the incredibles [A]

moviemcpeake snippet: Pixar Rules! Brad Bird, the director/writer brought an incredible family oriented, comic book animated adventure to the audience. Pixar has the uncanny ability of pulling off an adult/child fun fest complete with humor, suspense, romance, and the ultimate overlooked villain. From Toy Story to Monsters Inc, from Finding Nemo to The Incredibles, Pixar keeps the stories fresh, the animation top notch, and the audiences in delight.

This full animation feature, running about two hours, was a fly by the seat of your pants adventure film. The action heroes were original in their powers, and their features and voices fitting. The two lead heros, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, marry and have three children. They are forced to live “normal” lives and like the other heroes, keep their special powers a secret. They hide who they are and no longer use their powers for good because the public deemed all people with powers as unsafe and unwanted. This hiding leaves Mr. Incredible searching for meaning in his life without realizing his search is causing him to neglect his family and miss the wonderful sibling fights complete with shields and electric zaps.

As the story unfolds we find a villain who wants what he can’t have, a hero in trouble, and his family (including his best man Frozone) to save him. Along the way are a few goofy and crazy characters that light up the screen, including Mrs. Hogenson, the fashion designer of the action heroes that had me rolling in stitches. I wanted to adopt the son, hug the daughter, and be the parents of this special family or at least a cousin. The only character flaw I noticed was one of the special powers that a character possessed. It wasn’t fitting and could have been more fun. But overall, the solid storyline that set itself up for future adventures captured my mind and my inner child.

Like all great family classics, there is a moral to the story. The soul of the film if you like. The soul of The Incredibles was just that, incredible. It is a story of how unhappiness plagues you when you are not true to yourself. The Incredible family learned that it is better to be you then to hide your true self. If you wear who you are proudly, people we begin to see that you are no different. I was happy to see such a powerful message being taught at a theater near you.

recommendation: hello! you already better own it.

in america [A-]

moviemcpeake snippet: What a pleasant little film! The story begins as Irish immigrant family adjusts to life in the States. As they settle into a large but run down New York apartment with their two little girls, they find themselves next to a screaming man and plenty of life’s struggles. I really enjoyed how the beginning details are omitted from the story and how the film just focuses on a little snippet of the family’s life. The story is just good and heartwarming as it focuses on trust, love, family, strangers, and simple things. The most poignant part of the film is when the father and mother take their two daughters to the carnival. A scene occurs when the father is trying to win a stuffed toy for his daughter. The amount of trust and understand that the family towards eachother at that moment is astounding, amazing, and beautiful. This film is a treat and a must own classic.

recommendation: see it.

imagine me and you [B+]

moviemcpeake snippet: Quite honestly for a romantic comedy it deserves an A, but overall I think romantic comedies suffer from the cheesy factor which can sometimes take you out of the moment and other times make you feel warm and fuzzy. Who am I kidding, I loved the cheese and the warm fuzzies. This is a great watch again film. A romantic comedy for today's relationships.




recommendation: own and watch with your significant other, whom ever that may be.

empathy [B+]

moviemcpeake snippet: Empathy in short is part fictional - part documentary about psychoanalyst. The film is about getting to the root of therapist thoughts and intertwining it within a character story. I really enjoyed this independent flick. It brought together the psychoanalyst’s process of joining the internal with the external and making the distinction vague and blurred. The main theme of this film was to make the audience unsure of what was real and what was true, what was a projection of thoughts and what was reality. It twisted theory of architecture, psychoanalysis, and the life of a struggling actor into one. I found it extremely entertaining and interesting.

The director, Amie Seigel, probed the psychoanalyst with questions you have always wanted to ask but unsure if you wanted to know the answers. Her filmed almost seemed more like a collection of intimate moments and thoughts, then someone actually saying and thinking these things out loud and for a camera. She plays on vulnerability, which made the audience a bit uncomfortable and surprised by the scene.

The film was a bit lengthy and at times was trying to be too vague/creative/artful with its scenes. There were a few scenes that did not remove your attention from the film but were reaching for something that was not ever going to be there, therefore creating a wasteful transition from one scene to the next. The story itself was intellectual and insightful. It masterfully combined architectural and psychoanalyst theory with a character desperate to break out of her voice over life. The film allowed the audience to “imaginatively step into another’s perspective and consider how things look from over there, as if one were an insider while one is not one in fact.” [Google] In other words the filmed allowed the audience to experience empathy.

recommendation: check it out if you have access to this small but worthy film.

about schmidt [B-]

moviemcpeake snippet: One thing is for sure, my disappointments did not come from the acting. Well, at least Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates. My disappointment came from my boredom in this slow, boring, comedic drama. Now, I know that was the point. Warren Schmidt hadn't lived life. He was slow and boring. I got it. I got the fact he spent his whole life calculating the probability of when people will die based on their geographics and therefore himself never lived. I got the message, but I was still bored.

From time to time I laughed. I kept waiting on the edge of my seat for Kathy Bates to appear on the big silver screen and when she did, I found myself awake again. But she didn't steal the screen long enough and then the movie was over. Schmidt, who was a very pathetic man, is unfortunately how many Americans end up. Retired and nothing to show for (minus the material items). His daughter, which I felt was poorly acted, snubbed him, just as life had - or did he snub life and now wanted it back? Either way it didn't matter to me when I left.

Of course many critics are disagreeing with me. But I really felt it was close to something but in the end it was just a boring film about a boring man. Nicholson and Bates could only carry the movie so far. There was a man's story to tell and lessons to be learned. I guess I would rather learn them from someone else.

recommendation: take it off any list or be a baby boomer to get it.

hotel rwanda [A+]

moviemcpeake snippet: Hotel Rwanda is the film of the year. Heart-felt, courageous, gut-wrenching, and overwhelming. “In 1994, some of the worst atrocities in history took place in Rwanda—yet the events went almost unnoticed by the rest of the world. In only three months, almost one million people were brutally murdered during the Tutsi struggle with the Hutu militia. In the face of these unspeakable actions, Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) summoned extraordinary courage to save the lives of over a thousand helpless refugees by granting them shelter in the four-star hotel he managed in Kigali. Based on a true story.” Plot Outline by Landmark Theaters.

Although Cheadle gave an Oscar worthy performance, the acting was second to the real life events that have been captured by Terry George (Director/co-writer). Filmed on location, George truly captures the courage, fear, and atrocities the citizens of Rwanda experienced. Words can not describe the emotions I felt watching the events unfold and how the western world ignored the cries of help, leaving a million people dead months later.

This genocide was based solely on human differences. Like other genocides, a minority group of people had been singled out, in this case due to lighter skin color and narrower noses. Sounds familiar, huh? The Jewish community singled out by their religion and physical appearance, the black community singled out because of skin color, the list goes on in history of people in masses or individuals being murdered because of a difference. A difference, which can cause a wide spread of ignorance. This continues to spread from citizen to citizen from fear. In the United States alone, we fear third world countries, we fear the man on the bus because he is black, we fear the Muslim woman wearing her head-scarf, we fear the red states, we fear the blue states, we fear our neighbor because she wants to marry her partner, we fear the kids who shave their heads and wear dark make-up, we fear…we fear. This fear eventually turns to hatred. This hatred manifests through propaganda and various leaders. Instead of trying to understand and welcoming these differences we want to remove it, cleanse it, destroy it, change it. As history teaches us, you cannot cleanse and rid difference. Groups singled out, keep fighting to survive, keep fighting to teach understanding. This film shows the audience how a group of humans relying on each other prevailed. We should lend our hand to a fallen brother, not just our brother of faith or our brother of color, but to all brothers. We should embrace our differences and form a stronger country that builds from understanding and acceptance; we should reach out to the world and understand that democracy is yet another difference and not a requirement. We as humans have such little time on Earth. Our roles as human beings are not to destroy one another but to take the time to understand one another.

I encourage everyone to see this film. To watch a group of people being destroyed because of differences. To watch and see that they are like every one else; they have families, they love, they laugh, they cry. We all have families, we all love, laugh, cry, and dream. Inside our dreams is where we are different. Nobody should ever have to experience what the citizens of Rwanda went through in 1994 but everybody should have to learn from it. This film is an experience. An experience of emotions and lessons of the human spirit. Please go and see it.

Additional Information: Director/co-writer Terry George on the heroic efforts of Paul Rusesabagina

high art [A-]

moviemcpeake snippet: So I had a Lisa Cholodenko (Writer/Director) day. On television they were playing Laurel Canyon which was an interesting enough film to warrant me to remove the cellophane off my dvd copy of High Art. And boy am I glad I did.

High Art is a film about a woman torn between her partner of many years, a bad coke habit, and a new woman who wants to help her resurrect her photography career and her love life. It is clear that the main character, Lucy played by Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club), struggles with staying true to her love, photography while trying to find her love in life.

The acting by the three women was splendid. Patrica Clarkson plays Greta the dramatic, over drugged, washed up German actress who has been Lucy’s partner for years. Sheedy, shines at what should have been her comeback role, but nothing much came of it after this film. Radha Mitchell, plays Lucy’s new love and inspiration, Syd. Mitchell carries Syd’s nativity, frailness, and insecurities with poise.

High Art is a wonderfully complex relationship film that gets right to the story and characters. There is no fancy set or camera work to help mold the direction of the film. And none is need, since the story does well in its simplistic surroundings. The realism of the dilemma of love, pleasing one’s mother, and breaking self destructive habits engulf the characters and spits them out leaving them to deal with the actualities of life. It isn’t a gritty film, but a gritty love story, where happy endings are few and far between. Where nothing is prosaic and everything moment seems romantic.

recommendation: a must see for people who love watching films on relationships and people.

crash [A+]

moviemcpeake snippet: Crash is an ensemble film that takes you on an interwoven journey of the character’s struggles. For every action there is a reaction, with every emotion comes another. The film spends two days with the same people as you watch them struggle with healthcare, discrimination, immigration, prejudice, politics, mothers, brothers, children, strangers, emotions, but mostly as each struggles with themselves.

I have never had so many emotions evoked from me when watching a film. The story, the acting, it all caused me to feel the most overwhelming emotions. I cannot even begin to describe to you how this film has mastered the power of affect. My gut wrenched, I felt anger, resentment, I was scared, and at one point I had to do everything in my power to not lose control and start sobbing. Yet, with all the emotions that came to play during the viewing of this film, it also had empowering moments, shear joy, and relief. The constant struggle is what made me feeling like I couldn’t even breathe until the film was finished.

To be able to deal with people on such a gritty basis without over dramatizing it, with out taking away its life in order to display some moral message is how this film won me over. It was subtle and complex but simple at the same time. It didn’t need to tell you, it just showed you. It truly has a life of its own. It is a living, breathing film.

The ensemble loaded with great actors and actors who now have become great because of their performances. Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe, and others come together perfectly to never outshine the other but to all carry the film together. The two that surprise me most are Bullock and Dillon since their careers have not been filled with that many multi-dimensional roles. Dillon was really able to become his character and experience his emotion through his expressions. But all the actors carry their scene flawlessly.

Crash is a must see film. It is a film to talk about. To love, to hate. It is a film that takes you to another world. A world rotating by people’s frustrations, struggles, and prejudices. A world where all it takes is one crash to start a chain effect.

recommendation: see it, own it, give it to others as a gift. this earned many times over the best picture oscar.

charlie and the chocolate factory [B]

moviemcpeake snippet: Ah chocolate. Everybody loves it, except for me of course. Good thing there is more to Willy Wonka’s magical factory than just chocolate.

The remake of a classic is a daunting task. One that Tim Burton has failed and succeeded before. We go from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), but the title change is not the only difference. The latest version of this delightful story brings us to a much faster pace, techno thrill ride. There is a smaller musical quality to it, the void of music is filled with more story. Interestingly enough Charlie and the Chocolate Factory seems more focused on Willy Wonka than Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Johnny Depp shines again. Instead of recreating the legendary Gene Wilder performance, he creates a new Willy, a delicate man with a past, a boy trap in a fantasy world, yet no matter how peculiar, you become enthralled with his idiosyncrasies.

The children, besides Charlie seemed animated. Computerized. Unreal. It was an interesting effect that matched the crudeness of their beings, their actions. Charlie’s family was better represented and well acted. Burton delivered with his usual colorful sets, crazy backdrops, and wonderfully creative ideas.

So were did it go wrong? What did the original do better? The 2005 version is overdone, over-engineered. What happened to showing real chocolate, real candy? There is something about the first one that truly makes you believe this place exists. It made me wonder as a child when I ate Willy Wonka candy if there really was this factory. The remake does not capture this. Too much computer is not always a good thing. Not everything needs to be a special effect. The Oompa Loompa’s were better in the original. Some of my favorite memories of the original are the Oompa Loompa’s songs. In the remake you can barely hear the words over the techno music and there are less words to hear anyway.

But the remake is right in so many ways. The additional storyline, the squirrels, the extra time spent on the characters instead the cheesy “Cheer up Charlie” musical number. Ideally, the next remake will take the 1971 version and 2005 version and create the ultimate Chocolate Factory film. In the end, what better way to spend a hot summer night than in a theater watching Depp master yet another memorable character as he flits about a room where everything is edible?

recommendation: grab the milk duds and enjoy the show.

blue car [B]

moviemcpeake snippet: I like independent films. I like them because they focus on the story, the acting is fresh and real mainly because there are no bullshit special effects clouding these things. "Blue Car," was no different. Agnes Bruckner, a relatively new face on the silver screen, blew me away. Her character stole the show and sparked many emotions in me. She portrays an 18 year old high school student, Meg, with a broken home. She deals with her emotions through words. Her English AP professor takes interest in her abilities and offers his mind to help her win a poetry contest. Eventually this takes Meg down many roads but the only road she wants to be on is the road to her father who has been in and out of her life since the divorce.

The story had its twist and turns but at times it lost my attention. The story itself was strong, pungent, but some of it was lost when too much was added. Too many characters that were not important were introduced. This movie was about Meg. Meg, her teacher, and her family (or lack of). There were other characters: friends, friend's brothers, her mom's friends, etc. that kept coming and going but I never thought they brought anything new to the story, they just reiterated what the audience already knew and this caused for the film to drag in a few places.

Overall, I was not disappointed. I enjoyed seeing David Strathairn. Although it was a role that reminded me of his part in Dolores Claiborne, he kept you on your toes about his intentions and once again had the ability to make your blood boil. I will look forward to seeing what comes of Bruckner. I think she has real potential and carried the movie well. If it is a real film you crave this summer, something that lacks a hollywood ending, lacks the luster of a big budget episode, or has not already been done, then hop into your "blue car" and let this film take you on a real ride.

recommendation: take a ride in the blue car.

birth [B]

moviemcpeake snippet: Birth is a captivatingly dull film. The premise is about a woman who is grieving for her lost husband is approached by a young boy who claims to be her husband. The film is quiet and drab. Yet, manages to still be intriguing. The film’s dialog is controlled by it’s non-verbal. The scenery is plain; the costumes are plain, the characters, who are elite socialites, are boring. But yet somehow I found my eyes gripping the screen.

Nicole Kidman gave a wonderful performance. Arguably one of the best scenes ever filmed/acted in a movie exists in Birth. While the orchestra is performing, the camera focuses in on just Kidman’s face. We watch her for what seems like minutes react only by expressions to the boy claiming to be her dead husband.

The relationship between the woman and a 10 year old boy is uncomfortable. Something seems off about each of the characters. The boy, played by Cameron Bright, was chilling and confusing. Yet everything seems perfect for each frame. At the end, you want to discuss it. You want to watch again for its subtle nuances that you know must exist. Although Birth is clearly not a film for the masses, it has a great independent feel.

recommendation: experience for the odd appeal when in the mood for a slow film.

bewitched [C]

moviemcpeake snippet: A romantic comedy. The weakest genre of movies. Once movies get the label romantic comedy, I think the writers, director, producers feel they can slack on story and just make it cute enough that 50% of the population will see. 50% being women, who will inevitable, drag their men to theaters. Some turn out ok or at least classics. The ones that are great are the ones that slapped the genre of drama or dark comedy because they didn’t want their film tainted with the romantic comedy label (understandably). Even Meg Ryan, the woman who made romantic comedies so successful has turned her back to them. So is Bewitched different? No. If you are a romantic comedy junkie (not that there is anything wrong with that), you will like it. If you loath romantic comedies, you will loath this movie as well.

I was hoping, Nicole Kidman would be worthy enough to carry the movie. I was hoping, since I liked the television series, I would enjoy this movie. I was not expecting an Oscar winner or anything close but I was hoping for a B rated movie. Besides, Will Farrell can be funny. Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine, round out the film as two other Oscar winners, bringing the total to three. Doesn’t that mean the film should be good?

I thought, maybe the actors just wanted to be part of a fun light-hearted movie. But it didn’t even look like they were having fun. Kidman looked a bit out of place, although she handles the cute romantic comedy leading role well. Farrell is awkward, which IS his humor style but it feels too real and makes it a bit creepy. Together, Kidman and Farrell never really seemed to have any on screen chemistry. Their romantic scenes were painful and forced. Caine, the charming father did fine, although he didn’t steal any scenes or leave an impression. But Caine has proven he likes to dabble in questionable films. Some end up being guilty pleasures, others make you wonder how one can balance such a strong actor career with such solid C movies. MacLaine, had the role that could have made the movie. She could have provided all the comic relief of the entire film, but her role was over the top and not in a funny way.

The storyline was weak, forced, but amusing. Yes, I did chuckle and often and my least favorite type of movies are romantic comedies. In general they tend to have weak storylines and unbelievable cheese endings. Bewitched, I’m afraid, is no different. If I want something unbelievable, I want to see the future, something whimsical, action, or great special effects, not a real witch playing a TV witch who ends up marrying an egoistical washed up actor.

recommendation: don't bother, just watch the reruns on tv.

batman begins [A-]

moviemcpeake snippet: We always wondered “where does he get those wonderful toys?” Batman Begins takes us on a remarkable, believable story of how a man transforms into a legendary bat. The film takes us through the journey of how Bruce Wayne turns to the dark side, battles his demons, balances good and evil and most importantly, how he gets his toys.

The film delivered more than I expected. It was dark. It was Gotham, it was frightening, it was suspenseful, it was action, and the best part, it didn’t feel overloaded with special effects, yet so cool. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery, as the director transformed the city of Chicago into Gotham. It was so great to see the buildings I pass on a regular day be the buildings that batman flies by and the Gotham public train maneuvers through. More films should be filmed in this great city.

Batman Begins carries well its balanced, explained, yet complicated story. The acting by the lead, Christian Bale, is wonderful. He is a great batman. He pulls off the playful façade of Wayne and the dark tortured soul of Batman. Michael Caine, is endearing as Alfred. The favorite is Morgan Freeman appearing on the screen. He is funny, intelligent, and stole each scene he was in (typical for Freeman). Katie Holmes was distracting. Not because she lacks talent, but unfortunately because I could not seem to separate her character from the real Katie Holmes. The only area I would have liked to improve was having the story and characters better align with Batman (1989). Clearly Batman Begins wanted nothing to do with the other Batman movies (understandably so), but if you look at all the Batman movies, the first one Tim Burton directed with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson was a worthy adversary. It was dark, it had a great story, and although the joker was cartoonish, the film balanced the villain well. I should say, Nicholson carried the joker extremely well. But Batman Begins holds its own and would rather be considered on its own, which it does flawlessly.

Batman Begins appeared to be just another typical summer blockbuster movie. Loaded by outrageous budgets, actors, and action, summer blockbusters satisfy our material needs. Batman Begins turns out to be much more than a materialistic number one movie. The special effects take a back seat to the story. Not because the effects are weak or lacking but because the film actually focuses on character development and story. It becomes a journey of soul searching and confliction that anyone who has lost a loved one can empathize. For a summer blockbuster without the Hollywood glitter but loaded with dark drama and a great plot, start your journey at Batman’s beginning.

recommendation: if you collect toys (DVDs) then collect this one.

all about eve [A+]

moviemcpeake snippet: Yes. I gave this timeless black and white classic an A+. What a pleasant surprise. I have owned the DVD for a few months now and only purchased it because of my admiration for the leading actress, Bette Davis. But this film is loaded with acting, story, characters, complications, deceit…I could go on.

To my surprise All About Eve which is about a character named Eve, is not played by Bette Davis. She is played by a much younger actress, named Anne Baxter. The film is about a seasoned famous theatrical actress nearing her forties, played by Davis that befriends a young fan, Eve. Eve is humble, yet obsessive about helping and studying Margo. I watched on the edge of my seat as the men and the women hid their fears and insecurities, and revealed all as they back stabbed.

This film was nominated for a record 14 Oscar nominations. The record has since only been tied by Titanic, which says worlds about this film which has no special effects, no action and all story and character development.

Davis and Baxter shine as on screen duos. Davis is so cool and temperamental. So strong and vulnerable. There are so many quotable phrases in this film. So many wonderful lines. The supporting cast is tremendous with the legendary Thelma Ritter leading the way who always seems to play the same character that you love to see pop in and out of the scenes with her wicked humor. Marilyn Monroe’s first on screen appearance comes early on in the film and although she doesn’t steal the scene you immediately notice her as her character uses her sex appeal to get auditions.

All About Eve is art imitating life. It revived Davis’s career and did something for women no other filmed had achieved, allowed them to have multi-dimensional leading roles after their forties. It is clearly a classic as the relationships and the story grab your attention fifty-five years later. Davis is so iconic that it never gets old watching her temper, her movement, and those eyes. Those Bette Davis eyes.

recommendation: own and watch again and again.

alexandras project [C+]

moviemcpeake snippet: This film definitely had the weird factor. It also had a unique story that I have never seen anything like. It is haunting but also has a “what the f**k” quality to it. Alexandra’s Project is about a husband who is having a great birthday. He comes home to expect his surprise party to end his wonderful day. What he gets is a surprise, but nothing near a party. His wife leaves him a tape to watch and through careful plotting can force him to watch it even though she is only on the tv.

The contents of the tape are what make this film edgy and surprising. You learn of the wife’s view of their relationship and her heartaches. But the film reaches. Can one be driven that mad by their husband? Mad yes, but that mad? Doubtful. Which is why I was never completely lost in this story. Although it rang in my memory hours later. A bit of a thriller for sure.

Is this film worth viewing? Possibly. If you borrow the dvd or if is on IFC. It wan’t a bad film. It just didn’t have a lot to it nor did it really add anything to my film obsession or collection. This project needed a bit more work.

recommendation: indifferent.

million dollar baby [A+]

moviemcpeake snippet: Extraordinary. Riveting. Inspiring. "Million Dollar Baby" exudes what every film tries to capture. It starts with a riveting story written by Paul Haggis. Maggie Fitzgerald (Swank), a thirty-one year old girl, who is seeking to be trained by the washed up, chip on his shoulder, boxing trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood). Growing up in the trashiest of trash, she doesn’t want to learn, she has to learn to live. The two lead characters could not be more different. Maggie, instead of focusing on her past and her current situation, turns her life to what she loves, boxing. Frankie, weighed down with the mistakes and choices he made in the past, he barely survives in the present. This story is about how a common love bonds them together and brings them into a world that they both could only dream about.

No review I write, can do this story and these three actors justice. Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, and Morgan Freeman seemed to be born to play these parts. Freeman sets the tone for the entire film as the gym assistant and story narrator. Where he shines as the backroom conscience for Eastwood’s Frankie and the helping hand to Swank’s Maggie. His voice throughout the film provides a constant level of hope, comfort, and calmness as he adds a personal touch in each transition. Eastwood, puts an exclamation point to his already brilliant career as Actor and Director. He not only acted wonderfully as the chip on the shoulder trainer Frankie, he shines as the films eyes and ears as Director, Producer, and Score. Swank. Oh my! How she transforms herself time after time is amazing. She truly understands the complexity of the women she portrays by bringing out their simplest traits. Her portrayal embodies the character, from the accent, to the training, to the light in her eyes that shines as Maggie.

"Million Dollar Baby" is a story worth a Million bucks. It makes you feel, it makes you reflect, it makes you know that all dreams are possible. To make them happen you have to find your Maggie, your grit deep within, to follow your dream even if no one else can see it.

recommendation: own it. show it to your daughters, sons, mothers, and fathers.