Movie Reviews
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(*Updated 02/07/10*)
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Terribly Happy
Directed by Henrik Ruben Genz.
In Danish with subtitles. Based on the novel by Erling Jepsen. Robert (Jakob Cedergren), a police officer, transfers to Skarrild, a small town in Denmark, after suffering from a nervous breakdown and committing some sort of misdeed back in Copenhagen. He calls his wife every now and then and leaves messages on her machine, but she repeatedly doesn’t pick up the phone or call him back. When a young boy gets caught shoplifting for the second time, Robert learns that the law enforcement in Skarrild prefers to use violence and aggressive over standard protocol, so he’s told to hit the boy instead of to arrest him. He meets Ingelise (Lene Maria Christensen), a woman who’s abused by her domineering, alcoholic husband, Jorgen (Kim Bodnia). Ingelise seeks comfort from Robert and, soon, they have a secret, sexually-charged love affair. Director/co-writer Henrik Ruben Genz combines gritty action, psychological thrills, suspense, drama and dark humor in a very smooth, compelling and refreshingly intriguing way that’s very Coen-esque and even Lynchian in its different tones. Just when you think the plot will veer in a particular direction, it suddenly shifts gears and surprises you with its twists. To explain the events that occur as a result of the love affair between Robert and Ingelise would spoil the surprises. If the screenplay weren’t so organic, filled with intricate details and well-developed characters, the twists would seem gimmicky and contrived rather than clever and realistic within the context of the narrative itself. In the most crime thrillers nowadays, i.e. Edge of Darkness, the first act follows with a mediocre second act and then onto a convoluted, messy third act. Here, though, the transition from one act to the other seems smooth and consistently well-written without insulting your intelligence or creating nausea through confusion and convoluted subplots. Moreover, Jakob Cedergen gives a solid performance that masters Robert’s toughness as a police officer as well as his fragility as a human being with a moral conscience. At a running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, Terribly Happy manages to be a taut, intriguing and refreshingly well-crafted crime thriller brimming with many clever twists and turns. Number of times I checked my watch: 0 Released by Oscilloscope Laboratories. Now playing at the Angelika Film Center. 
North Face
Directed by Philipp Stölzl.
In German, French and Italian with subtitles. Based on a true story. In Germany 1936, Henry Arau (Ulrich Tukur) a member of the Third Reich, works as a publisher for a German newspaper, Berliner Zeitung. The Nazi Party wants to find talented mountain climbers who could scale the north face of the Eiger Mountain located in the French Alps to boost its reputation throughout the world right before the Berlin Olympics begin. Henry’s editorial secretary, Luise Fellner (Johanna Wokalek), happens to know of two men willing to climb that treacherous slope under freezing conditions, so, to please the Nazi Party, Henry gives her the task of finding those two men and persuading them to go on that life-threatening journey. Andi Hinterstoisser (Florian Lukas) and Toni Kurz (Benno Fuermann), Luise’s former boyfriend, agree to the challenge despite the fact that two climbers had froze to death on the Eiger a year ago. Two Austrian climbers, Willy Angerer (Simon Schwarz) and Edi Rainer (Georg Friedrich), also scale the Eiger to race them to the top, but they soon join along with them. What ensues is an adventure that’s often gripping, harrowing and breathtaking to watch. Director/co-writer Philipp Stölzl allows the tension to build gradually, but once it becomes very suspenseful, it stays that way as you’re wondering if and how those climbers will survive the elements. You’ll feel so engrossed into the incredibly realistic action sequences that you’ll think you’re watching documentary footage. It’s also worth mentioning that Stölzl includes a gentle touch of humor along the way which nicely balances the intense, heavier moments throughout. The scenery seems like a character of its own and a deceptive one at that: it appears very serene and beautiful at times, but within a matter of minutes, it can turn into hell on earth. At a running time of just over 2 hours, North Face, manages to be suspenseful, meticulously crafted, harrowing and thrilling. It’s an incredible true story about courage and the power of the human spirit. Number of times I checked my watch: 0 Released by Music Box Films. Now playing at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, The Beekman Theatre and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas. 
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith.
This captivating and thrilling documentary focuses on Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst who leaked top-secret documents, known as the Pentagon Papers, to the New York Times back in 1971. The 7,000-page document contained very sensitive information about how the U.S. government dealt with the Vietnam War. He graduated from Harvard University in 1962 and came up with the decision theory that’s referred to as the “Ellsberg paradox.” After serving two years in the Vietnam War and witnessing many casualties from both sides of the battle which have haunted him to this very day, he then joined RAND (Research and Development) Corporation, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, under Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. It’s at this point that Ellsberg essentially had a crisis of conscience and began to realize that the war in Vietnam was unjust. In 1967, McNamara commissioned him to examine secret government documents, the “Pentagon Papers,” which highly classified information and transcripts proving that the Vietnam War was based on the U.S. government’s propaganda and lies to the public. Co-directors Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith do an expert job of combining background information about Ellsberg that lead up to that history-changing moment in 1971. The many interviews, including those of Ellsberg himself, are quite fascinating, lively and illuminating. To top it all off, you’ll find very stylish and suspenseful reenactments of Ellsberg photocopying the Pentagon Papers with the help of his kids before giving it to The New York Times which published different sections of it in a series of articles. Just to observe how the government reacted to that leak will send chills down the average American’s spine, but it won’t be so surprising for everyone else who knows just how corrupt our government was back then and how it’s even more so today because of George W. Bush’s use of fascist shifts to close down our democracy. Ellsberg is an exemplar of the ideal American patriot who doesn’t let apathy get in the way of finding the heart, brain and, above all, courage to do what’s truly moral and just for his own beloved country and its people. At a running time of only 92 minutes, The Most Dangerous Man in America manages to be a provocative, thrilling, well-edited and thoroughly captivating documentary. Number of times I checked my watch: 0 Released by First Run Features. Now playing at the Cinema Village. 
The White Ribbon
Directed by Michael Haneke.
In German with subtitles. In 1913, a year before World War I commences, a series of mysterious, tragic events plague Eichwald, a small, rural village in Germany. The village doctor (Rainer Bock) became seriously injured after falling down from his horse as it crossed a path that had a wire that caused it to trip. Who placed the wire there? What might be their motivation(s)? Adding to the mystery, no one can find the wire that supposedly was there. While the doctor recuperates in another village, Mrs. Wagner (Susanne Lothar), the midwife and mother of Karli (Eddy Grahl), takes care of his children, Anna (Roxane Duran) and younger brother, Rudolph (Miljan Chatelain). Klara (Maria-Victoria Dragus) and Martin (Leonard Proxauf), the children of the village’s Protestant pastor (Burghart Klaussner), offer to keep Anna and Rudolph company. A farmer’s wife dies after falls through the rotten floorboards of a sawmill belonging to the farmer’s boss, the Baron (Ulrich Tukur), and, soon enough, the blame is placed on the Baron for the “accident”. Someone beats up Baron’s son, Sigi (Fion Mutert), in retaliation for that event. In another subplot, the new local schoolteacher (Christian Friedel) courts Eva (Leonie Benesch), the 17-year-old nanny at the Baron’s estate. Writer/director Michael Haneke has woven a very intricate and elliptical mystery drama that, at times, feels psychologically horrifying because you never really know what kind of tragic event will occur next or who/whom should take the blame for that matter. He builds the tension very gradually and wisely doesn’t spoon-feed revealing information about the mystery to the audience. The tragic events themselves aren’t displayed onscreen, so there’s always more questions than answer. In turn, you’ll be questioning the true motive(s) of each character, even the seemingly innocent ones. Should you trust the narrator (voice of Ernst Jacobi), the older version of schoolteacher speaking to the audience from years later? Attentive audience members should pay close attention to the pastor’s dialogue, especially when he talks to his children about the loss of innocence and purity, enhancing the meaning of the film’s allegoric title. Each of the child actors gives a compelling performance which will make you forget that this actually marks their feature film debut. Haneke also leaves out a musical score and includes a lush, hauntingly beautiful black-and-white cinematography with so much visual richness that every scene could easily be paused, admired and studied as if it were a painting. At a running time of 2 hours and 24 minutes, The White Ribbon manages to be engrossing, suspenseful and quietly haunting with exquisite cinematography and meticulous attention to detail. Number of times I checked my watch: 0 Released by Sony Pictures Classics. Now playing at the Film Forum and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas. 
The Messenger: Please click here to read an interview with director/co-writer Oren Moverman.
Up in the Air
Directed by Jason Reitman.
Based on the novel by Walter Kirn. Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) works as a corporate downsizing expert who travels all around America to fire employees face-to-face. He also spends some of his time giving motivational speeches about how to get rid of life’s burdens which he equates to a heavy backpack that needs to be emptied out. Julie (Melanie Lynskey), his younger sister whom he hasn’t seen in quite some time, sends him an invitation to her wedding, and his older sister, Kara (Amy Morton), wants him to photograph cardboard cutouts of Julie and her fiancé, Jim (Danny McBride), in front of as many famous locations that he travels to as possible. At an airport lounge, Ryan meets Alex (Vera Farmiga), a sexy woman whose job also requires her to travel frequently. Soon enough, they sleep together and check their busy schedules to make plans to see each other again. His lifestyle changes when his boss, Craig (Jason Bateman), asks him to train Natalie (Anna Kendrick), a young woman fresh out of grad school who, despite her inexperience, impresses everyone except Ryan about how firing employees through a video conference that would cut significant costs for the company. She tags along with Ryan and gradually learns the harsh realities of what it’s actually like to fire employees. Director/co-writer Jason Reitman, who previously directed Juno and Thank You for Smoking, deftly blends comedy, drama, tragedy and romance with witty and clever dialogue that’s quite biting. For example, at one point, Alex tells Ryan to think of her as himself with a vagina, and, in another scene, Ryan tells Natalie that he stereotypes likes his mother because it’s more efficient. Everyone gives an engaging performance, but the standouts here are Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick who exude plenty of charisma onscreen. Alex comes across as an intelligent and charming woman who’s not just easy on the eyes, so it’s not difficult to grasp what Ryan sees in her to begin with that makes him consider changing his way of thinking about love. Reitman also includes a very well-chosen, lively soundtrack and slick, impressive cinematography that shows beautiful aerial shots of each city that Ryan travels to. Most importantly, there’s a very gentle message about the value of family and compassion for others within the hustle-and-bustle of this cold, often impersonal world where technology advances while human to human relationships struggle to remain intact. At a running time of 1 hour and 49 minutes, Up in the Air manages to be smart, quietly moving and funny with charismatic, lively performances and a witty screenplay. Be sure to stick around through the end credits to listen to the beautiful title song written by an unemployed musician, Kevin Renick. Number of times I checked my watch: 0 Released by Paramount Pictures. Now playing at the Regal Union Square 14 and AMC Loews Lincoln Square. Opens wider on December 11th and nationwide on Christmas Day. 
Avatar
Directed by James Cameron.
In the year 2154, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), an ex-marine, goes on a special mission for the U.S. military to travel to explore the Na’vi, an alien species who live on a distant moon, Pandora. Dr.Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), a scientist, has helped to develop a technology that allows for humans to be transported into the body of a Na’vi replica, also known as an “avatar,” while asleep. Jake gets the chance to walk again as a 10-foot tall Na’vi avatar on Pandora. Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) wants him to infiltrate the Na’vi in order to gather information about them for an aggressive military strategy that involves mining their precious forests for a mineral, Unobtainium, whether they choose to evacuate or not. Meanwhile, Jake gradually falls in love with a female Na’vi warrior, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), who initially treats him with hostility, but eventually becomes his guide as he learns about the way of life for the Na’vi on Pandora. He also discovers their profound connection to nature, which the U.S. military is in the process of destroying. Giovanni Ribisi nails his role as insensitive, greedy commander Parker Selfridge, who refuses to grasp the concept that Pandora’s trees represent more than just trees for the Na’vis. Michelle Rodriguez plays the role of Trudy Chacon, a helicopter pilot, with panache in her brief scenes. Writer/director James Cameron deftly combines action, drama and romance with environmental and political messages that are quite provocative. He wisely doesn’t open the film with a lengthy battle sequence nor does he spend too much time with standard exposition that you’d find in the first act. A famous director once stated that the basic elements that turn a sci-fi action thriller into a classic are the story and the characters; the special effects will be worthless after ten years. Avatar happens to have memorable characters and a compelling story. Once Jake becomes the avatar, you’ll find yourself transported into an amazing world filled with vivid colors and an alien species that not may not look like they’re human, but, as it turns out, have much more in common with humans than expected. There’s much more to them, especially to Neytiri, than meets the eye. Sure, the plot seems deceptively simple and sound reminiscent of Dances with Wolves and Pocahontas, but its derivative quality doesn’t take away from its entertainment value. You’ll often find yourself exhilarated, thrilled and immersed by the captivating story. The relationship between Jake and Neytiri may not be particularly organic and well-devoloped, but at least they both have a modicum of romantic chemistry that won’t make you roll your eyes. Moreover, Cameron includes easy-to-follow action sequences that don’t become nauseating along with dazzling visual effects which provide for plenty of eye candy, especially in glorious IMAX 3D. At a running time of 2 hours and 42 minutes, Avatar never overstays its welcome and manages to be a brilliant, visual extravaganza that’s simultaneously thrilling, provocative and surprisingly moving. It’s destined to become a sci-fi classic.Number of times I checked my watch: 0 Released by Twentieth Century Fox. Opens nationwide. 
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