BEYOND BOND...more music for Sir Sean Connery as we continue to celebrate his 80th birthday. Included is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (John Williams), The Untouchables (Ennio Morricone), The Hunt for Red October (Basil Poledouris), and First Knight (Jerry Goldsmith). In reviews, we'll find out if Jared chops down Machete.
****NEW IN THEATERS (by Regina with Jared Counts)****
FLIPPED. (Warner Brothers. 1 hour, 30 minutes. Rated PG for language and some thematic material. Directed by Rob Reiner.) Madeline Carroll (Juli Baker), Callan McAuliffe (Bryce Loski), Rebecca De Mornay (Patsy Loski), Anthony Edwards (Steven Loski), John Mahoney (Chet Duncan), Penelope Ann Miller (Trina Baker), Aidan Quinn (Richard Baker). Music by Marc Shaiman. When Juli (Carroll) meets Bryce (McAuliffe), it's love at first sight; when Bryce meets Juli, it's nothing but embarrassment. As the pair get older, Bryce starts to realize his feelings for Juli, just as Juli begins to think that Bryce might not be the one. A cutesy and overly talkative bit of 50's nostalgia.
The concept of the movie (a he-said-she-said teen romance) is solid enough, but the execution is lackluster. In order to tell both sides of the story, almost every scene gets played out twice while the plot is buried under an avalanche of narration. I know that the screenplay was adapted from a book, but the actors don't have to actually read it to me. Madeline Carroll does a fine job playing the vivacious Juli, but Callan McAuliffe's Bryce ends up too wishy-washy, instantly paling in comparison (though that's more a fault of the writing than the performance). To its credit, the film does present an interesting snapshot of two families from the mid-50's, and their interactions add some much needed flavor to the sentimentality. Reiner's been riding a string of duds lately, and I fear this one won't help. There's no shame in skipping it. —Jared
THE SWITCH. (Miramax. 1 hour, 40 minutes. Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexual material including dialogue, some nudity, drug use and language. Directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck.) Jennifer Aniston (Kassie), Jason Bateman (Wally), Jeff Goldblum (Leonard), Patrick Wilson (Roland), Juliette Lewis (Debbie), Thomas Robinson (Sebastian). Music by Alex Wurman. Hey kids, it's this month's Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy! Not as bad as The Bounty Hunter, but not as good as...never mind. There are some laughs here if you are willing to forgive/ignore the completely ludicrous premise. Jen's a 40-year-old single woman who's lacking a partner and wants to have a baby. Later she has (I'm not kidding) an "insemination party" where, among others, she's invited the donor (Wilson, just this side of creepy) and her neurotic pal Wally (Bateman, still attractive in spite of playing the nebbish) who's been carrying a torch for her. Seven years later, Jen's son (Robinson) exhibits some of Wally's off-kilter characteristics. Hmm.
The proceedings are helped immensely by the supporting cast. Thank heavens for Jeff Goldblum as Bateman's office pal; their scenes together actually have some snap. Juliette Lewis has apparently moved, smartly, from quirky leads to quirky best friends. Jen plays her usual character, tossing her hair, indulging in facial tics, and squinting. So the proceedings rest primarily on Mr. Bateman's shoulders, and he's up to the task. But even he can't save this movie from becoming more predictable as it goes along (and what's with all the close-ups?). Oh yeah, the kid is oddly cute, or cutely odd. —Regina
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD. (Universal Pictures. 1 hour, 52 minutes. Rated PG-13 for stylized violence, sexual content, language and drug references. Directed by Edgar Wright.) Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ramona Flowers), Kieran Culkin (Wallace Wells), Chris Evans (Lucas Lee), Anna Kendrick (Stacey Pilgrim), Brandon Routh (Todd Ingram), Alison Pill (Kim Pine), Jason Schwartzman (Gideon Gordon Graves), Ellen Wong (Knives Chau). Music by Nigel Godrich. Scott (Cera), a twenty-something slacker playing bass in a band, falls head-over-heels for mysterious delivery-girl Ramona Flowers (Winstead). However, there's a catch to dating her: he first has to defeat her seven evil exes, which include a vegan bassist (Routh), a movie star (Evans) and one Gideon Gordon Graves (Schwartzman). One part indie romance, one part video game, Scott Pilgrim is a frenetic and unabashedly fun film.
Adapted from Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novel series (of which I'm a big fan), Scott Pilgrim has a lot of ground to cover. The adaptation is as faithful as one could hope for, condensing events in interesting ways while staying true to the letter and spirit of the books. The cast does a great job of portraying this oddball troop, from Culkin's spot-on Wallace Wells to Pill's eternally-sullen Kim Pine. Winstead's Ramona is good, but with the breakneck pace of the movie, we don't get to "meet" her as much as I would've liked. Speaking of that pace, director Wright does a fantastic job of keeping things rolling smoothly, and continually amuses with his eye for detail. All of the graphic elements (from the random sound effects that sneak in to the WHAMs and POWs that litter the screen) are a very nice touch, and really tie the movie back to its comic-book roots. The fight scenes are some of the best I've seen in recent years (no shaky-cam!), and work really well despite their inherent ridiculousness. The soundtrack is awesome unto itself, featuring original tracks by Beck, Broken Social Scene, Metric and others, and serves as a nice complement to Nigel Godrich's score. There's a little something for everyone, and I can't recommend it enough. —Jared
GET LOW. (Sony Pictures Classics. 1 hour, 40 minutes. Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and brief violent content. Directed by Aaron Schneider.) Robert Duvall (Felix Bush), Sissy Spacek (Mattie Darrow), Bill Murray (Frank Quinn), Lucas Black (Buddy). Music by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek. Felix Bush (Duvall), a crotchety hermit living outside of a Depression-era town and feared by its inhabitants, enlists the help of fast-talking undertaker Frank Quinn (Murray) to hold a "living funeral," inviting everyone who has a story to tell about the old man. However, as the event draws nearer, it comes to light that Bush isn't as interested in hearing the stories of the townspeople, but in revealing the truth behind why he's been ostracized all these years. A slow, subtle but wonderfully told story.
I could honestly stop my recommendation at "Robert Duvall and Bill Murray are in it" and feel justified, but then I'd be slacking. Duvall breathes a lot of life into Felix, giving him a wryness and a twinkle beneath the bushy beard and gruff demeanor. Murray's smooth and lightly conniving Frank is wholly enjoyable and adds a nice bit of levity. However, the real treat is watching the two bounce off of each other, many times to Murray/Frank's detriment ("He can be very articulate when he wants to," Frank drawls after a particularly trying encounter). The rest of the cast performs admirably, especially Lucas Black as Murray's fresh-faced assistant, Sissy Spacek as a quiet but conflicted ex-lover and Bill Cobb as a proud but sympathetic preacher. Schneider does a good job of keeping the pace slow and deliberate without losing interest, and telling a moving story of heartbreak and redemption without devolving into schmaltz. Kaczmarek's bluegrass-flavored score deftly sets the mood, and the film is beautifully shot in the backwoods of Georgia. A well-made character piece that is well worth the time. —Jared
****NEW ON DVD (by Regina with Jared Counts)****
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (BLU-RAY EDITION). (Sony Pictures Classics. 2 hours. 1 disc. Color. Widescreen. Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality. Directed by Ang Lee.) Chow Yun Fat (Master Li Mu Bai), Michelle Yeoh (Yu Shu Lien), Zhang Ziyi (Jen Yu), Chen Chang (Lo/Dark Cloud). Music by Tan Dun with Yo-Yo Ma. Re-released in time for the film's 10th anniversary, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon follows the story of Master Li Mu Bai (Yun Fat) and his mystical Green Destiny sword. After deciding to change his focus in life, Li Mu Bai gives his sword to a friend, only to have it stolen by a mysterious martial arts master. With the help of his longtime companion Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh), he must return the sword to its rightful owner, all while battling the nefarious assassin Jade Fox and deciphering the motives of young aristocrat Jen Yu (Ziyi). Think of it as Sense and Sensibility with Kung Fu, and you'd be on the right track, though that glib of a phrase really does this film a disservice. Beautifully shot, beautifully choreographed, with a stirring love story and a wonderful soundtrack, there is something for everyone. Some parts might seem silly on the face, but there's a lyrical, almost poetic tone to the proceedings. Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh, though very physically gifted, are fantastic as an unrequited pairing, conveying so much to each other while saying so little. I could gush on, but this should all be common knowledge by now, right? The transfer to Blu-Ray is crisp and lively, especially during the battle in the bamboo thicket. The special features are a bit disappointing, being repeats of the same commentary tracks and featurettes on the earlier DVD releases. However, special features or no, this disc is worth the purchase for the movie alone. —Jared
80 CANDLES FOR SIR SEAN...many actors have played James Bond over the last 5 decades, but Sean Connery still defines the role. Now retired, Sir Sean is taking it easy. We can celebrate his 80th birthday for him with music from his Bond films, including Thunderball, Diamonds Are Forever (John Barry) and Never Say Never Again (Michel Legrand). In reviews, Jared didn't flip over Rob Reiner's Flipped.
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MORE BRANDO...he's too much man for just one show! Part Two of our salute to Marlon Brando (1924-2004) includes music from Mutiny on the Bounty, Julius Caesar, Sayonara, On the Waterfront, and Viva Zapata! In reviews, Regina hopes Jason Bateman will counteract Jennifer Aniston in The Switch. Check out her DVD Short Takes.
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BRANDO...some call him the greatest film actor ever! Part One of our salute to Marlon Brando (1924-2004) includes music from A Streetcar Named Desire, Guys and Dolls, A Countess From Hong Kong, The Godfather, and Don Juan DeMarco. In reviews, Regina takes on The Expendables and Eat, Pray, Love. Jared rocks to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Get Low.
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I LOVE L.A....this week we feature the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. We'll enjoy selections from The Soloist, with music by Dario Marianelli, plus several selections (including Fahrenheit 451) by the late master Bernard Herrmann. In reviews, Jared gives the word on The Disappearance of Alice Creed and The Other Guys. Regina catches up on some DVDs, including Clash of the Titans.
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AUGUST IS HERE...we'll keep cool with music from the Cincinnati Pops and Erich Kunzel. We remember the late maestro with The Magnificent Seven, James Bond themes, The Lord of the Rings, Poltergeist, Star Wars, and more. In reviews, Jared sits down to Dinner for Schmucks. Regina muses on Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky.
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SHE'S NO DIVA...actress Michelle Pfeiffer has always been more than a great beauty: she's avoided the now-routine celebrity scandals, and continues to make good movies after 30 years. There's music for Michelle from Hairspray, Cheri, Batman Returns, and Wolf. In reviews, Regina's all right with Angelina Jolie taking over from Tom Cruise in Salt.
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WIZARD-IN-WAITING...last summer brought us Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (score by Nicholas Hooper). We Muggles can enjoy the music and some insights on the upcoming two-part Harry Potter finale, Deathly Hallows. In reviews, Regina is wowed by Inception. Jared checks out The Sorcerer's Apprentice and The Kids Are All Right.
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NOT ELMER FUDD...but we miss him! Composer Elmer Bernstein (1922-2004) is still one of the greats. We'll remember him with music from The Comancheros, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Ten Commandments, The Magnificent Seven, The Grifters, and more! In reviews, Regina considers Winter's Bone and I Am Love. Jared has another "J" day with John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill in Cyrus.
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76 TROMBONES...usher in the 4th of July weekend! Step in time with The Music Man (Meredith Willson), Wild Wild West (Elmer Bernstein), Independence Day (David Arnold), plus favorite marches and more. In reviews, Regina survives the bite of Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Jared's not flying high on The Last Airbender.
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GOOD STUFF...composer Rolfe Kent is worthy! His specialty is contemporary comedies, to which he brings a jazzy, laid-back style. Hear music from Up in the Air, Kate & Leopold, Sideways, 17 Again, and the new action-comedy with Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, Killers. In reviews, Regina reports on Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in Knight and Day. Jared hangs with Adam Sandler and the fellas in Grown Ups.
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THINK PINK...just as Steven Spielberg has John Williams, and Robert Zemeckis has Alan Silvestri, Blake Edwards had his go-to guy, Henry Mancini. Hank scored all of Edwards' entries in the wonderful and still-funny Pink Panther series, starring the late, great Peter Sellers. In reviews, Regina puts on the 3D glasses for the long-awaited Toy Story 3. It's "J" Day for Jared with Josh Brolin in Jonah Hex.
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