Ondine (2009)

  Wow, this movie is old.  I know.  It was made in 2009, and I was shocked to learn that, as I just caught wind of this film as a whole lotta patrons seemingly had, and it kept passing across our library desk.  It caught my eye of course, as I love the Irish setting and fairy tale vibe in many other similar movies, (think Secret of Roan Inish, or Once.)  It may have been out there for the last two years, but chances are you haven't seen it yet.  I of course, recommend that you do!

   Colin Farrell is Syracuse, or Circus, as he is nicknamed for a wild past of drinking and making a fool of himself.  He has a sweet, yet feisty daughter whom he loves and cares for deeply, all the more because of her fragile health due to kidney failure.  We see a deep longing in Syracuse every time we see him with his daughter, as she lives with her mother; an ex-wife, and this is a source of ongoing strain among the three of them.  Just as Syracuse has been sober for years, his ex-wife is still prone to late nights of carousing, and so he lives alone, in a shack by the sea once owned by his late mother. 

  Our story begins with Syracuse in his trawler, out fishing off the shore as is his trade, when he pulls up with his net a beautiful young woman, very confused and frightened. 
After initially insisting she not be seen by anyone, and acting very skittish, she tells Syracuse her name is Ondine, and it becomes very clear that there is something very peculiar and otherworldly about this girl.  Well played by Alicja Bachleda, Ondine is both innocent and very wise, charming Syracuse with her singing and not to mention her incredible sex appeal. 

   Syracuse takes this mystery of the girl from the water to his daughter, Annie, who concludes she is a selkie.  This theory weaves its own reality, and Ondine never confirms or denies the claim that she is no ordinary woman, but a seal who has lost her pelt and cannot return to the sea until she has lived with a man on land for 7 years. 

   I think what I like best about this movie is the subtlety and uncertainty over exactly what the truth is.  Much credit in this is due to director Neil Jordan, who always exhibits complete mastery over the atmosphere of his films, and whom I have been a fan of since Interview with the Vampire.  Neil Jordan has woven the richness of a fairy tale romance with the drama of a modern day one, and the combination gets my thumbs up. 

   Now if your ears are a bit slow to tune to the frequency of a sing-songy Cork accent, this film may need some subtitles from your DVD player.  It's rated PG-13 for sexuality and strong language, but mature children could, in my opinion, enjoy this film alongide adults.  The end of this movie is a happy one, though there are some dark twists right before it!  I hope you'll seek it out and find it as pleasant a surprise as I did.

8/10  - Dani

The Help (2011)

It was just two weeks ago that I was treating my girlfriend to a just her-and-I bachelorette party, when our plans for a girly camp out were rained on and we decided to see a movie instead.  Our choices were fairly slim when it came to "chick flicks" though luckily I was able to convince her to see The Help with me due to all the raves I was hearing about the book by Kathryn Stockett. 

I was relieved and very thrilled to discover that our girls night out did not end with a bad movie!  I really adored this film, and was happy to hear that my friend did too. 

Set in the 1960s the film splendidly captures the modernism of that era, blending it in nicely with the antebellum charm and history of Jackson, Mississippi.  Muscle cars tear along hot, dusty roads leading to gorgeous mansions that I could not help but salivate over just a bit.  Both the music and the costumes utterly transport you to that bygone time. 

But this isn't just a time when ladies dressed better and had better manners; this is also a time when their children are raised by black maids and their prim and proper lifestyle is maintained by underpaid, overworked women who struggle daily with the challenges of discrimination and segregation as imposed by the Jim Crow laws of the time. 

Skeeter, our main character played by Emma Stone, is an unmarried and unconventional southern belle who has just returned home from college with aspirations to become a writer.  Her friends are more interested in starting families, playing cards, and being involved in high society functions, such as Hilly Holbrook, played by Bryce Dallas Howard.  Hilly is my favorite character.  She is stuck-up, narrow minded and completely prejudiced against her black servants.  Not very admirable, but she plays this role superbly!  By the film's middle, you are gritting your teeth in frustration with her, but by the end you are just chuckling.

This wild turn of events and about-face with Hilly is brought about by an idea of Skeeter's.  Fascinated by the lives of the help (the term most of the ladies use when referring to their maids), and still clinging to fond memories of her childhood friend, and family's maid, Constantine; Skeeter proposes she interview her best friend's maid, Aibileen.  This of course violates the strict segregation laws that separate black from white, and there is of course, a bit of backlash.  At first the questions are only related to Skeeter's job as a housekeeping column writer at a newspaper office, but slowly enough of a rapport is built between them along with the mutual respect needed for Aibileen to open up about what is is really like to be her.  And thus Skeeter begins to write:  The Help.

Playing Aibileen is Viola Davis, and her performance is simply wonderful.  Even better in my opinion, though, is Octavia Spencer as Minnie.  As the second maid to tell her story to Skeeter, Minnie is fiery, and perhaps even a bit stereotypical in her strong, opinionated ways.  But she's a great comedic element to the film, either when paired with Hilly Holbrook, her old employer, or her new one, Celia Foote, played by Jessica Chastain. 

All of the characters in this movie are simply amazing.  It's not often that so many of the roles are played as deeply or as honestly as all of the women in this one are.  That being said; male characters are few and far between, so this movie may not be the best date movie, or flick to recommend to your guy friends!  Go with a good girlfriend as I did, or wait until it comes to DVD and you get a chance to spend a quite evening home alone - just you, The Help and nice buttery bowl of popcorn.  This is a movie that will leave you feeling good, so watch it accordingly. 

It's rated PG-13 and is very easy to watch despite some language and intense scenes involving the poor treatment of blacks.  I  very much enjoyed the film, and recommend seeing it.  Read the book first if you like, of course!

9/10  - Dani

The King's Speech (2010)

The King's Speech was Oscar winner for Best Picture at the Oscars's this year, and so of course I was wild to see it.  Rated PG-13 (The original, unedited version is R for some language) and directed by Tom Hooper, its story explores the drama of a reluctant royal overcoming his speech impediment to step up when he was needed by his country, leading them through the uncertain times that came with Britain's entrance into World War II. 

This film is enthrallingly crafted, from the attention to period details to the amazing depth of its actors.  Colin Firth plays Albert, the Duke of York, who later ascends to become King George VI, while Helena Bonham Carter plays his wife, Elizabeth.  Keep in mind the family tree of the royal family now; these are Queen Elizabeth II's parents!  There was also a royal wedding recently, as you may be aware, and so these would be Prince William's great grandparents... just to add that perspective. 

In the movie we see glimpses of a young little Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret.  This, and the situation surrounding Edward, Albert's elder brother is fascinating to me.  Edward actually became king after the death of their father in 1936, but due to his love and devotion to American socialite Wallis Simpson, he was forced to abdicate when he proposed marriage to her, as the Church of England did not allow divorced persons to remarry if their ex-spouses were still alive.  Wallis Simpson had not divorced once, but twice, and was deemed unsuitable in many ways to rule at Edward's side.  This really puts a spotlight on how the modern royal family has changed, but of course, Albert, Duke of York, would never have become King George VI, and the royal family would not be what they are today without the abdication of Edward in that history changing crisis. 

In the movie, "Bertie" (as Albert is nick-named) is desperate to treat his stammering to better perform his public speaking, and his wife finds speech therapist Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, hoping he can help.  No ordinary doctor, Logue pushes the limits of Bertie's patience and frequently forces him outside of his comfort zone.  With humor, honest opinions, and a no-nonsense approach to treatment, the pair form an unlikely friendship, both treating the other as an equal, despite one first being a duke, and later a king, and the other a modest commoner.  This, fascinatingly enough, is all true to reality, and as stated at the end of the film, Lionel Logue was awarded for his personal service to the king, and they remained friends for life.

This movie can be enjoyed by a wide audience.  It contains nothing particularly inappropriate, though has much that only a mature child or adult may understand completely.  As I mentioned, the original rated R version had some profanity, but there is a PG-13 version, as that is easily edited out.  Most people who enjoy an engrossing drama, great acting, fabulous writing, or just want to see what all the fuss was about on Oscar night will enjoy this film.  I can't think of much to fault it on!  Tell me if you agree!

10/10

-Dani

The Social Network (2010)

I was actually a very prompt movie picker when I first saw this film, as it had at that time just been released to theatres, and I was excited to write about a film made about the beginnings of the social media monster we all know as Facebook.  Love it, or hate it, no one can deny the importance of our connections through the site, and how it has changed our lives, and even world events.  Whether this is for better, or not, remains to be seen.

After seeing it again, now on DVD, I was reminded all over again how much I really love this film, and though at first unsure whether it would withstand the test of time, I'm of the opinion now that thanks to its Oscar attention and the timelessness of its themes, it will remain an interesting story, and a beautiful film to watch.

Directed by David Fincher and starring Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, he plays the character as cold, quick witted, and utterly brilliant.  As such, he really isn't all that likeable, and we flinch as we watch him alienate his friends and fall into the trap of his ambitions.  But with such flaws and by making such mistakes, he is relatable, and we sympathize. 

Andrew Garfield, as Mark's friend, Eduardo, is probably my favorite character.  His style is interesting to me and very indicitive of the Harvard Economics student who co-founded Facebook with Mark.  Compared to Mark's sandaled feet and messy hair sticking out his hoodie, Eduardo is always put together and looking his best.  He strikes us from the start as the best sort of friend to have, and also one that Mark in particular needs, as he seems to have quite few due to his prickly personality. 

Second on my favorite characters list is Justin Timberlake as Napster founder, Sean Parker.  He is a breath of fresh air midway through the film, and really turns the film from its snide and dreary mood to one of movement.  Things are never the same after Sean Parker's arrival.  I love the intensity of the clash between his fresh ideas, Mark's growing greed, and Eduardo's slipping grip on the runaway idea which began in their Harvard dorm room, but would take them to California "where it's all happening", to their own office with investors backing Facebook and putting them on the fast track to being billionaires, and lastly to some ugly pre-trial hearings. 

That being said, this film is a bit lacking when it comes to its female characters having similar depth.  This seems to be a repetitive problem for David Fincher, as Fight Club, and Se7en both focus on male lead characters with women only playing back-up.  Though women in general (or should I say, dating them!) had a major influence on Facebook's founding, these girls remain accessories to the men in the film, and not real characters.  Some would even go so far as to call their portrayal sexist.  I think it's just more of a guy film. 

It's also a little off on its facts, from what I hear.  The biggest mistake, according to Mark Zuckerberg himself, being that movie-makers "can't wrap their head around the idea that someone might build something because they like building things."  - As opposed to doing it as revenge on a girl he failed miserably at dating. 

Facebook has more than 350 million active users, and is the second ranked site in the US, behind only Google.  Mark Zuckerberg, aged only 25, is considered the world's youngest billionaire, with Facebook estimated now to be worth $33 billion.  He didn't really invent anything that was very new, but he did improve what social networking could be, and he describes his contribution as more of a utility in people's lives, than just a website.  In a way, though, this film isn't really about any of that.  It's about wanting friends, as we all do, but ignoring the ones you have, and the effects, both positive, and negative, of taking a genius idea and actually making money with it.  In this we have a triumph and a tragedy.

8/10

-Dani

Black Swan (2010)

Many apologies for the long absense, blog readers!  I have definitely been kept on my toes with real work lately, but at last I find a spare moment to share with you a nice little movie I have seen lately.  Well, alright, it is not particulary "nice" in the classic definition.  This movie is a thriller, or perhaps a mystery?  It's hard to classify!  You just must know from the start that it is dark.

Natalie Portman is amazing as Nina; a sensitive and perfection-driven dancer for a New York ballet company, living with her oppresive mother and dreaming of one day landing a big role.  She gets her chance when director Thomas Leroy played by Vincent Cassel casts her as the Swan Queen in his creative re-telling of the timeless Swan Lake.  There is a catch, though.  Nina must master not only the grace and innocence of the Swan Queen, but the evil and sensuous Black Swan, who at times her director deems is more appropriately suited to Nina's fellow dancer, Lily, played by Mila Kunis. 

  

A rivalry is born because of this, and we see the two of them striving against one another for the same goal, each reflecting the other's differences, and yet at one point managing to break through the scorn that divides them into a twisted friendship, where Nina learns from Lily how to embrace her inner dark side; consequently opening a door to insanity that cannot again be closed. 

This was probably my favorite part of the movie.  Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis are fascinating to watch, the one very proper and polite, yet yearning for an escape from her constricted life, while the other loves the wild life, laughing at risk and assuring those around her laugh too.  She actually may have impressed me a bit more than Natalie, (who won the Oscar for Best Actress), due to the contrast of other things she has done, including "That 70s Show" where she played Jackie.  I was always wondering what her character of Lily would do next, and at times even wondering if she real - or just a projection of Nina's unhinged mind!

  

This film was stark and visceral in its style, and I for the most part, loved it.  I think the theme that best sums this film up would be: obsession.  That said, this film was not scary to me.  I really was hoping for more horror elements, but what it contains is more mysterious than spooky.  There are many tricks of the camera and mirror-play which morph the characters of Nina and Lily, leading you as a viewer along on a roller coaster ride of dizzying confusion... which isn't entirely pleasant. 

Due to drug use, profanity and some graphic sexual scenes, this film is rated-R.  Even I must admit that the squeamish and easily offended viewer need not consider watching some of them!  You can find a description of some details here, if you don't mind spoilers:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/parentalguide

It had a limited budget which did not even afford the production to hire a medic for the set.  Natalie Portman had had ballet instruction as a child, but was injured both by twisting a rib, and also sustaining a cuncussion from hitting her head.  She lost 20 pounds to play the character of the petite ballerina, but doubles were used for most of the full-body shots.   Pregnant when she accepted her Best Actress Award at the Oscars, she actually met her fiance on the set of "Black Swan" and danced with him as her partner in a few scenes.  Sometimes the stories behind the art are just as interesting as it is!

Overall, this movie was good, but not great.  I must admit that my expectations were fairly high after waiting as long as I did to see it on DVD, and afterward watching the Oscars.  My experience with it was not unlike "La Vie En Rose" which won Marion Cotillard the Oscar for Best Actress in 2007, but failed to impress me as a whole and entire film.

I would rate "Black Swan" with a 7/10.  What did you think?