areinhol Reviews

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

It didn't work for me

[5/10 · 6 January 2017]

Our hero is an angry man who can't seem to hold it together. Through a series of flashbacks we learn why: a great tragedy has traumatized him. But this is not just any tragedy, I can't think of anything worse that could happen to someone. Oedipus Rex plucks out his eyes with less cause.

So there is plenty of motivation for him becoming an angry loner, but his past could motivate any dramatic outcome, celibate monk, mass murderer, iconoclastic artist, CIA assassin, raving lunatic. Call a suicide prevention hot line with his backstory and they might direct you to a right-to-die website.

Psychotherapy is apparently never an option in the townie macho culture the film depicts; the local police have a very strong reason to get him counseling, but there is no indication they ever do. Self-medication with alcohol is the only succor he gets.

OK, so I understand why our hero is angry, but why are most of the other characters attempting a Boston accent so touchy? The accent-free characters in the film never get upset.

Despite the portentous music, the film's front story is not so tragic. (A different score could turn this glass-half-empty downer into a half-full feel-good charmer. Some film school should do the experiment.) Our hero realizes his limitations and makes some reasonable choices. The brilliantly acted and Oscar-headed moment when his ex-wife tries to help made me wonder just how she managed to get over it so well.

An inability to control his fists is our hero's one shortcoming. Watching a seething Casey Affleck staring out his late brother's bedroom window, my immediate reaction was at least he isn't punching his fist through the glass, and then, a second later, he does. No angry-male stereotypes were harmed in the making of this movie.

My takeaway? Check your smoke detectors regularly.

Sing (2016)

Pure fun well done

[9/10 · 5 January 2017]

Computer graphics has reached the point where talented animators can produce any image or action on the screen that they can imagine. The imagination of Sing's creators seems boundless, sustaining a hectic pace of gleeful inventiveness that never lets up. There is stuff you glimpse out of the corner of your eye that must have taken someone weeks of work to create, that might even be good enough for a film of its own, but its gone in less than a second.

The story line is an old one, a bunch of amateurs putting on a performance, but the energy of the animation and the cleverly thought out bevy of performers, who all share a deep love of music, make it fresh and engaging. How many really new plots are there, after all? If going to a movie that is just pure fun is something your might be ashamed of, this film is not for you. But if you could stand two hours of joyful entertainment, see Sing,

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

A shockingly upbeat film

[9/10 · 8 February 2016]

We live in a cynical age. No one, not even the Coen Brothers would dare make a straight-up movie that celebrates work. That message can only be filmed through the lens of satire and that's what we have here. Other reviews will give you the plot basics: an extended day in the life of a Hollywood executive getting movies made in the face of one problem after another, while weighing a juicy job offer from a defense contractor. He must deal with actors, actresses, and directors with deep flaws, but in the process we see wonderful scenes being filmed. Spoiler alert: at the end of the day everyone gets their job done. And it's hard work and dedication that matter, not the money.

If you are looking for a side-splitting comedy, you'll be disappointed. If you want something that's beautifully filmed, great fun to watch and gives you lots to think about, see Hail, Caesar!

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014)

Great summer movie for non-Indians

[8/10 · 14 July 2014]

Maybe if I were more familiar with Indian movies, I would share the negative opinions of many IMDb reviewers from India. But I've only seen a few Indian movies, and never heard of the stars of this one. Instead I am a typical parochial American and I really enjoyed this film.

The basic plot is about a small-town girl, Kavya, about to be married to a man arranged by her father. Her sister had rejected a match he arranged and the marriage ended badly, so the father is determined to see this match through. Kavya wants a wedding dress more expensive than her friend's designer gown and when her father refuses to buy it, she goes off to the big city (New Delhi) to earn enough money to buy it herself. There she meets a boy, Humpty, who is smitten by her and decides to help her get the gown, despite the fact she is engaged. They fall in love but Kavya is unwilling to break her father's heart by defying him. Humpty eventually confronts her father who has him beaten. Humpty doesn't give up, however.

Yes, Humpty Sharma is a fluffy love-conquers-all romantic comedy, but it is fresher, more energetic and less self-conscious than similar stuff that comes out of Hollywood each summer. The characters are easy to like and there are enough cultural differences to keep it interesting. If you don't mind subtitles, this film is a pleasant way to spend an evening.

Drumline (2002)

See it and be amazed

[10/10 · 19 December 2002]

I didn't expect to learn anything new this winter movie season. Harry Potter? I read the book two years ago. The Two Towers? I don't want to admit how long ago I read that one. James Bond? Guns, gadgets and girls -- the longest running franchise in movie history. Star Trek? Let me guess, the Fate of the Universe is at stake. I expected Drumline to be another African American comedy, a Mr. Holland's Ghetto. Instead, I was shown a whole new world, one I had no clue existed. I needed to check the Internet to discover that Atlanta A&T, the school where the action takes place, is fiction, but the other schools whose bands march in the competition scenes are real.

Ok, so the plot has been done so often we know it by heart. Talented kid with a chip on his shoulder, unwilling to pay his dues, ticks off his drill sergeant, who then embarrasses him in front of the captain. Kid grows up a little, gets to lead the charge and wins the girl. There is even the package from home scene. Drumline doesn't completely follow the formula, however. The kid never cries and the sergeant doesn't fall on a live hand grenade to save his squad. Apparently they don't use hand grenades in band, though given the intensity of the competition, that's surprising.

But the characters are engaging, the story works and the band performances are spectacular. Marching band as a major American art form? I would have assumed that was the punch line of some joke before I saw Drumline. Now it's undeniable. A cleverer plot could have detracted from the real story, the talent, team work, energy and grit of these amazing marching bands. See this one on the big screen if you possibly can.

Bad Company (2002)

Serviceable spy flick

[8/10 · 16 June 2002]

From the trailer I expected Bad Company to be an African-American comedy along the lines of Undercover Brother.

The opening music suggested something closer to The Sum of All

Fears and what I saw was in the middle. The mixture is awkward

at times, but I thought it worked. The premise is not as far fetched

as many spy stories: a CIA agent is killed in the middle of buying a

stolen nuke and recruiting his street-living twin is the only way to

save the deal. There are more spy movie cliches than I would

prefer, but there are also a few fresh ideas. In a key chase scene

the good guys lose because they are simply out fought. Even the

inevitable bomb defusing scene with the red count down timer

(these must be required under some Hollywood union contract)

has a clever plot twist where our hero get to use his street smarts.

I suspect many of the critics weren't able to follow the action well

enough to get it. And the epilog was, well, refreshing. If you like B

spy flicks, you should enjoy this one.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

Unity of mind is the key

[18 April 2002]

(********Semi-Spoiler*********) I say semi-spoiler because I give away little of what happens in the film, but only suggest an approach to solving the infuriating puzzle it presents. However, you may want to watch the movie for the first time without reading anything that would shape the experience for you.

Mulholand Dr. is about jealousy--sexual and professional--and its tragic consequences. There are (at least) two story threads that appear contradictory. The contradictions can be resolved by applying a variant of the classic Aristotelian unities of time, place and person: unity of mind. There is only one mind in this movie, the mind of the real protagonist, an aspiring young actress who has recently arrived in Hollywood. Everything in the movie happens in her mind, either as actual experience, something she was told (perhaps the brutal/comic hit man scene), dream, fantasy or delusion. And that, I believe, is the key to figuring out which is which.

One side note: I had to return the first video tape of Mulholand Dr. that I rented because the tape was damaged. This may not be a coincidence. I suspect tapes of this movie get a lot of wear and tear as viewers fast forward and rewind repeatedly, trying to unravel the mystery.

The Log (1999)

The Tenenbaums done right

[3 January 2002]

I saw this film and The Royal Tenenbaums in the course of the same week. The themes were very similar (a coincidence?), but La Buche was more interesting, more believable and more enjoyable. I cared about the characters. Gene Hackman's brood were cardboard cutouts. And La Buche didn't need the Hollywood formulaic 500 milliseconds of exposed breast to earn its adult status.

Hair (1979)

Parents be warned. The PG rating is misleading!

[5 August 2001]

I saw this movie again recently and enjoyed it. I don't have much to add to other reviews, except to point out that how people react to this movies may have more to do with their feelings about the Vietnam era than the movie itself. "Hair" presents one point of view from that divisive time and I think it does it well.

My main reason for adding another review is that Hair's PG rating seems totally inappropriate. There is a lot of sex and nudity in this film. I strongly believe this movie would receive at least a PG-13 today and probably an R. I think it is appropriate for middle teenagers, but other parents might not. It's not for small children.

Topsy-Turvy (1999)

Enjoyed every minute of it, but the R rating is a shame.

[21 February 2000]

Topsy Turvy is long; its plot is a bit disorganized; it has too many loose ends; but I enjoyed every minute of it. If you like Gilbert and Sullivan, or have never heard of them you must see this film. If you hate G &S you should see it anyway because you obviously enjoy being miserable.

I have just two complaints, one whimsical and one serious. The whimsical complaint is that I wish the lovingly produced scenes from G &S could expand into full length productions. Having assembled a fine cast, sets and costumes, why not film the whole work, complete with audience, orchestra and back stage shots. I'd buy them as a multi-volume DVD.

The serious complaint has to do with the "R" rating (in the U.S.). As far as I can tell this rating stems from one gratuitous brothel scene and perhaps a couple of expletives. What a waste! Otherwise this would be a stupendous family movie. I find it bizarre that Topsy Turvey, which dwells on the creation of musical comedy, is rated "R" and Cider House Rules, another fine film that, however, dwells on abortion and incest, gets "PG-13." I hope Mr. Leigh had the sense to film the brothel scene without the nudity and will consider releasing a PG version of this film.

The Impostors (1998)

Brilliant, original, funny, but not for everyone

[10/10 · 13 February 2000]

I loved this movie, yet I can see why others hated it. This is not the comic food we have grown up on. It is a different cuisine that tastes strange at first, but if given a chance, rewards with fresh, delicious sensations at every bite.

Early in this movie our actor heros take turns mugging an emotion on command. I think this moment is the key to understanding the entire film. Almost every scene is painted by facial expressions and body language. The editing lingers to give us time to enjoy each portrait, then cuts a bit further along in the story than we are used to. This unfamiliar timing gives the strong cast a chance to act rather than react. The story is about actors, but the movie is a tribute to comedic acting.

If you want a formula comedy, rent something else. If you want movie that is funny, warm, original, and brilliant and are willing to give its different pace a chance, put this film at the top of your list and plan to view it twice.

Twins (1988)

Entertaining, not great and not PG.

[7/10 · 23 May 1999]

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito have to struggle to keep a weak story going, but it's fun watching them work at it and that makes this movie worth seeing.

I really have to question the PG rating, though. There a long subplot about Schwarzenegger losing his virginity which only leaves the act itself to the imagination. Parents be warned, it should have been PG-13.

My Favorite Martian (1999)

Not the worst movie of the year

[16 March 1999]

My Favorite Martian is one of Hollywood's new class of environmentally friendly movies that contain 90% or more recycled content. The script computer chose boy-tested portions of Back to the Future, Men in Black, E.T. and Flubber. It stars Doc Emmett Brown and Wallace Shawn. (After seeing "My Dinner with Andre," I feel like Wallace is a personal friend and it is always fun to watch your friends in movies.) The special effects are good and the opening scenes of the Martian surface are excellent. There is way too much sex for a PG movie, including a butt slapping scene which implies that indecent assault is OK if you can't get caught. I am old enough to have watched the TV original but never did because I thought it was dumb. This movie is dumb too but the plot holds together more or less and there are a few good bits, like shape changing chewing gum.

My Favorite Martian is not the worst movie of the year.