Movie of the Week – The Incredibles

This week’s movie: The Incredibles (2004)

Superheroes were a big part of our world, but after some bad publicity they were asked to take off their masks and return to normal society. Now, many years later, former superheroes Bob and Helen Parr lead normal boring lives, raising a family – Bob works for an insurance company and Helen is a homemaker. But while family seems to be enough for Helen, Bob still has a yearning for more. This makes him an easy target to be lured into a budding scheme by a super villain to gain fame and notoriety, putting the world in grave danger in the process.

The film is written and directing by Brad Bird, who has made many of the best animated features in recent years, including: The Iron Giant and Ratatouille. He has now moved on to live-action features with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and the upcoming Tomorrowland. He worked with great composer Michael Giacchino on the film.

The film features voice work from Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Wallace Shawn, and Elizabeth Pena (Bird voiced Edna, a nod to famous costume designer Edith Head).

The Incredibles won the 2005 Oscar for Best Animated Feature. It is maybe Pixar’s best film to date (though, WALL-E and Up are great as well), featuring the right balance of action, drama and comedy. The characters are also very well written, something that is not too common in films made primarily for children in today’s cinema. While it is probably considered a superhero film, it feels much more like a spy thriller in the vein of classic James Bond films. It is a must-see for Pixar fans.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – Sabrina

This week’s movie: Sabrina (1954)

Sabrina Fairchild, the chauffer’s daughter, grew up on the outside, always looking in on the very rich Larrabee family, falling deeply in love with playboy David Larrabee, though he never noticed her. The night before she is set to leave for Paris to take a two-year cooking class, Sabrina foolishly attempts suicide because she is invisible to David. Her plot is foiled when David’s older brother Linus discovers her. Now, two years later, Sabrina is back from Paris, and has matured into a beautiful woman. Now, she has David’s attention; however, David is engaged to the heiress to a grand sugar cane empire. If David were to mess things up with her, it would mess up Linus’s latest business venture. Thus, Linus schemes to steal Sabrina’s affections to keep his business deal live, but will he actually allow himself to fall in love too?

The film is  written and directed by auteur Billy Wilder, who is responsible for many of American Cinema’s greatest romantic comedies (like: Some Like It Hot and The Apartment). He also had a deft dramatic hand (with films such as: Double Indemnity, Sunset Blvd., Ace in the Hole, Stalag 17, and Witness for the Prosecution). He worked with great cinematographer Charles Lang, art director Hal Pereira and wonderful costume designer Edith Head (who won Oscar’s for both Sabrina and Roman Holiday, dressing Audrey Hepburn).

The film stars Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. It features Walter Hampden and John Williams in support.

Sabrina is a lovely romantic comedy, led by its wonderful lead actors. Today, a lot is being made of the difference in age between male and female leads in Hollywood films. Here in Sabrina, Hepburn is eleven years younger than Holden and thirty years younger than Bogart (in Roman Holiday she is thirteen years younger than Gregory Peck and in Charade she is twenty-five years younger than Cary Grant though she is three years older than her How to Steal a Million co-star Peter O’Toole, by comparison). It seems to be a phenomenon, for better or worse, that has always existed in Hollywood and not a modern occurrence. Maybe, now, filmgoers are more conscious of it, so it sticks out more. Anyway, back to Sabrina. Audrey Hepburn burst into stardom with Roman Holiday. She could not have had a better follow-up than Sabrina, as she aptly holds her own against two of the era’s greatest actors (she was nominated for her second Oscar for her performance). The film has many memorable moments (the scenes in the Paris cooking school, Oliver Larrabee’s epic battle with a jar of olives, and pretty much every scene with Hepburn, who glides across the screen). It is a must-see for fans of Hepburn and classic Hollywood films.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – No Country for Old Men

This week’s movie: No Country for Old Men (2007)

Llewelyn Moss comes across a drug deal gone wrong in the Texas desert, discovering a bag full of money. He takes the money, never imagining the evil that will descend upon him to recover it. Sheriff Ed Tom Bell tries to find Moss first before the vicious, murderous Anton Chigurh gets to him.

The film is from auteurs the Coen Brothers (who have also made the brilliant films Miller’s Crossing, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and True Grit). No Country for Old Men got them out of a bit of a rut, as their previous two films (Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers) represent the weakest of their career to date. Not only is No Country for Old Men among their very best films, it also won four Oscars, including Best Picture, Directing and Writing. The Coen Brothers worked with their frequent collaborators composer Carter Burwell, cinematographer Roger Deakins and production designer Jess Gonchor on the film.

The cast is excellent as well, and works more as an ensemble. It features Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem (who also won an Oscar for his work in the film), Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, and Stephen Root.

No Country for Old Men is the best adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel to date (although, I do think McCarthy’s original screenplay also produced a great movie with The Counselor). The film is a modern western dealing with the nature of evil, fate and corruption of the modern world. It is built around wonderful performances (Bardem in particular creates one of the decade’s most iconic villains in Anton Chigurh), beautiful aesthetics and sharp writing. The Coen Brothers’ trademark dialog is just as fantastically witty as ever. The film is graphic and funny, something that few are able to pull off in a serious piece. It is a must-see for fans of the Coen Brothers and westerns. It is among the very best films of the last decade.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – The Fault in Our Stars

This week’s movie: The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

Hazel is a young woman suffering the effects of a long battle with cancer, leaving her with weak lungs. She dreams of a full life of adventures, but has resigned herself to the realities of her situation, all but turning her back on love. Under protest, she gives in to her parents and joins a support group for cancer patients.  There she meets the young outgoing Gus. A cancer survivor himself, his approach to life seems much more carefree, taking in everything. Gus is attracted to Hazel right away, opening her up to a whole new world. This is the story of their great love.

The film is directed by Josh Boone, who had a slight breakthrough with his first feature Stuck in Love (a small film that has caught on with many viewers). He worked with composers Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott, as well as talented up and comers cinematographer Ben Richardson and production designer Molly Hughes on The Fault in Our Stars.

The film stars Shailene Woodley (who many will know from her great work in The Descendent and The Spectacular Now) and Ansel Elgort (who also stars in the Divergent series with Woodley). Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, and Willem Dafoe feature in support.

The Fault in Our Stars is the second 2014 release that I am highlighting as a “Movie of the Week”, the other is The Raid 2. Both films I missed in theaters, but found them to be great once I got to them. I am sure there will be a few more I get to in 2015.

The Fault in Our Stars is a great romantic drama, built around its fantastic leading performances. It is touching and sad, but also hopeful, championing love. The film was always going to be a tear-jerker along the lines of A Walk to Remember, but it feels very fresh and vibrant – thanks to the great energy Woodley and Elgort bring to it. It seems that each year we are treated to one or two wonderful young adult dramas (recent films Short Term 12, The Spectacular Now and The Perks of Being a Wallflower come to mind); 2014’s is The Fault in Our Stars. It is a must-see for fans of romantic dramas.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – Kingdom of Heaven

This week’s movie: Kingdom of Heaven (2005) – Director’s Cut

After being sought out by his estranged father (back from the Crusades) in France, Balian decides to follow his father back to Jerusalem to start a new life (during the 12^th century). When he gets there, he finds the region embroiled in a deadly struggle as Christian and Muslim hostilities put their truce in jeopardy. The only thing holding the peace together is the just King of Jerusalem; however, he is unwell and near death. Balian pledges himself to the defense of the King and the people of Jerusalem, placing him right in the middle of the struggle.

Kingdom of Heaven is maybe director Ridley Scott’s most epic film to date, as its scope and scale are comparable to that of Lawrence of Arabia (a film that seems to have been a big influence). Scott set out to make an epic in the style of old Hollywood classics (complete with a musical overture, intermission and musical entr’acte). Composer Harry Gregson-Williams delivers his career-best score (it is phenomenal). Cinematographer John Mathieson and production designer Arthur Max also do great work.

The film stars Orlando Bloom and has an impressive supporting cast, including: Michael Sheen, David Thewlis, Liam Neeson, Kevin McKidd, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Marton Csokas, Alexander Siddig, Eva Green, Brendan Gleeson, Jeremy Irons, Edward Norton, Ghassan Massoud, Ian Glen, and Robert Pugh.

Twentieth Century Fox was skeptical that releasing a film with a runtime over three hours would prove to be financially sound. Thus, they recut Scott’s film to be 144 minutes and released it to mild reviews and domestic box office (grossing just $211 million worldwide against its $130 million production budget, only $47 million domestically). Critics complained that the film felt incomplete and lacking texture. Fox’s cut left the film to play as a blockbuster when the film is really so much more (actually having something of substance to say about religious tolerance). Thankfully, Scott’s director’s cut was released later. The film is restored to its 190 minute runtime with much more depth and historical perspective. It is by no means a perfect film, but as an epic costume drama it plays quite well. It is well-worth checking out for fans of epic films in the classical style.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray

Movie of the Week – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

This week’s movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)

Cutler Beckett, now in control of Davy Jones, is taking over the seas, executing all pirates that he comes across. Captain Barbossa, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must travel off the edge of the world to rescue Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones’s locker so that they can convene the Pirates Lords to wage a decisive battle against Beckett and Jones.

Director Gore Verbinski filmed At World’s End back-to-back with Dead Man’s Chest; thus, he used the same creative department heads for both films, including: composer Hans Zimmer, cinematographer Dariusz Wolski and production designer Rick Heinrichs.

The cast of Dead Man’s Chest all return as well, including: stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom as well as supporting cast members Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Stellan Skarsgard, Naomie Harris, Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, and Kevin McNally. Geoffrey Rush returns from the dead as Captain Barbossa and Chow Yun-Fat joins the cast.

At World’s End is a big mess. It is as if the writers sat down and decided to not throw out any ideas, no matter how bad they were; and not only that, they also took all these bad ideas and forced them into the film, resulting in a movie that is over-long and bloated with bad jokes, ideas and storylines. Somewhere, amongst all the mess, however, is still a pretty good and entertaining film. At World’s End has its great moments and still has its great characters and cast. Verbinski and his writing team walked a fine line with Dead Man’s Chest, getting dangerously close to going over the line with the action and jokes being too silly and ridiculous (and for some, they did cross the line). With At World’s End, the line is seemingly non-existent, as everything is a bit ridiculous and silly. Yet, the film still has its charm and is ultimately still a fun conclusion to the Pirates of the Caribbean’s initial trilogy.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

This week’s movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

Captain Jack Sparrow is desperate to find Davy Jones’s heart (the means for controlling him) to avoid handing over his soul into Jones’s servitude for one-hundred years. Meanwhile, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann’s wedding is interrupted by Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company, putting them both under arrest for aiding Sparrow. Beckett, however, is willing to make a deal with them in exchange for the retrieval of Sparrow’s magic compass.

Director Gore Verbinski returns, but this time he has an even better creative team with composer Hans Zimmer (who delivers a great score, building on the iconic theme from The Curse of the Black Pearl), cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (who also returns) and production designer Rick Heinrichs.

Stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom also return, as do supporting cast members Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, and Kevin McNally. Bill Nighy and Tom Hollander join the cast playing the fantastic villains Davy Jones and Cutler Beckett, as does Stellan Skarsgard and Naomie Harris.

Dead Man’s Chest is my favorite of the Pirates of the Caribbean series. It features very fun action set pieces (I especially like the battle for the chest on the island near the end). Hans Zimmer’s score is fantastic. I love his theme for Davy Jones and the Kraken. Bill Nighy’s Davy Jones is also one of my favorite villains. His performances is marvelous. And, the final Captain Jack Sparrow shot is brilliantly iconic. The film does what the Pirates of the Caribbean series does best: it is very fun, entertaining and exciting, filled with great characters and good jokes. The film does takes some of its action to a somewhat ridiculous height, but it all works well, resulting in a film that is very enjoyable to watch. The film leads into At World’s End – the two work as companion pieces.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

This week’s movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

The first film in the Pirates of the Caribbean series find Captain Jack Sparrow without a ship. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Swann (the Governor of a small Caribbean island’s daughter) is being pursued by Commodore Norrington, but secretly harbors feelings for a blacksmith apprentice named Will Turner (who Elizabeth discovered years earlier shipwrecked and adrift). Elizabeth is fascinated by Pirates and has always believed Will to be one, finding a Pirate gold piece on him when he was discovered. Captain Jack has intentions of stealing one of the British Navy’s ships but is captured while rescuing Elizabeth from drowning. Unfortunately, she was wearing the Pirate gold piece as a charm necklace. When it touches the water, it calls out to Captain Barbossa and his fearsome crew of the Black Pearl (the most feared ship in the Caribbean). Borbossa and his crew storm the island in search of the gold piece, taking Elizabeth prisoner. Now, Will and Jack must work together to rescue Elizabeth. Jack also wants to exact some revenge on the crew that betrayed him and stole his ship (Captain Barbossa and his crew).

The film is directed by Gore Verbinski (who directed the initial trilogy). He worked with composer Klaus Badelt (whose score is very good; however, Hans Zimmer brings a lot to it, taking over on the next film), brilliant cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, and production designer Brad Morris (who also does great work, but Rick Heinrichs takes over for him on the next film as well).

The cast is fantastic. Johnny Depp stars (garnering a Best Actor Oscar nomination), creating maybe his most iconic character. Keira Knightley (in her breakthrough role), Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush co-star. The supporting cast features Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Cook, and Kevin McNally. Look out for a cameo from Zoe Saldana (in a small role).

The idea of Disney adapting one of their theme park rides into a movie sounded like a terrible one. The initial trailers for The Curse of the Black Pearl were not very good either. The chances of the film being good seemed very slim and then we all saw it. The Curse of the Black Pearl is a ton of fun, built on the brilliant performances from Depp, Rush and Knightley and the very entertaining pirate-themed action and adventure. Most think that it is the best of the series so far (personally, I like Dead Man’s Chest a bit more) – a series that has its fifth film in production currently. Disney tried to bring multiple Dinseyland rides to life through live-action films (The Country Bears and The Haunted Mansion), but it has never work quite as well (that said, next year’s Tomorrowland has a lot of potential to be good). This is a must-see for fans of great, fun adventure films.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – Hunger

This week’s movie: Hunger (2008)

In 1981, the IRA undertook a hunger strike, led by Bobby Sands, to protest the British Government withdrawal of Special Category Status for convicted paramilitary prisoners. This drama details the events and lives of the inmates in Maze Prison in Northern Ireland leading up to the hunger strike (the culmination of a five-year protest).

Hunger is the debut film from auteur Steve McQueen; it also might be his most artistic and powerful. McQueen has since become one of our greatest filmmakers, currently working, following up Hunger with Shame and 12 Years a Slave (which won a Best Picture Oscar earlier this year; it was also my favorite film of 2013). On Hunger, he worked with composers Leo Abrahams and David Holmes, cinematographer Sean Bobbitt (who has shot all three of McQueen’s films) and production designer Tom McCullagh.

The film stars Michael Fassbender (serving as one of his breakthrough projects, along with Fish Tank and Inglourious Basterds), and features Stuart Graham and Liam Cunningham in support. Fassbender has appeared in all three of McQueen’s films.

Hunger is evocative as it artistically takes on the horror of life in the prison and the violence the guards faced outside of it. The prisoners are savagely treated, as they seek to be recognized as political prisoners, not common criminals. Outside the prison, the guards live in constant fear of retaliation by the IRA. McQueen, a Turner Prize winning artist, takes on the historical period with an unflinching eye. Fassbender plays Bobby Sands with such dedication, undergoing a medically supervised crash diet to achieve the look of starvation. It is haunting. Fassbender and Cunningham, playing a scene between Sands and Father Dominic Moran, deliver one of the most compelling long-takes in cinematic history. The film won the Golden Camera and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. It is a magnificent film, showcasing the beauty and artistry of the medium while also capturing the raw brutality and tension of the period. It is a must-see for fans of independent cinema and those looking to see modern masterpieces.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – The Small Black Room

This week’s movie: The Small Black Room (1949)

During WWII, the Germans developed an explosive booby-trap that they began dropping over England. In 1943, the army decides to bring in an expert, Sammy Rice, to help them find one and disarm it. Rice, however, has his own problems as well. He is in a constant struggle with his department’s overseers about the quality of weapons being developed. He also is in a terrific battle against his own worse nature (his internal drive to drink to dull the unrelenting pain caused by his prosthetic foot).

The film is yet another WWII drama from British auteurs the Archers (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger). They work with their frequent collaborators composer Brian Easdale, cinematographer Christopher Challis and production designer Hein Heckroth.

The film stars David Farrar and Kathleen Byron, and features support from Jack Hawkins, Leslie Banks and Michael Gough.

It is interesting watching The Small Black Room for fans of Powell & Pressburger’s work – seeing David Farr and Kathleen Byron playing two people intimately involved after their interaction in Black Narcissus. The Small Black Room is often regarded as a lesser work of the Archers, probably because it does not have the same following as their Technicolor films; however, it is an excellent character drama/thriller. The Archers build tension in many ways throughout the film. It is almost too much to take, making the film a bit difficult to watch, due to its emotional effectiveness. There is also a great artistic flare to the film, as its black & white photography and production design perfectly capture Sammy Rice’s inner demons at play. Personally, I think this is a must-see for fans of the Archers and good WWII dramas.

Trailer: Here

Available on: DVD

Movie of the Week – Mrs. Miniver

This week’s movie: Mrs. Miniver (1942)

The war drama centers on a British family in a small town as they struggle to survive the first months of WWII.

The film is directed by brilliant Hollywood auteur William Wyler (winning an Oscar for Best Director). He worked with composer Herbert Stothart, cinematographer Joseph Ruttenberg (who also won an Oscar for his work on the film as well) and art director Cedric Gibbons.

Greer Garson stars, backed up by a wonderful ensemble including: Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright, Dame May Whitty, Reginald Owen, Henry Travers, Richard Ney, and Henry Wilcoxon. Garson and Wright won Oscars for their performances (Wright was nominated for Oscars in her first three major performances; her other two performances are in The Little Foxes, also for Wyler, and The Pride of the Yankees; she is also brilliant in her fourth and sixth films as well, Shadow of a Doubt and The Best Years of Our Lives respectively).

Mrs. Miniver won six Oscars on nine nominations including Best Picture. It is among the top one-hundred films of the twentieth century. It is a propaganda film, made to garner support in America for the war that had already begun in Europe and Asia. The success of the film had a profound effect on the isolationist American’s sympathy for the British people. The speech that ends the film was even printed in magazines like Time and Look and it was broadcast on the Voice of America. Wyler joined the US army after completing the film as part of the Signal Corps. Returning from the war, he realized that his portrayal of war was far too soft. Winston Churchill said that the film did more for the war effort than a flotilla of destroyers. It is intense, gripping, beautiful, rousing, and tragic. It is a great drama, featuring strong performances. It is a must-see for fans of the cinematic period.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – The Man Who Wasn’t There

This week’s movie: The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

Ed Crane leads a simple life as a barber in 1950s small town America. He does not have much aspiration for anything more. He believes his wife is cheating on him with her boss, but does not much care. One day he hears about an exciting new opportunity: Dry Cleaning. Suddenly, he thinks: “Why not me?” To get the money for the opportunity, he blackmail’s his wife’s boss, threatening exposure of his affair; however, this sets off a chain-reaction of terrible events.

The Man Who Wasn’t There is one of the lesser known film from the Coen Brothers; but, it is one of their best. They work with their usually collaborators on the film, including: composer Carter Burwell, cinematographer Roger Deakins (whose photography is astounding), and production designer Dennis Gassner.

The film features a great cast made up mostly of Coen Brothers’ regulars. Billy Bob Thornton stars, while Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, James Gandolfini, Jon Polito, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Jenkins, and Tony Shalhoub feature in support.

The Coen Brothers are best known for films like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, and more recently True Grit. The Man Who Wasn’t There is certainly among their lesser known films, if not completely forgotten among most fans. Like many of their films, The Man Who Wasn’t There is a weird blending of genres. It looks and feels like a noir, hard-boiled detective film, but the story is much more restrained than what is typically found in the genre. The film could be called a crime drama, but Ed Crane just sort of bumbles his way forward. In some ways, it is a comedy satirizing the hard-boiled detective noir style; yet, it is also in love with the genre too, stylistically speaking. The Coen Brothers and Roger Deakins shot the film in color and then processed it in black & white (in some countries you can actually see the film in color). It is fantastically photographed. The cinematography is easily among the decade’s very best. The film is a must-see just for the cinematography alone. The wry wit too is wonderful. The film is devilishly funny. I think it is well worth watching for fans of the Coen Brothers and those who enjoy the noir genre, as this is an odd and surprising entry.

Trailer: Here

Available on: DVD and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – Trading Places

This week’s movie: Trading Places (1983)

Two millionaire brothers make a bet for one dollar. The bet is if they reverse the positions of a street con artist and their trusted snobbish Wall Street investor, will the two men still be the same or do their surroundings define them. The two brothers carry out their bet, throwing Louis Winthorpe III into the streets, destitute, and giving everything to Billy Ray Valentine.

The film is directed by John Landis, who was maybe the best comedy director of the late 1970s and early 1980s (with films such as The Kentucky Friend Movie, Animal House, The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf in London, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos, and Coming to America; he also directed Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video). Landis worked with great composer Elmer Bernstein, cinematographer Robert Paynter, and production designer Gene Rudolf.

The film stars Eddie Murphy (in his prime, with films like 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop), Dan Aykroyd, and Jamie Lee Curtis. There is also good supporting work from Denholm Elliott, Ralph Bellamy, and Don Ameche (plus a bunch of cameos, like Frank Oz and James Belushi).

Trading Places is one of the great comedies of the 1980s. It is hilarious and Murphy and Aykroyd are on the top of their game. Trading Places was very successful critically and commercially, inadvertently launching a ton of sort of similar body swap comedies: Like Father Like Son, Vice Versa, 18 Again!, Prelude to a Kiss, and the remake of Freaky Friday (the first remake) – among others. Okay, so maybe there is no direct correlation between Trading Places and this string of terrible, terrible body swap movies, but it is always fun to go down memory lane. Anyway, Trading Places is one of the decade’s best comedies but also has some interesting social comments. First, the film seems to take a firm stand against the Wall Street greed that ruled the times, portraying all the ‘rich’ characters as being awful, snobbish people who could not care less about the common man. And second, the bet is a fun play on the nature versus nurture argument, seemingly siding with nurture. Trading Places is a must-see for comedy fans and those looking to see the best films of Murphy and Aykroyd.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – The Bridge on the River Kwai

This week’s movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Taking place during WWII, the film focuses on a Japanese PoW camp. The Japanese treat their British and American prisoners horribly, but one British colonel stands up to them and eventually makes things better for the prisoners. Having settled their differences, the Japanese and the British colonel agree to co-operate to build a railway bridge over the River Kwai, as it seems mutually beneficial. The British take great pride in their work and strive to build the best bridge they can. Meanwhile, the Allies hatch and plan to destroy the bridge as it is a clear strategic target.

The film is directed by the great David Lean (who won an Oscar for his work). It is the first of his brilliant epic films (highlighted as well by Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago). Lean worked with producer Sam Spiegel (who would help finance Lean’s biggest films), composer Malcolm Arnold (whose iconic score won an Oscar), cinematographer Jack Hildyard (whose work also won an Oscar), and art director Donald A. Ashton.

The film stars William Holden, Alec Guinness (a frequent collaborator with Lean, and he won an Oscar for this film), Jack Hawkins, and Sessue Hayakawa.

The Bridge on the River Kwai is one of the greatest film ever made (making my list of the Top 100 Films of the 20^th Century). The film won seven Oscars on eight nominations, including Best Picture. It is an iconic WWII film, that captures the corruption of one’s mental state when a prisoner of the enemy. Colonel Nicholson is a great and loyal British officer. He would never do anything to hurt the efforts of the Allies, and yet here he is building this magnificent bridge for the Japanese when they had utterly failed in their previous attempts. The bridge became a way for him and his men to cope with their captivity. It is not until later that he realizes just what he has done (played out in one of cinema’s truly spellbinding scenes). This is a must-see for fans of Lean, WWII films, and cinema in general. It is epic filmmaking at its best.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – A Simple Plan

This week’s movie: A Simple Plan (1998)

One day, three blue collar friends from a small Midwestern town make a potentially thrilling discovery: they find a crashed plane with a bag full of money ($4.4 million dollars). They plan to keep the money, hiding their discovery from the authorities; however, all the money begins to breed mistrust between the friends leading them down a dangerous path.

A Simple Plan is a forgotten gem from director Sam Raimi, who is much better known for his Evil Dead and Spider-Man trilogies. He worked with composer Danny Elfman (whose score is great – he is also a frequent collaborator with Raimi), cinematographer Alar Kivilo, and production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein (who also did The Quick and the Dead with Raimi).

The film stars Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, Billy Bob Thornton, and Brent Briscoe, and features support from Chelcie Ross, Becky Ann Baker, and Gary Cole.

A Simple Plan is a great little crime drama that seems to be mostly forgotten today. It makes a very good companion piece to Fargo, made by Raimi’s very good friends the Coen Brothers. The film works very well because it gets at the darkness within man; the corruption that is possible when there is money on the line. The film is very dark, as the characters find themselves quickly going down a path that there is no coming back from. It is also one of Raimi’s more subdued films stylistically. It is beautifully shot and styled, but it does not feature many of his more overt stylistic devices and camera moves. Raimi seems to understand that the film would be somewhat diminished if its shooting style was packed full of flair. Of Raimi’s work, it is also his most Hitckcockian in style and feel. Alfred Hitchcock is one of Raimi’s cinema heroes and A Simple Plan feels like a tribute to his work (average people who do horrendous things). It is a must-see for fans of Raimi and good crime dramas. Again, this is one of the gems of the 1990s that somehow fell between the cracks.

Trailer: Here

Available on: DVD and Video On-Demand

Movie of the Week – 49th Parallel

This week’s movie: 49^th Parallel (1941)

The year is 1941. The United States is still neutral as war has engulfed the globe. Canada, however, has been fighting with their British and French allies. A German U-boat has been ravaging the waters near Eastern Canada, but the allies are moving in. To stay concealed, the Germans decide to hide in the Hudson Bay – a place where no one would ever look for them. Once there, the captain of the boat sends out a reconnaissance team to look for supplied; however once the team reaches the coast, the U-boat is spotted by Canadian patrol planes and destroyed. Now, the German survivors must make their way through Canada without being discovered.

The film is by brilliant auteurs the Archers (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressbuger). It is one of their earliest projects together, and already showed-off their creative chemistry and the promise of the wonderful work that was to come from them during the 1940s. The film was nominated for Best Picture and Pressburger won an Oscar for his writing. They worked with composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, cinematographer Freddie Young, editor David Lean, and art director David Rawnsley (Young and Lean would later make the brilliant epics Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago together).

The film has an excellent cast (featuring a few actors that worked frequently with the Archers). Eric Portman, Laurence Olivier, Finlay Currie, Anton Walbrook, Leslie Howard, and Raymond Massey star in the film. On a side note, the more I watch Anton Walbrook the more I find that he is becoming one of my favorite actors. He is just incredible.

49^th Parallel is a propaganda film, like many of the films made during WWII. It is a film aimed at showcasing the spirit and diversity of the Canadian people, willing to come to the aide of Europe to fight against the Nazis. To this degree, it is an effective film, as it does provide many different characters, all played by great actors. The name of the film comes from the border between the United States and Canada, the largest unprotected border in the world. This is probably not a film for everyone, but for those who enjoy WWII era films or who want to see all the great films that the Archers made (something I do really encourage) it is a good little film. I am always surprised to see Laurence Olivier pop up in it as a French-Canadian trapper. He made this almost right after Rebecca playing almost the polar opposite type of character.

Trailer: Here

Available on: DVD and Video On-Demand (or you can watch the film on YouTube here)