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Reviews
The Call (2013)
Once again the star has to improbably solve the problem'
This well-photographed police thriller follows 911 operator Jordan Turner (played by Halle Berry) as she answers emergency phone calls. The 911 room is part of the Los Angeles police Department. It is very interesting to see the number of connections which are available to solve crises from incoming callers.
The first time we see her handle a problem, it turns out bad and she flirts with the idea of quitting. But the next time Berry appears, she is a trainer walking new operators through the 'hive' as the 911 center is called. When a new operator is confronted with a problem similar to the one which Berry failed at, Berry takes over.
The tension builds as the bad guy leads the police on a chase. Berry helps the police on the scene as the bad guy's identity is found but it all ends with no solution.
This is where the film lost any credibility. What started as a good action film ended when the film called for lead actor Berry to solve the mystery of the bad guy's location by herself and rescue the caller herself. What could have been a good action film was ruined by the need to have the star play super sleuth.
Murders of Hollywood (2009)
Check the narration!
Approximately half an hour into this film, the murders of pregnant starlet Sharon Tate and several others at the house where Tate lived is told. She was identified as the wife of Polish director Norman Polanski. The picture of Roman Polanski was shown over the narration when the wrong first name was used. The problem could not have been lack of research by the writer because the correct name of the director was shortly used: Roman instead of the earlier Norman. This points out two problems. The first problem is that the wrong first name was used and a more significant problem: there appears to have been no checking of the narration track. The lack of care in checking the recording against the script leads this viewer to question the accuracy of the rest of the film.
Marie-Francine (2017)
No surprises here. Light and breezy.
French film Marie-Francine also goes under the english title '50 is the New 30'. The film follows Marie-Francine (Valérie Lemercier), a 50 year-old research scientist as she copes with becoming single again. Her husband Emmanuel (played by Denis Podalydés) has left for a younger version woman. This causes Marie-Francine to move back with her parents. Her well-meaning parents try to: 1. Get her a job (although they seem to be unaware of exactly what she does); 2. Fix her up with a date (although the pickings for her at that age are pretty slim); 3. She is also encouraged to try Internet dating (although the hipsters who build her Internet profile use language Marie-Francine doesn't know); etc., etc.
More predictable problems arise in this French comedy. None of them are unexpected nor do they challenge the viewer's intellect. But the film is a pleasant diversion, a sweet little tale.
Score: A Film Music Documentary (2016)
Great doc for both film buffs and soundtrack nerds
This documentary started with silent films which were accompanied by piano or organ. But this doc didn't limit itself to orchestral scores only. It covered integration of unusual instruments, composers who worked in other disciplines (folk, rock, etc.). Along the way, several film composers were interviewed (Max Steiner, John Williams, Randy Newman). Examples of familiar soundtracks were played under the films which they helped make successful ('Rocky', "Star Wars') as well as early examples ('Vertigo' "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly').
The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, BONE and the Changing Face of Comics (2009)
Good profile of Cartoonist Jeff Smith
Although this will be seen as a superficial look at BONE cartoonist Jeff Smith, the documentary offers a thorough look at his formative years. The film lists his early influences and follows his development from school cartoonist to one of the most revered and awarded writer/artist/producers of graphic novels.
Long Shot (2017)
Arrested then proven innocent
The term 'Miscarriage of Justice' seems to have been invented to fit this case: Juan Catalan was arrested, charged with murder, held for 5 months then arraigned for the murder. Luckily Juan had a good defense attorney. The attorney discovered that the day when the murder occurred, Juan and his daughter were at the Dodgers/Braves baseball game. The attorney was able to prove this because an episode of HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' was being filmed at the game. When the attorney checked the outtakes, Juan and his daughter were seen at the game. But even more, Juan successfully sued the police department for police misconduct and won.
Concussion (2013)
Been done before
This film is a well-done film. But a film about trying to escape from the hum-drum existence of living in the suburbs has been done before. In fact it has been done so often it is almost its own genre. The only difference is that the boredom here is between same-sex parents. The rest is the same: attend exercise classes with other bored suburbanites, take the kids to school, athletic practice, etc. Changing the husband-wife to same sex-partners attempts to add zip to the tired story. But it doesn't.
Behind 'The Cove' (2015)
Undisciplined, unsuccessful attempt to explain an Oscar-winning doc.
The 2009 movie "The Cove" won an Oscar as best feature documentary. "Behind 'The Cove'" was released in 2015. Given 6 years to put this film together, I had high expectations for a worthy rebuttal. This film wasn't it. The scattershot approach touches on everything from Japanese children swimming with dolphins in the cove to the U.S. use of nuclear bombs in World War II. Instead of rebutting the scenes of dolphin slaughter in the 2009 film, this film argues that other countries eat different animal meat so what's the problem? Many explanations for the practice of harvesting the 'smiling fish' are touched on then dropped. Maybe someday a more targeted film will address this issue but don't expect this film to do it.
Catfight (2016)
Black and Blue comedy.
If you like dark comedies like I do, you'll like this film. Oh and Heche are obviously having the times of their lives portraying two characters who knew each other in college. When they run into each other at a party, long forgotten resentments come to the surface and result in a series of knock-down, drag-out fights between them. After each of the first two long fights life changes for the characters. The changed lives all lead up to what appears to be a fence-mending moment between them in Oh's cabin. Instead it leads to the inevitable third fight. Although I enjoyed watching the two accomplished actresses play against expectations, I think the person who had the most fun was the sound editor constructing the fight scenes.
Real Boy (2016)
Transgender son and mother become family again.
This film was aired in 2017 as part of the Independent Lens documentary series on PBS. The film played the film festival circuit in 2016 winning awards at the Oslo International, Boston Independent, Woodstock, and 17 other film festivals. All those wins were deserved. Subtitle for the film is 'A Son's Transition. A Mom's Transformation'. The documentary follows 19 year-old Bennett Wallace as he transitions into the boy he always felt he should be. Coming along on the journey, although reluctantly at first, is Bennett's mother Suzy. Director Shaleece Haas won the trust of both mother and son and produced a film which doesn't pull any punches. In the end Real Boy is a truly heart-warming film about family values.