Gary Wolcott's "Mr. Movie" column has appeared in the Tri-City Herald since 1992. The Tri-City native now lives in Portland, Ore., and watches about 250 movies each year. This member of Portland's association of movie critics, Far From Hollywood, believes movies are made to be seen on theater screens and should be seen there and not on television screens. Have a question for Mr. Movie? Click on "Add Comment" below. Mr. Movie has joined Twitter. Follow him here.
Actresses with Anne Hathaways girl-next-door looks struggle to find meaty parts.
Usually they get stuck with charming, but shallow, fodder such as Bride Wars, Ella Enchanted and The Princess Diaries films or doing essentially the same character in something deeper akin to The Devil Wears Prada.
Rachel Getting Married gives Hathaway a chance to display her chops and got her a shot at winning an Oscar for best actress. In and out of rehab for substance abuse, Kym is a complete mess. Her family doesnt function at a much higher level.
The moviehoweverdoes.
Director Jonathan Demmebest known for The Silence of the Lambsand first-time screenwriter Jenny Lumet (director Sidneys kid) patiently take you through the ups and downs of the complex relationships that accompany an emotionally crippled family at a gathering.
Like chick flick formulas or action thrillers, there aren't that many places where you can take a dysfunctional family story.
Its how you get from A to Z that matters. And this one does it very well.
Mr. Movie rating: 4 1/2 stars
Rated R for mature themes, language. It opens Friday, Feb. 13 at the Carmike 12.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it's your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on video.
2 stars to 1 star: Don't bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
Novels and screenplays often mix like oil and water. The book can be brilliant, deep and insightful. The screenplay and movie ends up scratching the surface. They miss key points or worse - because screenplay writers much of the time lack the balls to go for it - have an altered plot for audience gratification and a better box office take.
Then there are novelists that decide they ought to write their own screenplays. Novel writing and screenplay writing are another oil and water scenario. The novelist, familiar with the characters, their lives and what happens to them, often forgets the viewer doesn't know all of the in depth details.
Kudos to Battelle Film Club for bringing 'The Hedgehog'
The Hedgehog is a subtitled French film from 2009 that finally got released in the U.S. last year, and thanks to the Battelle Film Club , it will be seen in the Tri-Cities.
The story centers around Paloma, an 11-year old girl whose interests are philosophy and art.
No one in her family can relate. Her parents barely speak to each other much less to Paloma. The disconnected mom talks to plants, and the psychiatrist but can’t talk to her daughter. Dad is nowhere to be found.
Sometimes, producers make movies just for the accolades.
Here’s the formula. Grab a major talent and throw something together. Wait to release it until the end of the year. Do the release with lots of hype. The buzz sells everyone on the idea that the picture is the next best thing.
When you land a Meryl Streep to play a role in whatever you toss together, then the buzz gets an extra kick. Critics in Los Angeles and New York screen it first. They rave about her acting, and the extra kick gets an extra kick.
Battelle Flim Club presents 'Le Bonheur' with much happiness
This week, the Battelle Film Club
presents Le Bonheur , a French film with the title that translates to “Happiness.”
The title of the subtitled flick is appropriate. Francois is happily married to the beautiful Therese. They have two equally beautiful kids. The very much in love Francois and Therese and the children spend many happy hours being — well — happy.
Francois meets Emilie. Like everyone else, she’s happy. He’s instantly smitten. Moments later, Francois is completely in love. So is she. They have an affair. Nothing super sordid. Just a happy get together once or twice a week. In fact, the more he sees Emilie, the deeper he falls in love with her, the deeper he falls in love with his wife.
'I Don't Know How She Does It' or why they made it
I not only have nothing nice to say about this movie, but it also is so bad it is a struggle to say anything about it at all.
A better title: I Don’t Know Why She Did It . Could it be “she” has no options other than getting cast as a cliche TV-like character. What else can you do after being stuck for years on TV in Sex and the City ?
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