Let your imagination set you free

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Max von Sydow
3.5 stars out of 4

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is the true and inspiring story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who at the age of 43 suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed except for his left eye. Bauby couldn’t speak, or move, but could still use his brain to function. The film directed by Julian Schnabel, is in the perspective of Bauby’s left eye most of the film, as we are left feeling claustrophobic just as Bauby is. The rare disease that occupies his body is called “locked in syndrome,” and everyone except for Bauby believes in him to overcome it.

Bauby is played by the French actor Mathieu Amalric who can be seen as the villain in the next Bond movie. In a brave and restrained performance that feels authentic and heartbreaking. Bauby’s body is trapped and he is stuck in it, much like a diver floating in the ocean. Before the stroke, Bauby was a charismatic man; he’s divorced from his wife, but still sees his 3 young children. They visit him in the hospital and comfort him on the beach for Fathers Day. Bauby is also visited by 2 nurses daily who help him write his memoir, they dictate the alphabet to him and he blinks his eye for what letter he wants. Its truly remarkable how Bauby’s spirits kept him intact and able to push through this tragedy, he uses his mind and imagination to create places he would like to go, see or experience. His envisions are breathtaking, he places himself on a beach, or skiing down a steep mountain, or floating through a vast field of weeds as a butterfly.

The direction by Julian Schnabel has garnered much attention, for its bravery and immense attention to detail. He shoots scenes with an artistic and original eye, this story is personal to him, and that’s how he treats it. Schnabel upset the Coen Brothers at the Golden Globes for best director, and his momentum should get him an Oscar nomination.

If foreign films aren’t your cup of tea, there’s a good chance that this film may be one to sway your decision. The storytelling is so real and profound that I felt like I was in Bauby’s condition. I also appreciated the respect the film-makers had for the audience. Any other film would have went down the clichéd road and tried to pry away at the audiences tear ducts with one emotional scene after another, although this film is very emotional without being pretentious, most of the film is told in a straightforward manner.

The film has been praised by critics nationwide, and made the AFI’s top 10 films of the year. It’s in limited release as of now, but may come to Youngstown after it receives several Oscar nominations.

Abrams' monster flick lives up to hype

"Cloverfield"
Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller
3 stars out of 4

All of the built up hype for this movie started when the trailer premiered infront of "Transformers" in the Summer. The marketing campaign has been great, as the actual title for the movie hadn't come out until a few months prior. "Cloverfield" is basically a monster movie for the MySpace/YouTube generation, and it worked for me. Think "The Blair Witch Project" meets "Godzilla" and that is what "Cloverfield" is. Not to say that I didn't like it, it was very entertaining, and at times scary.

The film succeeds mainly because of the vision of the film's producer, J.J Abrams, who also created the hit tv series Lost. Abrams and director Matt Reeves create likeable characters, none mainstream, and thrust them into the destruction and chaos of one night in New York City. The film introduces us to the main character Rob, he's moving to Japan for business, as his friends throw a going away party for him a few nights before his departure. There are other characters, the comedic guy, the brother,and the love interest. All are surprised when an earthquake, or so we think erupts in Manhattan causing buildings to collapse along with the head of the Statue of Liberty. We learn that its actually a gigantic monster and as one military commander says, "We don't know what it is, but it's winning."

The film follows this band of friends through streets, tunnels, and buildings in search of survival and a subplot involving Rob's love interest. The most interesting thing about the film isn't the monster, it's the way the film is shot. Everything is seen through a videocamera, as one of the characters is taping everything that is going on. The feeling may turn off viewers, as the camera work is shaky,and confusing at times, but it worked for me. It feels very real as the destruction occurs, almost strangely reminiscent to the 9/11 attacks. This film may rub New Yorkers the wrong way, but as a monster film to kick off the new year, "Cloverfield" works.

Oscar Predictions

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men-The only lock thus far and the frontrunner
There Will Be Blood-To big and too good to be ignored
Juno-The underdog
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly-Getting some great love at the right time
Michael Clayton-Most likely to not make it out of this bunch

Alternate-Atonement,Into the Wild
Long Shot-Sweeney Todd

Best Director
Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)
Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)
Sean Penn (Into the Wild)
Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)

Alternate-Joe Wright (Atonement) Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd)

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)
George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
Viggo Mortenson (Eastern Promises)
Denzel Washington (American Gangster)

Alternate-James McAvoy (Atonement) Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild)

Best Actress
Julie Christie (Away from Her)
Ellen Page (Juno)
Marion Cotilliard (La Vie En Rose)
Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart)
Keira Knightley (Atonement)

Alternate-Amy Adams (Enchanted) Laura Linney (The Savages)

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
Casey Affleck (The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)
Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilsons War)
Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

Alternate-Tommy Lee Jones (No Country for Old Men)

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There)
Amy Adams (Gone Baby Gone)
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
Catherine Keener (Into the Wild)
Ruby Dee (American Gangster)

Top 10 of 2007

Of the 40 movies I saw in theatres this past year, I can easily say that 2007 has been the best year for films since 1999. There was so much ambition, depth, and intelligent writing to go around the whole year. Although the better films didn't come along till November-December, there were many great movies that no one saw early in the year. Here is my list of the 10 best movies of 2007, and some honorable mentions. Keep in mind that there are a few films I haven't seen that could've made this list including "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"- "The Savages", and "The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford."

10. Gone Baby Gone-Many critics appreciated Ben Affleck's debut film, but I really found it engaging and thought-provoking. Afflecks uses his knowledge of his childhood city Boston, to create a gritty and realistic version of crime a small neighborhood. With a solid cast, and good performances from Amy Ryan,Casey Affleck, and Ed Harris, Gone Baby Gone has a conclusion that is intriguing and hard to shake. Good work Ben.


9. Michael Clayton-First time director Tony Gilroy feels like a veteran in this corporate thriller that boasts an involving and a thinker of a plot. George Clooney gives one of his top performances as an in house fixer for a big time law firm. When things get messy Clooney's character is called upon to clean up the mess. The consistent Tom Wilkinson and the underrated Tilda Swinton also provide nomination worthy performances in this excellent film. The last shot of the film is also noteworthy, while many were walking out of the theatre during it, I still felt as if the film was playing out.


8. The Bourne Ultimatum-The years fastest film, is also one of the best action movies of this decade. Director Paul Greengrass raises the bar with this great and involving spy chase film. While some hated the rapid and jerky handheld camera work, it didn't bother me and it made the film even better. Matt Damon is really restrained in his performance, very little dialogue, but his facial expressions are more telling than words, these films are going to continue to get him great work.


7. Juno- Juno has a lot going for itself, its the year's best written comedy, and also shows off some of this years most surprising performances. The young and mature actress plays Ellen Page, plays a smart and sarcastic teen who gets pregnant on accident and gives the baby to an adopting couple. Some people hated the original and cathcy dialogue, but it worked perfectly with Juno's character and attitude. Also, look for maybe Jennifer Garners best performance. With a great soundtrack and a cuddly story, Juno is a real winner that will appeal to most audiences.


6. Atonement-This film actually caught me off guard, sure it received good reviews but when I walked into it, I didn't think I'd like it this much. After seeing it twice within 5 days, the story and the scope of the film really stuck with me. Keira Knightley and James McAvoy play lovers seperated by war and a lie told by a young girl played by 3 different actresses. Director Joe Wright uses great visuals and an great score to tell this story of loss and regret, Atonement is excellent.


5. Zodiac-This is director David Finchers most mature and involving work. He has made a living doing dark films, and Zodiac is no different. The film chronicles the history of the Zodiac killer seen through the eyes of a handful of characters. The film is methodical in its run time of 158 minutes, but I was never bored. This is more of procedural and wordy film rather than a scary retelling of the Zodiac murders. Robert Downey Jr gives another great performance,as well as Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo. This film will stick with you for weeks.


4. Once-Appearing in critics top 10 lists is this gem of a movie. Once is the story of two lost lovers who meet in Dublin and connect by writing, singing,and sharing the art of music with eachother. Many people classify this as a musical, its simply a film with music in it that thrives on being charming and honest. Once will make you smile for 90 minutes as you get involved in the songs and lives of these two people.


3. Into the Wild-Easily the years most emotional film, telling of an idealistic and romantic youth who hits the road and hitchhikes to Alaska to live off of the land. Emile Hirsch defines breakthrough performance, and Hal Holbrook is truly heartbreaking. Director Sean Penn proves that he can direct, as this story pulls you in and proves to be beautiful, poetic, and gut-wrenching. Into the Wild is truly a cinematic experience that is worth taking if you can handle the final destination.


2. No Country for Old Men-The Coen. Brothers have made there best film with this literary adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name. This film tells of a chase in Texas involving interesting characters and themes of death,fate,and greed. Javier Bardem's performance is truly frightening as the face of death. Tommy Lee and Josh Brolin are also great. There isnt a dull or boring scene in this involving and suspenseful crime drama. Every shot, word spoken, and action means something in the end, with a lot under the surface, No Country for Old Men is truly a masterpiece that will haunt you.


1. There Will Be Blood-The years biggest, most ambitious film, is also the best film in a GREAT year of films. There Will Be Blood is the story of career oil man Daniel Planview, played by the best living actor Daniel Day-Lewis, in a seismic and larger than life performance. Plainview's story is also the story of the maturing of America through business,religion,ambition,and greed. When you talk about perfection and overall originality, this film along with No Country for Old Men seperate themselves from almost all of the films I have seen since 2000. There Will Be Blood is many things, it's a fascinating and terrifying character study, it's a dark and strange horror film, it's a drama, and ultimately it's an odyssey into the darkest sides of a human being ever shown of screen. Director P.T Anderson doesn't fail after all of the initial hype and praise. The cinematography by Jack Fisk shows the epic and young landscapes of the early oil days and long after. The haunting score by Johnny Greenwood perfectly captures the mood of this film, and the ending, wow that ending.... This film is in limited release, but please drive to a major city and let this film take you over.


Honorable Mention: All of these films are worthy of being in my top 10,but just so many great films this year.

-Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
-Before the Devil Knows Your Dead
-3:10 to Yuma
-Knocked Up
-28 Weeks Later
-In the Valley of Elah
-American Gangster
-Walk Hard:The Dewey Cox Story

Worth Noting: These films were also good by not quite on par with my honorable mention selection.

-Waitress
-I'm Not There
-Away from Her
-Rescue Dawn
-Eastern Promises
-Paris Je T'aime
-Superbad

Worst movie of the year
-Spiderman 3

Torn by lies and war

“Atonement”
Starring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave
4 stars out of 4

“Atonement” is a lush and intimate period piece directed by Joe Wright, it’s based off of the novel of the same name written by Ian McEwan. This epic film tells the story of three lives destroyed by a simple lie that was told at a dinner party in England in 1935. The two main leads are played by Keira Knightley as Cecilia Tallis the oldest daughter of a wealthy family, and her lover Robbie Turner who plays the educated son of the family housekeeper. They are flirty around the house when the film starts, but there relationship is seen as something else by Cecilia’s jealous sister Briony, who has a teenage crush on older Robbie. The character of Briony is played by 3 different actresses throughout the film, due to the time shifting structure and her aging character. She is also a writer and a very good one at that, the film uses the harsh pounding off a type-writer to build suspense in many scenes.

One night Briony walks in on Cecilia and Robbie making love in there library, she sees it as something else and makes up her mind quickly of what she wanted to see. Her jealously overwhelms her and she goes on a rant about how Robbie is deceiving and sexually aggressive. Later that night something happens that Briony can use as leverage to get rid of Robbie, he ends up going to prison and Cecilia is left without her love, due to a childish lie.

The film jumps 4 years into the future, and each character is now in a new setting. Robbie is a soldier in the war, after choosing duty instead of prison. Cecilia is a trained nurse who consistently writes Robbie, and Briony is older, feeling the weight and guilt of the lie she told when she was 13. Each character weaves in and out, but the truth remains evident to all that Briony’s lie has changed everything. Robbie is seeing the broken world during World War II, Cecilia is awaiting his freedom, and Briony is a training nurse looking for redemption for her actions. As the films moves on, the story builds to a shattering conclusion due to one lie.

This is a great and involving film; the visuals are breathtaking and are always great to look at, the acting of Knightley and McAvoy are nomination worthy, and the dynamic character of Briony done by 3 different actresses is truly noteworthy. “Atonement” is more of a technical achievement than anything, the directing is crisp and vivid, the music is vast and epic, and the overall achievement is a great film that will garner many nominations as the Oscars. This is definitely a must-see, it runs at 130 minutes and all of those minutes are needed to tell this story of deceit, love, and war.

The pacing is slow at times, but there are so many revealing and exciting scenes that are truly riveting. The film also makes great usage of the word c-u-n-t, which I found humorous. I don’t think I would classify this as a chick-flick, it’s definitely comparable to other war, love stories, but there was something different and unique about this film. “Atonement” is just beautiful to watch play out, all of the characters are made of skin and bone and feel very real. I underestimated this film before I walked in, the last 10 minutes are going to floor you, and I only encourage people to look for this movie.

Hard to describe, but easy to love

“There Will Be Blood”
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Dillon Freasier
4 stars out of 4

Director PT Andersons 5th film is a gigantic sprawling epic that places him amongst the best filmmakers in Hollywood. The film tells of the earliest days of the oil business from 1898 to 1927, seen through the eyes of a heartless oil man named Daniel Plainview played by the extraordinary Daniel Day-Lewis, who most will recognize from his work in “Gangs of New York.” This is Anderson’s most mature and ambitious film to date, with works such as “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia” behind him.

The film is gigantic in scope, and large on themes of capitalism, religion, and greed. It’s also a character study of one of the most ruthless characters even seen on the big screen. The character of Daniel Plainview is a monster, his goal and only goal is to make enough money with his oiling business, so that he can get away from everybody. He has a 9 year old adopted son named H.W, played by child actor Dillon Freasier, they both get word of rich land in an area called Little Boston in California, where oil is flowing, and where big money can be made. Plainview promises the townspeople riches and soon brings in some men to erect machines and start drilling.

Throughout the film, Plainview is at odds with a local preacher named Eli Sunday, played by Paul Dano from “Little Miss Sunshine”. Sunday thinks he is a prophet and a healer; and he wants money from Plainview to build a church. They’re greedy ambitions collide in scene after scene, leaving the audience feeling uncomfortable and unsettled. Dano really could have a better shot at a nomination if he wasn’t completely overshadowed by the monstrous work of Daniel Day-Lewis, Dano does well in each scene with him, but you’re re only paying attention to DDL. Another subplot also arises with a half brother that comes to the town, seeking a relationship with Plainview; it builds and escalates into the theme of family which the film speaks upon.

The film is in limited release as of now, but is creating a whirl wind of buzz and optimism from almost anyone who has seen it. This is the kind of movie that isn’t made anymore; an intelligent and enthralling epic that includes a character that nobody would ever want to come into contact with. Plainview possesses a stare, or even a laugh that rivals the chills that any horror movie could give you. The score for the movie is done by guitarist Johnny Greenwood from the band Radiohead; it’s haunting and mysterious at the same time.

2007 has been the best year for movies since 1999, and I can honestly say that “There Will Be Blood” is the best that 2007 has to offer, with “No Country for Old Men” falling slightly behind. This film is a poetic and haunting portrayal of what greed and power can do to a human being, Daniel Day-Lewis is a lock for best actor at the Oscars, and this movie is a lock for a best picture nomination. If you’re in the mood for a deep, deranged, and oddly satisfying masterpiece, please seek this great film out.

There is so much more to say about this movie, PT Anderson is just a genius, this is such a departure from anything he has ever done. This film is art, it compares to Kubrick, Malick, and the works of others. Wait till you see the performance from Daniel Day-Lewis, words don’t come to mind, just scenes from the movie that had me glued to his face. His mannerisms, along with the way he carries himself are truly noteworthy, this man IS the devil.

The film runs at 158 minutes, but every scene contributes to this work of PT Anderson, he shoots this oil town in Little Boston as the beginning of a new time in history, the audience feels like they’re watching the development of early life, that’s how real it is. The landscapes and set pieces are all vivid and blossomed with detail; everything is alive and pumping with oil, even the heart of Daniel Plainview.

There is much to say and I am rambling at this point, I can only say that I have to see this movie again, I haven’t even covered everything that I want to say. A lot of average movie goers are going to hate this movie, movie buffs and film fanatics will love this, I guess that is what makes this film “art” and not just a movie. This film will make you sick, make you think, make you fall in the love with the idea of making a great film and reading of the praise, such as what I am writing now. PT Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis are Gods, and this movie will be talked about for many many years. What an achievement and a un-precedented original work this is.

All films seen in 2007

Still waiting on There Will Be Blood, Atonement, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfuly.. but here is everything I have seen.

Alpha Dog 2/4
Smokin Aces 2.5/4
300 2.5/4
Reign Over Me 2.5/4
Disturbia 3/4
Zodiac 4/4
Oceans 13 3/4
Knocked Up 3.5/4
28 Weeks Later 3.5/4
Transformers 3/4
Breach 3/4
Waitress 3/4
Live Free or Die Hard 2/4
1408 3/4
Spiderman 3 2/4
The Bourne Ultimatum 3.5/4
The Lookout 3/4
Once 4/4
Paris J' Taime 3/4
Rescue Dawn 3/4
Superbad 3/4
3:10 to Yuma 3.5/4
The Kingdom 3/4
In the Valley of Elah 3.5/4
Michael Clayton 3.5/4
Gone Baby Gone 3.5/4
Dan in Real Life 3/4
Into the Wild 4/4
30 Days of Night 2/4
American Gangster 3.5/4
No Country for Old Men 4/4
Away From Her 3/4
Sweeney Todd:The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 3.5/4
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead 3.5/4
Juno 3.5/4
Walk Hard;The Dewey Cox Story 3.5/4
I'm Not There 3/4
Eastern Promises 3/4