Recent Stories with tag invictus

We're only a few days into SIFF, and some of you might be feeling film festivaled out already.  In that case, take a look at last week's new DVD releases, care of our good friends at Scarecrow Video.

Extraordinary Measures is the drama about Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford going rogue to work on cancer treatments for The Children.  If only they could be saved from Jackie Chan in The Spy Next Door.  What's even worse? Valentine's Day, starring nearly every actor in Hollywood, and yet entirely devoid of wit and charm.  Only slightly better than The New Daughter, an almost straight-to-DVD flick with Kevin Costner as a dad who moved into a haunted house built on an ancient burial site.  Yes, really.

I already gave my two cents on Invictus, but here it is again:  Sure, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon win over post-apartheid South Africa with the power of rugby, but we never get a good look at who exactly these men are, nor exactly what are the rules of rugby.  Even worse, much of the film's bloated running time is devoted to faux-drama around Nelson Mandela's personal safety.  Spoiler alert:  Nelson Mandela is not assassinated....

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It's the most wonderful time of the movie year.  Finally.  After a year full of dreck like Transformers 2 and The Ugly Truth, the moviegoing audience gets six whole weeks of delicious high-quality adult cinema fare, all in time for the Academy Award nominations next month.  You've already seen our Avatar review.  Here's more recent releases of note that are in Seattle theaters this season, along with my verdict (yea or nay) as to whether the film is worth your holiday time and money:

Precious - Yea.  I saw this film nearly a year ago at Sundance--before Tyler Perry and Oprah signed on as producers, back when it was still called Push--and even then it was clear that this was something special. Harrowing yet hopeful, courageous, assured, and uncompromising, and just aching with elation, despair, and soul, Lee Daniels' directing debut is dangerously visionary and approaches the level of film as social act.  Mo'Nique is the biggest lock this Oscar season to win Best Supporting Actress for her brutal portrayal of Precious' monster of a mother.  Meanwhile, Gabby Sidibe (as the titular character) in her first film might just snag a Best Actress nom.

Invictus - Nay.  Sure, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon win over post-apartheid South Africa with the power of rugby, but we never get a good look at who exactly these men are, nor exactly what are the rules of rugby.  Even worse, much of the film's bloated running time is devoted to faux-drama around Nelson Mandela's personal safety.  Spoiler alert:  Nelson Mandela is not assassinated. 

It's Complicated - Split Decision.  As expected, it's great to see Meryl Streep be Meryl Streep, Steve Martin be Steve Martin, and Alec Baldwin be Alec Baldwin, but the tone in Nancy Meyers' film is off in places, with the mood skewing sentimental instead of funny.  In all, it's a glorified Lifetime movie.  Only recommended for moms. 

The Young Victoria - Yea.  The Young Victoria is also recommended for moms, but without reservations.  Emily Blunt is appropriately regal to play the just-turned-eighteen Queen of England, while Julian Fellowes' script and Jean-Marc Vallée's editing and direction keep the period piece from being stuffy. ...

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