"Everest" and The Week in Reviews

[I review the new movie "Everest" and DVDs "I'll See You in My Dreams" and "The Wrecking Crew." The Book of the Week is "Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me," a memoir of Judy Garland's last years.  I also bring you up to date on "My 1001 Movies I Must See Before I Die Project" with the blacklisted film "Salt of the Earth."]


Everest

Movie version of the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster.

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first climbers to ever scale the summit of Mt. Everest.  Since then, other experienced climbers have attempted this feat, some made it, some did not.  But over the years, taking climbers up Mt. Everest has become a business and Everest has become a mountain version of a traffic jam despite the huge (upwards of $65,000) price tag clients must pay to go up to the top.

Rob Hall, an experienced New Zealander climber who had scaled Mt. Everest four times (this expedition would be his 5th), was one of the first and most successful to start one of these guided climbs businesses. He and his partner, Gary Ball had completed The Seven Summits which meant they had climbed the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. Summiting all of them is regarded as THE mountaineering challenge and they had done all seven in seven months. Hall and Ball started Adventure Consultants in 1991 and had mounted many successful climbs and by 1996 Rob Hall had led 39 clients to the top of Mount Everest.

In 1996, Hall and two other guides took eight clients up the mountain.  Among those in the party was author Jon Krakauer, who at that time was working for "Outside Magazine," and was going to do a piece about the growing interest in commercial expeditions to Everest, and in turn, "Outside Magazine" would publicize Hall's business. Little did Krakauer know that he would be a key player in one of the greatest mountain climbing tragedies up until that time.

Though Hall had guided several successful treks up the mountain, this particular attempt encountered many delays, especially due to some 33 other climbers all wanting to summit at the same time and on the same day - by 2pm on May 10.  A literal traffic jam occurred at the Hillary Step, thus causing more dangerous delays which would keep climbers from going back down by 2pm, the last safe time to summit that would still allow them all to get back to camp by nightfall.  Then they were hit with a monster storm and some of them would not come down the mountain alive...or ever.

Jon Krakauer brilliantly wrote about what happened in his book "Into Thin Air."  However, the film is not based on his book and Krakauer has distanced himself from the film, saying how he was depicted was fictional.  Most probably because in the film there is a scene when some of their party are stranded on the mountain and he and some others have made it back to camp.  When Boukreev asks them to go back with him to try to save the others, Krakauer is depicted as saying that he can't go back to help the other climbers because he has snow blindness. That was not particularly flattering considering some of those climbers died.

However, Krakauer's own version of events came under attack by Anatoli Boukreev (played by Ingvar Eggert Sigurosson in the film), who was also there, and who gave his version in his book "The Climb." The filmmakers state that the screenplay by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy, was an original one based on original research and not Krakauer's book.

It doesn't really matter which version you believe or which facts are true.  What happened, happened and, this film stands on its own as a mesmerizing, heartbreaking experience. 

Director Baltasar Kormakur oversaw gorgeous cinematography (Salvatore Totino), crisp editing by Mick Audsley, actual Everest locations and the wonderful acting, which all worked together to provide a brilliant film that makes you feel you are right there with the climbers.  This film will stay with you for a long time.

Jason Clarke, who until now was probably best known for "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" was a revelation here as Hall.  His performance should be rewarded with an Oscar nod.  He portrayed Hall as tender and loving to his wife, strong, caring and rational with his clients and tough and brave to the end. But Josh Brolin as Beck Weathers, a doctor from Texas; Jake Gyllenhaall, the Seattle-based tour guide, Scott Fischer, from rival tour company Mountain Madness; Emily Watson as Adventure Consultants' base camp manager; Sam Worthington as Rob's colleague Guy Cotter; Michael Kelly as Krakauer; John Hawkes as Doug Hansen, whose attempt last year was aborted and who desperately wanted to summit this time; Keira Knightly as Rob's wife, Jan; an almost unrecognizable Robin Wright as Beck's wife, Peach; and the other actors, all played a role in making this a moving, realistic experience.

In his book, Krakauer talks about the idea that it's not just getting up the mountain that is so hard.  It's getting up the mountain and then getting back down again.  Hall says something similar, feeling very responsible for getting everyone back down safely, which is why it was so important that they keep to their time table and head back down by 2pm.  In the film, there is one dramatic moment of sentimental and bad judgment that would prove fateful.

Why anyone would want to do something like this, climb the tallest mountain, is beyond me. When they say in the film that they will be climbing heights that 747's fly at, I shuddered.  When asked that "why question," renowned mountaineer George Mallory uttered the famous words, "Because it's there."  Unfortunately, Mallory's quest to scale Mt. Everest ended with his death there.  In the film, Krakauer asks the climbers that same question - Why? - and they humorously echo Mallory's words, but then go on to give some insights into why people would attempt such a dangerous and, as they admit, painful excursion. Some had very personal reasons. Weathers did it to alleviate his depression; Hanson as a role model for some school children. But for many it just boiled down to bragging rights...to be one of the few to do something few have done.  I still shake my head at the dangerous things people do willingly, no matter what the reason.

You can't help but get from this film the inherent dangers associated with the commercialization of climbing Mount Everest, which has led to people attempting the climb who probably shouldn't be up there and experienced tour guides making fatal decisions to make their paying customers happy. But that still doesn't detract from how heartbreaking this film is.

When you compare this film to "The Martian," which I reviewed last week, we have another film about trying to overcome nature in an unforgiving landscape, in that case Mars.  But when comparing these two films, one can't help but think that mountain climbing seems more scary, dramatic and exciting then space exploration.  Where "The Martian" lacked drama, this film was exciting from the first frame to the end credits.  And the homage at the end of the film paid to the real life people who perished on the mountain was particularly poignant.  I cried.

Though not a requisite for enjoying the film, see it in 3-D if you can. It just adds to the awesome cinematography.

Rosy the Reviewer says...Ring, ring.  It's the Academy calling.  Oscar wants you to know you have been nominated for Best Picture and Jason, you too.

 

 

 

Some Movies You Might Have Missed

(And Some You Will Be Glad You Did)!

 

***Now Out on DVD***

 

 

 

I'll See You In My Dreams (2015)

 

 

Finding love is possible at any age.

 

Carol (Blythe Danner) is a widow of a certain age, retired and living alone.  She is lonely.  We know this because there are numerous shots of her doing solitary activities. Then her dog dies. 

(What is it with getting old and the dog dying?  It happened in "Five Flights Up" and in Erica Jong's recent novel "Fear of Dying."  That seems to be a recurrent theme in movies and books about getting old.  All us old folks have left in the end is our dog.  And then he dies too!).

 

After Carol puts her dog down, she returns home alone and has a big glass of wine.  That's my girl!  But then a huge rat runs across the floor. Not a good day for Carol.

 

As she is napping by her pool, the pool boy arrives and thinks she is dead.  "What, you thought I was dead because I am old?"  When it is clear she is indeed not dead, Carol offers the pool boy, Lloyd (Martin Starr) a glass of wine.  He accepts and they spend some time together drinking wine and discovering that they both love music.  In fact, they both used to sing in a band.  Lloyd invites Carol to go sing karaoke with him sometime.

 

OK, Danner looks great for her age. I am not a fan of women letting their hair go gray, but I have to say it looks good on Danner. In fact, she looks damn good in general, not just for a 72-year-old.  She either has really good genes or her plastic surgeon did a fantastic job. But when young Lloyd asked her out, they lost me.  Even if I had a pool, which I don't, not only would I not offer the pool boy a glass of wine, but I am sure he wouldn't ask me out either. 'Course I don't look as good as Danner, so who knows?

 

But then when Carol calls Lloyd about the karaoke, he has forgotten all about it and doesn't seem that keen.  Carol may have looked better to him with a couple of glasses of wine under his belt.  However, they make a date and Carol wows everyone with her great voice (Danner can really sing).  Lloyd is impressed.  Carol invites Lloyd in for coffee and they talk about life.  Lloyd is a bit of a loser.  He doesn't have any plans for his life and lives with his mother.  He spends the night (No, not like that - they would have really lost me if that had happened). He falls asleep on the couch.  Naturally the next morning one of her girlfriends comes over early and when she sees Lloyd there, she thinks all kinds of things.

 

Speaking of girlfriends, Carol meets regularly with her girlfriends to play cards (Rhea Perlman, Mary Kay Place who looks eerily like Hillary Clinton here, and June Squibb).  The girls are all living in a retirement complex and are trying to get Carol to pack up and move there too. Carol is not quite ready for that, but she agrees to go speed dating with them in a scene that fluctuates between humorous and cringe worthy.  So that doesn't really cut it for Carol, but then she meets Bill (Sam Elliott). They meet cute - yes, old folks can meet cute too.  She is shopping for vitamins and he comes up to her and says, "You don't need that.  You're all right the way you are."  See?  That's meeting cute.  And it doesn't hurt that Sam Elliott is still damn cute too.  And that voice of his.  He's the steak guy ("Beef.  It's what's for dinner").  You hear that voice of his all over TV in voice overs.

 

This is an enjoyable romantic comedy featuring mature adults.

 

But I could have down without the requisite sex talk among the old gals.  I have to ask: Why is it considered funny when senior citizens talk about sex?  Someone must think it is, because every time there is a film featuring senior citizens, the old folks do nothing but talk about sex or have it, the joke being, "Oh look, old wrinkly people in a retirement home still want to have sex."  Ew." I find that unfunny. Likewise, it seems we like to see senior citizens getting stoned, which Carol and her girlfriends do. They haul out the medical marijuana and then get the munchies and go buy out the store. And on the way home get pulled over by the cutest cop I have ever seen (Reid Scott, so now that I think of it, maybe I didn't mind that scene so much after all).  But add Carol's rat infestation which is a running gag here, and we've got old folks smoking marijuana, dreaming of sex but living alone with the rats?  And that's supposed to be funny?

 

But that was just a small part of the film and that aside, the script avoids most of the clichés about growing older. Danner's Carol is treated with respect as she maneuvers life alone, and Danner and Elliott are an appealing couple.  They are acting pros and create a world that we want to share with them.  I was drawn in.

 

Directed by Brett Haley, who also wrote the script with Marc Basch, the film examines what the present is might be like for senior women and what the future might look like, especially as we women outlive our husbands.  We can look back on what we did but what is our present? The ending is poignant and unexpected and it's refreshing to see a movie where things are not wrapped up neatly.

 

Possible spoiler alert.  In the end, it's all about dogs.

 

Rosy the Reviewer says...I absolutely loved this movie.  It's a charming gem that mature viewers will really enjoy.  We need more movies like this!

 

 

 

 

 

The Wrecking Crew (2008)

 

 

 

 

A documentary that celebrates the talented session players called "The Wrecking Crew," who provided the instrumentals on most of our favorite songs from the 60's.

 

Most of the riffs Baby Boomers have come to identify with didn't actually come from the artists credited with the song but by the session players, an elite group of studio musicians, who were called in again and again to provide the music.

 

Artists such as Cher, Herb Alpert, Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees (who I will always remember as "Circus Boy," one of my favorite Saturday morning shows growing up) and Jimmy Webb give testimonials to the talents of "The Wrecking Crew," of which Glenn Campbell and Leon Russell were a part until they made it as solo artists.

 

Denny Tedesco who directed this documentary was the son of one of these guys: guitarist Tommy Tedesco.  Others were Al Casey (guitar), Earl Palmer (drums), Hal Blaine (drums), Plas Johnson (sax), Joe Osborn (bass), Don Randi (keyboard) and most interestingly, Carol Kaye, who was not one of the guys, she was a woman who played bass, something that was most unusual for the 50's and 60's. These musicians could play more than one instrument and play any style and often contributed ideas on how the song should go. Kaye is credited with the familiar riffs on "Good Vibrations."

 

 

 

This is Tedesco's labor of love and he spent years trying to get the permissions he needed to feature the songs that are intermingled with archival footage and interviews.

 

Like the Academy Award-winning documentary "Twenty Feet from Stardom," this film highlights the talents that were overshadowed by the big name stars.

 

Rosy the Reviewer says...a fascinating look inside the L.A. music scene during the 60's and a long overdue nod to the unsung musical heroes who gave us some of the greatest songs of our time.

 

 

***My 1001 Movies I Must See Before I Die Project***

 

276 to go! 

Salt of the Earth  (1954)

 

This blacklisted film tells the fictional story of striking Mexican American workers at a zinc mine in New Mexico in the 1950's.

The workers at the San Marcos mine in Zinctown, New Mexico are sick of the discrimination they are experiencing so they call a general strike.  The men want better wages but the women want sanitation.  The women are told, "You're a woman, you don't know what it's like up there." 

The Mexican workers want equality but their wives want decent living conditions.  The men are chauvinists but eventually they figure out that they need to organize the women too.  When the company takes out an injunction against the men forbidding them to picket, the women take their places on the picket line and when the scabs come in, the women fight them off but are arrested.  When the women are locked up, the men find out what it's like to try to run a household without sanitation and the women are not about to go back home and be subservient to the men.  You go, ladies!

There is solidarity for the men and the women.

Directed by Herbert J. Biberman (one of The Hollywood Ten) and with a script based on a true event, this film was banned for over a decade, probably because it questioned racial and gender equality, but in 1992 the film was selected for inclusion in The National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. The rudimentary acting (some of the cast were not actors) and spare production values makes this feel more like an industrial film, except this is pro-union, pro-feminist and shows the anti-Mexican sentiment at work during that time.

"This rarely screened classic is the only major American independent feature made by communists...[The film] was informed by feminist attitudes that are quite uncharacteristic of the period [and] was inspired by the blacklisting of director Herbert Biberman, screenwriter Michael Wilson, producer and former screenwriter Paul Jarrico, and composer Sol Kaplan...because they'd been drummed out of Hollywood for being subversives, they'd commit a 'crime to fit the punishment' by making a subversive film. The resuls are leftist propaganda of a high order, powerful and intelligent..."
---"1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die"

Rosy the Reviewer says...not an especially easy filmic experience, but an important piece of film history nevertheless.

***Book of the Week***

Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me by Stevie Phillips (2015)

 

Hollywood agent Phillips' no holds barred memoir of her career representing some big name talents, especially Judy Garland in her final years.

The Judy in the title is Judy Garland and Liza is Liza Minnelli.  The others are Robert Redford, Freddie Fields, David Begelman and Sue Mengers.  Fields and Begelman were the founders of CMA (Creative Management Associates now ICM), at one time, one of the most powerful talent agencies in Hollywood.  Sue Mengers was a powerful agent and one of Phillips' colleagues and closest friends.

When Phillips was in her twenties and just starting out working at CMA, she was called upon to be Garland's "minder" of sorts, so she saw first hand Garland's self-destruction.  Likewise, later in life, when she represented Liza Minnelli, Garland's daughter, she watched her unravel as well. At the end of the book, Phillips credits her time with Judy and later Liza as an awakening of sorts, to drug addiction and her own co-dependency.

It's difficult for me to believe that anyone, except Hollywood's Old Guard, would care very much anymore about Freddie Fields, David Begelman or Sue Mengers.  Or even Phillips herself for that matter, despite an interesting career working with some of Hollywood's greats.

People drawn to this book are no doubt interested in dish about Garland and that's mostly what we have here.  There is not much about Redford or even her friend, Sue Mengers.  As for Garland, I have a bit of a problem with books that are all about the declining years of an icon.  And Garland's declining years were not pretty, but they have already been well-documented.  I say let her rest in peace and let us remember her as she was in her movies. 

But this is also Phillips' story. Phillips was making her way as a talent agent back when women were more likely to be taking shorthand and getting coffee.  So she had to have been one smart and tough cookie to make it big in that industry. But it took its toll.  Now 78, and with three failed marriages, Phillips, despite being a feminist, doesn't believe women can have it all or do it all. In addition to her time with Garland, Phillips was Liza Minnelli's first agent and helped her get her start, and was rewarded by Liza's betrayal, which it took Phillips almost ten years to get over.  She points out that loyalty in Hollywood is not in great supply. 

She eventually reinvented herself as a Broadway producer, finding great success with the stage version of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."  She disavows the movie version, which I am glad to hear because it was the only movie I have ever walked out of half-way through. Her insights on what it takes to produce a Broadway show would be of interest to theatre folks.

Rosy the Reviewer says...If you like insider Hollywood anecdotes or are interested in what it took to be a woman talent agent in Hollywood in the 60's, you might enjoy this book, but Garland fans might not want to know all of these gory details about her.

Thanks for Reading!

 

That's it for this week.

 

See you Tuesday for

"Retirement Brain"

 

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to click on the share buttons to share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn, 
email it to your friends and
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Check your local library for DVDs and books mentioned.

 

Note:  Next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). 

 

 

Find the page for the movie, click on "Explore More" on the right side panel and then scroll down to "External Reviews."  Look for "Rosy the Reviewer" on the list. Or if you are using a mobile device, look for "Critics Reviews." Click on that and you will find me alphabetically under "Rosy the Reviewer."

 

 

Things Husbands Don't Know How To Do (Very Well)

I know I would be casting a really wide net to talk about ALL husbands, but since I have had four of them, I think I am as good a person as any to cast some kind of net to talk about what husbands don't know how to do, or at least, do very well.

You know that I am always trying to be helpful in this blog, so by shining a light on some very real marital issues, I just might save your marriage.

I have yet to have a husband who knows how to fold a pillowcase or make a bed properly.

It's strange that our mothers taught us how to do these things, but they must have figured their sons would have wives so they didn't need to learn how to do them. The few times that Hubby folds the laundry (usually when he is searching for something in the dryer that he wants to wear and I haven't had a chance to fold it yet), I find the pillowcases folded into squares.  Though I know I should be grateful that he took the time to fold the laundry, I have to say NO!  A pillowcase must be folded lengthwise in thirds (and ironed that way if I am feeling particularly domestic), and then folded over into a nice rectangle, thus looking crisp when put onto the pillow.  As for making the bed, the top sheet is placed upside down with the pattern facing the bed so that when you fold the top hem over, the pattern shows.  So now that you guys know how to do these two things, you will no longer irritate your wife.  Well, you won't irritate her about those two things at least.

Husbands don't seem to know how to give their wives gifts they really want.

I mean, c'mon, a vacuum cleaner for Valentine's Day?  I suppose I should be grateful to get anything for Valentine's Day and birthdays, but how hard is it to remember that cute shocking pink faux fur vest I mooned over at Nordstrom the other week or the broad hint about that red BMW?  When confronted about the appropriateness of a vacuum cleaner as a Valentine's Day present, Hubby said he just wanted to make MY work easier!  Thanks.

Husbands are not very good at being honest about their food issues.

Husbands like to throw the word "allergic" around.  Their mothers must have started that.  Beware of your husband saying he is allergic to a particular food.  It could be he just won't admit that he doesn't like something.  It was 20 years before I figured out that Hubby was not allergic to walnuts.  He just didn't like them.

Husbands don't seem to know how to hear very well when it doesn't suit them.

That hearing loss seems to have a pattern to it.  I seems to occur during sporting events on TV, when the baby cries, when the teenager is arguing or when Hubby's mother is criticizing you. What he IS good at is a disappearing act when such things occur.

Being sick.

If men had to give birth, there would be no children.  They are just big babies when it comes to pain.  When they feel a sniffle coming on, they milk it for all it's worth.  However, when WE aren't feeling well and say so, Hubby says "You better get that checked out" and goes back to watching said sporting event.

Sharing.

After a day of silence, we wives might ask you, "What are you thinking?" to which you will probably reply, "Nothing."  Really?  You are thinking nothing?  You might as well say to us, "None of your business."  Answering "Nothing" will have the desired effect of stopping all conversation, which, I guess, is the point.  You could at least say, "I was thinking about that hot waitress who served us last night at the restaurant."  That would probably shut us up too, but at least we couldn't accuse you of not sharing.

Speaking of which, husbands aren't very good at listening to US share.

I think there is a written code among men that as soon as they sense a discussion about feelings coming on, their minds go into "fix it" mode so they can end the conversation as soon as possible.  I think they equate our wanting to share our feelings with a walk to the executioner's table.  They don't want to be there so if they can fix whatever is troubling us and get the hell out of there, they will try to do that.

Guys, listen up.  I am going to help you. We know you want to help and that you think that coming up with a solution to our issue is the answer, but it's not.  We want you to listen to us bitch about work or worry about our health. We don't need you to tell us what to do about it.  We will figure that out.  We just want you to LISTEN, to HEAR us, to ACKNOWLEDGE our pain with the appropriate head nods, an occasional "I understand" or "That must be really hard." 

So when your wife says, "I feel depressed," instead of saying "Better call your shrink," try saying "Tell me about it."  Or when your wife says she is having trouble with someone at work, instead of saying "Screw 'em," try saying "What's going on?  I'm all ears."  When your wife says she's lonely, telling her to get a cat isn't what she wants to hear.  Instead, when your wife starts a sentence with "I feel..." or "I am worried about...," say "Tell me about it," then keep schtup and nod appropriately.  At least pretend that you care because we women don't need you to fix anything.  We are perfectly capable of doing that ourselves.  It just helps us to verbalize things. 

And ultimately, if you don't want to listen to your wife, why the hell are you married?

There, I just saved your marriage.

Ladies, did I miss anything?

And sorry if you think I am "husband bashing."  I sometimes feel a rant coming on and just have to share.  You know, that thing about sharing.  Can't help it.

I do think husbands have their charms.  Check out my "Why Have a Husband? post, where I point out what a husband is good for.  There are some things.

 

Thanks for Reading!

 

See you Friday

for my review of the new movie 

"Everest" 

and

The Week in Reviews

(What to See or Read and What to Avoid)

and the latest on

My 1001 Movies I Must See Before

 I Die Project."

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to click on the share buttons to share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn, email it to your friends and LIKE me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer

 

"The Martian" and the Week in Reviews

[I review the new movie "The Martian" and DVDs "What We Do in the Shadows" and "Every Secret Thing." The Book of the Week is Erica Jong's new novel "Fear of Dying (Yes, believe it or not, I am reviewing a NOVEL this week)!"  I also bring you up to date on "My 1001 Movies I Must See Before I Die Project" with "The Celebration (and let me tell you it is anything but!)"]

The Martian

During a mission to Mars, a space storm forces U.S. astronauts to abort their mission and leave the planet.  Unfortunately, they leave one of their own behind.

Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is separated from his fellow astronauts during a space storm on Mars and believing him dead, they leave him behind.  Finding himself alone, Mark marshals all of his skills to survive and to find a way to let earth know he is still alive.

Think MacGyver on Mars. 

Mark has some skills.  He knows that even if he survives, he has to wait many months before he can be rescued.  He needs food. He is a botanist so he figures out how to use the human waste left behind to fertilize plants and grow some potatoes.  I know, ew, but the guy's gotta eat.  He rigs up all sorts of contraptions to make his life easier on Mars and eventually is able to communicate with Earth.

If I was to judge this film on the basis of Matt Damon, it would be two thumbs up.  He does a great job with what he has to work with. 

But then there are the other issues.

This is basically a one man tour de force.  Why was it necessary to have such big names as Jessica Chastain, Sean Bean and Kate Mara in this thing when they had so little to do? These are A-List actors whose talents were basically wasted.  And mostly, what the hell was Kristen Wiig doing in this movie?  Duct tape had a bigger part than she did.  When she was seen in the movie, all she did was look concerned and utter a few concerned sounding words.  Speaking of duct tape, I think it should get billing since it played such a major role.

I won't complain about the other stars - Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Ejiofor - since they at least had major storylines as NASA bigwigs trying to bring Mark home, but in general this was Matt Damon's movie so, in my opinion, anyone could have handled those supporting roles.  The other actors were just window dressing.  One wonders why they agreed to play supporting roles, but it probably helps their acting cred to be in a Ridley Scott film.

As for Matt, it is never easy to be a one man show, but he is an actor who can always be counted on to put in a great performance.  Similar stories come to mind: When I think of films where a man is all alone on a planet, I think of Sam Rockwell in "Moon."  Likewise, Tom Hanks in "Cast Away" comes to mind. Though not alone on a planet, Hanks was alone on an island and had to find a way to get home. Unfortunately, both of those films were one man shows that were much more compelling and dramatic than "The Martian," despite Matt Damon's excellent acting.

Director Ridley Scott notwithstanding, this film would have benefited from about 30 fewer minutes.  It was just too long and boring at times.  It wasn't until the the end that anything much happened.

However, based on the book by Andy Weir, the production values and special effects are first rate, especially in 3-D.  Filmed in the deserts of Jordan, the "Martian landscape" is breathtaking thanks to the cinematography of Dariusz Wolski.  And the science all rings true.  So much so, in fact, that social media has shown that many people think this film was based on a true story!  People, we haven't put a human on Mars yet.

And speaking of science, science geeks will probably love this.  However, I can't help but draw comparisons to "Interstellar," which I also didn't really care for and "Gravity," which I loved.  Ironically the science in "Interstellar" was lauded and the science in "Gravity," was not, so I guess that might say something about me.  But when I am watching a movie, none of that really matters to me.  What matters is the story and the dramatic effect and this film, despite its excellent science, didn't really have any drama until the end.  I mean, at least Tom Hanks in "Cast Away" had that damn soccer ball to talk to. And "Gravity" did win seven Oscars, so it certainly had something going for it.

But again, I enjoyed Matt's performance.  He was really, really good.  He just didn't need all of those other stars cluttering up his space.  Space, get it?

If you do want to see it, and like me, science doesn't necessarily turn you on, see it in 3-D, because the landscapes and special effects were breathtaking at times and seeing it in 3-D will keep you awake.

Rosy the Reviewer says...space nerds will probably love this.  Sadly, I am not one.

Some Movies You Might Have Missed

(And Some You Will Be Glad You Did)

***Now Out on DVD***

What We Do in the Shadows  (2014)

Modern day vampires - Viago, Deacon and Vladislav - find the routines of everyday life daunting - hilariously so.

With a story similar to Jim Jarmusch's "Only Lovers Left Alive," where Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston are also modern day vampires trying to get along in the modern day world, this is a hilarious comic take on that idea.

The film asks the question: What if four vampires from various centuries and cultures shared a flat and a documentary was made about it? What if a bunch of vampires from various eras lived together in a flat and had to take turns cleaning and doing the shopping and had to deal with all of the mundane activities of daily life that we humans have to deal with?

The film starts with Viago waking up all of his flatmates for a flat meeting to make sure everyone is pulling his weight.  It seems Deacon hasn't washed the dishes in years. 

Life is tough for these vampires. How do you get ready for a night out if you have no reflection?  How do you avoid sunlight?  Where is your next meal of blood going to come from?  Why can't they get into nightclubs?

A documentary crew from the non-existent New Zealand Documentary Board has been invited to film them for a "day in the life" as they get ready for "The Unholy Masquerade," a secret society party that meets once per year.  The flat mates want to do this documentary because they feel that vampires in general have gotten a bad rap.

The film crew follows them as they take a bus into town where they have trouble getting into a nightclub. They also run into some werewolves and get into it with them trading insults.  Hilarious.  "Say it, don't spray it, bitch!" This is what the Twilight series might have been like if it had been a comedy.  To some of us those films were comedies, but that's a different review.

Each of the housemates tells his story and how he ended up in New Zealand.

Deacon (Jonny Brugh) was a peasant who used to sell his wares castle to castle until he was abducted by a vampire.  And Deacon says, "And we are still friends today." That's because the vampire who abducted Deacon and turned him into a vampire was Petyr (Ben Fransham) who looks strangely like Nosferatu and who also now shares the flat but spends most of his time in his casket in the wall in the basement.

Deacon also has a "familiar," Jackie (Jackie van Beek), a suburban housewife who does his bidding in hopes that she, too, can become a vampire and thus have eternal life.

Vladislav (Jemaine Clement), is a medieval guy, a bit of a pervert, with some old ideas about things.  "Let's get some slaves."  Think Vlad the Impaler except here he says "I would poke people," so I guess he is Vlad the Poker.

Viago (Taika Waititi) is an 18th century dandy.  "He can be very fussy."  He asks his flat mates to please put down a towel if they are going to kill a victim on the couch.

Nick (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer) is a "recent" vampire so we also get to follow what it's like for a newly "born" vampire in the 21st century.  The old vampires don't approve of Nick, especially since his enthusiasm about his new status compels him to tell everyone.  However, they like Nick's friend Stu who is friendly and easy-going.  He's an IT guy so Stu (Stu Rutherford) introduces them all to technology in another hilarious scene where he shows them how to access porn.

Written and directed by Waititi and Clement (Clement was one of the creators and stars of the comedy troupe "Flight of the Conchords"), they take the clichés about vampires and vampire movies and suck the blood out of them.  These vampires are not romantic and eerie.  They are geeky and clueless and just plain hilarious.

Rosy the Reviewer says...If you are a fan of The Flight of the Conchords" or of Christopher Guest and his films ("This is Spinal Tap," "A Mighty Wind"), then you will love this movie. And just if you want to laugh out loud, this film is A MUST!  It's one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.

Every Secret Thing (2014)

Two young girls recently out of prison for killing a baby are now under suspicion when another child goes missing.

As little girls, Ronnie and Alice were neighbors and grew up together. They had uneasy childhoods:  Ronnie, because she came from "the wrong side of the tracks," Alice because she was overweight and unpopular and her own mother seemed to prefer Ronnie.  In fact, Alice's mother made Alice include Ronnie in her activities, one of which was a pool party where Ronnie caused a scene and was asked to leave. Because Alice brought Ronnie, Alice was kicked out of the party along with Ronnie, which didn't help their relationship.  Early on, you get the idea that Ronnie is a bit of a "bad seed."

Alice (Danielle MacDonald) and Ronnie (Dakota Fanning) were both convicted of killing a biracial baby when they were 11.   

Now the girls are 18, out of juvenile detention and trying to fit back into the community.  Alice is overweight, obsessed with fame and spends her time walking around town under the pretense of looking for work.  Ronnie is quiet and working at a bagel shop.  Both seem to be lost and blaming the other for what happened.

Then another biracial child goes missing.

Through a series of flashbacks we see the uneasy forced relationship between the girls, Helen's disapproval of Alice ("Sometimes I think you were switched at the hospital") and her approval of the skinnier Ronnie and just what really happened when that first baby went missing when they were 11. 

MacDonald is not a sympathetic character, but are we unsympathetic towards her because she is overweight? I think the filmmaker was commenting on that. Fanning is always good but isn't given much to do here as Ronnie.

Diane Lane plays Helen, Alice's mother, who is a bit of a free spirit and a bit of a lush and a bit of a nut.  Lane is almost unrecognizable here and once again shows herself to be one of our most underrated actresses.

Elizabeth Banks is the detective looking for the missing three-year-old and we discover that she also has a past.  She was the detective who found the dead baby seven years before.  One wonders when Banks will have that break out role that will bring her to the status of a Julia Roberts.  She has played a wide range of roles in the last couple of years: the character part of kooky Effie Trinket in "The Hunger Games" series, a comic role in the romantic comedy "Walk of Shame," and her dramatic role here.  She seems to be able to do anything.

Based on the book by Laura Lippmann with a script by Nicole Holofcener and directed by Amy Berg (her first feature film), this movie is about secrets, lies and jealousy.  Before this film, Berg directed the acclaimed documentary "West of Memphis," which explored some of these same themes, looking at the case of the West Memphis Three, who were wrongly convicted of killing some young boys. 

Though the crime is different, I can't help but draw comparisons between the characters in this film and the young girls in the compelling "Heavenly Creatures."

There seems to be a racial theme running throughout the film, but it doesn't go anywhere and the twist ending is  a bit too pat and melodramatic.  There is a bit of a Lifetime Movie feel to this, but, hey, I like Lifetime Movies.

All in all, a compelling psychological true crime drama.

Rosy the Reviewer says...if you liked "Heavenly Creatures" or enjoy true crime dramas, you will like this film.

***My 1001 Movies I Must See Before I Die Project***

277 to go!

The Celebration AKA Festen (1998)

It's Helge's (Henning Moritzen) 60th birthday and the family has gathered to honor him.  But he gets an unexpected "present." 

All of Helge's children have come together to celebrate Helge's birthday. Christian (Ulrich Thomsen) is seemingly the most successful child and Helge has asked him to give the toast.  He is a twin and hanging over the celebration is the recent suicide of his twin sister.  When Christian gives the toast, a bombshell is dropped and all hell breaks loose.

Putting people together around a table creates a claustrophobic effect where all kinds of things can happen.  It reminded me of another classic film I reviewed recently, "The Exterminating Angel" where people are forced together in a room and eventually their worst natures come to light.

This film reminds you why family reunions are so scary. And also funny in a black humor sort of way.  There is a Bergmanesque feel to this film.

The acting is sensational as truths are revealed and the family secrets laid bare.

"[This film is the product of]...Dogme95 -- a Danish film manifesto that calls for location shooting, handheld cameras, direct sound, [no music] and an avoidance of special effects...[and uncredited director] Vinterberg's work...is genuinely explosive and powerfully executed...The extreme forms of aggressive behavior that emerge from the onset and Vinterberg's jagged style of cross-cutting disguise the fact that this is basically a very well written, acted, and directed piece of psychodrama rather than the revolutionary experiment it was proclaimed to be..."
---"1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die"

Rosy the Reviewer says...A celebration?  It's anything but!  If you like Bergman, you will like this film.
(In Danish with English subtitles)

***Book of the Week***

Fear of Dying by Erica Jong (2015)

Vanessa Waterman is a woman of a certain age and she is not happy about it.  Her parents are dying, she is about to become a grandmother and her spouse is experiencing the dreaded ED.  Should she try Internet dating or just decide to accept where she is in life?

Though this book is listed as a novel, it's less a novel and more of Jong's own musings about no longer being young and vital. It is a testament to the fact that even uber-feminist/sexual enthusiast Jong is not immune to the plight of all of us Baby Boomers: our parents dying, our becoming grandparents, our fear of dying, our search for meaning and the loss of sexuality in our partners. Her dog is even dying. Getting old sucks and Erica wants us to know that.

Jong's first book, "Fear of Flying" was a book of major importance to this Baby Boomer.  It awakened my feminism (not a dirty word) and my power in this world. It was one of the most important books of my life. Since then, Jong has talked about her journey into midlife in a later book "Fear of 50" and written countless other works of nonfiction, novels and books of poetry, but now she resurrects her heroine and alter ego of yore, Isadora Wing (from "Fear of Flying,") in this latest book which is not so much a novel as her ruminations about getting old and facing her mortality.

Isadora Wing, who we first encountered in "Fear of Flying" and associate with the "zipless f**k" is here as Vanessa's friend. Isadora represents Jong's sexual and feminist alter-ego, but her heroine here, Vanessa, is now her geriatric one who is looking into that great maw called death.  So now Jong's heroine is more interested in relationships, spirituality and what comes next rather than the zipless f**k.

Vanessa is dealing with dying parents, a pregnant daughter (so she is going to be a grandmother), a sexually dysfunctional husband who also has health problems, growing old and facing her own mortality.  She briefly toys with the idea of Internet dating but runs into too many men who either want to put her in a rubber suit or want to be her slave.

There is no real story here unless talking about your parents and dog dying, your husband's ED and wondering about the hereafter and whatever happened to sex is your idea of a novel. It's more like real life for many of us in the "over the hill gang."  Erica/Isadora/Vanessa can hardly believe she is a member of that club and that the aging thing has happened to her.

This is not a groundbreaking book like "Fear of Flying." All of us Baby Boomers seem to be writing about how shocked we are about getting old.  We thought we were going to live forever.  Jong is no exception.  She has always denied that her books were autobiographical, but it's difficult to think that "Vanessa" isn't Jong pontificating about the realities of getting old and what we aging Baby Boomer women have to look forward to and already know.  Getting old sucks.  And Jong can't quite believe she is there.  Welcome to the club, kiddo!

Rosy the Reviewer says...even our feminist idols have to face reality.

Thanks for Reading!

That's it for this week.

See you Tuesday for

"Things Husbands Don't Know How To Do"

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