"An Education" a Near-Perfect Film

2/9/10 1:48 AM

No one writes quite like Nick Hornby. Of all modern novelists, he seems to have a grasp on human behavior – and more importantly, humanity in general – unlike anyone else I’ve encountered. “An Education” is his first screenplay, and while it is a period piece based on a memoir by Lynn Barber, it is pure Hornby, constantly balancing humor with discomfort. “An Education” is about Jenny (Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan – a name you should remember), a 16-year-old London schoolgirl, and David (Peter Sarsgaard), a playboy nearly twice her age. David likes Jenny, and he immediately begins to charm her (and soon, her parents as well). Sarsgaard plays the role perfectly, balancing pure charisma with an undercurrent of smarm. David seduces Jenny with...

LOST - "LA X" response

2/3/10 6:30 PM

Going into the premiere of season six of “Lost,” I knew that after two hours, I would probably be left with more questions than answers. Suffice it to say, “Lost” delivered on its promises to further confuse me, but more importantly, it also entertained and thrilled me. I won’t waste time trying to explain specifics of what happened – if you’re reading this, you’ve seen it already, and if you haven’t seen it, this won’t make sense to you anyway. So stop reading, and pick up season one and get to work. Now, for the rest of you. This “flash-sideways” format is, I feel, more than a little ingenious. The writers have come up with a way to have their cake and eat it too without ticking off diehard fans. Had they erased...

"C Me Dance" One Hell of a Bad Movie

2/2/10 2:51 AM

The theatrical trailer for “C Me Dance” became a highly discussed viral video among film critic circles when it was released in early 2009. It began showing the tragic story of a young dancer who was in the “advanced stages” of cancer. Then, we see that somehow her disease (or her dancing or something) is starting to make people become Christians. Moments later, we see that this is actually due to a power she has acquired (or something), and – according to her father – “Man, it’s going to tick off the devil.” And get this – IT DOES. Literally. Satan is IN THE MOVIE. He chases her down and breathes on her menacingly. He also seems to possess people who tell her to stop using her newfound Jesus powers. And then we see the title of...

Blu-Ray Lookout: "Whip It"

1/28/10 12:40 PM

If there’s one movie that surprised me in 2009, I’d have to say it was “Whip It,” Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut. Released Tuesday on DVD and Blu-Ray, “Whip It” is an entirely predictable feel-good movie about coming of age and following your dreams. What’s surprising is how good it is. Ellen Page plays Bliss Cavendar, a shy 17-year-old who feels stuck in her small hometown of Bodeen, Texas. While shopping in nearby Austin, Bliss discovers women’s roller derby, and she is immediately enchanted. Of course, she has a natural talent, and she easily makes the team. And of course we get a training montage (scored by .38 Special’s “Caught Up in You,” which is both charming and awesome). Because she’s doing this...

Blu-Ray Lookout: "The Hurt Locker"

1/28/10 12:09 AM

If you didn’t have a chance to catch The Hurt Locker in theaters last summer (and based on the relatively limited release and low box office gross, you probably didn’t), then now is the time. It has been at the top of my Netflix queue for weeks, going from “Releases 1/12/2010” to the inevitable “Long Wait” to the increasingly irritating “Very Long Wait.” On the one hand, it’s nice to know people are discovering this great film, but of course, I wanted to discover it, too. Tired of waiting, I purchased the film on Blu-Ray, and having finally experienced what many have called one of the best films of the year, I can say I wholeheartedly agree. The Hurt Locker is a masterpiece. The film centers on an Army EOD (Explosive Ordinance...