In the movie Gray Matters, Gray (Heather Graham) and Sam (Thomas Cavanaugh) are the best of friends, and get along so well and cutesy that they are often mistaken for a couple. They live together, go out together, and even finish eachother’s sentences. But they’re not a couple, but rather, they are brother and sister.

Their relationship is great, and the two are getting along happily, but the more often that people mistake them for a couple, the more terrified they become that they’ll never find their special someone. So finally, they decided to branch out and try to meet someone. They agree that bars are out of the question, and decided to head to the local dog park. There’s one problem though, they don’t have a dog. So they ask a kid to borrow his dog for a bit, and soon enough Gray spots her brother Sam checking someone out, Charlie (Bridget Moynahan). Gray decides to go over to her and give her a preliminary “interview” to find out if she’d be good for her brother. Amazingly, she’s everything he’s looking for and even Gray is impressed. So Gray convinces Sam to ask her out, and Charlie actually agrees!

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Luc Besson’s 2005 fantasy is getting a belated theatrical release in the U.S., paving the way for its DVD release. The film was Besson’s first directorial effort since his ambitious Joan of Arc epic failed at the box office, with Besson busy writing and producing in the intervening years. Angel-A, pronounced like the name of the angel of the film, Angela, is a trifle in comparison with Besson’s previous films like Leon (The Professional) or La Femme Nikita. What it has going for it is some beautiful black and white, wide screen imagery, a disorienting tourist’s eye view of Paris and some of its landmarks. Besson even incorporates bits of other angel movies into his story, notably It’s A Wonderful Life and Wings of Desire.

The short, swarthy Andre plans to jump into the Seine, unable to pay off the two different gangsters he owes money. The tall, blonde and beautiful Angela is also on the bridge, and jumps first. Andre saves her, and the two argue about whether life is worth living. Angela acts as Andre’s angel, initially in the symbolic sense, gradually revealing her true identity.

Unlike so many of Besson’s films that he has either directed himself, or had others direct from his screenplays, Angel-A is dialogue heavy. The banter is the kind that is reminiscent of the great screwball comedies. Maybe something got lost in the translation to subtitles, as the dialogue is less engaging than what is found in the talk heavy movies of someone like French filmmaker Eric Rohmer. There are some funny exchanges between Andre and Angela, but there is not enough of the action that usually characterizes Besson’s films. I even missed the silly antics of the Besson written and produced Taxi (the original, not the wretched remake with Jimmy Fallon).

While there are a few chuckles from the contrasting heights of the six foot Rie Rassmussen with the much shorter Jamal Debbouze, the joke wears wears thin quickly. Besson, whose previous films are noted for their odd couples, especially Leon’s Jean Reno with Natalie Portman, is less inventive here. Looking back at Besson’s films, they are often about two outsiders, a male and female, who in some way attempt to save each other. As a screenwriter, Luc Besson has been extraordinarily prolific, and perhaps this may explain why Angel-A is less interesting than Besson’s earlier films, made before his attention was spread to several simultaneous projects. Angel-A is a gorgeous film to watch, but often I would wish that Besson would return to his previous mode of more guns and less talk.

Tonight I had the pleasure of catching an early screening of Michael Moore’s latest film, Sicko. While many of his past efforts in filmmaking, such as Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, have put him in the position of being a very polarizing figure, his latest effort is something that no matter what your party affiliation will strike a chord. You may not care about gun control, who your president is, or other political issues, but something that all of us care about is our health.

The first half of the film is narrated by Michael Moore, who introduces the audience to a number of Americans from around the country. Each person we are shown has one thing in common - the American healthcare system has failed them in one way or another. From no coverage to denied coverage to inadequate coverage, each of these individuals has suffered at the hands of the healthcare system. There’s the couple who between the two of them suffered several heart attacks and a bout with cancer. Both had very good jobs and were even lucky enough to have healthcare, but despite this, even the co-pays for their treatment ultimately proved to be too much, forcing them into bantruptcy and having to move in with their children. Next, there’s a mother whose young daughter was experiencing an extremely high fever and was rushed to the hospital, only to find out that because she has insurance through Kaiser Permanente, they can’t treat her daughter at the hospital they have taken her to. Refusing to treat her, despite the mother’s pleas, her daughter dies. The stories go on and on, and for many in the audience, the stories are all too familiar, including me.

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There is one problem with Michael Winterbottom’s film of A Mighty Heart - it’s not the book. Two things that Mariane Pearl did successfully in telling her story were to give the reader details about the several people connected with her in the search for Daniel Pearl, and to make the reader have a sense of hope that Daniel Pearl would be found, in spite of our knowing what would happen to him. Also, Mariane Pearl gives the reader a better sense of Daniel Pearl.

My response to the film may have been different had I not read Mme. Pearl’s story. While Winterbottom and screenwriter John Orloff may have conveyed the general essense of the book, what is missing is any sense of Daniel Pearl’s sense of humor, which Mariane Pearl refers to frequently. The film audience sees the journalist who is interested in relaying the stories of those who may not otherwise be heard, and the cultural traveler whose own marriage to Mariane Pearl represents a mix of ethnicities and religious beliefs.

What the film does succeed at is providing concrete images of the chaos that is Karachi, Pakistan. Parts of Mariane Pearl’s voice overs are complimented by a combination of documentary footage as well as documentary style recreations of events. What may have been the best decision was to limit the scenes of Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping to the few known facts rather than attempting a dramatic, fictionalized recreation of that event.

There has been some discussion regarding A Mighty Heart as being something of a companion piece to Winterbottom’s Road to Guantanomo. I would offer as a counter-argument that the film in need of re-examination is Beyond Borders. The same humanistic impulses that inspired Angelina Jolie to star in Martin Campbell’s film are likely what encouraged Mariane Pearl to trust Jolie with her story. Both films are about women who seek to address some of the inequalities in the world, one as a United Nations aid worker, the other as a journalist. While Beyond Borders relies too much on coincidence and contrivance to support a romantic storyline, the mighty heart of the film and the filmmakers is in the right place. If A Mighty Heart is the better of the two films, it is because it has more modest goals and the benefit of a true story.

Even though Jolie is the star of the film, Winterbottom often frames her as part of the ensemble of the people in the house in Karachi, where most of the film takes place. The one significant time when Jolie is shot in close-up is during her howl of grief when Mariane first learns about the death of Danny. More than any other moment in A Mighty Heart, the sense of loss is palpable. An almost similar expression of pain is repeated when Mariane gives birth to her son, Adam. The film ends with Mariane and the four year old Adam walking away from the camera, on a street in Paris, a quiet resolution following the anger and anguish that have been portrayed. I am not sure if a better film of A Mighty Heart could have been made, but what I do know is that the best version of Mariane Pearl’s story is the one she tells herself.

I can usually divide my friends into those who love David Lynch, and those who abhor him. And with those who love him, I can choose one of his feature films and create another division between the appreciators and the critics. Needless to say, David Lynch is a very distinct filmmaker who annoys as much as he delights. But in 1990 he infiltrated the mainstream with Twin Peaks, a TV show about a murdered girl in a small Northern USA town, and the FBI agent investigating the case. If that sounds normal, then the dancing backwards-speaking dwarf, possessed one-armed man, demon spirit, and kooky doo-whop score make it one of television’s greatest oddities. Even if you haven’t seen it, you know it through countless cultural references.

Season 1 has been out in DVD for several years (although the USA had to buy the set minus the excellent 90 minute pilot), and consists of the strongest 8 episodes television has ever seen. Weird, funny, scary, it captivated the global audience and ended in a cliff hanger where the protagonist, Special Agent Dale Cooper, was shot. Season 2 starts with a extended episode directed by Lynch, and an air of menace is maintained while the audience’s preconceptions of the show are tested (just watch the waiter’s thumbs up to get what I mean). Despite this, Season 2 is a series of peaks and troughs in terms of quality. (more…)

A number of new movies hit theaters today. Among them are the Stephen King penned and John Cusak starring ‘1408′, Angelina Jolie’s ‘A Mighty Heart’, and Steve Carrell’s ‘Evan Almighty’. Meanwhile Michael Moore’s ‘Sicko’ plays in New York City, and Ben Kingsley’s latest ‘You Kill’ opens in select cities.

‘1408′ is an adaption of a 2002 short story by the widely popular Stephen King. John Cusak plays Mike Enslin, an author, who is determined to stay in a room that is deemed haunted. Let’s just say weird things start to happen when he checks into the room. Samuel Jackson co-stars. The film is rated PG-13.

‘Evan Almighty’ is the latest Steve Carrell comedy. The ‘Bruce Almighty’ sequel, which again features Morgan Freeman, shows Carrell’s character, Evan, turn into a modern day Noah. The family-friendly movie is rated PG.

‘A Mighty Heart’ focuses on the kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. His wife, Mariane Pearl, penned a book and this is the movie version of the story. The movie is getting critical acclaim, but also was the center of controversy as some felt Angelina Jolie should not be playing Mariane because of racial issues. Some of that criticism has been swept away as critics have widely praised the film and Jolie ’s portrayal of Mariane.

Michael Moore’s latest also hits New York City this week. ‘Sicko’ looks like it will be a critical and box office hit. The movie has garnered a 91% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes so far and the press that the movie has received will be sure to drive in audiences. ‘You Kill Me’ starring Ben Kinsley, Tea Leoni, and Luke Wilson round up the new releases of the week. ‘You Kill Me’ opens in select cities today with a wider release in weeks ahead.

Natalie Portman’s latest work will be out next month. ‘Goya’s Ghosts’ is a historical epic set in times of the Spanish Inquisition. The film has a noteworthy cast of Portman, Stellan Skarsgard , Javier Bardem, Randy Quaid, Michael Lonsdale, Jose Luis Gomez and Mabel Rivera. The film is directed by Milos Forman who is best known for his work on ‘Amadeus’.

The films plot revolves around a painter Francisco Goya (Skarsgard) and his muse Ines (Portman). Things go amiss when Ines is arrested for heresy and tortured. Goya tries his best to aid Ines but finds many obstacles along the way.

Interestingly, the film was released as dubbed version in Spain in 2006. The film debuts stateside on July 20th. It should be interesting to see why the film has been in limbo for so long.
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Holly Hunter, best known for her role in her Oscar winning performance in ‘The Piano’, has a new show coming to TNT next month. The show has Hunter playing Oklahoma City detective Grace Anadarko. Anadarko, who is an alcoholic, kills someone driving while drunk and an angel comes to her saying he will wipe it the incident away if she changes her attitude towards life. Anadarko had been bitter towards the Oklahoma City bombing killed her best friend and sister. The first episode airs on July 18th for one hour. Other storylines include her troubled love life which shows her having an office affair with a married man.

Other actors you will see in the show are Bailey Chase (Butch), Kenny Johnson (Det Ham Tipton), and Leon Rippy (Earl). It appears we have a bit of ‘Touched By an Angel’ Crossbred with ‘The Closer’.

Here is the promo for the show following the break in the page.
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‘Nancy Drew’ star Kay Panabaker and ‘Desperate Housewives’ star James Denton, who women drool over, are set to star in a new Lifetime Production called ‘Custody’. The made for TV movie portrays Panabaker as Amanda. Amanda’a mother passes away and when Denton’s character, John Sullivan, comes back into her life to gain custody the drama heats up. Amanda’s desire is to stay with her stepfather, David (Rob Morrow). The show is set to hit the cable station in September of this year but no date has been announced yet.

“It’s truly unique for us to develop material with not one, but two, male leads and we are thrilled to have cast two popular television stars such as James Denton and Rob Morrow (who also appears in ‘Numb3rs’ and had a popular role on ‘Northern Exposure’),” said Libby Beers, Senior Vice President, Original Movies, Lifetime Television. Adding, ” This is a compelling story about an extremely bright young girl torn between two fathers who both love her and the choices she has to make.”

Does it seem like Lifetime is fixated with ‘Desperate Housewives’ cast members or is it just me?

Drew Carey is reportedly in the running to take over the vacancy left by Bob Barker’s retirement from “The Price is Right.” According to sources, CBS and the show’s producer, Fremantle Media North America, have talked to Carey about hosting the game show. NBC already has a working relationship with Carey, having choosen him as the host of their next game show, “Power of 10.”

At this point, nothing is definitive, and the job could go to any one of a few contenders for the spot. Others being considered for the job include Rosie O’Donnell and George Hamilton. Of all the names mentioned for the job so far, I’d have to say that Drew Carey would get my vote.