Shakespeare in Love (1999)

The 4-1-1: Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Judi Dench; Director: John Madden; Rating: R; Total running time: 123 minutes.

The Venue: Own it on DVD and seen it many times previously - watched it on the couch with my beautiful wife.

The Preface: I've heard it said by more than one person that the fact that this film won the 1999 Academy Award for Best Picture is testament to the fact that 1999 was a weak year for movies all around. My response: "Bullshit." I thought this movie was unique, well-written, clever, and beautifully shot.

The Trailers: Unknown

The Film: The film begins by finding a young, upstart William Shakespeare (Fiennes) dealing with a bout of writer's block. He attempts to write a play he's titled, "Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter" but can't get much done. He soon discovers he needs a muse. Enter Viola De Lesseps (Paltrow), the beautiful daughter of an aristocrat, who also happens to love the theater and soon becomes betrothed to Lord Wessex (Firth) against her will.

As the story unfolds, Will and Viola become "star-crossed" lovers - although they know their love is forbidden. Anyone who is familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet will see the obvious parallel and should appreciate how well it is done.

As the movie tells the story of Will and Viola, clever allusions to many other Shakespeare plays and historical figures of the time (John Webster, Ned Alleyn, Queen Elizabeth, and Christoper Marlowe) are interwoven throughout the film. This also includes the very real feud between the two owners of the local playhouses: The Rose and The Curtain.

Any movie review of this film would not be complete without a mention of Ben Affleck's portrayal of Ned Alleyn. Clearly, Affleck is out of his league in a film with Fiennes and Dench and even Paltrow's (to say that an actor isn't even in Gwenyth Paltrow's league is really, really sad) for that fact. Seriously - this guy has about as much acting range as a Daisy Air-Rifle. Nevertheless, he manages to pull off the role that was intended for comic relief. I suppose there is some ironic comedy in the fact that his character is supposed to be the greatest stage actor of the day. But I digress...

The movie incorporates the spirit of Shakespeare by using one of his most favorite plot devices; mistaken identity. Also - the movie is a comedy, a tragedy, and a sonnett - all at the same time.

As the movie wrapped up, I genuinely cared about the characters and ached for a different ending, even as I knew that the ending was perfect.

So again - to those who say this was a film that only won Oscar glory because it was a bad year all around for movies, I change my retort to "the lady doth protest too much, methinks."

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

IMDB page: Shakespeare in Love

High Fidelity (2000)

The 4-1-1: Stars: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle (no...that's not a typo), and Jack Black; Director: Stephan Fears; Rating: R; Total running time: 113 minutes.

The Venue: Rented it from Blockbuster Video - watched it on the couch with my beautiful wife.

The Preface: I'll admit from the get-go that I've never been much of a John Cusack fan. He seems to have a monopoly on the down-on-my-luck-in-the-romance-department-close-to-brooding-lonely-guy-who's-really-very-sensitive-and-just-wants-to-make-someone-happy kind of character. Then again, I suppose if you're good at something, there's no need to delve into areas that might not work out so well (Ever seen Keanu Reeves in "Much Ado About Nothing"? Yikes!). Anyhow - this is one of Laura's favorite films - so I wanted to check it out, too.

The Trailers: Unknown

The Film: Like I said - never been a fan of John Cusack, but I've never considered membership in the "I hate John Cusack" society, either. That said, the opening lines of the movie were a bit of a bad omen. John Cusack's character says, "What came first, the music or the misery? Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?"

Okay - only fourteen seconds into the movie and I'm already annoyed at the main character. In the quite recesses of my mind I'm yelling, "You're probably miserable because of choices you made, you thick fuck!" Anyhow, I digress.

The movie details the life of Rob Gordon (Cusack) and the highs and lows of his love life in urban Chicago. He owns a record store and employs two lovable, if dimwitted, guys who provide a comic background to the film. Now - if you were asked to name the most type-casted individual who fits the "lovable if dimwitted" mold - who would it be? Five seconds to answer. Four.... three....two...one... time's up! Answer: Jack Black. He's good in the role and does the shtick of the loud, semi-obnoxious, and often overbearing music snob, Barry, quite well - but I think a better job was done by Todd Louiso, who plays Dick (I didn't name him): the more quiet character and introspective of the two. I somehow got a sense that Rob had a greater connection with him than with Barry.

Ultimately, the movie is about Rob's relationship with Laura (Hjejle), his ex-girlfriend who breaks up with him at the beginning of the film. Rob frequently breaks the fourth wall and talks to the viewer about his thoughts, usually in a Top Five format, including "Top Five Most Memorable Breakups" in which he details the five women who most broke his heart. He decides, eventually, to contact each one of them (great cameo by Catherine Zeta-Jones) and asks why they really broke up, why he's never been able to find true happiness, and eventually, to better understand himself.

Throughout this process he come to an awareness about himself, what he really wants out of life, and what he needs to do to find happiness. I'll confess that I felt a certain smug sense of self satisfaction when he began to realize that it's his own decisions that have (mostly) brought him to where he is in life. However, my smugness wore off quickly and I actually developed some empathy for Rob as he was frequently brutally honest with himself about whose fault certain events were and why he did much of what he did.

The movie continuously drops music references left and right, and for those who identify with the Barry and Dick characters in the movie, they'll probably enjoy these moments and will have many post-movie breakout discussions about the merits of some obscure 80's band that was "under-appreciated for their musical genius." To them I say, "knock yourselves out," as most of these references went right over my head.

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie, but am tempted to say that I might have enjoyed it a bit more had John Cusack's character not been so whiny and needy. But, then I think: that was the point. Although it was done nearly flawlessly in "Sideways," this movie does a capable job of presenting a flawed protagonist whom, despite his flaws, you still want to get the girl at the end.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

IMDB page: High Fidelity

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

The 4-1-1: Stars: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Tinda Swinton; Director: David Fincher; Rating: PG-13; Total running time: 166 minutes.

The Venue: Movies on TV in Hillsboro, OR

The Preface: Long before the trailers came out for this film, I had heard that it was being made into a movie. It is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which is one of the very few reading assignments I actually completed at Beaverton High School. The "message" of the story was a bit over my head - but I remember being quite intrigued by the idea of someone aging backward. Therefore, I was instantly interested in the movie. Then...I heard that Brad Pitt was going star. Cue the disappointed sigh and rueful thoughts about what might have been. However, I soon recalled his performance in "Seven Years in Tibet," and thought that, perhaps, not all was lost.

The preview that I eventually saw gave me "tingles" and I had high hopes that this could be a really outstanding film. Oscar buzz soon ensued] and I HAD to see the movie. I talked Laura into going and we saw the movie on the Sunday that we came back from a night in Cannon Beach.

The Trailers: Although it wasn't cause for great alarm, we saw the preview for "Bride Wars" again. Ugh. I saw an extended trailer for "Gran Torino," which made the film look a little more inviting than I thought it might be. Although I am not big fans of either Jamie Foxx or Robert Downey Jr., I think "The Soloist" shows a lot of potential.

The Film: Let me just get this off my chest from the get go: I loved this movie. Perhaps the most well directed film in the past fifteen years. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

As you probably know, this movie follows the life of Benjamin Button (Pitt), a man who was "born under unusual circumstances." The movie is told through the perspective of woman dying in a hospital threatened by an oncoming Hurricane Katerina. Before she dies, she wishes her daughter to read her a diary left to her. The diary is that of a man she once knew: Benjamin Button.

Benjamin is born in New Orleans amidst the euphoric celebrations of the end of World War I. For reasons that are (to the movie's credit) never questioned nor pursued, he was born as an infant with all the physical impairments and appearances of a man in his late eighties. His mother dies in child birth and his father - after a failed attempt to throw him in the river - discards him at the only place he can hastily find to take him, the local "old folks home." He is taken in by Queenie, who raises Benjamin as his own. Benjamin finds his place at the home and calls Queenie "momma."

The special effects in these early scenes are outstanding - especially insomuch as you don't really see them as "special" at all. The infant Benjamin and the 8-9 year old versions look precisely like how you would expect him to appear. Yet what you see more clearly than the wrinkles and stooped posture is the curious nature of a child and the bare, naked humanity of a human being that you know will struggle throughout life to find his place.

As the movie progresses, you see how many of the people Benjamin knew at the home inherintly die soon after he gets to know them - thus being the nature of such a home. Seeing the futility in relationships at the only place he's ever known to be "home," when he is old enough, Benjamin sets out on his own and has a spate of adventures on the open sea, in war, and in Russia.

Benjamin has a romance with an "older" woman (Swinton) who teaches him much about the realities of romances and he eventually falls in love with a childhood friend (Blanchett) who pops in and out of Benjamin's life. Everyone in the audience quickly surmises that their love is doomed as they really only have a few years where they are the "same" age. The movie does not avoid this - it embraces it in all it's heartbreaking reality. You know exactly where the story must go - and so does Fincher - but he takes you there hypnotically and with mesmerizing willingness.

Like all films, this movie is not without its detractions. The setting of pre-Hurricane Katrina seems slightly forced and will probably date the film in years to come. It never really proves to be an important part of the story anyhow - so it turns into a bit of a question mark as to why it was there at all. The original story took place in a different city anyhow.

Also, there is an inconsistency with how Benjamin ages. When he was born, he was a infant with the physical characteristics of an old man. As he ages, his body gets bigger and his features begin to reverse. This should mean that when he gets much older, he should have the body of an older man, but all the physical characteristics of a baby (smooth skin, no hair, etc.). But his entire body goes into reverse instead and he eventually turns back into a baby. Although one must have a "willing suspension of disbelief" in order to fully enjoy the film, I wish there were a greater sense of continuity.

To surmise, many great movies are driven by visual stimuli and special effects (see: Casino Royale). Some are driven by dialog (see: Pulp Fiction). This movie has those attributes - but it is not what defines the film. This movie is mood piece. The moments of silence and shadows, of subtle expressions, and of impeccable timing are what make this film what it is: a heartbreaking, yet life-affirming examination of the life of a man who touched the lives of others in way that most never truly understood.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

IMDB page: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Big Fish (2003)

The 4-1-1: Stars: Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup, Albert Finney, and Jessica Lange; Director: Tim Burton; Rating: PG-13; Total running time: 125 minutes.

The Venue: DVD at Home and at The Cannon Beach Hotel.

The Preface: Laura has been mentioning this movie to me for some time as something that she thought I'd like. I'll I really knew about the film was that it has Ewan McGregor and was directed by Tim Burton. The first thing I knew didn't scare me so much as the second - but, alas, when a lovely wife insists - what can one do but indulge her and enjoy the film.

The Film: ...and enjoy it I did! The film is a narrative about a son (Crudup) and a father (Finney) who've had an estranged relationship for the past few decades. When the son was a child, the father would regale him with fantastical stories of witches, sporting feats, military bravery, adventures with a giant, and (of course) a big fish that was caught by using a his wedding band. As the boy grew older - he grew weary and tired of the stories and longed to know the truth about his father's past - even if the truth was boring, trite, and dull.

The story moves forward in modern day with the son having moved off to France and married a girl there who is now expecting their first child. He gets an unexpected phone call from his mother (Lange) to say that his dad's health has worsened and he wasn't expected to live much longer. So - in an attempt to reconcile his relationship with his dad and try to find out, once and for all, the truth about who is dad is, he heads home (new wife in tow).

The movie interweaves the father's tales of his past adventures with his son's biting cynicism about how those things could never be possible and continues to press him for more truthful answers.

In many ways, the movie is predictable in how it ends - but not so much in how it gets there. You know that the son and dad are going to reconcile before he dies - but the way in which the story is told to get that to happen in very touching and heartwarming. As is typical of any Tim Burton movie, Helena Bonham Carter has a small role, as does Steve Buschemi and Danny DeVito.

The movie does leave a few questions unanswered, as "Why did he choose to do some of the things he did," and the movie drops a few hints about the reality of some of the more far fetch stories he told - but never really resolves them well. However, I suppose that I can overlook that fact and look to the larger message of the film: people are rarely ever who we want them to be and are often complicated for reasons we may never understand. However, that should have nothing to do with our ability to love and cherish all the people who are important to us and love us back.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.