Movies, Drama
A young Irish family emigrates to Manhattan to start a new life. But first the old life has to be left behind, and this proves to be harder than anticipated. Although death seemingly looms behind every corner, life struggles mightily to get back on its feet. This is a wonderfully perceptive film. Jim Sheridan (the director) has the touch of a poet. The two young actresses playing 10 and 8 year old sisters are pure gold.In America
Movies, Drama
How do you feel when your heart is failing you, but you don’t know if a donor heart is found in time to save your life? How do you feel when your husband and two little children are killed by an inattentive driver only a few blocks away from home? How do you feel when you find out that your new lover has the heart of your late husband? In this meditative film, the director explores these deeply emotional questions with determination and with an interesting narrative strategy that breaks the linear flow of time. Sean Penn shows that he can also play mild characters with great dramatic force. The expressiveness of his character lies precisely in using the body and not words to articulate the meaning of the situation. For the most part our hearts beat regularly and Penn is able to remind us of this fundamental rythm. And one day it will stop.21 Grams
Movies, Drama
This Civil War movie works because it is has historical depth and employs a love story very effectively. Instead of going overboard with passion, the lovers take cautious steps toward each other and just as they allow themselves a kiss and the dream of a life together, Inman (Jude Law) is forced to join the army and fight in the war. Ada (Nicole Kidman) is left behind in the Cold Mountain region, waiting day after day, year after year, for Inman’s return. Despite all the hardship they individiually encounter, their hearts do not want to turn cold. Inman deserts from the army and tries to find his way back to Ada and the beauty of Cold Mountain. Love in this film is put in modest clothing and that’s what renders it interesting to watch.Cold Mountain
Movies, Drama
I have never seen a movie quite like this one. It reminds you of a poem. But here most of the work is not done by words but by images. Bill Murray’s performance has received raving reviews. For me, it was not Bill Murray’s acting that made the movie interesting, but the novelty of how the director (Sofia Coppola) transported the emotions of the characters into the minds of viewers. The film represents an experiment in emotional translations. It is not a movie that I would put on my must-see-list, but if you are in the mood for experiencing some cinematographic innovation, this is not a bad pick. As an aside: I discovered today that more than one promotional poster is made for films. Apparently, the studios design separate his and hers marketing campaigns. Ladies, for you we got Bill Murray. Gentlemen, for you we got young American flesh.Lost in Translation
Movies, Drama
The whale rider is a young girl who finds herself in the middle of a collision between a small traditional culture in New Zealand and the modern world. Her mother and twin brother die during childbirth. Her father leaves her with her grandparents and tries to escape to Europe. The grandfather has absolutely no use for her from the moment she is born because she is a girl and he needs a grandson to continue the bloodline and be the next leader of the tribe. But the young girl knows granddaddy better than he knows himself and takes us along for a quite a ride. This is a beautiful film although the pace of a narrative could have been a bit faster at times.Whale Rider
Movies, Drama
If you like classical music and detailed explorations of emotions triggered by the relationship between father and son, this is a film is for you. In the middle the movie feels a bit slow. But once you have seen the surprising and dramatic ending, you realize that the slowness in the second hour made the ending all the more powerful. The story is so moving that if you are prone to tears, you should bring a good supply of clenex to the show. I am eager to see the previous film by the director Chen Kaige, “Farewell my Concubine.” The film is in Chinese with English subtitles. Postscript: “Farewell my Concubine” was not nearly as good as “Together” and can be skipped!Together
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