The Last Station-DVD Review*** 07/29/2012
Posted by Films to consider in Academy Awards, Based on a novel, Biographical, British, Christopher Plummer, Emotional Drama, Golden Globes, Helen Mirren, Hessian Film Award, Highly recommended, Independent Spirit Awards, Michael Hoffman, Movies, Romance, Satellite Awards.add a comment
The Last Station (British) 2009 ***
Based on Jay Parini’s 1990 novel, The Last Station: A Novel of Tolstoy’s Last Year
Directed by Michael Hoffman
Starring Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, James McAvoy, and Paul Giamatti
Among other awards and nominations:
NOMINATED, Best Actress (Mirren); Best Supporting Actor (Plummer), Academy Awards
NOMINATED, Best Actress (Mirren); Best Supporting Actor (Plummer), Golden Globes
WINNER, Best International Literature Adaptation (Hoffman), Hessian Film Award
NOMINATED, Best Director (Hoffman); Best Feature; Best Female Lead (Mirren); Best Screenplay (Hoffman); Best Supporting Male (Plummer), Independent Spirit Awards
NOMINATED, Best Supporting Actor (McAvoy), Satellite Awards
As renowned and beloved author Leo Tolstoy’s (Plummer) life approaches its end, unwanted drama surrounds him in the form of his family and associates. His associates aim to convince Tolstoy that, in his final will, his works should become the property of the Russian people; his passionate wife, Countess Sofya (Mirren), fears that she and her children will be left with nothing.
Plummer’s Tolstoy tries (but doesn’t always manage) to retain a sense of peaceful dignity as he contends with his distraught wife. Mirren’s Sofya pulls no punches with increasingly erratic behavior as she once again puts in an outstanding performance that makes this a film worth seeing.
Highly recommended.
112 min. Rated R.
Check it out on Netflix
or
Amazon The Last Station
The Idiot-DVD Review 05/14/2012
Posted by Films to consider in Akira Kurosawa, Based on a novel, Classic film, Drama, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Japanese language film, Masayuki Mori, Psychological Suspense, Setsuko Hara.add a comment
The Idiot (Japanese) 1951
Adapted from the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Starring Masayuki Mori, Setsuko Hara, Yoshiko Kuga, and Toshirô Mifune
From director Kurosawa’s postwar series, this adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s novel features Kamuda (Mori), a man recently released from an asylum and branded an idiot as a result of his war injuries, and his volatile friend Akama (Mifune). Both are loved by Taeko (Hara), but even after the innocent and trusting Kameda makes a life with Ayako (Kuga), Akama cannot let go of his jealousy.
The film, set in a stark and snowy environment, stars many of Kurosawa’s favorite actors, most notably Setsuko Hara in the lead female role. It was originally 265 minutes long, but Kurosawa was forced to cut it to a still-lengthy 166 minutes.
Black and white.
166 min.
Check it out on Netflix
or
Amazon (this link is for the Criterion Collection, not the same DVD I watched):
Eclipse Series 7: Postwar Kurosawa (No Regrets for Our Youth / One Wonderful Sunday / Scandal / The Idiot / I Live in Fear) (The Criterion Collection)
Winter’s Bone-DVD Review 03/31/2012
Posted by Films to consider in Academy Awards, American, Based on a novel, Debra Granik, Emotional Drama, Golden Globes, Independent Spirit Awards, Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Sundance Film Festival, Suspense, Thriller.add a comment
Winter’s Bone (American) 2010
Adapted from the novel by Daniel Woodrell
Directed by Debra Granik
Screenplay by Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, and Dale Dickey
Among many other awards and nominations:
NOMINATED, Best Picture (Rosellini and Alix Madigan); Best Supporting Actor (Hawkes); Best Leading Actress (Lawrence); Best Adapted Screenplay (Granik and Rosellini), Academy Awards
NOMINATED, Best Actress-Drama (Lawrence), Golden Globes
WINNER, Best Supporting Female (Dickey), Best Supporting Male (Hawkes), NOMINATED, Best Cinematography (Michael McDonough); Best Feature; Best Director (Granik); Best Female Lead (Lawrence); Best Screenplay, Independent Spirit Awards
WINNER, Grand Jury Prize-Dramatic (Granik); Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award (Granik and Rosellini), Sundance Film Festival
In a poor backwoods area of the Ozarks, seventeen-year-old Ree (Lawrence) is forced to care for her two younger siblings when her mother goes into a depression and her father goes missing. Despite warnings to leave matters alone, she sets out to find her father.
Although it received critical acclaim and many awards (above is just a small selection), Winter’s Bone is one of the lower grossing films nominated for Best Picture by the Academy Awards. Here’s a chance to see a gripping performance by young actress Jennifer Lawrence before her new release, The Hunger Games.
100 min. Rated R for drug use, language, and violence.
For more info:
Winter’s Bone
Das Boot-DVD Review *** 08/04/2011
Posted by Films to consider in Based on a novel, Drama, German language film, Movies, World War II.add a comment
Das Boot (German) 1997/1981
The Director’s Cut released in 1997
Originally released in 1981
Based on the novel by Lothar-Günther Buchheim
NOMINATED, Best Cinematography (Jost Vocano); Best Director (Wolfgang Petersen); Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing (Mike Le Mare); Best Film Editing; Best Sound; Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Wolfgang Petersen), Academy Awards
WINNER, Film Award in Gold Outstanding Individual Achievement: Sound/Sound Mixing (Milan Bor); Film Award in Silver, Outstanding Feature Film, German Film Awards
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
Starring Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch, and Martin Semmelrogge
The physical hardships and emotional toll faced by the young men of a German U-boat crew, who went to battle facing almost certain death.
This remastered version of the film, which was first shot as a German TV miniseries, gives an incredibly realistic portrayal of the close quarters in a submarine, and of the terrifying sounds in a submarine under attack.
Over three hours long, the film maintains the suspense throughout.
209 min. Rated R. Adult themes and violence.
For more info:
Das Boot – The Director’s Cut
Bride and Prejudice-DVD Review 06/30/2011
Posted by Films to consider in Based on a novel, Bollywood, Comedy, Indian language film, Light Drama, Movies, Musical.add a comment
Bride and Prejudice (Indian/English) 2004
Directed by Gurinder Chadha
Starring Aishwarya Rai and Martin Henderson
In this very loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Lalita Bakshi (Rai) is one of four daughters; her mother is eager to see them all suitably married. When Lalita meets wealthy American businessman Will Darcy (Henderson), however, it is not love at first sight.
The movie is very funny in parts, and the plot is interspersed with Bollywood-style musical numbers and dances that are very well done. Watch for Naveen Andrews (Sayid from Lost); he is frequently smiling in this film, which took some getting used to, and he even does a break dance. Hey – it’s Bollywood!
Gurinder Chadha also directed Bend It Like Beckham.
107 min. Rated PG-13.
For more info:
Bride and Prejudice
Love in the Time of Cholera-DVD Review 04/15/2011
Posted by Films to consider in American, Based on a novel, Emotional Drama, Movies, Romance.1 comment so far
Love in the Time of Cholera (American) 2007
Based on the novel by Gabriel García Márquez, winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Directed by Mike Newell
Starring Javier Bardem, Benjamin Bratt, and Giovanna Mezzogiorno
A love story that begins in 1879, when young telegraph operator Florentino Ariza (Bardem) first sees Fermina Daza (Mezzogiorno) and falls hopelessly in love with her. Fermina at first returns his love but eventually marries the more suitable Dr. Juvenal Urbino (Bratt).
Florentino, with the soul of a poet, pines for Fermina, whose marriage is unsatisfying, and saves his love only for her. While waiting for her to come to her senses, however, Florentino keeps himself busy. While he pursues physical pleasure with hundreds of women (yes, he keeps track), in his mind his love for Fermina remains pure. After her husband’s death, a mere 53 years after they first met, the couple meets again.
An enjoyable enough movie, with good performances by all. Given a choice, however, read the novel.
139 min. Rated R. Sexual content; language.
For more about the DVD:
Love in the Time of Cholera
And for more about the book:
Love in the Time of Cholera (Vintage International)
The Reader-DVD Review 03/11/2011
Posted by Films to consider in Based on a novel, Drama, Emotional Drama, Movies.add a comment
The Reader (British) 2008
Among other wins and nominations:
Winner, Best Actress or Supporting Actress (Winslet), Academy Awards; also BAFTA; Chicago Film Critics Association Award; European Film Awards; Golden Globes; Screen Actors Guild and several more
Nominated, Best Film; Best Director Best Cinematography; Best Screenplay
Nominated, Critics Choice Award (Best Young Actor-Kross), Broadcast Film Critics Association Award
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Adapted from the novel Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink
Starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, and Bruno Ganz
As a teenager in Germany after World War II, Michael Berg (Kross) has a brief love affair with Hanna, an older woman (Winslet). She leaves town suddenly with no explanation. A few years later, when Michael is studying to become a lawyer, he attends a trial and discovers that Hanna is one of the defendants. She is found guilty and put in prison.
Hanna continues to have an effect on Michael’s emotional life because he is unable to be truly honest with anyone about the relationship he had with her. Eventually, Michael (with Ralph Fiennes in the adult role) learns something else about Hanna that allows him (and the viewer) some measure of understanding (if not sympathy).
The story has several difficult aspects, not least of which is the age difference between Hanna and Michael. Somehow Kate Winslet still manages to keep Hanna from being totally despicable. She won many accolades for her performance (see above). David Kross also deserves mention as the passionate young Michael, who gets caught up in the relationship, not realizing the consequences it will have.
123 min. Rated R. Sexual content and nudity; adult themes.
For more Info:
The Reader
Brick Lane-DVD Review 01/31/2011
Posted by Films to consider in Based on a novel, Bengali/Bangladeshi language film, British, Emotional Drama, Indian language film, Movies, Romance.add a comment
Brick Lane (Indian/Bangladeshi/British) 2007
Among other awards and nominations:
Winner, Alfred Dunhill Award for New Talent, London Film Festival
Official Selection, Telluride Film Festival; Toronto International Film Festival
Winner, CICAE Award (Gavron), San Sebastian International Film Festival
Directed by Sarah Gavron; based on the novel by Monica Ali
Starring Tannishtha Chatterjee as Nazneen, Christopher Simpson as Karim, and Satish Kaushik as Chanu
In the 1980s, Nazneen, a young Bangladeshi woman, enters into an arranged marriage with Chanu, a staid and traditional older man, and leaves her home and her sister to live in the Brick Lane section of London. Sixteen years later, Chanu wants to move back to Bangladesh for a job, but their two daughters are happy being part of the surrounding culture. Nazneen, meanwhile, has met and fallen in love with Karim, a handsome younger man who is active in local political causes. Although she does not want to marry him, Nazneen comes to realize that she is where she belongs and must tell her husband so.
An intimate look at a woman who finds her own inner strength and makes some tough decisions to live on her own. A beautiful musical score by Jocelyn Pook (I especially loved Adam’s lullaby) adds much to the film.
102 min. Rated PG-13.
For more info:
Brick Lane
About A Boy-DVD Review 01/20/2011
Posted by Films to consider in Based on a novel, British, Comedy, Drama, Movies, Romance.2 comments
About a Boy (British) 2002
Among other awards and nominations:
Nominated, Best Writing-Adapted Screenplay, Academy Awards
Nominated, Best Motion Picture; Best Actor-Comedy (Grant), Golden Globes
Winner, Best British Actor (Grant), Empire Awards (UK)
Nominated, Best Supporting Actress (Collette), BAFTA Awards
Adapted from the bestselling novel by Nick Hornby
Directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz
Starring Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Nicholas Hoult and Rachel Weisz
A Hugh Grant movie that I really liked. His performance went beyond his usual charmingly amusing and seemed natural and genuine. The addition of Toni Collette and Nicholas Hoult to the cast also had something to do with it.
Will Freeman (Grant) is a single guy who’s living on the royalties from his father’s one-hit Christmas song. All of his friends have settled down and are urging him to do the same but Will still wants to play the field. Coming up with a devious new scheme to meet women, he joins SPAT (Single Parents Alone Together) where he pretends to have a two-year-old son. He inadvertently meets Marcus (Hoult), a 12-year-old boy who is always getting bullied at school. When Marcus’s mother (Collette) tries to commit suicide, Will gets more involved than he wants to.
I would definitely watch this film a second time, which is unusual for a romantic comedy. This film has some more serious moments with the storyline of Marcus and his mother, but along with that there are plenty of very funny scenes.
102 min. Rated PG-13.
For more info:
About a Boy (Full Screen Edition)
The Night of the Hunter-DVD Review*** 01/05/2011
Posted by Films to consider in American, Based on a novel, Black & white, Classic film, Thriller.2 comments
The Night of the Hunter (American) 1955
Adapted from Davis Grubb’s novel, based on the true story of Harry Powers
Directed by Charles Laughton (the only film he directed)
Starring Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, Shelley Winters, Billy Chapin, and Sally Jane Bruce
A classic film in black and white with a deliciously terrifying story, renowned for its use of stark symbolism to signify the battle of good versus evil. Reverend Powell (Mitchum) is a fake preacher who travels across the countryside looking for widows to charm, marry, and kill for their money. His next victim is Willa Harper (Winters) and he dispatches her easily enough. Now, as for her children – John (Chapin) and Pearl (Bruce) – those two he has to keep around until he gets them to reveal where their hanged thief of a father hid that $10,000 he stole. The children escape and become the hunted.
Robert Mitchum plays one of the most frightening psychopath villains I’ve seen (for me, a modern counterpoint is Javier Bardem’s Cigurh in No Country for Old Men). I also found the singing of the little girl Pearl scary because it seemed too adult for her age. Later I found out that it was dubbed.
The film, which has been selected for the National Film Registry, is often discussed as influenced by German Expressionism, with its use of symbolism and atmosphere to show the dark side of human nature. The photography and the lighting definitely played integral roles in creating the suspense in this story.
My quote from the movie is from a hymn the “preacher” is fond of singing: “Leaning . . . leaning . . . leaning on the everlasting arms.” <Shiver.>
93 min. Not rated. Definitely too scary for little ones!
Check out these links about the novel and the film
For more info about the film
For more about the DVD:
The Night of the Hunter (Criterion Collection)
