MARCH 2007 - MOVIE REVIEWS
Indie Films, Cinematic Gems & Acclaimed Directors | | | | Pan’s Labyrinth
Guillermo del Toro
Go for the spectacle. Go for the special effects. Above all, go for the Spanish. Pan’s Labyrinth is Chronicles of Narnia with a sharper, more prolonged dose of war-time reality. Set during the little-captured time of the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s brutal regime, the movie follows a young girl’s escape from the real world into a fairytale land that keeps viewers guessing if it is an idyllic paradise or a dark and disturbing dream world. The effects are wonderful, at times almost horrific. The mythical and human personalities are vivid, and the cast is terrific. But the true soul of the movie is in the gorgeous, rich and poetic language.
| | | | | | | The Painted Veil
John Curran
It takes an excellent cast and a terrific script to duplicate Somerset Maugham’s unique style and emotion on the big screen. In The Painted Veil, Naomi Watts and Edward Norton—two of Hollywood’s most versatile actors—do the author justice. Set in the chaotic period of 1920s China, the story is typical Maugham: the tangled relationship between a doctor and his beautiful, immature wife. After learning of an affair between her and Shanghai’s English Vice Consul (played superbly by Liev Schreiber), Walter Fane drags his wife to the rural countryside, where an outbreak of cholera threatens to engulf a village. In the most isolated of situations and against all odds, the two discover love.
| | | | |
| | The Protector
Prachya Pinkaew
The Thai contribution to the hallowed tradition of Asian martial arts films with threadbare plots, The Protector owes everything to its explosive star. Tony Jaa takes the finesse out of the fight—none of his scenes have those graceful sidekicks that hang in the air for twenty seconds before connecting with their hapless opponent. He epitomizes the raw, visceral art of Muay Thai kickboxing and performs some incredible stunts and martial arts feats. His enemies are also quite impressive, be they martial arts experts (there is a terrific duel with a Capoeira fighter) or hulking bodyguards. But the story is almost laughable. When evil thugs kill his father and kidnap two royal elephants, Kham (Jaa) travels to Australia to rescue them. The dialogue is awful; the weird CGI flashbacks commemorating the glory of the “Protector” warrior class don’t work; and the fact that the hero seems genuinely more upset about the loss of his elephants than the murder of his father … just forget about the plot and enjoy the visual display. Click on the image to buy now!
| | | | | | | Music and Lyrics
Marc Lawrence
Seriously, how long can Hugh Grant keep doing it? How many more one-dimensional and yet ridiculously charming characters can this man play? In Music and Lyrics, he partners with Drew Barrymore, who also plays her customary flighty role. In some ways, the movie works—as the “other guy” in a once-huge ‘80s band who has a chance to resurrect his career, Grant pulls off the has-been to perfection. The homage to ‘80s music, culture and fashion is hysterical, and the band’s hit video, “Pop! Goes My Heart” is a terrific and totally campy tribute. Where the movie falls short is the on-screen chemistry between Grant and Barrymore, which is, at best, forced.
| | |
|
