A Dirty Shame (2004) NC17 - 2 Stars

This has got to be one of the strangest movies I've seen in awhile regarding sex. It even brings to the table, David Hasselhoff taking a poop in the sky. Tracy Ullman, Chris Issak, Johnny Knowville, what were you thinking?

This whole town is awakened sexually when they are smacked in the head by the cosmic sex drive taking over the city. Though some, the "neuters," try and hold up decency in the neighborhood, the sex bug eventually effects everyone and they all need it now. Eeeeeeek scary! Leave it to John Waters.

The Pinewood Park and Pay local market is where Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) and her husband Vaughn (Chris Isaak) work. Vaughn awakens each morning with his manly hood proudly displayed but Sylvia doesn't seem interested. Upstairs, under lock and key, is their daughter Caprice (Selma Blair), also known as who Ursula Udders due to her excessively large breasts. While Sylvia is driving to work one morning she runs out of gas and needs the immediate attention of the local perverted tow truck driver Ray-Ray (Johnny Knoxville), to pump new life into her. When she's knocked on the head and sent crashing to the street, her sexuality awakens while she tries to hump everything in sight on the way home. And even though her mother Big Ethel (Suzanne Shepherd), tries to turn off the town, even she becomes overwhelmed when the love bug smacks her upside the head.

New Line Cinema
Director: John Waters
Writer: John Waters
Producers: Ted Hope, Christine Vachon

I viewed 5/09

Taken (2009) PG13 - 4 Stars

According to the U.S. Department of State, there are an estimated 800,000 – 1,200,000 children, women and men trafficked across international borders each year. 70 percent are female and 50 percent are children. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade.

I almost gave "Taken" 4 stars not because it's a great 4 star movie, but because I did enjoy the action scenes and perhaps making the public more aware of the act of human trafficking. While Neeson performance seemed to be a cross between James Bond and Jack Bauer, I really enjoyed his enthusiasm being one invincible bad ass. Let's just say, he made the movie, almost on his own. Though a lot of scenes are pretty far fetched, I am aware that these types of human trafficking rings do exist and the kidnapping of men, women and children drugged and used as sex slaves, does happen.

Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), used to work for the government undercover taking care of the bad guys. But his job took him away from his wife Lenore (Famke Janssen), and his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace), so since the divorce he has not been able to spend much time with Kim. Now semi retired from his position, he's given up the spy work to move closer and rediscover his relationship with his daughter.

Lenore has remarried into wealth and Kim pretty much has everything she needs making Bryan's birthday gift look meager in comparison to her new step father's present of a fine filly. But when Kim and her friend Amanda convince dad to let them travel to Paris alone, it will be dad, who comes to the rescue to save his daughter just in time before she drifts below the surface of ever being found.

20th Century Fox Distribution
Director: Pierre Morel
Writers: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Producers: Luc Besson, India Osborne, Pierre-Ange Le Pogam

I viewed 5/09

I've Loved You So Long... (2007) PG13 - 3½ Stars

If you can handle sub titles, this is a great little drama with outstanding strong performances, by Kristin Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein. Juliette (Thomas), has spent 15 years in prison for the murder of her son. You really feel her emptiness as she comes to grip with what she's done. Lea (Zylberstein), is the loving forgivable sister, almost naive to understanding the reality of what Juliette's done.

Juliette Fontaine (Kristin Scott Thomas), has been estranged from her family since the night of the murder. Her sister Lea (Elsa Zylberstein), hardly remembers her older sister, only the fact that their mother, now in a home, has never forgiven her. It's been 15 long years and Juliette has lived with the painful reminder of that horrible night. Now, free and no where to go, Lea invites her to move in until she gets settled and finds a job. Luc (Serge Hazanavicius), Lea's husband, keeps his guard up towards Juliette, as they have two small children in the family. With everyone walking on pins and needles, Juliette must cut deep into her soul, to share tragic details that have haunting her alive.

Awards:
2008 - I've Loved You So Long... - Women Film Critics Circle - Best Foreign Film

Sony Pictures Classics
Director: Philippe Claudel
Writer: Philippe Claudel
Producer: Yves Marmion

I viewed 4/09

Music Within (2007) R - 4 Stars

What a great little movie. And the fact that it's based on the true life story of Richard Pimentel, I actually learned something too. Definitely a movie I recommend to watch. The music that follows each period, is an outstanding collection all by itself.

Richard Pimentel (Ron Livingston) was born in Portland Oregon to a mother (Rebecca De Mornay) who pretty much lost her mind after having 7 miscarriages before Richard was born. She couldn't cope that a child had survived and drove him to California, giving him up to a catholic orphanage. 2 years later she remembered where she left him and went to fetch him and bring him back home. Soon after she returned, his father divorced them.

In 1969 a Chinese merchant named Del Fong took him under his wing until he died from a soy sauce accident. He then worked in a go-go girls restaurant trying to study as he realized he had a talent for public speech. The girls help get him dressed nicely for a visit to college to prove worthy of a scholarship. The College Bowl founder Dr. Ben Padrow (Hector Elizondo), loved his talent but tells him he has no heart in what he speaks. Discouraged he leaves and tries to find his true calling. He decides to enlist in the 1970 Vietnam War. There he becomes a hero and is decorated and while celebrating the victory, a missile lands on the tent and renders Richard deaf. Well not totally deaf, but he now suffers from tinnitus and can not hear most peoples voice from the ringing in his ears. But something good does come from it.

He meets Mike Stoltz (Yul Vázquez) who lost his leg in the war, and he and Mike begin to work with each other to find jobs for disabled vets. He also meets Art Honeyman (Michael Sheen) who has Cerebral Palsy but strangely he is able to hear Art's voice clearly between stutters. The two become friends and everywhere they go, people look at Art like a freak and don't want to be in the same room with him. He takes Art rollerskating in his wheel chair and literally runs into Christine (Melissa George) a hip free love sort of girl. The three become friends and after Art and he are refused service at a restaurant because Art looks too freaky and making people uncomfortable, he fights for the rights of disabled people.

In 1988 he starts a program called "Windmill" to help bring to light the ADA American w/ Disabilities Act and speaks and trains CIA agents, NASA and more to learn how to work with disabled people. When George Bush is elected president in 1992 he gets the act finally passed by Congress.

Richard and Art are still friends to this day. Unfortunately Mike took his own life still scared from the war. Today the "Perspectives" program Mike started for training and helping revolutionize the modern workplace, is in place in 23 countries.

MGM Distribution
Director: Steven Sawalich
Writers: Mark Andrew Olsen, Kelly Kennemer, Bret McKinney
Producers: Steven Sawalich, Brett Donowho

I viewed 4/08

Trudell (2005) NR - 2½ Stars

John Trudell was a political activist and the major voice for the American Indian Movement "AIM" in 1968. In 1969 he was involved with the occupation of Alcatraz Island as they wanted the prison to be used as a school for their children. In 1973 he became chairman of the group. When his wife, mother-in-law, and three daughters were burned in a fire, some say the FBI was responsible. For earlier that year, he was involved in a protest that burned an American flag on the doorsteps of the FBI building. The FBI devoted over 17,000 pages labeling him "extremely eloquent, therefore extremely dangerous".

After his families death he turned once again to his writings as a poet. Musician Jackson Browne read some of these lyrics and encourages to song. This gave him another avenue to express his political and personal concerns.

This documentary was made while Native American filmmaker Heather Rae followed Trudell and interviewed his friends for over 12 years. Trudell still has an active voice in AIM today.

Appaloosa Pictures
Director: Heather Rae
Producer2: Heather Rae, Elyse Katz

I viewed 10/07

Last Chance Harvey (2008) PG 13 - 3½ Stars

They say there is someone out there in the world for everyone and sometimes you have to step out of yourself in order to find yourself. That's what Harvey does, when the rest of his life is falling apart and feeling pretty meaningless, he finds new hope in a chance meeting with fate.

Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) has always wanted to be a great jazz pianist. Instead, he's resorted to writing jingles for commercials. When he leaves work to travel to his daughter Susan's (Liane Balaban), wedding in London, he is told by his boss (Richard Schiff), to take more time as he will have the younger, fresher staff, take care of his account. But Harvey, vows to be back on Monday, feeling he is the only one who can land the account.

Once in London, Harvey just seems to be in an out of place environment. After checking into his hotel, he learns the rest of the wedding party has been housed in a very private and special home. He also gets the instructions wrong and buys a new white suit to wear to the rehearsal dinner where everyone else is in black. With the security anti-theft device firmly attached to his arm, Harvey makes the appearance at the dinner only to find out that he's been replaced at giving his daughter away, by her new stepfather Brian (James Brolin). Feeling like an outsider where he doesn't belong, he decides he will attend the wedding and return back home to continue with his jungles. But nothing seems to be going right for Harvey as he misses his plane and is forced to spend another night in London. When he calls his boss to explain why he won't be in on Monday, his boss fires him telling him he's basically a has been and no longer needed at his job.

Meanwhile, Kate Walker (Emma Thompson) is feeling like her live is going no where too. With her mother Maggie (Eileen Atkins), constantly calling her over her mysterious events of the neighbor, Kate is beginning to feel that she doesn't have much going on in her life. Even when her friends try and set her up, she still manages to come off like an outsider with little recognition. So she tries to loose herself by keeping her nose in romantic novels. After the wedding, Harvey returns to the airport to find he has missed the flight and can not get back to New York until the following day. So Harvey strolls up to the airport bar to start loosing his troubles in alcohol. Kate is there on her break and as Harvey pushes Kate to strike up a conversation, they find they both have had pretty miserable days and decide to find comfort in hearing how bad each others stories are. Realising they have been leading pretty empty lives, the two find true love and happiness at a time when they both need it the most.

Overture Films, Process Media
Director: Joel Hopkins
Writer: Joel Hopkins
Producers: Nicola Usborne, Tim Perell

I viewed 5/09

Saving Grace (2000) R - 3½ Stars

For all you marijuana lovers come a perfect British comedy about growing it. Grace Trevethan (Brenda Blethyn), has spent most of her life being a housewife keeping herself busy in her garden. Money had never been an issue, thanks to her husband who kept her life style in the upper middle class. Life is good for Grace until one day her husband is tragically killed. Since he always made the financial decisions, she now has to think quickly to keep the bank from taking her home. The entire town of Cornwall feels for her and tries to offer help but Grace is a proud woman determined to find her own way. She's not a business woman and with gardening her best skill, she struggles to come up with a plan for making money at it.

When she enlists the help of her care taker / gardener Matthew (Craig Ferguson), he perfects her newly learned cross pollination skills, and the two are exposed to the art of growing some kick ass wacky tobacky. Life is good until drug lord Jacques (Tcheky Karyo), learns why his business has slowed down. It seems that Grace and her perfect Indigo, have put a real damper in his profits and he will stop at nothing to take her down.

2000 - Saving Grace - Sundance Film Festival - Audience Award for World Cinema Film.

Fine Line Features
Director: Nigel Cole
Writer: Craig Ferguson

I viewed 10/07

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) PG13 - 4 Stars

Really great movie but wow it is long. It took me a few viewings to get through the entire movie and I think it would be best to watch it all in one sitting. I do like the direction the movie took, based on the 1920's story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, an ailing mother is awaiting her fate, while her daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond), reads the diary of her mothers romance with a man in her youth. As she reads the diary, she discovers the story of her true father and the events that took place with her mother Daisy (Cate Blanchett) in 1918 New Orleans towards the end of World War I.

Thomas Button (Jason Flemyng), lost his wife as she gave birth to their only child Benjamin. But Benjamin was not a normal baby, in the body of a baby, he is afflicted with a crippling disease of an 80 year old man. Hideous to look at, his father takes him immediately from the crib and leaves him on the doorsteps of Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), a young black woman, running a home for the aging. Queenie looks at Benjamin as a miracle from God and takes him in and raises him as her own since she is unable to bare children. The movie follows Benjamin's life, as he ages backwards, meeting the love of his live, Daisy taking them both into the 21st Century.

Awards include:

2008 - Academy Winner - Best Art Direction - Donald Graham Burt, Victor Zolfo
2008 - Academy Winner - Best Makeup - Greg Cannom
2008 - Academy Winner - Best Visual Effects - Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt C. Dalton, Craig Barron
2008 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - American Film Institute - Best Picture
2008 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Houston Film Critics - Best Cinematography
2008 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - National Board of Review - Best Director
2008 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association - Most Original, Innovative or Creative Film

Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount Pictures
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Eric Roth
Producers: David Fincher, Kathleen Kennedy, Cean Chaffin

I viewed 5/09

Fat Man & Little Boy (1989) PG13 - 3 Stars

Once again a movie enlightens me as I never paid attention to the nicknames of the atomic bombs made to drop over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the general pushing the men to make a deadline, no one stopped to think about what it would be used to do. Paul Newman gives a strong performance of General Leslie Groves and while the movie is interesting I just didn't find it fully captivating until the accident. The movie is shown through the eyes of the men responsible for building these first atomic bombs.

The movie takes focus on the people who worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the onset of World II, the best scientists are called in to discover the mechanics needed to make the most powerful explosive, the U.S. can provide. J. Robert Oppenheimer (Dwight Schultz), is a atomic scientist, in charge of the project and finds he and his crew get caught up in the discovery and deadline, without considering the consequences of its use.

Kathleen Robinson (Laura Dern), is a nurse at the site with limited knowledge of what the men are working on. She develops a liking for Michael Merriman (John Cusack), one of the scientists on the project. With Oppenheimer's marriage on the rocks and General Leslie Groves (Paul Newman) pushing for the deadline, Merriman becomes exposed to a massive dose of radiation while testing the inner core. It's then the men realize the power they hold in their hands and start to question the morality of building something so powerful.

Paramount Pictures
Director: Roland Joffé
Writers: Bruce Robinson, Roland Joffé
Producers: John Calley, Ken Strausbaugh, Tony Garnett

I viewed 5/09

Zola's Intermission Take 13 - May 14th, 2009

Zola's Movie Reviews gets some recognition. My blog has been given the prestige honor of reviewing a new upcoming movie. I'd thought I'd share her letter and also help spread awareness of the film. I received my copy today and normally would have it on my blog over the weekend, if it weren't for the fact I'll be away in my tent camping, with out the luxury of a DVD player and electricity. But stayed tuned early next week, as I am looking forward to watching what looks to be a fun movie.

Dear Zola;

I'm the co-writer and executive producer on of an independent feature film Man Overboard, a comedy which revolves around a used boat lot and a sociopath salesman. We're currently trying to reach out to the film community to build awareness for the film. I'm hoping you would be willing to watch the movie and post a review of it on your website. It's a really fun film and so far just about everyone who has seen it thinks it's quite funny.

If you would be willing to watch Man Overboard please let me know and I'll mail you a copy of the DVD.

Thanks,

Ashley Scott Meyers

Inland Empire (2006) R - 1½ Stars

I usually love David Lynch movies and his quirky style of filming. The movies are bizzare and Laura Dern seems to like them too cause Lynch usually casts her in the major roles. With his unusual surreal style, he seems to find the characters with great Diane Arbus type faces. However, I think David's gone too far with this latest attempt. Granted you need to stay with the story line real well or you will get lost, but I don't think this movie really has one.

Kingsley (Jeremy Irons) is a director making a remake of a Polish movie about a prostitute that is trying to escape a slave ring. The first movie was never completed as both leads were murdered. Nikki (Laura Dern), is cast as the star and she starts feeling like the movie she is playing a role in, is mimicing her real life. However, someone please tell me where the imagery of humans in bunny suits, and screwdriver in stomachs ties in? Nikki eventually becomes lost in her character.

2006 - Inland Empire - National Society of Film Critics - Best Experimental Film.

Absurda Productions
Director: David Lynch
Writer: David Lynch
Producers: David Lynch, Mary Sweeney

I viewed 9/07