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.
The subtitled French film Ive Loved You So Long is heavy stuff.
Kristin Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein play sisters. Thomas just got out of prison where she spent 15 years doing time for an unspecified crime. Zylberstein and her hubby and friends try to nurse her back to social health.
Ive Loved You So Long is more about acting than plot. It takes way too long to get to why Thomas character was loved so long.
If more people saw this movie, then Thomas might have gotten an Oscar nomination for her tight, emotionally controlled acting.
And for once the producers actually cast two people that really look like sisters.
Mr. Movie rating: 4 stars
Rated PG-13 for mature themes. It opens Friday, Feb. 20 at the Fairchild Cinemas.
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.
Anna Faris is the insecure Ally Darling, and relationships never seem to work out for her.
On her way home after just being fired from a job — and just before the pathetic Ally ends up sleeping with the boss that fired her — she reads an article about the number of lovers women have for their entire life.
'The Artist' authentic genius and one of 2011's best
The Artist breaks all the rules.
For one, it’s a silent movie. Big no-no. There isn’t much dialogue to read. You just get the basics. A sentence here, a paragraph there. White letters pasted on a black screen. Much of what happens is conveyed from facial expressions, the posture of the actors, or by action.
Jean Dujardin is George Valentin. He’s the world’s biggest silent film star at the dawn of the age of sound. When sound becomes all the rage in 1927, George is unwilling to change. It’s a mistake that quickly makes George the world’s newest has-been.
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.
Adam Sandler is still doing them and usually within five minutes of the beginning of a movie. Hard to believe isn’t it? And he doesn’t stick with just one. Sandler’s form of “humor” can be found twice, thrice, sometimes even four times in a film.
Prepubescent boys find a toot a hoot. By the time you’re 15, fart jokes are pretty much passe. Maybe it’s Sandler’s signature. Modern comedians tend not to use them. Billy Crystal is one of the few. He’s simply marvelous. A lot of old-time comedians did. Jimmy Durante said goodnight to Mrs. Calabash. Bill Cosby’s signature is, “Hey, hey, hey.” George Burns told his lovely bride to, “Say goodnight, Gracie.”
'My Week with Marilyn' elevates Michelle Williams' career
As a snapshot of history, My Week with Marilyn is fascinating.
Take that thought another step into good movie territory, and My Week with Marilyn isn’t that great. It’s not bad, but this is not a story that will wow you.
What does grab your attention are the great performances that dot its landscape and will have you leaving the theater jaw agape.
Print
Email Story
