depicting a divorced couple, a drug deal and vampires. One dud was Alfonso Cuarón’s baffling story featuring Ludivine Sagnier and an almost unintelligible Nick Nolte. Overall, the film is charming and creates enough emotional highs to say Paris, I love you! My Score: 8.5 out of 10.

ROMAIN DURIS

FLICK Do you enjoy watching good performances whether the film is great, average or a stinker? If so, then check out the some of films highlighted here starring Romain Duris, an amazing, chameleon-like French actor with a growing resume of remarkable movies. Born on May 28, 1974, Duris wasn’t looking for fame when a casting director noticed him standing in front of a Paris high school.
I was first introduced to him in the internationally popular romantic-comedy from 2002, L’auberge espagnole (The Spanish Apartment). Here he plays French student Xavier who moves to Barcelona to study economics and shares an apartment with six other students, all from different countries. In the light-hearted sequel Russian Dolls, Xavier is following his dream to become a writer. Duris pulls off the typically difficult role appearing as an apparent womanizer but actually learning about, while searching for, love. In the end he realizes that like Russian (or nesting) dolls, you have to date them all until you find the last one.
Duris soars higher as Thomas in the accomplished The Beat That My Heart Skipped (see my review here at mariomoves), convincing us that he is an animalistic thug working for his father and equally sensitive to rediscover his interest in playing classical piano, as his mother did.
The closest he’s come to making an American film is the Merchant-Ivory film, Le Divorce, (co-starring another French actor to look for, Melvil Poupaud). With his hair most Medusa–like, even more wild and noodley than the New York Times magazine cover (posted on the left), Romain shows off his sex-appeal as Yves who is having an affair with Kate Hudson’s character, Isabel. In one scene he sings a snippet of the song "Money Makes the World Go ‘Round" from Cabaret and his playful style makes it easy to see him someday in the lead role of the MC in that musical.
I’m looking forward to catching up with another film from 2002, 17 Times Cécile Cassard. Director Christophe Honoré has assembled 17 short films to tell the story of Cécile, unable to deal with the death of her husband. Duris shows his versatility in a supporting role as Matthieu, a gay man who becomes romantically involved with Cécile.
Follow this link to watch a video from the film, titled "Pretty Killer", as two share a sexy slow-dance with a third. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nTryJX7cn4&NR=1

The hair gets special treatment again as Romain plays the comedic playwright and actor in the upcoming summer release Molière. Check out the whimsical trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/moliere/trailer/

Though his physical looks change in almost every film, it’s the subtleties he emotes as well as the twinkling eyes and infectious smile that combine to make Duris one of the most electrifying international actors working today.
Bon anniversaire, Romain!

Black Book

FLICK Paul Verhoeven, director of Basic Instinct and Total Recall, has taken the skills he honed in Hollywood back to his homeland, Holland, for the first time in 20 years to create a slick, fast-paced, and at times irreverent, WWII film. Based on true accounts, the story centers on Rachel (played with perpetual intensity by Carice von Houten), a Dutch Jew, once a popular singer now waiting for the war to end. When her safe-house is bombed, she is rescued by a young boy but must then go undercover, changing her name to Ellis de Vries and seeking revenge against the Germans in a harrowing non-stop series of narrow escapes and betrayals. Verhoeven doesn’t shy away from nudity, reminding us that he also directed Showgirls, by presenting Ellis as a hotsi-totsi Nazi performer. There is no time for character study as she must do anything to survive, including dying all regions of her hair blond in order to get closer to and deceive, among others, high-ranking officer Müntze (Sebastian Koch, who was equally engaging in The Lives of Others). Traditional good-guy/bad-guy clichés are annihilated here, but the sensational, over-blown sex and violence threaten to overtake any genuine emotions that could be conveyed. The framing device, initially showing Rachel teaching on a kibbutz, serves to remind us that there will be a sigh of relief after she meanders from one perilous moment to the next. But you might be breathless after witnessing the ambitious 145 minutes of unrelenting tension. My Score: 7 out of 10.

ONCE

FLICK Rock-musical is a label I heard someone use to describe the charmingly modern, romantic film Once. There is remarkable guitar playing, but it’s not hard rock music. There is singing but no one is bursting into song, and there are no choreographed dance numbers. What it does have are two actual singer-songwriters from Dublin playing characters named Guy and Girl, who meet and make beautiful music together – literally and figuratively. Guy (Glen Hansard, a member of the Irish group The Frames) sings and strums his guitar on the streets hoping to make a few bucks and get a big recording break while still repairing vacuum cleaners for his dad. Czech immigrant Girl (Markéta Irglová) sells flowers, plays piano and is instantly drawn to Guy. John Carney's slight script is balanced by his understated directing style, which perfectly complements the two leads as they develop an intimate friendship and become collaborators. Though they are each in the midst of other relationships, it is the interwoven, heartfelt songs that set the tone and reveal what is unsaid. That the actors are relatively unknown also lends realness to the overall simplicity. This modest indie film is quite the opposite of a traditional Hollywood musical – the antithesis of Dreamgirls or Rocky Horror Picture Show – which gives it originality, sincerity, and makes it so likeable. My Score: 8 out of 10


MUSIC
Live performances and videos of songs from Once can be found at FoxSearchlight http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/


My favorite songs from the film:
“When Your Mind’s Made Up” http://content.foxsearchlight.com/videos/node/1845
“Falling Slowly” http://content.foxsearchlight.com/videos/node/1702

LOST – Through the Looking Glass

TELEVISION The writers and producers really delivered on this season finale with lots of action, resolutions and, of course, they can’t help but raise many more questions.

There were several things that should have tipped me off that we were watching Jack in scenes of the future. The first thing I noticed was his newer RAZR cell phone. What confused me were the references to Christian Shepherd, as if he were still alive. (Jack said: "Get my father down here. If I'm drunker than he is, you can fire me!") But if you notice the name of the funeral home, Hoffs/Drawlar is an anagram for Flash Forward. Also, the episode title refers not only to the hatch, and Charlie looking through the window at Mikail, but looking ahead to the future. Jack is a complete mess in the future: he is depressed for something that went down on the island, and as a result he’s willing to jump off a bridge, drinks too much and is dependant on pain killers. Apparently Oceanic has given the survivors a Golden Pass to fly anywhere, which Jack uses every Friday night not only as an escape but wishing he would crash and get back to the island – and not to mention the free drinks. His final words of the episode are: "We have to get back!" Jack is now perceived differently, having been referred to as a hero twice – once incorrectly for saving the woman on the bridge, and the other presumably for getting everyone off of the island. His realization that they should have stayed when confessing this to Kate parallels what Locke has been wanting all along. And who is Kate anxious to get back home to – a husband or perhaps a child?

It’s time to mourn Charlie, who did die a hero. He could have saved himself from drowning in the hatch, but then it would have meant that Claire and Aaron wouldn’t be saved. It’s funny how the writers used the tune to “Good Vibrations” as the code for the key pad, as well as referencing the underwater blast. Charlie’s last good deed was alerting Desmond that it was Not Penny’s Boat. I wondered how she magically happened to appear on that particular monitor at that particular moment. And that filthy one-eyed Mikhail better be dead this time!

Hurley was a hero too, driving that mini-van and running over an Other giving Sayid a chance to snap someone’s neck. Bernard wimped out when giving away the castaways' location, and lived up to his “I am a dentist, I am not Rambo” line to Rose. But Sawyer has no remorse when shooting the surrendering Tom, in the name of Walt. Sawyer has changed and become darker since killing Cooper, and now calls Kate, Kate, instead of Freckles.

Questions & Comments

• Both Locke and Jack have failed suicide attempts.
• Jack’s ex, Sarah, is pregnant. But why would she care enough to go to the hospital then refuse to take him home?
• I loved how Rousseau was always first in line to lead the castaways to the radio tower. It was touching but at the same time uncomfortable to see her meet Alex, and that Rousseau's first words were to ask her to help tie up Ben.
• How did each castaway get a backpack? Wouldn’t they have had luggage?
• Richard was to take people to the Temple. What Temple?
• Kate sees Juliet kiss Jack – on the lips!
• Greta and Bonnie were thought to be in Canada. Why Canada?
• If Penny doesn’t know Naomi, how does Naomi know who Penny is?
• Ben tells Jack that he's going to have all of the people on the island killed, and that Naomi is not who she says she is. She is a Bad Guy and a representative of people who want to find the island. That's very mysterious. She gets shot by Locke. (And Rousseau elbows Ben in the face!) Locke also tells Jack that he's not supposed to make the call. Jack speaks with someone on the radio. Who is on the boat?
• How far into the future was Jack’s flash forward?
  

Below are a few comments referring to the screen captures found at this site: http://losteastereggs.blogspot.com/

• In one, Jack is sitting in his room with lots of maps. Is he trying hopelessly to get back to the island?
• Close-up of a portion of Jack’s ripped newspaper article shows it’s from Los Angeles and says that a man was found dead, seemingly in New York, with the first letter of the first name J. The second letter looks like either an “a” or an “o,” which could mean it’s likely to be John Locke or James Ford, but why would no one but Jack attend their viewing or funeral?

Here are the links to interviews with Michael Emerson and William Mapother from the morning before the episode aired:

Michael Emerson, AKA Ben http://www.prestonandsteve.com/audio/580.mp3

William Mapother, AKA Ethan http://www.prestonandsteve.com/audio/581.mp3

It’s going to be a long eight months before the next episode airs in February!

HEROES – How to Stop an Exploding Man, Chapter 23

TELEVISION The big explosion in the sky was not a bird or a plane, but was the effort of a newly elected politician saving the world – or at least New York City. It was very cool to see big brother Nathan show up in the nick of time to scoop up Peter, taking him into the sky to explode while also restoring faith in his brother that he can do the right thing. Though Peter should be able to regenerate and survive the blast, we don’t really know if Nathan died or escaped. And this was all done in spite of Mama Petrelli, who didn’t mind sacrificing one of her sons for the other’s political success.

Peter not only used Parkman’s hearing power for the first time but learned he could envision the past, courtesy of Simone’s wheelchair-bound father, Charles, who was vague about the extent of his powers. Peter must have inadvertently absorbed his power while caring for him. Charles points out that Peter will succeed because he has a good heart and loves unconditionally.

Claire used her heart and quick thinking when jumping out the window to escape Mama Petrelli. A nice moment when she ends up with her father, who we learn has the first name of Noah.

Niki walks in on Candice and thinks it’s Jessica. But Niki needed the broken pieces of the mirror to see it was not herself. After kicking Candice’s butt, Niki hugs Micah, again looks into the mirror and sees only one image of them. And how cute was it to see the Micah and Molly meet up, as the next generation of heroes!

Ando was trying to be a hero, when he goes to slice up Sylar, but Hiro had to become a real hero by saving his buddy and transporting him back home. My favorite line of the night was when Ando says to Hiro: “You are bad ass!”

When we first see Sylar, he is painting an image and controlling his visions in a way that Isaac could not. I regretted seeing Parkman get shot with his own bullets - stopped, then reversed toward him - by Sylar, but if Peter has Parkman’s power, do we need him anymore? Parkman looked as if he was still breathing when taken away in the ambulance, so he’ll probably still be around. Hiro shows up with his mighty sword and stabs Sylar, who propels Hiro backwards only to have Hiro teleport himself away while in mid-air! A bloody Sylar falls to the ground and appears dead. But in a final moment, like Keyser Soze disappearing into the scenery, he was gone! There were many possible-deaths in this episode, but nothing concrete.

As we end Volume 1 of our story, the ever-present cockroach climbs out of a manhole, and then Hiro is back in 1671 Japan!

"Official unofficial fan site" run by the show's creative team includes news, interviews, gallery and forum. http://www.9thwonders.com/

Kitchen Confidential

TELEVISION While many shows are now on a break for the summer, Kitchen Confidential is an appetizing treat to fill your TV hunger pangs. Based on the best-selling memoir by chef Anthony Bourdain, the sitcom centers on the recovering carouser Jack Bourdain delectably played by a bright blue-eyed Bradley Cooper. His character is renamed Jack, most likely because his antics are more frantic than the witty sarcasm of the author – and his looks are more savory, too. Attempting to leave his partying lifestyle behind, Jack is given a second chance to succeed as a head chef at Nolita, a New York restaurant owned by the palatable voice-of-reason, Frank Langella. The vibrant supporting cast, as the kitchen crew and wait staff, easily create a mélange of obstacles for Jack in a fast-paced service space, plus add enough laughs to decorate the scenery like the delicious pastries at dessert time. Jack’s proficiency as a chef is almost in direct correlation to the amount of sex he has, meaning it’s flavorsome and abundant. One of my favorite highlights on the disc’s menu is episode four, titled “French Fight,” featuring Cooper’s former Alias co-star Michael Vartan, serving up a comical performance as a rival French chef who battles Jack in a game of one-upmanship after stealing an original recipe and offering it at his café. Only four of the 13 ordered-episodes aired before Fox 86d it. Since each episode runs approximately 22 minutes, watching the full-season on DVD is like ordering tapas – a variety of small bites to tickle the taste buds.