J.EDGAR 3.0***
Mr. J. Edgar ( Hoover ) was a symbol of corruption, law enforcement, and good ole American values all rolled in one very larger-than-life package. He was...
A mean one, a heel, as cuddly as a cactus, a nasty as a skunk...Oops, now wait! I am getting a bit confused...that's Mr. Grinch. Let me start again. He was...
Daring and resourceful, led the fight for law and order, a great champion of justice, with his faithful Indian companion Tonto...Whoa! Wrong again.
It's easy to confuse the man and the myth and Clint Eastwood's well made but slightly disappointing film, “J. Edgar”, tries to clear up some of the facts and fallacies that have befell this crusader throughout the decades. Mr. Eastwood doesn't always succeed, but he does create a complex man trying to come to terms with his own power and fame and yet unable to accept his own human flaws and foibles.
Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Hoover and runs the vast emotional gamut from a young idealistic and ambitious man ready to conquer the world to an aged cynical and lonely tyrant. DiCaprio expertly hones in on his character, that of a hypocritical man whose own life was shrouded in secrets and lies, and an unethical schemer who took great pleasure exposing other peoples' secrets and lies.
There is solid support by Naomi Watts as his stalwart and loyal secretary, and Judi Dench as his manipulative and controlling mother. Yet the best acting comes from Armie Hammer as his closer than closest friend, Clyde Tolson. Hammer adds the needed charm and central moral conscience to the film. This talented actor plays Tolson as more than the handsome
assistant, always at Hoovers side ( they ALWAYS had lunch and dinner together). He brings seriousness to the role and his dramatic outbursts with DiCaprio are the film's highlight. To put it more bluntly, Hammer nails it. ( Oops, another pun! )
Production values are top-notch, with the sole exception being some pasty and unnecessarily artificial make-up during Hoover's and especially Tolson's elder years. Yet other scenes involving the aging make-up and the prosthetics on many of the characters is quite accurate and believable. To say that the make-up is spotty is an understatement. While it's true that Hoover didn't age well, he certainly didn't age as badly as this film indicates, doing a major injustice to DiCaprio's fascinating portrayal.
Overall, J. Edgar is a competent and intelligent film. Clint Eastwood does a very credible job of recreating Hoover's world, and many in the main cast are Oscar worthy. The film succeeds by giving an unbiased and brutally honest look at one of the most feared and admired men in American history.
Clark
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
THE IDES OF MARCH 3.5****
“The Ides of March” can be described as a political thriller, and it will certainly grip you and have you on the edge of your seat at times, with its twists and turns.
Ryan Gosling plays an assistant campaign manager, who works for Philip Seymour Hoffman, and both work for Governor Morris, played by George Clooney, a man with eyes on the presidency. Paul Giamatti plays a veteran campaign manager for a rival politician. Evan Rachel Wood plays a young intern who gets drawn into the political intrigues, and Marisa Tomei plays a hard scrabbling reporter always looking for dirt to dish, although, in fact, she is simply seeking the truth.
Ides of March, and its characters portray every shade of dark, and you may wonder how something as innocuous as agreeing to meet a rival for a drink in a bar can become such a potential disaster, and how going on a date with an intern when you're single can lead to such complications. Certainly Stephen Myers (Gosling) is left to wonder how minor personal actions can have such potentially dire personal political consequences.
The story is brilliantly constructed and told, and as you might expect with a political movie, it contains tons of sound bites. We all know that politics can be quite dirty with lowdown tricks and negative campaigning, but I don't think you have seen anything quite like this except in real politics. One persons pain becomes another person’s political gain.
While the movie does not scream surefire Oscar winner it certainly yells, and Gosling should be nominated for Best Actor. George Clooney wears three hats as actor, director, and co-writer, and who better to play a smooth politician. Hoffman and Giamatti as usual are brilliant. Either or both could be nominated. In fact you will see few movies with such a strong ensemble this year, with three Oscar winners on board.
Clark
“The Ides of March” can be described as a political thriller, and it will certainly grip you and have you on the edge of your seat at times, with its twists and turns.
Ryan Gosling plays an assistant campaign manager, who works for Philip Seymour Hoffman, and both work for Governor Morris, played by George Clooney, a man with eyes on the presidency. Paul Giamatti plays a veteran campaign manager for a rival politician. Evan Rachel Wood plays a young intern who gets drawn into the political intrigues, and Marisa Tomei plays a hard scrabbling reporter always looking for dirt to dish, although, in fact, she is simply seeking the truth.
Ides of March, and its characters portray every shade of dark, and you may wonder how something as innocuous as agreeing to meet a rival for a drink in a bar can become such a potential disaster, and how going on a date with an intern when you're single can lead to such complications. Certainly Stephen Myers (Gosling) is left to wonder how minor personal actions can have such potentially dire personal political consequences.
The story is brilliantly constructed and told, and as you might expect with a political movie, it contains tons of sound bites. We all know that politics can be quite dirty with lowdown tricks and negative campaigning, but I don't think you have seen anything quite like this except in real politics. One persons pain becomes another person’s political gain.
While the movie does not scream surefire Oscar winner it certainly yells, and Gosling should be nominated for Best Actor. George Clooney wears three hats as actor, director, and co-writer, and who better to play a smooth politician. Hoffman and Giamatti as usual are brilliant. Either or both could be nominated. In fact you will see few movies with such a strong ensemble this year, with three Oscar winners on board.
Clark
Sunday, November 6, 2011
THE HELP 3.5***
In 1963, a young journalist and aspiring novelist returns from college to her hometown, Jackson, Mississippi, at a time when the civil rights movement is gaining momentum. Her job on the Jackson Journal – writing a column on house cleaning tips – leads her into contact with the experts: black women who are the nannies, cooks and housekeepers for rich white folk… i.e. the “help”.. Thus begins an unlikely alliance that exposes the indignities suffered by black maids at the hands of Southern belles who ironically spend their idle moments raising money for African charities. The ultimate revenge of the maids is both funny and wickedly appropriate.. The movie evokes many emotions; laughter, tears, anger and perhaps even shame.
The movie tries to softly, but honestly, capture the time and place of 1960s Mississippi. There was tension throughout the movie, keeping the audience wondering when the violence of racism was going to strike, but the movie always kept it just off screen, tempting the horror without needing to show it up close. The movie has wonderfully delicate scenes between the journalist, Skeeter, and the maids and between the maids. At the same time there are scenes of brutally real racism and bigotry and you feel the tension, the pain, the injustice of the time but still you can laugh with them even as you cry for them - both races - ignorance is to be wept over.
Emma Stone, as the stubborn and righteous Skeeter, delivers her most dramatic performance to date ( others this year alone: “Crazy Stupid Love”, “Easy A” & “Friends With Benefits”). Yet other power comes from the surrounding cast, packed with outstanding performances ranging from beautifully heart-wrenching to disgustingly evil. Starting with the two maids, played with touching grace and power by Viola Davis (as Aibileen) and Octavia Spencer (as Minny). These wonderful actresses anchor the film in layers upon layers of honesty and courage. On the complete other side of the spectrum, Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of Ron Howard, the famous director ) delivers a stunningly performance as Hilly Holbrook, the ultimate devious bigot, clinging to the old racist ways and old hatreds, fighting the oncoming social change with each of her pearly white teeth and perfectly manicured nails. Jessica Chastain also does a splendid job as Celia Foote, the white social outcast (she married up… from being white trash to a rich trophy wife) who tries desperately to get acceptance from anyone at all, even if it comes from her maid.
The movie should make you feel embarrassed if you’re white and very angry if you’re black. But more importantly, it should motivate you to not tolerate injustices no matter where or what they are.
Clark
In 1963, a young journalist and aspiring novelist returns from college to her hometown, Jackson, Mississippi, at a time when the civil rights movement is gaining momentum. Her job on the Jackson Journal – writing a column on house cleaning tips – leads her into contact with the experts: black women who are the nannies, cooks and housekeepers for rich white folk… i.e. the “help”.. Thus begins an unlikely alliance that exposes the indignities suffered by black maids at the hands of Southern belles who ironically spend their idle moments raising money for African charities. The ultimate revenge of the maids is both funny and wickedly appropriate.. The movie evokes many emotions; laughter, tears, anger and perhaps even shame.
The movie tries to softly, but honestly, capture the time and place of 1960s Mississippi. There was tension throughout the movie, keeping the audience wondering when the violence of racism was going to strike, but the movie always kept it just off screen, tempting the horror without needing to show it up close. The movie has wonderfully delicate scenes between the journalist, Skeeter, and the maids and between the maids. At the same time there are scenes of brutally real racism and bigotry and you feel the tension, the pain, the injustice of the time but still you can laugh with them even as you cry for them - both races - ignorance is to be wept over.
Emma Stone, as the stubborn and righteous Skeeter, delivers her most dramatic performance to date ( others this year alone: “Crazy Stupid Love”, “Easy A” & “Friends With Benefits”). Yet other power comes from the surrounding cast, packed with outstanding performances ranging from beautifully heart-wrenching to disgustingly evil. Starting with the two maids, played with touching grace and power by Viola Davis (as Aibileen) and Octavia Spencer (as Minny). These wonderful actresses anchor the film in layers upon layers of honesty and courage. On the complete other side of the spectrum, Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of Ron Howard, the famous director ) delivers a stunningly performance as Hilly Holbrook, the ultimate devious bigot, clinging to the old racist ways and old hatreds, fighting the oncoming social change with each of her pearly white teeth and perfectly manicured nails. Jessica Chastain also does a splendid job as Celia Foote, the white social outcast (she married up… from being white trash to a rich trophy wife) who tries desperately to get acceptance from anyone at all, even if it comes from her maid.
The movie should make you feel embarrassed if you’re white and very angry if you’re black. But more importantly, it should motivate you to not tolerate injustices no matter where or what they are.
Clark
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