****
Big Brother as the ultimate voyeur is not remarkable in the course of human history.
Though Orwell’s 1984 warned about the evils of big government, and currently everyone’s all freaked out about the Patriot Act, saving our own skin for the sake of a philosophical/political belief, is not a new occurrence. Spying on one another and ratting out friends and family predates even Judas. And, during the darkest period of the Dark Ages folks regularly turned over entire groups of people to the Inquisitor. In our country this despicable act has names like The Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism. But, it is compelling to watch this unfold as human drama and the German film, The Lives Of Others, lets us be the voyeurs to this loathsome practice.
In East Germany, before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Gerd Weisler (Ulriche Muhe) is a captain in the Communitists’ secret police; the Stasi. His superior (Ulrich Tukur) orders him to install surveillance on Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), a celebrated playwright who lives with the beautiful actress Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck). While secretly listening in on the two, Gerd becomes addicted to the events in their lives. Gerd, a strict party man, leads a drab, solitary existence and while listening to these two he learns about love, relationships, corruption, power, deception and betrayal, and a metamorphosis takes place. He hides incriminating evidence and falsifies official records to help Georg and Christa, but eventually they are found out and him with them.
This Cold War political thriller that revolves around the state’s control of people’s lives is an intensely human drama that leaves one with the complete appreciation of the evils of communism. The script is subtle which leads to a feeling that the film is a tad long. But, the cast is superb and writer/director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s touch is deft giving the film an atmosphere that creates an almost intense claustrophobia.
In the directors comments von Donnersmarck remarks, “As a young boy, I found it interesting and exciting to feel the fear of adults during our visits to East Berlin. My parents were afraid when they crossed the border…and our friends from East Germany were afraid when others saw that they were speaking with us.” That fear of being watched, judged and juried out of sight is conveyed so well in this film that it won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film last year. The Lives Of Others is must see film.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Charlie Wilson's War
***
It’s not difficult for Hollywood to devise fictional, over-the-top characters to populate films. But, seldom do we see a historical recreation where the personalities display unmagnified character with such faithful observance to reality. In the impressively star-stocked celluloid, Charlie Wilson’s War, true-to-life characters abound and Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a roguish Congressional swashbuckler, gives weight to the old saw that fact is stranger than fiction.
Texas Congressman Wilson is portrayed as a two-fisted womanizer who stays in touch with his constituency, doesn’t make unnecessary waves in Congress, votes “Yes,” a lot and in return possess a significant number of I.O.U.’s. In reality, this is exactly what the real Charlie Wilson was like. Known as the “Liberal from Lufkin,” he fought for utility regulation, Medicaid, rights for the elderly, the Equal Rights Amendment and was one of the few Texas politicians who supported pro-choice. He was also a notorious drinker, earning the nick-name “Good Time Charlie.”
Under the direction of Mike Nichols, the film reveals how Wilson, with the aid of CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and support from Christian socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), successfully maneuvers the Unites States into a covert war with Russia. Personally gripped by the struggles of the poorly armed Mujahideen of Afghanistan against the devastating might of the Russian Army, Charlie devises a clandestine operation that eventually leads to defeat of the Soviets in their own Vietnam style war. From Wilson’s Capitol Hill escapades to his series of odd political bedfellows everything about this legendary story is engaging.
Other than a couple of animation voice-overs (The Ant Bully, Charlottes Web), this is Roberts first film outing since 2004’s Ocean’s Twelve and she’s wonderful in the role of a woman who’s not only rich but on a mission. Since seeing this film I’ve read a bit about Charlie Wilson and Hanks nails the pirate charm of Wilson right to mast. Along with these two Golden Globe nominations the third is Philip Seymour Hoffman in what I believe is one of his best rolls ever, but I say that every time I see him on screen.
This story of Cold War politics harkens back to a day when all we had to worry about was the 28,240 nuclear warheads Russia had aimed at us. It’s a funny story right up to the end when we are reminded that if our efforts to help the Afghan people had extended past weapons, maybe to schools, infrastructure, health and industry, we might be living in a brightly different world today.
It’s not difficult for Hollywood to devise fictional, over-the-top characters to populate films. But, seldom do we see a historical recreation where the personalities display unmagnified character with such faithful observance to reality. In the impressively star-stocked celluloid, Charlie Wilson’s War, true-to-life characters abound and Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a roguish Congressional swashbuckler, gives weight to the old saw that fact is stranger than fiction.
Texas Congressman Wilson is portrayed as a two-fisted womanizer who stays in touch with his constituency, doesn’t make unnecessary waves in Congress, votes “Yes,” a lot and in return possess a significant number of I.O.U.’s. In reality, this is exactly what the real Charlie Wilson was like. Known as the “Liberal from Lufkin,” he fought for utility regulation, Medicaid, rights for the elderly, the Equal Rights Amendment and was one of the few Texas politicians who supported pro-choice. He was also a notorious drinker, earning the nick-name “Good Time Charlie.”
Under the direction of Mike Nichols, the film reveals how Wilson, with the aid of CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and support from Christian socialite Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), successfully maneuvers the Unites States into a covert war with Russia. Personally gripped by the struggles of the poorly armed Mujahideen of Afghanistan against the devastating might of the Russian Army, Charlie devises a clandestine operation that eventually leads to defeat of the Soviets in their own Vietnam style war. From Wilson’s Capitol Hill escapades to his series of odd political bedfellows everything about this legendary story is engaging.
Other than a couple of animation voice-overs (The Ant Bully, Charlottes Web), this is Roberts first film outing since 2004’s Ocean’s Twelve and she’s wonderful in the role of a woman who’s not only rich but on a mission. Since seeing this film I’ve read a bit about Charlie Wilson and Hanks nails the pirate charm of Wilson right to mast. Along with these two Golden Globe nominations the third is Philip Seymour Hoffman in what I believe is one of his best rolls ever, but I say that every time I see him on screen.
This story of Cold War politics harkens back to a day when all we had to worry about was the 28,240 nuclear warheads Russia had aimed at us. It’s a funny story right up to the end when we are reminded that if our efforts to help the Afghan people had extended past weapons, maybe to schools, infrastructure, health and industry, we might be living in a brightly different world today.
Across The Universe
****
In my mind, musicals like Moulin Rouge, First Night and Once are Nuevo Musicals. This fairly new thing of mixing pop music with narrative story telling is not really the creation of a musical, in the order of the recently released Sweeny Todd, but still, these films are musical in their intent. If you like Nuevo Musicals, the Beatles, and didn’t flat line during the ’60’s then director Julie Taymor’s (Frida, Broadway’s The Lion King) “Across The Universe” will leave you flying high.
The film opens with some of the early Beatles tunes paying homage to what I believe is the best of the Fab Four. One scene here is even shot in the old Cavern Club, famous as the Liverpool home stage to the group. From that point it’s your regular boy-meets-girl story taking a quick turn when we meet Prudence, a sexy high-school cheerleader whose lesbian desires are revealed during her rendition of I Wanna Hold Your Hand. Throughout the story the primary characters are either named after a Beatles song: Lucy (Even Rachael Wood) Lucy In The Sky, Jude (Jim Sturgess) Hey Jude, Sadie (Dana Fuchs) Sexy Sadie and Jo-Jo (Martin Luther McCoy), or they represent an historical character or composite of characters from that period.
The narrative portion of the story is fairly remedial, but what is one supposed to do in the daunting face of dealing with music from the greatest band of all time and some of the best music ever written. Taymor does what she does best. Rather than spending a lot of needless time trying to out write or out maneuver the music she gets creative where she’s the best and that’s the musical numbers. There is some awesome talent with this young cast and Taymor finds a way to use everyone’s talent in the musical numbers that run from simple to the psychedelic absurd.
Along with the superb cast is a portfolio of cameos that includes Salma Hayek as five different nurses (as if one wouldn’t be enough), Bono as Dr. Roberts, Joe Cocker in three different roles and Eddie Izzard as Mr. Kite. Nuevo Musical or not, he respectful manner which Taymor and the cast perform this endearing music makes you want to search out your old peace sign necklace put it on and flip a few peace signs. Peace.
In my mind, musicals like Moulin Rouge, First Night and Once are Nuevo Musicals. This fairly new thing of mixing pop music with narrative story telling is not really the creation of a musical, in the order of the recently released Sweeny Todd, but still, these films are musical in their intent. If you like Nuevo Musicals, the Beatles, and didn’t flat line during the ’60’s then director Julie Taymor’s (Frida, Broadway’s The Lion King) “Across The Universe” will leave you flying high.
The film opens with some of the early Beatles tunes paying homage to what I believe is the best of the Fab Four. One scene here is even shot in the old Cavern Club, famous as the Liverpool home stage to the group. From that point it’s your regular boy-meets-girl story taking a quick turn when we meet Prudence, a sexy high-school cheerleader whose lesbian desires are revealed during her rendition of I Wanna Hold Your Hand. Throughout the story the primary characters are either named after a Beatles song: Lucy (Even Rachael Wood) Lucy In The Sky, Jude (Jim Sturgess) Hey Jude, Sadie (Dana Fuchs) Sexy Sadie and Jo-Jo (Martin Luther McCoy), or they represent an historical character or composite of characters from that period.
The narrative portion of the story is fairly remedial, but what is one supposed to do in the daunting face of dealing with music from the greatest band of all time and some of the best music ever written. Taymor does what she does best. Rather than spending a lot of needless time trying to out write or out maneuver the music she gets creative where she’s the best and that’s the musical numbers. There is some awesome talent with this young cast and Taymor finds a way to use everyone’s talent in the musical numbers that run from simple to the psychedelic absurd.
Along with the superb cast is a portfolio of cameos that includes Salma Hayek as five different nurses (as if one wouldn’t be enough), Bono as Dr. Roberts, Joe Cocker in three different roles and Eddie Izzard as Mr. Kite. Nuevo Musical or not, he respectful manner which Taymor and the cast perform this endearing music makes you want to search out your old peace sign necklace put it on and flip a few peace signs. Peace.
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