Not-So-Fresh New Releases #4

It is officially movie awards-season, when all the high-profile Oscar bait is released into theaters. Last year, I could barely keep up with all the new releases; however, this past weekend I couldn't muster any enthusiasm for the selection at my local multiplex (aside from the films that I have already seen and enjoyed, such as the latest Harry Potter installment). I've decided to highlight two of new releases I find to be most egregiously unnecessary, which coincidentally have two of the worst ratings on RottenTomatoes.com, and suggest some classic viewing alternatives.

The Tourist - 20% freshness rating

• Angelina Jolie is a glamorous woman of mystery, equally as adept at eluding the authorities as wearing designer frocks; Johnny Depp is a math teacher from Wisconsin drawn into her web in a whirlwind romp through Venice. The romantic escapism promised by The Tourist, when done well, gives one the exhilarated feeling that movies were invented solely to tell such stories. Unfortunately, The Tourist has exhilarated no one. If you want to see a movie about a sexy mystery woman teamed with an out-of-his-depth academic, I humbly suggest Arabesque (1966) directed by Stanley Donen and starring Sophia Loren as a beautiful spy and Gregory Peck as a university professor. This film takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to international intrigue revolving around Arab hieroglyphics, an assassination plot, and lots of costume changes for Sophia.
• Three years earlier, Stanley Donen directed another great romantic thriller, Charade (1963), in which Audrey Hepburn is pursued through Paris by several shady characters seeking her late husband's fortune. She must decide whether she can trust Cary Grant to keep her one step ahead. To paraphrase one of Hepburn's great lines: You know what's wrong with this film? Nothing.
• North by Northwest (1959) also stars Cary Grant, only this time he is the one pursued. Eva Marie Saint comes along for the ride as a cool, blonde secret agent. This film is one of director Alfred Hitchcock's best, combining his signature thrills with humor and sophistication.

The Nutcracker in 3D - 0% freshness rating

• This film adaptation of the well-known Christmas tale sets the action entirely in 1920s Vienna. It has received universally negative reviews, citing such misguided elements as a holocaust subtext, poorly executed 3D effects, and Albert Einstein. If you want to see a production of The Nutcracker during the holidays, please find a local performance of Tchaikovsky's ballet by a professional ballet company, a children's ballet school, or any other performing arts group. The live theater experience (in 3D!) will surely be more pleasant, cheerful, and memorable than this ill-conceived film.

But if you still want to venture out to the movies this week, luckily there are some well-made, interesting, and worthwhile films still in theaters including 127 Hours, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Black Swan, Made in Dagenham, and The Social Network.
Happy holidays and happy film-going!

Notes from the Austin Film Festival

Last month I attended the Austin Film Festival & Conference and got an early look at some of the films now playing (or soon to be) in theaters. Lately I've become accustomed to avoiding new releases, so I am happy to be able to recommend three new films which I saw at the festival. Because it is based around a screenplay competition, AFF has branded itself as a "writer's festival," so it is ironic that what impressed me most about these films weren't the screenplays, but the strong performances that anchor each one.

Conviction tells the story of Betty Anne Waters, a working mother and high school dropout, who spent nearly two decades trying to clear the name of her brother Kenny, sentenced to life in prison for a murder he did not commit. Since the film is based on a true story, the eventual outcome is never in question; however, the film is compelling because we want to know how they got there, what obstacles they faced and what sacrifices were made. Because it comes to define her life, Betty Anne's single-minded quest to free her brother is repeatedly questioned. But she simply cannot conceive of giving up. Ultimately the film challenges the audience to ask themselves, "what would I have done?" Hilary Swank as Betty Anne is the standout among a talented cast which includes Sam Rockwell as Kenny and Minnie Driver as Betty Anne's classmate. While I don't think that this role will earn her another Best Actress Oscar, her performance here reminds us why she deserved the first two.

Another real-life tale of endurance is 127 Hours, starring James Franco as Aron Ralston, an outdoor adventurer who is forced to amputate his own arm after being pinned under a boulder in a remote canyon. TV shows like Survivorman or Man vs. Wild explain how someone might survive alone in extreme conditions. What is hardly mentioned, except in the fine print disclaimer, is that these are situations you would never, ever, encounter except in the most disastrous of circumstances. As we learn more about him, it is clear that Ralston approached his excursions into the canyons, and life in general, with a misguided hubris. Watching him learn humility and the folly of shunning meaningful human connections makes us aware of our own fragility and how our relationships with other people help to keep us safe. Rather than making you wonder if you could survive such an ordeal, this film might make you realize that, thankfully, you will never be in that situation because _____. (Fill in the blank for yourself: you live with someone who loves you, you call your mom every Sunday, you always go hiking with your buddy from REI...) Since most of the film takes place in the canyon, it is basically a one-man show for Franco, and he is riveting as he deftly shifts between comic affability and tragic desperation.

My favorite movie of the festival was Blue Valentine. Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling play Cindy and Dean, a working-class couple with a young daughter, whose marriage is becoming increasingly strained. They are two basically decent people who just aren't meant to be together. But they are together, for better or worse, and through flashbacks we see the progression of their relationship from first meeting to the present day. The concept and presentation are not new, but the filmmakers prevent the story from becoming overly predictable by continually taking a scene that feels familiar and using it to reveal something new about these characters. Characters, by the way, who are portrayed brilliantly by Gosling and Williams. It is the strength of their performances that keeps you interested in this doomed romance. The MPAA has rated Blue Valentine NC-17, presumably due to several sex scenes (the MPAA does not have to give a reason for their ratings). So, most movie-goers may have to wait for the DVD; however, the film is set for a limited release on December 31 to qualify for Oscar consideration. It would be very unfortunate if people were discouraged from seeing this film because of a misguided rating.