|
||||||||||
Jaime Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., dir. Joe Wright, 2009, Cert. 12 MonkeyScore: 82%
90,000 homeless people call the streets of L.A. home, part of a city that passes them by and looks the other way. Nathaniel Ayers (Jaime Foxx) is one of them – a chance meeting with L.A. Times hack Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) changes his life, or does it? The former gifted Juilliard student is off the streets, and plays the cello again, but that’s just geography. Journalist Lopez learns that you can’t cure Nathaniel any more than you can cure L.A: Nathaniel has learnt to live with mental illness and it is his only reality. What strikes most in The Soloist is the humanity of the portrayals. The film tells Nathaniel and Lopez stories without ever crossing the line into Hollywood cheese, nor does it take refuge in the moral highgrounds. All Nathaniel needs is a 2-string violin to play Beethoven to the pigeons of L.A.: his having a place to call home does not affect this but challenges the way we look at the homeless and mentally ill through the eyes of Steve Lopez. Robert Downey Jr.’s Lopez struggles with the fact that Nathaniel is not his to save with intensity and subtlety, while Jamie Foxx portrays Nathaniel Ayers with humanity and respect. L.A.’s skid row and Beethoven try to steal the show, like politicians and do-gooders, but the show is not theirs to steal. It’s Mr Ayers’, who is still in L.A. living precariously. A thought-provoking, intelligent real-life drama brought to life by impeccable performances. We have 2 copies of this superb drama courtesy of Universal Pictures up for grabs in our competition this week.
The Army Of Crime (out 01 February 10, Cert.15) Virginie Ledoyen, Simon Abkarian, Robinson Stevenin, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Yann Tregouet, dir. Robert Guediguian, 2009, cert. 15 MonkeyScore: 78% France, under the German Occupation. Many immigrants have found refuge in the country of human rights after conflicts, persecution and genocide in their homelands. They come from Armenia, Hungary, Spain, Italy or Poland, some are Jewish, some are Communists. As the French authorities cross a moral line and start actively helping the Nazis, the Immigrants Work Force groups they are part of get involved in the Résistance. A group of immigrant résistants led by Armenian exile Missak Manouchian join in the fight against the aggressor with a series of bloody terrorist acts against the Germans. Exploring a theme similar to Tarentino's Inglorious Basterds, there is a distinct lack of Hollywood action fodder in Guediguian's film. The story and characters take a while to develop, giving Abkarian's Manouchian credible time to make the decision to take arms. This said the film is at times on the slow side, and maybe a tad too deferential towards its real-life subjects, too. The Army Of Crime explores a rather sombre page of France's history through a talented young cast that bring vitality and freshness to a touchy theme.
|
Away We Go (out 01 February 10, Cert.15) John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Carmen Ejogo, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Melanie Lynskey, dir. Sam Mendes, 2008, cert. 15 MonkeyScore: 72% Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) moved to Colorado to be near Burt's parents (Catherine O'Hara & Jeff Daniels.) 6 months into Verona's first pregnancy the soon-to-be grand-parents announce that they are moving to Belgium. Burt and Verona are shocked but decide that this is an opportunity to figure out where to bring up their child. Working through a list of locations where various friends and family are based, they go off on a grand tour to find their "home". While not quite in American Beauty's league, Away We Go is an enjoyable turn from British director Sam Mendes. The film explores a catalogue of parenting styles with often hilarious results for the benefit of the young couple. From cuckoo cousin LN (Gyllenhaal) to heart-broken college friend Munch (Lynskey), Sam Mendes takes Burt and Verona on a self-discovery journey, finding themselves as they find their true home. A road movie for thinking thirty-somethings - moving, insightful and rather funny, too.
Mary Queen Of Scots (out 01 February 10, Cert.12) Vanessa Redgrave, Trevor Howard, Nigel Davenport, Glenda Jackson, Ian Holm, Patrick McGoohan, Timothy Dalton, dir. Charles Jarrott, 1971, cert. 12 MonkeyScore: 75% Mary Stuart, played by the sublime Vanessa Redgrave, comes back to reign over Scotland at the death of her husband the King of France. This obviously ruffles the feathers of her arch enemy Elizabeth Tudor (Glenda Jackson.) The English monarch is threatened by the fact that the Scottish queen has a legitimate claim to her throne, and sets off to destroy her Catholic nemesis. With the might of Elizabeth I against her, Redgrave's Mary Stuart gives all she has into this cat fight of titans. Of course, it doesn't end well for Stuart, but not for lack of trying. Love, deceit, coups and intrigues a-plenty make Jarrot's historical drama an absolute must-see for anyone interested in a good political yarn. Superb leading ladies Redgrave and Jackson are supported by an immensely talented cast.
Surrogates (out 01 February 10, Cert.12) Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Rhada Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, dir. Jonathan Mostow, 2009, cert. 12 Review coming soon
MonkeyScore: tbc% |
The Invention Of Lying (out 01 February 10, Cert. 12) Rickie Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, dir. by Ricky Gervais / Matthew Robinson, 2009, Cert. 12 MonkeyScore: 72%
The Invention of Lying takes place in a present time where no lies, big or small, exist. Abrupt honesty is the norm, and there is no fiction of any kind. Mark Bellison (Gervais) is a documentary screenwriter on the chubby side. He gets fired, seeing his chances to seduce his dream girl Anna (Garner) hit rock bottom. As he accidentally stumbles upon lying, his world and outlook on life take a turn for the brighter with unexpected consequences. Penned by, starring and co-directed by Ricky Gervais, The Invention of Lying could have ended like most of his comedy to date: amusing but throw-away. Yet somehow it manages to add up to more than the sum of its parts. The story is quite original and told with subtlety by an immensely talented cast. It is laugh-out-loud funny and equally touching: Gervais has found a way to broach the concepts of God and the after life with humour and humility. A real joy of a film. Charming.
In Treatment (out 01 February 10, Cert.15) Gabriel Byrne, Michelle Forbes, Dianne Wiest, Embeth Davidtz, Blair Underwood, HBO, 2008, cert. 15
Adapted from an original Israeli series, HBO's In Treatment sees therapist Paul Weston (played by Irish actor Gabriel Byrne) doing his thing five days a week. He sees patients four sets of patients Monday to Thursday, and is seen by a colleague (Dianne Wiest) for his own therapy on Fridays. Originally aired on SkyArts five days a week, mimicking the timeline of the therapies, In Treatment has been labelled "demanding" and "intelligent". This does not always mean "good", but In Treatment is above average. This really translates as "good" compared to current TV offerings. While the series is staged as real-life, real-time therapy sessions, In Treatment is perfect as an antidote to reality TV shows and celebrity (lack of) culture.
Aliens In The Attic (out 01 February 10, Cert. PG) Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler, Ashley Tisdale, Ashley Boettcher, dir. John Schultz, 2009, cert. PG Review coming soon MonkeyScore: tbc% |
||||||||
