The Debt Review

Movies have become dumber. Do not try and deny it they have. No matter how much we want to say we are more sophisticated as an audience we are still slaves to big explosions, dumb dialog, and special effects. As a consequence we have killed the political thriller genre. Despite its faults, I give The Debt a massive pat on the back for even being made. Think back to the great political thrillers of the past and ask yourself if they would be made today. Movies like 3 Days of the Condor, All The President's Men, or the Manchurian Candidate (1966) are perfect examples of political films that made statements, and made us think while simultaneously keeping us on the edge of our seat. I don't think that The Debt is quite on par with those classic films, but I do think that it is a noble effort to bring back a dying genre to american audiences.

The story revolves around three former Mossad agents who are now entering their golden years. The three agents (Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, and Cirian Hinds) have gained notoriety for their part in a 1966 mission in which the three tracked down and eventually killed the "Surgeon of Birkenau." Their story has since become legend and as a great man once said: "...when the legend becomes fact, print the legend." The movie then immediately flashes back to the events of the mission. The three agents (now played by Jessica Chastain, Martin Csokas, and Sam Worthington) have discovered the "Surgeon of Birkenau" working as a gynecologist in East Berlin. They work up a plan to extract him from East Berlin and deliver him up to a war crimes tribunal in Israel. Things go wrong, mistakes are made, and sacrifices are inevitable.

The Debt is essentially two movies placed into one story. The initial and closing segments could have easily been expanded to work on an independent level, but are over condensed to bookend the flashback. While the flashback is the focus of the movie I still would have liked to have seen these bookend sections given a bit more time to create a better story for the great older actors that inhabit these portions.

The flashback section is a remarkably well made kidnapping thriller. Jessica Chastain is really having one heck of a summer. Between The Tree of Life, The Help and now the Debt, she has really established herself as a quality actress. Her scenes in the gynecologist office are really tense and uncomfortable and they are because she makes you feel her discomfort. Also of note is the amazingly despicable performance by Jesper Christensen. Christensen portrayal as the "Surgeon of Birkenau" is nothing short of exceptional, and you can see he delights in his manipulation of his captors.

It's nice to know that despite the continuing trend of loud and stupid filmmaking, that there is a segment of people dedicated to creating intelligent and thoughtful dramas. Even if they are imperfect.

The Help Review

The Help Review

I am going to preface this review with a couple of disclaimers. First, I have not read the book by Kathryn Stockett in which this film is based. I am sure the book is fabulously well written and full of great depth. I am equally as sure that fans of the book, as always, are sure to have problems with the cinematic adaptation. Second, as a white male in my early 30s I doubt that I am the target audience for this movie. This movie is textbook chick flick, and while my money is as good as anyones, the movie was not made with my demographic in mind. Having said that, I can now tell you my honest opinion of this wonderfully charming yet somewhat flawed film.

The title The Help refers to a number of things in the film. First and foremost it refers to the black women who took low paying, laborious jobs as nannies and housekeepers in affluent white homes in the 1960s. Aibileen (Viola Davis), and Minny (Octavia Spencer) are two such women, when they are noticed, which isn't often, they are abused and denigrated by their employers. Despite their mistreatment they raise the children of their employers to be "kind, smart, and important." Then there is Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone) Eugenia is one of those children who was raised by the help, she has just returned from college, and is kind, smart, and who wants to become important as a writer. Skeeter sees the wrongs being done and is trying the help simply by documenting it and by doing so hopefully change things.

The story is simple yet powerful. All three women have important stories to tell, and all three stories seem to have the same vicious nemesis, Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard). Hilly is a mean, spiteful, bully. She is also the worst kind of racist, the kind that does so with a smile, and teacher her children that hate and ignorance are proper thinking. Hilly's crusade is to create legislation that requires the "colored help to have separate facilities in private homes." She is meant to emulate the separate but equal mentality that dominated the south during the pre civil rights era. Skeeter's forward thinking immediately clashes with Hilly's.

Another important side story is that of the ostracized Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain). Celia and her husband live on a plantation on the outskirts of town. Celia's only crime is being naive to the social structure, and being married to Hilly's high school boyfriend. Celia is the only person who would hire Minny after Hilly fires her for using the indoor toilet. Celia and Minny develop and odd relationship that gives both women new strength and courage.

The movie will likely be compared to The Color Purple. Despite the obvious comparisons, these films have little or nothing to do with one another. Yes both films are about black women gaining strength and courage while also finding their voice, but The Help is not nearly as heavy, as violent or as dark as the Color Purple. In fact that is probably the movies biggest flaw. These were very dangerous times to be black in the south. and while the women are fearful and worried that their actions may have repercussions, we never are exposed to them in the film. Aside from knowing the history of the times there is nothing in the movie that gravely threatens our characters. Hilly is their biggest threat and she is nothing more than a cartoon character and beyond what she represents not really scary at all.

As much as I wanted the movie to be darker, and heavier, I appreciated its lighter side. Similar at times in tone to Fried Green Tomatoes, the movie just enjoys telling the story of these women. It has many laughs mostly at the expense of Hilly, and then there is the chocolate pie, that is "so delicious!"

The movie is incredibly enjoyable and while I dislike the term "chick flick," The Help certainly qualifies as one. There is only a few male characters they are relegated mostly to the background. When we do get a real male character he is not given much to do and just when we think we can get behind him, his true nature is shown to us we are left disappointed.

The real bright spots in the movie are the performances of Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain. Their roles are meaty, but without the talents of these actresses, their characters would not have come to life, no matter how well written. I would not be surprised if one, two, or all three were nominated this year as supporting actress.

I may not have been the target audience, and I have not read the source material, but I liked the movie all the same.

Summer Movie Preview Part 4 August 2011

August is typically a dumping ground for movies that are too expensive to release in September, but not quite good enough to release in the early part of the summer. Sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised with a quality movie, like Scott Pilgrim, or Takers, and sometimes you get what you expect, like the Expendables, or Eat Pray Love, and then there are the bad movies like Piranha 3D, or Vampires Suck. So here are the releases for August 2011.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

This version of the Planet of the Apes seems to takes place after Charlton Heston's team leaves for space, but before his return. The concept is very interesting, the idea of how the apes took power, and how our scientific reach is outpacing our moral grasp. The Apes in this movie were motion captured and digitally created by the Weta Workshop, so I know they will be the most realistic apes to date. What I am really curious to see is if the story is as good as the effects.

The Change Up

The Change Up is essentially a guy's version of the Freaky Friday concept. Weather or not it is going to be good or not really depends on if we can buy into the concept yet again. Remember in the 80's when we got a flood of these films. Vice Versa, 18 again, Switch, Like Father Like Son, I could go on. most of these were bad movies, hopefully Hollywood has learned from it's mistakes, or we may be in for a long couple of years.

The Help

This movie is based on a 2009 novel byKathryn Stockett. It is about African American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s. Typically movies based on these types of books do not translate will, The Secret Life of Bees comes to mind. However if the adaptation is done right and done well you can get a true classic. We will have to wait until it comes out to see.

30 Minutes or Less

I loved Zombieland, it was hysterically funny, and twisted. It was also original. 30 minutes or less is the follow up from the creators of Zombieland. It has the same manic qualities, and much of the same type of humor. Instead of twisting the horror genre, they have decided to add their twist to the action film. I am excited for this movie, but also weary that with a bigger budget, and less independence we may not get the same magic.

Final Destination 5

As much as I wish this series would go away and die already, I have to admit I am always morbidly sucked in by these trailers.  I mean look at that still. The crazy Clockwork Orange eye clamp, that right there has me sold. I know after I see the movie I will instantly regret it, like eating a pound and a half of hamburger, but you gotta admit, watching people die in crazy and outrageous ways is fun, albeit twisted.

Fright Night

This is a remake, and yes remakes are hit and miss, but this one looks like all kinds of hit. As I said before we are seeing the resurgence of Colin Farrell. He is popping up in all kinds of places, and ever since In Bruges, we have gotten A+ material from him. Toss in the up and coming Anton Yelchin who was spectacular in The Beaver, and the best part of Terminator Salvation, and you have quite an interesting pair. Did I mention David Tennant, and Toni Collette?

One Day

One Day is When Harry Met Sally but with, you know, tears. It looks at a couple on the same day every year for 20 years. We get to see their ups and downs, and you know that eventually even though they are trying not to fall in love, they will. My only concern is that will we care. I appreciate a good love story, but when you only get one day a year, will we be constantly playing catch up? Will it take us out of the movie?  Also can we really care about the characters?

Conan 3D

I hear a lot of people saying "No Arnold, No me." I'm sorry but do we really want to see a pudgy old Conan the Barbarian? Not me. Of course I could also do without this movie too. Yes it looks like a big action movie, but who cares really. Tack on migraine inducing 3D and you can count me out. I could be wrong, and it could be better than the original, but not likely.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Haunted house movies are not original, what makes haunted house movies original is their ability to surprise you with something new. Hopefully Don't be Afraid of the Dark can bring something new to the genre. Guillermo Del Torro is not a bad person to be producing your film. His horror films tend to be more psychological and blended with true human stories. I am excited to see this film, but don't be surprised if the trailer is scarier than the actual movie.

Our Idiot Brother

This movie seems very familiar. Oh yes its Captain Ron, or What About Bob, or any other strange dude movie. Yes this one revolves around a family who is tormented by their idiotic slacker brother, but you know that by the end they will all love him and appreciate him for all his tremendous stupidity. I hope it is funny but it seems to me like it will be more cliche than anything.

The Debt

I first saw the trailer for this movie back in December. This is usually a big red flag on the quality of the movie. When you see a trailer for a small film with out any special effects, and it takes more than 8 months for it to come out then usually it is bad. But the trailer makes the movie look very good, and Helen Mirren is always a quality actress. Hopefully this film is more of a difficult movie to place because of its content and topic rather than its quality.