The babysitters have been available, and you know what that means: Use your three hour window wisely, by going to the movies and dinner! Here are the last few movies I’ve seen:
THE WEATHER MAN: I thought this was a really, really good movie, with terrific performances, very nicely directed, with lots of humour, and actually something to say about relationships, being a parent, the media, etc. Nicholas Cage is a very convincing actors who is willing to tackle just about anything and doesn’t seem particularly concerned about looking good or being cool. After I saw this movie I happened to see the preview for it on Tivo, and they were trying to sell it as a comedy, which, although very funny, it really is not. I also read some reviews and comments that the movie was supposed to be a “downer“, because the Weather Man is unhappy, divorced, his kids have problems, he’s trying to find his place.. Is this “downer” or “my life”? What is a “non-downer” movie? Do characters have to go from happiness, to giddiness, to near-psychotic jubilation? Do you know anyone like that? Is life like that? Anyway, it was a swell movie, and you should check it out.
LORD OF WAR: Another Nic Cage movie, this time taking the very sympathetic role of a Russian immigrant turned worlwide Arms dealer. The writer-director Andrew Niccol spent a lot of time researching real arms dealers, and the movie appears to be chillingly accurate. This movie did not make a lot of money (go figure!), but I thought it was great, and it also belongs to one of my favorite sub-genres of movies, the “Mid Level Management” school of crime. Like GOODFELLAS, BLOW, CASINO, BOOGIE NIGHTS, etc., it shows you in fascinating detail all the real-life processes of a shadowy industry, until you are practically rooting for the characters to make it through the film without being arrested or killed. The scenes based on a Hiaiti-like military dictatorship are just about insane enough to seem 100% spot on, and very upsetting. More people should see this movie– maybe you can rent it on Netflix.
GOOD EVENING AND GOOD NIGHT: Is there anything George Clooney can’t do? This movie is well written, well directed. has excellent performances (especially David Strathairn in the the title role of Edward R. Murrow), and makes you realize, sadly, just how far we have fallen in this country in our ability to have a coherent, reasoned discussion about anything. Murrow’s commentaries during SEE IT NOW, presumably taken from his actual broadcasts, are startilingly literate. I honestly felt like applauding. Now I have to pull out my copy of NAMING NAMES…
SHOPGIRL: This is practically my favorite movie of the year. It’s so sweet, so funny, and so spot-on about what it’s like to be 20-something and finding your way through life. Steve Martin plays Ray Porter, the spiritual brother of Don Johnson from BROKEN FLOWERS. Claire Danes finally lives up to her promise of MY SO CALLED LIFE. Jason Schwartzman is hysterical and sincere. I’m not ashamed to say at the end of the movie I cried like a little baby. And I was with a guy! Highly recommended. And you know what? The New York Times agrees with me! So there!
