Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Happy Birthday, Al(bert)!
I'm on time, and it's a long time. This year will be 27 years that we've known each other. Happy Birthday and many, many more.
Monday, May 16, 2011
"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" an Excellent Adventure
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
Running time: 113 minutes (1 hour, 53 minutes)
MPAA – PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy action
DIRECTOR: Michael Apted
WRITERS: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and Michael Petroini (based upon the book by C.S. Lewis)
PRODUCERS: Andrew Adamson, Mark Johnson, and Philip Steuer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dante Spinotti
EDITORS: Rick Shaine
Golden Globe nominee
FANTASY/ADVENTURE/FAMILY
Starring: Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Will Poulter, Gary Sweet, Arthur Angel, Arabella Morton, Bille Brown, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, and the voices of Simon Pegg and Liam Neeson
20th Century Fox joins Walden Media to produce the third film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s book series, The Chronicles of Narnia. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader finds the youngest Pevensie children, Edmund and Lucy, joined by a dour cousin on a return journey to Narnia, where they grapple with temptation. More so than the other films, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a rip-snorting adventure
One year after the events depicted in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the two youngest Pevensie children, Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley), are living in Cambridge with their cousins, the Scrubbs. Their older siblings, Susan (Anna Popplewell) and Peter (William Moseley), are in the United States with their parents. Lucy and Edmund now have their obnoxious cousin, Eustace Scrubb (Will Poulter), as a disagreeable companion.
The adventure beings when a magical painting transports Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace to an ocean in Narnia. There, the trio is rescued by Caspian (Ben Barnes) and the large talking mouse, Reepicheep (Simon Pegg), and taken aboard the sailing ship, the Dawn Treader. Three years have passed in Narnia since the Pevensie siblings last visited, and Caspian is now the King of Narnia. King Caspain is on a quest to find the seven Lost Lords of Narnia and invites the Pevensies and their cousin to join him.
During a visit to the Lone Islands, they discover a slavery ring that sacrifices people to a mysterious green mist. In order to save the sacrificial victims, the crew of the Dawn Treader must sail to Dark Island where resides a corrupting evil that threatens to destroy all of Narnia. Lucy, Edmund, King Caspian, and Eustace will find themselves tested as they journey to the far end of world and to the home of the great lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson).
As was the case with Prince Caspian, I enjoyed The Voyage of the Dawn Treader much more than I did the first Narnia film, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Dawn Treader is the cleanest and purest of the series, thus far. It is a straightforward adventure, an ocean-going tale that takes the characters from one obstacle they must overcome to another. Its philosophical theme is also simple – fighting, avoiding, and overcoming temptation. Its spiritual theme – the yearning to be one with the almighty or perfection – is surprisingly up front, and the story is almost frank in equating Aslan with the Christian God.
The main characters: Lucy, Edmond, and Caspian do not offer anything new in terms of personality; they’re like old friends, now. The story does get a much needed jolt in new characters, such as the firm captain of the Dawn Treader, Lord Drinian (Gary Sweet), and especially the tart Eustace Scrubb. While the arc of Eustace’s change is interesting, what is best about the character is Will Poulter’s portrayal of Eustace. Pitch-perfect in his performance, Poulter makes the annoying Eustace a scene stealer who will make the audience want more of him.
The special effects in this third movie are better than those in the second film. Although not as impressive as those in the original film (which won an Oscar), the visual effects in this film seem more inventive and even more magical. This is Michael Apted’s touch as director; he makes the most of what he has. He doesn’t get the most impressive acting, but he makes it seem so. Apted doesn’t have a solid villain in the evil green mist, which essentially represents temptation, but he adds chilling touches using the mist.
In the final act, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader especially emphasizes its Christian elements. The spiritual messages will make some yearn for God, but even more people will be sad that the end of this movie means that we must once again leave Narnia – until we return…
8 of 10
A
NOTES:
2011 Golden Globes: 1 nomination: “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (David Hodges, Hillary Lindsey, and Carrie Underwood for “There’s A Place for Us”)
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [Blu-ray]
Sunday, May 15, 2011
"Thor: Tales of Asgard" on DVD Tuesday, May 17th
New Marvel Animated Feature Stars Fan-Favorite The Mighty Thor and Hits Stores Just Weeks After Theatrical Film Debuts!
Street Date: 5/17/11
Blu-ray Combo Pack SRP: $29.99
DVD SRP: $19.98
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
He’s waged battles in Ultimate Avengers, Ultimate Avengers 2, Next Avengers and Hulk Vs., and now one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Universe is ready to strike out on his own this May. See the young “God of Thunder” as Marvel Animation and Lionsgate Home Entertainment team up to release Thor: Tales of Asgard! Hitting Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand on May 17, 2011, the newest Marvel Animated Feature is the perfect companion to the May 6th release of the live-action theatrical film Thor. The title builds on the strength of more than 40 years and 10 million copies of Thor comics, and the timelessness of The Mighty Thor to create a truly epic adventure that both lifelong fans and those new to the story will love. Packed with special features such as audio commentaries with the film creators, a “making-of” featurette plus a bonus TV episode of “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” Thor: Tales of Asgard will come to Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD for $29.99 and $19.98, respectively.
SYNOPSIS:
Before he ever lifted his mighty hammer, there was the sword. Fantastic journeys beckon from the mysterious nine realms. Places of dark mists and fiery voids. Of winged creatures and giants in the ice. And the most alluring quest of all – the search for the legendary Lost Sword of Surtur. Hungry for adventure, Thor secretly embarks on the journey of a lifetime, joined by his loyal brother Loki, whose budding sorcery equips him with just enough magic to conjure up trouble, along with the Warriors Three – a band of boastful travelers reluctant to set sail on any adventure that might actually be dangerous. But what starts out as a harmless treasure hunt quickly turns deadly, and Thor must now prove himself worthy of the destiny he covets by saving Asgard itself.
BLU-RAY COMBO PACK & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
· Audio commentary with Supervising Producer Craig Kyle and Screenwriter Greg Johnson
· Audio commentary with Supervising Director Gary Hartle, Animation Director Sam Liu and Character Designer Phil Bourassa
· “Worthy: The Making of Thor: Tales of Asgard” featurette
· The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Bonus Episode from the new hit TV series
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2009
Title Copyright: Marvel, Thor, all related trademarks, service marks, character names and the distinctive likenesses thereof are proprietary to Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries and are used with permission. “THOR: TALES OF ASGARD” COPYRIGHT © 2009 Marvel Entertainment. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Type: Home Entertainment Premiere
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Television, Animation, Action, Adventure, Children
Closed Captioned: DVD – English; Blu-Ray - English SDH
Subtitles: English
DVD Format: 16x9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
Blu-ray Format: 1080P High Definition 16x9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
Feature Run Time: 77 minutes
DVD Audio Status: 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray Audio Status: English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Website: http://www.marvel.com/
Thor: Tales of Asgard (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
Saturday, May 14, 2011
New People Presents Legacy Film Festival on Aging
NEW PEOPLE PRESENTS A TRULY GROWN-UP EVENT WITH THE LEGACY FILM FESTIVAL ON AGING
3-Day Festival Features International Films That Celebrate Seniors And Spotlight The Challenges And Triumphs Of Aging
San Francisco, CA, May 4, 2011 – NEW PEOPLE is proud to present the Legacy Film Festival on Aging, a special new film series that will inspire, educate and entertain intergenerational audiences about important issues surrounding aging and profiles unique individuals that lead meaningful lives well into their senior years.
The festival runs Friday, May 13th thru Sunday May 15th and showcases 13 feature and short films from around the world that celebrate older adulthood and deal with the challenges and triumphs of aging. Several of these films are also presented as double-features. The festival allows younger people to see their potential in older years and lets older people appreciate their own journeys to senior life. This is a wonderful experience to share together with audiences off all ages! For more info please visit LEGACY FILM FEST HOME PAGE or the NEW PEOPLE WORLD web site.
“There are currently over 95 million people in the U.S. over the age of fifty, with 40 million of them over the age of 65,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of NEW PEOPLE Entertainment. “As seniors become an ever more significant part of our population, we should celebrate their wisdom, experiences and love of life. The 3-day Legacy Film Festival on Aging explores a variety of inspiring and sometimes controversial slice-of-life stories that create a wonderful experience to be shared by young and old alike.”
Ruth Asawa: Roots of an Artist
May 13th (Fri.) 6:30pm (Directed by Bob Toy, 37min, English)
An absorbing documentary portraying world-famous American artist Ruth Asawa, age 85, a beloved San Francisco icon of art and mentorship. Ruth’s fountains dot the San Francisco landscape, and her wire sculptures hang in museums worldwide. Learn the story of how Ruth’s kitchen table, where friends, artists, and students gathered, was donated to the Bethany Center in the Mission District, where Ruth’s Table is now the arts and creativity center for people over 50 living independent lives.
Post-screening Q&A with director Bob Toy; Ruth’s son and daughter Paul Lanier and Aiko Cuneo; Lola Fraknoi, of Ruth’s Table at the Bethany Center.
Tickets $11.00
5 Film Shorts
May 14th (Sat.) 1:00pm Tickets $11.00 for all 5 films
Advanced Style
(Directed by Lina Plioplyte, 3min, English)
Meet the stars of NY photographer Ari Seth Cohen’s Advanced Style, a blog devoted “to capturing the sartorial savvy of the senior set, … people who live life to the fullest, age gracefully and continue to grow and challenge themselves.”
A Mosaic Of Elders From Other Cultures
(Directed by HelpAge International (HAI), 5min, English)
HAI helps older people claim their rights, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. Last year they changed the lives of 1.5 million older people across the world.
An Old Hand
(Directed by Amy Dickson, 3min, English)
“A portrait of my grandmother: Life continues to challenge us right into old age. Her greatest legacy to me is her tenacity.”
Beautifully Esther
(Directed by Ricardo Korda, 23min, English)
A drama about Esther and Joszi who live a quiet, sheltered life in Venice Beach, CA. Their stagnant daily routine comes to an end when Joszi suddenly collapses, and Esther finds out her husband was hiding a secret. Confronted by her husband’s reluctance to change, Esther must decide how she wants to spend the rest of her days.
Seniors Rocking
(Directed by Ruedi Gerber, 28min, English)
A delightful documentary that unveils the artistic process and captures the communal energy behind the unique performance created by American dance pioneer Anna Halprin with senior citizens from the Redwoods Community of Seniors in Marin County, CA.
Old People Driving & Nobody’s Business
May 14th (Sat.) 3:15pm
Old People Driving
(Directed by Shaleece Haas, 24min, English)
Director Shaleece Haas asks: “Can a person be simply too old to drive?” The film chronicles the adventures of Milton (age 96) and Herbert (age 99) as they confront a grim milestone: the end of their driving years. Crucial issues of safety and independence come to the forefront.
Nobody’s Business
(Directed by Alan Berliner, 60min, English)
Alan Berliner takes on his reclusive father as the reluctant subject of this film from 1996. It presents a uniquely cinematic biography that finds both humor and pathos in the swirl of conflicts and affections that bind father and son. This is a memorable essay about the nature of family relationships.
Post-screening Q&A with outspoken expert of career advice, Marty Nemko. Tickets $11.00 for both films
The First Grader [Premiere!]
May 14th (Sat.) 5:30pm (Directed by Justin Chadwick, 100min, English)
In a small, remote, primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance at free education newly promised by the Kenyan government in 2002. One applicant creates a stir: Maruge, an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties. Having fought for the liberation of his country, Maruge is desperate to learn how to read at this late stage of his life — even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds. The film is a triumphant testimony to the transforming force of education. An enchanting true-life story, made more so by the fact Maruge would later address the United Nations about the need for education in Africa.
Tickets $11.00
HAPPY TO BE SO … & Ida’s Dance Club
May 15th (Sun.) 1:00pm
HAPPY TO BE SO…
(Directed by Yelena Demikovsky, 48min, English)
An affectionate and candid chronicle told with humor and irony by the principals themselves: two renowned ballet stars and current ballet masters Mireille Briane and Oleg Briansky, who have been married 50 years. They offer the viewer their shared days of glory, shining hours, and tragic reversals of fortune.
Ida’s Dance Club
(Directed by Dalit Kimor, 60min, English)
A ballroom dancing competition in a retirement community is the setting for this moving documentary portrait of individuals dancing against all odds. The participants are past retirement age, but that doesn’t stop them from dancing and singing, from falling in love — or not. The magical atmosphere of the club and the dancing gives them the strength to overcome the wear and tear of time, health problems and difficult memories.
Tickets $11.00 for both films
Over 90 & Loving It
May 15th (Sun.) 3:45pm (Directed by Susan Polis Schutz, 60min, English)
Is it ‘good genes,’ exercise and nutrition, caring for others, or just good luck that makes the subjects of this film so long-lived and passionate about life? The filmmaker interviews engaging characters living life to the fullest. Both their philosophies and actions should inspire intergenerational audiences to pick up the pace.
Tickets $11.00
Another Harvest Moon
May 15th (Sun.) 5:30pm (Directed by Greg W. Swartz, 90min, English)
This film is a sensitive drama of four elderly residents coping with life in a nursing home. When Frank, played by 93-year old Ernest Borgnine, suffers a second stroke, his friends and family, including his 15-year-old grandson, must confront their feelings about faith, dignity and obligations to loved ones. The cast includes: Academy-Award winner Ernest Borgnine, and award-winning veteran stars Doris Roberts, Ann Meara, Piper Laurie and Cybill Shepherd.
Post-screening Q&A with Compassion & Choices board membe Amy Hittner.
Tickets $11.00
NEW PEOPLE’s 143-seat subterranean theatre is located inside the NEW PEOPLE venue at 1746 Post Street in San Francisco’s Japantown and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX®-certified sound system.
About NEW PEOPLE, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, California, NEW PEOPLE, Inc. (http://www.newpeopleworld.com/) offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan through its unique entertainment destination as well as through licensing and distribution of selective Japanese films. NEW PEOPLE Entertainment (www.newpeopleent.com), a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, GANTZ, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, and THE TASTE OF TEA.
3-Day Festival Features International Films That Celebrate Seniors And Spotlight The Challenges And Triumphs Of Aging
San Francisco, CA, May 4, 2011 – NEW PEOPLE is proud to present the Legacy Film Festival on Aging, a special new film series that will inspire, educate and entertain intergenerational audiences about important issues surrounding aging and profiles unique individuals that lead meaningful lives well into their senior years.
The festival runs Friday, May 13th thru Sunday May 15th and showcases 13 feature and short films from around the world that celebrate older adulthood and deal with the challenges and triumphs of aging. Several of these films are also presented as double-features. The festival allows younger people to see their potential in older years and lets older people appreciate their own journeys to senior life. This is a wonderful experience to share together with audiences off all ages! For more info please visit LEGACY FILM FEST HOME PAGE or the NEW PEOPLE WORLD web site.
“There are currently over 95 million people in the U.S. over the age of fifty, with 40 million of them over the age of 65,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of NEW PEOPLE Entertainment. “As seniors become an ever more significant part of our population, we should celebrate their wisdom, experiences and love of life. The 3-day Legacy Film Festival on Aging explores a variety of inspiring and sometimes controversial slice-of-life stories that create a wonderful experience to be shared by young and old alike.”
Ruth Asawa: Roots of an Artist
May 13th (Fri.) 6:30pm (Directed by Bob Toy, 37min, English)
An absorbing documentary portraying world-famous American artist Ruth Asawa, age 85, a beloved San Francisco icon of art and mentorship. Ruth’s fountains dot the San Francisco landscape, and her wire sculptures hang in museums worldwide. Learn the story of how Ruth’s kitchen table, where friends, artists, and students gathered, was donated to the Bethany Center in the Mission District, where Ruth’s Table is now the arts and creativity center for people over 50 living independent lives.
Post-screening Q&A with director Bob Toy; Ruth’s son and daughter Paul Lanier and Aiko Cuneo; Lola Fraknoi, of Ruth’s Table at the Bethany Center.
Tickets $11.00
5 Film Shorts
May 14th (Sat.) 1:00pm Tickets $11.00 for all 5 films
Advanced Style
(Directed by Lina Plioplyte, 3min, English)
Meet the stars of NY photographer Ari Seth Cohen’s Advanced Style, a blog devoted “to capturing the sartorial savvy of the senior set, … people who live life to the fullest, age gracefully and continue to grow and challenge themselves.”
A Mosaic Of Elders From Other Cultures
(Directed by HelpAge International (HAI), 5min, English)
HAI helps older people claim their rights, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. Last year they changed the lives of 1.5 million older people across the world.
An Old Hand
(Directed by Amy Dickson, 3min, English)
“A portrait of my grandmother: Life continues to challenge us right into old age. Her greatest legacy to me is her tenacity.”
Beautifully Esther
(Directed by Ricardo Korda, 23min, English)
A drama about Esther and Joszi who live a quiet, sheltered life in Venice Beach, CA. Their stagnant daily routine comes to an end when Joszi suddenly collapses, and Esther finds out her husband was hiding a secret. Confronted by her husband’s reluctance to change, Esther must decide how she wants to spend the rest of her days.
Seniors Rocking
(Directed by Ruedi Gerber, 28min, English)
A delightful documentary that unveils the artistic process and captures the communal energy behind the unique performance created by American dance pioneer Anna Halprin with senior citizens from the Redwoods Community of Seniors in Marin County, CA.
Old People Driving & Nobody’s Business
May 14th (Sat.) 3:15pm
Old People Driving
(Directed by Shaleece Haas, 24min, English)
Director Shaleece Haas asks: “Can a person be simply too old to drive?” The film chronicles the adventures of Milton (age 96) and Herbert (age 99) as they confront a grim milestone: the end of their driving years. Crucial issues of safety and independence come to the forefront.
Nobody’s Business
(Directed by Alan Berliner, 60min, English)
Alan Berliner takes on his reclusive father as the reluctant subject of this film from 1996. It presents a uniquely cinematic biography that finds both humor and pathos in the swirl of conflicts and affections that bind father and son. This is a memorable essay about the nature of family relationships.
Post-screening Q&A with outspoken expert of career advice, Marty Nemko. Tickets $11.00 for both films
The First Grader [Premiere!]
May 14th (Sat.) 5:30pm (Directed by Justin Chadwick, 100min, English)
In a small, remote, primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance at free education newly promised by the Kenyan government in 2002. One applicant creates a stir: Maruge, an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties. Having fought for the liberation of his country, Maruge is desperate to learn how to read at this late stage of his life — even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds. The film is a triumphant testimony to the transforming force of education. An enchanting true-life story, made more so by the fact Maruge would later address the United Nations about the need for education in Africa.
Tickets $11.00
HAPPY TO BE SO … & Ida’s Dance Club
May 15th (Sun.) 1:00pm
HAPPY TO BE SO…
(Directed by Yelena Demikovsky, 48min, English)
An affectionate and candid chronicle told with humor and irony by the principals themselves: two renowned ballet stars and current ballet masters Mireille Briane and Oleg Briansky, who have been married 50 years. They offer the viewer their shared days of glory, shining hours, and tragic reversals of fortune.
Ida’s Dance Club
(Directed by Dalit Kimor, 60min, English)
A ballroom dancing competition in a retirement community is the setting for this moving documentary portrait of individuals dancing against all odds. The participants are past retirement age, but that doesn’t stop them from dancing and singing, from falling in love — or not. The magical atmosphere of the club and the dancing gives them the strength to overcome the wear and tear of time, health problems and difficult memories.
Tickets $11.00 for both films
Over 90 & Loving It
May 15th (Sun.) 3:45pm (Directed by Susan Polis Schutz, 60min, English)
Is it ‘good genes,’ exercise and nutrition, caring for others, or just good luck that makes the subjects of this film so long-lived and passionate about life? The filmmaker interviews engaging characters living life to the fullest. Both their philosophies and actions should inspire intergenerational audiences to pick up the pace.
Tickets $11.00
Another Harvest Moon
May 15th (Sun.) 5:30pm (Directed by Greg W. Swartz, 90min, English)
This film is a sensitive drama of four elderly residents coping with life in a nursing home. When Frank, played by 93-year old Ernest Borgnine, suffers a second stroke, his friends and family, including his 15-year-old grandson, must confront their feelings about faith, dignity and obligations to loved ones. The cast includes: Academy-Award winner Ernest Borgnine, and award-winning veteran stars Doris Roberts, Ann Meara, Piper Laurie and Cybill Shepherd.
Post-screening Q&A with Compassion & Choices board membe Amy Hittner.
Tickets $11.00
NEW PEOPLE’s 143-seat subterranean theatre is located inside the NEW PEOPLE venue at 1746 Post Street in San Francisco’s Japantown and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX®-certified sound system.
About NEW PEOPLE, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, California, NEW PEOPLE, Inc. (http://www.newpeopleworld.com/) offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan through its unique entertainment destination as well as through licensing and distribution of selective Japanese films. NEW PEOPLE Entertainment (www.newpeopleent.com), a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, GANTZ, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, and THE TASTE OF TEA.
Review: "Notes on a Scandal" is Delightfully Scandalous (Happy B'day, Cate Blanchett)
Notes on a Scandal (2006)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UK
Running time: 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes)
MPAA – R for language and some aberrant sexual content
DIRECTOR: Richard Eyre
WRITER: Patrick Marber (based upon the book What was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller)
PRODUCERS: Scott Rudin and Robert Fox
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Chris Menges
EDITORS: John Bloom and Antonia Van Drimmelen
2007 Academy Award nominee
DRAMA with elements of a thriller
Starring: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy, Andrew Simpson, Juno Temple, Max Lewis, and Stephen Kennedy
Notes on a Scandal is a chance to see two of the world’s best actresses delivering tour de force performances. For people who love great acting and great actresses, this film is a treasure trove. It’s rare when two actors are this good in the same movie where the script requires them to perform together during most of the film. Together, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett are enough to burn out your eyes.
Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) is a senior faculty member at St. George’s, a decaying, state-run secondary school. Lonely and bitter, she hasn’t connected with the rest of the faculty, but she rules over her class with an iron fist. Barbara does take an interest in the school’s newest faculty member, a pretty art teacher named Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett). Sheba ends up in an illicit affair with, Steven Connolly (Andrew Simpson), a 15-year old male student.
After Barbara accidentally discovers this, she confronts Sheba, but promises not to tell if Sheba ends the affair. Barbara also plots to use this intimate secret as a way to coerce Sheba into having an affair with her, but when Sheba continues the relationship with Steven, things turn ugly. In a moment of blind jealousy, Barbara does something that will hurt all involved, including Sheba’s husband, Richard (Bill Nighy), and will also bring the secret deceptions and dark obsessions to the surface.
The sign of a quality movie director is his ability to recognize a significant movie script and then, be able to turn it over to great actors and help them bring forth great performances. Richard Eyre (who previously directed Judi Dench to an Oscar nomination in 2001’s Iris) is such a quality film director. Patrick Marber’s script encapsulates what it feels like to be alone even in a crowd of familiar people, including one’s on family, and that’s to say nothing of Marber’s treatise on people so lonely they victimize other people to satisfy their need for connection and companionship. (Sheba calls Barbara a vampire, late in the film) Eyre doesn’t lose the richness of either Marber’s rich narrative or his complex look at the potential selfishness of neediness.
In spite of the good directing and writing, many will remember Notes on a Scandal for the two tremendous performances that literally make and define this film. Indeed, over the years, other movie lovers will seek out Notes precisely to see why so many other fans will still be raving about Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Dench defines Barbara with a domineering presence, a powerful and direct voice, a demeanor that might give a mugger pause, and the haughty attitude to end haughty attitudes. She makes Barbara so dishonest in her dealings with people that she could give the Prince of Lies a run for his money. Dench intensely uses her skills and still manages to make Barbara feel genuine and authentic as a person.
Meanwhile, Blanchett builds her character physically. The secret life of Sheba and her general unhappiness and malaise are evident in the way Blanchett moves. It is in a gaze or a wave of the arms – in the way she dances, the way she cries, or even how she sits in a chair. Blanchett opens the audience to what is real about Sheba, and what she’s hiding and the lies she’s telling. Movies like Notes on a Scandal that make you appreciate genuine acting and filmmaking talent and the skill to put that talent to practical use.
A horror movie in all but genre, Notes on a Scandal is as scandalous as its subject matter, but this highbrow freak show is a feast of film acting
8 of 10
A
NOTES:
2007 Academy Awards: 4 nominations: “Best performance by an actress in a leading role” (Judi Dench), “Best performance by an actress in a supporting role” (Cate Blanchett), “Best writing, adapted screenplay” (Patrick Marber), and “Best achievement in music written for motion pictures, original score” (Philip Glass)
2007 BAFTA Awards: 3 nominations: “Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film” (Scott Rudin, Robert Fox, Richard Eyre, and Patrick Marber), “Best Actress in a Leading Role” (Judi Dench), and “Best Screenplay – Adapted” (Patrick Marber)
2007 Golden Globes: 3 nominations: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama” (Judi Dench), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Cate Blanchett), and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Patrick Marber)
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Friday, May 13, 2011
Bin Laden Movie Writer, Mark Boal, Presents at PenFed Foundation Gala
Screenwriter Mark Boal of New Bin Laden Movie Coming to D.C. as Awards Presenter for PenFed Foundation Gala
Oscar winner to attend event recognizing wounded soldiers and military medical community
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mark Boal, journalist and Hollywood writer and producer of an upcoming film about the capture of Osama bin Laden, is coming to Washington, D.C., later this month to attend the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation’s (PenFed Foundation) annual Night of Heroes Gala on May 19 as a special guest and awards presenter. Boal won two Academy Awards for writing and producing “The Hurt Locker,” which was based on his experiences as a journalist embedded with an explosive ordnance disposal unit in Iraq.
“We are very excited to once again have Mr. Boal attend our event as an honored guest, especially for our biggest annual gathering, the Night of Heroes Gala,” said Christopher Flynn, president and chief executive officer of the PenFed Foundation. “His commitment to sharing the stories of the military community is genuine and heartfelt and we look forward to seeing his upcoming film about the hunt for bin Laden.”
Together with multiple Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow, who directed and produced "The Hurt Locker," Boal has been working on a film about the elite units tracking down the terrorist leader. The announcement last week of the death of bin Laden came early enough in the movie-making process that it will be incorporated into the final script, which Boal is currently rewriting.
Later this month, he will be in Washington to attend the PenFed Foundation’s annual Night of Heroes Gala as an awards presenter and special guest alongside General James N. Mattis, the current commander of the United States Central Command; General (Ret) Barry McCaffrey; and author and co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, Lee Woodruff. The event will recognize wounded military heroes and those of the medical community who provide the continuum of care from the battlefield to the home front.
Last spring, Boal attended a PenFed Foundation fundraising dinner as a special guest to support the organization’s new Defenders Lodge project, a planned $12.5 million facility to provide free short-term housing to thousands of veterans and wounded soldiers undergoing care at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital in California. The project is slated to break ground this summer. Many wounded soldiers travel from all over the United States to receive outpatient treatment at the hospital and end up staying at a lodging facility that is no longer able to accommodate the increase in patient volume and isn’t compliant with the American Disabilities Act.
This year’s Night of Heroes Gala will begin at 6 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington on Thursday, May 19. Along with corporate, political and military guests, wounded patients from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda National Naval Medical Center will be in attendance.
“The theme of this year’s gala honors a very special part of the military community,” adds Flynn. “Hollywood makes a lot of movies featuring the military, but only a few get it right. We’re honored to have Mr. Boal attend this year’s event as a special guest because he’s one of the few who does get it right and tells the story as it is.”
To learn more about the 2011 Night of Heroes Gala, visit: www.penfedfoundation.org/NightofHeroes2011
About the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation (PenFed Foundation)
The PenFed Foundation is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization working to meet the unmet needs of military personnel and their families through supporting wounded soldiers, providing financial management assistance and home ownership aid. The foundation is also the primary sponsor of the new $12.5 million Defenders Lodge supported by donated land from the government and financed entirely through private donations. The Pentagon Federal Credit Union covers all labor expenses for the foundation so every dollar donated goes directly to supporting its programs.
To learn more about the foundation, visit: http://www.pentagonfoundation.org/
Oscar winner to attend event recognizing wounded soldiers and military medical community
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mark Boal, journalist and Hollywood writer and producer of an upcoming film about the capture of Osama bin Laden, is coming to Washington, D.C., later this month to attend the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation’s (PenFed Foundation) annual Night of Heroes Gala on May 19 as a special guest and awards presenter. Boal won two Academy Awards for writing and producing “The Hurt Locker,” which was based on his experiences as a journalist embedded with an explosive ordnance disposal unit in Iraq.
“We are very excited to once again have Mr. Boal attend our event as an honored guest, especially for our biggest annual gathering, the Night of Heroes Gala,” said Christopher Flynn, president and chief executive officer of the PenFed Foundation. “His commitment to sharing the stories of the military community is genuine and heartfelt and we look forward to seeing his upcoming film about the hunt for bin Laden.”
Together with multiple Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow, who directed and produced "The Hurt Locker," Boal has been working on a film about the elite units tracking down the terrorist leader. The announcement last week of the death of bin Laden came early enough in the movie-making process that it will be incorporated into the final script, which Boal is currently rewriting.
Later this month, he will be in Washington to attend the PenFed Foundation’s annual Night of Heroes Gala as an awards presenter and special guest alongside General James N. Mattis, the current commander of the United States Central Command; General (Ret) Barry McCaffrey; and author and co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, Lee Woodruff. The event will recognize wounded military heroes and those of the medical community who provide the continuum of care from the battlefield to the home front.
Last spring, Boal attended a PenFed Foundation fundraising dinner as a special guest to support the organization’s new Defenders Lodge project, a planned $12.5 million facility to provide free short-term housing to thousands of veterans and wounded soldiers undergoing care at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital in California. The project is slated to break ground this summer. Many wounded soldiers travel from all over the United States to receive outpatient treatment at the hospital and end up staying at a lodging facility that is no longer able to accommodate the increase in patient volume and isn’t compliant with the American Disabilities Act.
This year’s Night of Heroes Gala will begin at 6 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington on Thursday, May 19. Along with corporate, political and military guests, wounded patients from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda National Naval Medical Center will be in attendance.
“The theme of this year’s gala honors a very special part of the military community,” adds Flynn. “Hollywood makes a lot of movies featuring the military, but only a few get it right. We’re honored to have Mr. Boal attend this year’s event as a special guest because he’s one of the few who does get it right and tells the story as it is.”
To learn more about the 2011 Night of Heroes Gala, visit: www.penfedfoundation.org/NightofHeroes2011
About the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation (PenFed Foundation)
The PenFed Foundation is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization working to meet the unmet needs of military personnel and their families through supporting wounded soldiers, providing financial management assistance and home ownership aid. The foundation is also the primary sponsor of the new $12.5 million Defenders Lodge supported by donated land from the government and financed entirely through private donations. The Pentagon Federal Credit Union covers all labor expenses for the foundation so every dollar donated goes directly to supporting its programs.
To learn more about the foundation, visit: http://www.pentagonfoundation.org/
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Review: "Battle Royale" is a Bullet with Butterfly Wings
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 187 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux
Batoru rowaiaru (2000)
Battle Royale (2001) – U.S. title
Running time: 114 minutes (1 hour, 54 minutes)
DIRECTOR: Kinji Fukasaku
WRITER: Kenta Fukasaku (based upon the novel by Koushun Takami)
PRODUCERS: Kinji Fukasaku, Kenta Fukasaku, Kimio Kataoka, Chie Kobayashi, and Toshio Nabeshima
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Katsumi Yanagishima
EDITOR: Hirohide Abe
ACTION/DRAMA with elements of crime, horror and sci-fi
Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto, Masanobu Ando, and Takeshi Kitano
Early in the new millennium, Japan is on the verge of societal collapse. Not only is unemployment high, but schoolchildren are also abusing the system by staging strikes to not attend school, and when they do attend, they attack the teachers. The government introduces the Millennium Education Reform Act V or Battle Royale Act. It’s a strict new form of punishment whereby the government via lottery chooses a group of students and takes them to a desert island where the students are ordered to fight to the death. Each student is turned loose with a backpack containing supplies and one weapon. The students must use those weapons on one another until there is only one student left standing. Each Battle Royale can have only one winner. The students who refuse to cooperate and play by the rules are killed by an explosive charge placed in a metal collar that each student has around his or her neck.
Zentsuji Middle School #4, Class E finds itself selected to play the super brutal game of Battle Royale. Their teacher, Kitano (played by the famous Japanese actor and auteur Takeshi “Beat” Kitano), is the game master, and he’s showing no mercy. Out of the chaos that is Battle Royal, two students, Shuya Nanahara (Tatsuya Fujiwara) and Noriko Nakagawa (Aki Maeda), join together in hopes of finding like-minded classmates who want to fight the system and beat the game, but it’s every student for himself.
Battle Royale (Batoru rowaiaru) is one of the most controversial films in recent memory primarily because it’s about a group of school children forced to kill their classmates in order to survive. It’s a bang-up Lord of the Flies as only a Japanese filmmaker could do it. The film is certainly disturbing not only its depiction of violence, but also in its concept. Director Kinji Fukasaku and writer Kenta Fukasaku make sure that the audience gets to know every student. We don’t get to know each intimately, but we learn enough to care about each one and fear for his or her safety.
This isn’t some horror flick with a body count. It’s mad social commentary, and although Battle Royale’s notion of how a government fights juvenile delinquency and flagrant law breaking seems a bit extreme and fanciful, the film gets it right in spirit. It’s a reverse Logan’s Run and a grisly-with-a-cherry-on-top riff on “the most dangerous game” (hunting a human), and I must admit there is something… fun in watching the expressions of terror and desperation on the students’ faces as they struggle to live, beg for the lives, or fight for their lives. There is also something alluring in watching the bloodlust and the triumph of the killers. Maybe, this is so controversial because it appeals to something dark and ugly in us, but Battle Royale is a must-see treat for true movie lovers.
9 of 10
A+
Sunday, August 27, 2006
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