Memoirs of a Geisha

This is one of those films that once you start watching it you just can't look away, the artistry within it is amazing. From the sets to the costumes this is a visually stunning film, the effort that was applied here is evident from the opening scenes. Based on the novel by Arthur Golden the world of the Geisha is opened to bear all for the world to see. All of the acting is superb and flawless, as the characters grow in age, as well as wisdom, you are taken on a journey that you will not soon forget.After a nine-year-old girl with stunning beauty is sold to a Kyoto Geisha house, she must endure harsh treatment and a world at war as she blossoms into the Geisha she is destined to become. Some of the punishments that are handed out during the film are a little extreme but for the time frame and the situations that are being played out they work. The sets look like they were taken right from that time in Japanese history, they look so authentic that you would almost believe that they were always there. The love story that this played out here is drawn out through the whole movie, and in true movie magic when the story is completed there is a happy ending.
After watching this movie I noticed in the credits that the film was based on Golden's book and was amazed that so much information about a completely female world, and point of view, was actually written by a man. The massive amount of research that must have gone into this story shows and it is understandable why this was such a well-received movie by the audience and the critics. This is definitely a movie to sit and watch with a loved one, the story is compelling and thought provoking about a life that we, as outsiders, until now knew very little about.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I wasn't in any rush to see this film when it originally came out, and then when it came out on DVD I just threw it on my rental list and waited. Now after watching it, I can understand the appeal that it had on the audience that saw it. It is an enjoyable story that has its roots going back to the ancient Greek civilization and Homer's Odyssey. The modernization of the story is very compelling and deserves all of the praise and accolades that it received. I'm not a big George Clooney fan, but what he does here with his character is perfect, the Southern accent fits and is completely believable. Three convicts escape from a chain gang in search of freedom and fortune in a buried treasure that must be retrieved in a matter of days or it will be lost forever. Set in the late twenties/early thirties, this film has the feel of the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby road movies, the comedy is light hearted and not overpowering. With the underlying tones from The Odyssey, we everything from the blind Oracle to the singing Sirens, and they're all well placed and complete believable in the context. The film has a washed out look to it, which helps with the setting for the Depression era. The music is perfect for the time period, and has a nice lilting sound that works and helps you identify with the characters feelings throughout the film.
A lot of the situations that are in the movie are a little far fetched, but there are others that hit close to the mark and are very truthful. The idea that a family would have to eat their horse for food because they couldn't afford anything else is probably more truthful than any of us would want to know. If you've never seen this film before it's worth the time, I'm sorry I waited so long to see it, I'd have no problem seeing this again and again.

The Freshman

One of the greatest characters in film is Marlon Brando's performance as Vito Corleone in The Godfather, and when given the opportunity to parody that character he jumped at the chance. Here Brando plays the part to the hilt and then some, the mannerisms that he made classic are exaggerated and work perfectly. Having Matthew Broderick play opposite Brando was shear genius; they work off of each other to bring out their best and most intelligent performances. A freshman in college is given a job driving for a local crime boss, but after one delivery his in way over his head and can't get out once the boss's daughter falls for him. This movie plays to a very intelligent audience, with the right twists and turns it keeps you thinking right up to the end. Co-starring with Brando and Broderick is a live Komodo Dragon, who steals the show once it enters the scene, but when the Dragon escapes into a shopping mall the laughs just keep coming.
This movie was at the time toted as the movie that drew Brando out of retirement with the opportunity to make fun of his most famous work, little do he know that it would become the beginning of a whole new career. After seeing this movie all I could think about was how good Brando was as a comedic actor, and how he had missed out on a special part of his career. This is a very smart comedy and shows these actors in new light that would change the way the viewing public would see them from this film forward.

The Banger Sisters

Having friends that you can turn to in a time of personal crisis, is a blessing and ones that will drop everything to help you without questions are rare. Here we get to examine both cases with two actresses, Susan Sarandon and Goldie Hawn, who over the years we have grown to adore. Everyone has something that they don't want people to know about, but is it truly bad or are we just making it into a bigger issue than it needs to be. With the secrets that Sarandon is keeping from her family you'd think the world was going to come to an end, but as most of us do, we think of the worst-case scenario.After sixteen years of separation, two friends, who used to be groupies, reconnect and realize that they still need each other to move on. The symbolism of having this whole situation take place in Phoenix is pointed out by Sarandon and is very much on target. Even though the two lead characters are the focus of the story, every person that they come in contact with, from family to acquaintances, are affected by some change in their lives. After all these years Hawn still has a body that can turn a man's head, and after Sarandon gets out of that frumpy suit, she's no slouch either.
The movie is cute and a little thought provoking, is the face that we show the world exactly the person we are deep down inside. I say as long as we have fun with the people we love and care about, who the Hell cares how we look and act like to other people outside our circles. This definitely falls into the category of Chick Flick and most guys wouldn't watch it, but it's a descent film and worth watching at least once.

Infernal Affairs

This film will seem familiar to most people if they have seen or heard of Martin Scorsese's The Departed about the Irish mob in Boston. Originally the story was set in Hong Kong and has a very strong Asian cast that as you are watching it you completely forget that the movie is in Hong Kong. Some of the twists and turns that are in this film are so well planned out that you get totally blind-sided by the outcome.A police officer fresh out of the academy is sent out as a mole into a local crime boss's gang, and at the same time the boss sends a mole of his own into the police force. This is more of a psychological thriller than the ordinary action crime films that come out of Hong Kong, The two lead actors here are Tony Leung and Andy Lau, both are excellent actors and carry the duel roles without a problem. As things start to come to a head in the story you begin to wonder you will come out on top and you never know until the very end.
The movie is so good that when you get near the end you honestly think that everything is going to be a happy ending, but the ending is left open for the two sequels that came along. If the sequels that followed are as good as this first film I'll be amazed, they both have some big shoes to fill. Just seeing how wonderful this film is makes me understand how good the new version by Scorsese is.

Three.....Extremes

The Asian horror cinema is by far has some of the best filmmaking out in the industry today, and three of the masters of this art give their all in this anthology of tales. Hong Kong's Fruit Chan, Korea's Chan-wook Parks and Japan's Takashi Miike spin some twisted tales of the imagination that take you from the brink of insanity to the edge of terror. The subjects that are examined are pretty basic, jealously, revenge, obsession, but with the twists and turns that these directors take every emotion along the way gets striped bare. Three stories are presented for your viewing pleasure, "Dumplings" - an aging actress starts an unnatural diet to recapture her youth. "Cut" - a movie extra with a grudge against a director takes revenge. "Box" - sibling rivalry and jealousy are pushed to the extreme. Of the three stories, the first one, Dumplings is by far the creepiest and the most disturbing. There are no over the top special effects here, but what is used strikes a cord with the audience and leaves you with images that you wont soon forget. The symbolism that is layered throughout the stories is a little overpowering but everything that is shown is meaningful and important to the story.
Anyone who is not familiar with these directors should seen this movie, it gives you a nice sampling of their work, and may open the door to some artwork that you may not have seen before. I've watched some of the Asian horror films over the past year or so, and I'm always amazed at how the directors and writers can take a nice setting, add an every day issue, then turn the whole thing on its ear and give us some outstanding filmmaking. This movie isn't an over the top horror movie, but it is a nice introduction into one of the best movie genres on the market today.

Jersey Girl (Kevin Smith)

When a popular director decides that his or her next project will be a departure from their regular genre of movies, they are sometimes pigeon holed and the new film gets an undeserved failing mark. That is what has happened with this Kevin Smith movie, it is not the raunchy, over the top comedy that most people would expect from him. It is a romantic comedy that tugs at your heart strings from beginning to end, with a cast that works well together and supports each other along the way in the real life situations that are presented to them. When love strikes a self-centered publicist he is unprepared for the ultimate sacrifice when his young wife dies during childbirth and he must raise his new daughter on his own. The role of seven year old Gertie is played by Raquel Castro with the flair and bounce of a seasoned film veteran, it will be nice to see where her career goes to after a breakthrough performance like this. The relationship that is presented by George Carlin and Ben Affleck is so close to a real father and son that the feelings will hit close to home for some of the audience. The acting that Carlin did amazed me so much that I would go out of my way to say that he could branch out into a whole new career if he did more roles in romantic comedies or dramas. With the realistic situations that are throughout the film it is easy enough see your own reactions reflected in the characters on the screen.
Reviews for this film when it first went into theaters were very good, but the public response is what killed this delightful film, people weren't ready for something that wasn't a Clerks type comedy. Also with Jennifer Lopez in the role of the wife brought along the Bennifer curse, which probably didn't help smooth over Smith fans. When you watch this film you can't go into it with any preconceptions about this being a regular Smith comedy, and once you get past that it rates right up at the top of the list of his very best.