Curt’s
Corner is a periodic movie review written by Curt Burbach of Mesa, Arizona.
(Release
date: Mar 16th, 2007)
This stars Sandra Bullock as a wife and mother who has premonitions about her husband’s death in a car accident. During her struggle to figure out what’s going on and to prevent the tragedy, writer Bill Kelly incorporates a couple of little twists – which is all that makes this film unique. I hesitate to warn those that think this is a “chick flick”. Therefore, I won’t. Go ahead and see it. Ha!
But seriously, this film is somewhat flat and doesn’t impress me very much at all. Therefore, I will give 1 ½ bones for being below average.
I’d also like to comment, that Sandra Bullock seems to be falling into a routine of fulfilling acting roles that allow her to perform with reserved emotion. Her favored style of acting cool, calm and calculating appears to be most prevalent – as seen in Crash, The Lake House, and now Premonition. She’s wonderful; at giving us that “plotting” look on her face.
*** (As seen on DVD) ***
(Release
date: Sep 3rd, 2005)
This film created quite a stir across the country when it first came out. The reason for this will be discussed in a moment. But first, I’d like to address the quality of the film.
The acting in this movie is very good - not only by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, but also by the supporting cast. This was evident by the fact that Ledger, Gyllenhaal and supporting actress Michelle Williams all received 2006 Oscar nominations.
Ang Lee won his best director Oscar by capturing the emotion of his characters and presenting the essence of the story in outstanding fashion; a job very well done.
In addition to receiving Oscars for best adapted screenplay and best original score, it also garnished nominations for best picture and cinematography. The rugged outdoors of Wyoming served as a wonderful subject for great panoramic filming.
Based on the high quality of acting, and superb filming and directing, I wish to give Brokeback Mountain three bones and declare it a good movie. And now, some additional comments:
Screenplay writers, novelists, and playwrights seemed to have enjoyed themselves immensely in the 1950’s and early 60’s. Something changed in our society that allowed these artists to explore new literary horizons. Huge barriers were knocked down which opened a flood of daring new topics to write about – subjects that before could only be discussed behind closed doors. I’m referring to racism, rape, incest, alcoholism, domestic abuse; many of the socially dysfunctional aspects of current society. Writers such as Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, and Harper Lee enjoyed free reign while exploring these previous taboo subjects and they made a fortune doing it with works like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, To Kill a Mockingbird, and A Streetcar Named Desire.
Over the next few decades these sensitive topics would be employed over and over again, along with some other mild breakthroughs in areas such as drug addiction, mental illness, and child abuse.
For many decades there were always two subjects that were never seen on TV, and very rarely seen in film, and that was inter-racial relationships and homosexuality. Over time, hurdles would eventually be toppled, and these topics would be allowed; which leads us to the point where we are now.
Brokeback Mountain has climbed the last literary hurdle. It was the last major milestone in the writing profession to overcome; a feature film about two gay men who loved each other immensely. Not only did they utilize the gay factor, but story writer E. Annie Proulx and screenplay writer Larry McMurtry drove this last and final obstacle to free writing off the charts, by employing two cowboys in the 1960’s, who grope each other and make out heavily.
So, this is it. Every single topic that has ever been whispered about and kept secret, not only in today’s society but all others as well, has now been written about and displayed in feature film. I can think of no other literary trail to blaze. Brokeback Mountain has knocked down the final wall.
(Release
date: Aug 4th, 2006)
The real name of this film is Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. But, I prefer to go with the shorter version above.
This is a low budget comedy that has a village celebrity-wannabe from Kazakhstan traveling to the U.S. to make a documentary about American culture, so he and his producer can bring it back home, in hopes of having their fellow countrymen learn from it. But, when in America, Borat seems to share more culture than absorb.
The film is a funny collection of impromptu situations and circumstances. It was nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Best adapted screenplay. Which, makes it hard for me to imagine that there’s actually a piece of previously published work out there somewhere that describes this huge potpourri of absurdity.
I laughed hard many times. What a great, unique concept. I give it 3 bones for being funny.
By the way, the actor who plays Borat is Sacha Baron Cohen, who was in another fairly popular comedy in 2006 – Talladega Nights. He played Ricky Bobby’s arch nemesis and former Formula One racecar driver Jean Girard.
(Release date: Oct 10th, 2006)
This was released on DVD, and not in the theater. It’s just as well, because this was a watered down and diluted version of the first Butterfly movie, which I liked a lot.
Imagine taking the first script, subtracting much of the interesting background information, and replaying it in a different setting. That’s what they have ended up with.
It took only 20 days to film this movie. But, I’d have to say it was the writing that left me flat. 1 ½ bones for being below average.
(Release
date: Oct 20th, 2006)
This film stars Kirsten Dunst as the young French queen, Marie Antoinette. It follows her journey from her home in Austria, to her marriage with the heir of the French throne, then to the demise of the French monarchy. I thought Ms. Dunst did a very good job of portraying the young royal, and it’s too bad she didn’t at least receive a nomination for something.
I thought the story was fairly interesting, which was written and directed by Sophia Coppola. Some people may complain that it was too slow in many places, but I thought it added to the mood.
Although this film is intended to be a dramatic, non-fictional depiction of a memorable time in French history, I couldn’t help but enjoy the very unique blend of both renaissance and contemporary background music. It was a daring move that paid off very well.
The film won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Achievement in Costume Design. This doesn’t surprise me, since many of the renaissance era films tend to win awards in the costume, art direction and set direction categories.
I’m glad I waited to see it on DVD. It’s not a blockbuster by any means. But it is, in fact, fairly decent. I’m going to give it 2 ½ bones for being above average.