Saturday Night Movie Recommendations with Abe

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. I'm going to be providing a handy guide to a few choice movies currently playing in NYC as well as several films newly released on DVD. I’ll also aim to comment on those films I have not yet had the chance to see, and I invite you to add in your thoughts on any films I haven’t seen in the comments below. Understandably, some weeks will have considerably fewer releases to address than others.

Now Playing in NYC

Turn Me On, Dammit! (highly recommended): This 2011 Tribeca Film Festival entry that I raved about and recognized in my AFT Awards this past year finally arrives in theatres, and watching it a second time a year later reminds of its creative energy and wit. Norway is producing excellent films these days, and this is one of the greats. Now playing at the Angelika and the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Read my review from yesterday.

Mirror Mirror (mixed bag): This widely-advertised update of Snow White is an inconsistently modernized, generally entertaining take on the classic story, that features Julia Roberts in the lead role as the Queen, having a grand old time and chewing up scenery. The dwarves are fun, but this movie otherwise isn’t all too worthwhile, though it’s hardly terrible or miserable either. Now playing in wide release. My review will be up tomorrow.

New to DVD

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (highly recommended): This surprise Oscar Best Picture nominee was decried by many as an unnecessary inclusion, but it actually stands as one of the most affecting and well-constructed films of 2011, featuring strong performances from young actor Thomas Horn and veteran actor Max von Sydow and a complex and meaningful plot, with excellent music by Alexandre Desplat.

Romantics Anonymous (highly recommended): My second favorite film (see above) from the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival may have had a brief run in U.S. theatres, but now it arrives on DVD. It’s impossible not to like this winning, colorful film about two awkward, excessively emotional people who share a love of cooking.

A Dangerous Method (mixed bag): David Cronenberg’s latest film hardly feels like something from the auteur, instead presenting a fairly straightforward history of Carl Jung and his involvement with Sigmund Freud and Sabrina Spielrein. Viggo Mortensen’s Freud is terrific, but the rest of the film leaves much to be desired, proving less than creative.

Movie with Abe: Turn Me On, Dammit!

Turn Me On, Dammit!
Directed by Jannicke Systad Jacobsen
Released March 30, 2012

This standout Tribeca Film Festival entry from last year finally arrives in U.S. theatres almost a year later. It’s the kind of film about teen angst that would never be seen in an American production, exploring one 15-year-old girl’s sexual desires and her inability to think about anything else but fulfilling them. Instead of presenting either a perverse or an overly comedic portrait of Alma’s life and thoughts, “Turn Me On, Dammit!” takes a subtler and more distanced approach, refusing to judge any of its characters and letting them speak for themselves. As a result, the film is affecting and charming in its own little peculiar way.

Tendencies and habits are quickly established that help to define the world in which these characters live, as Alma and her friends always remember to stick their middle fingers up at the sign they pass on the bus each day that signals their re-entry into their hometown. Alma wears her emotions on her face, usually broadcasting a façade of disinterest but easily excited by the rare interesting opportunity or situation that presents itself in her miserable town. Left alone or merely able to drift off mid-conversation for even a moment, Alma launches into intense daydreams in which whatever character is around her begins to seduce her. The film’s memorable opening scene features her lying on the floor with her pants down, listening to “Sex Telefon,” and from that image on, Alma’s reality is fully driven by where her hormone-filled mind is able to take her.

Though this is purely Alma’s story, her surrounding teens are given identifying personality traits that distinguish them from normal supporting movie friends. Her best friend writes letters to death row inmates in the United States, detailing the drama Alma is currently experiencing as if they might be interested, and begins a romance with the guy at the school who famously doesn’t shower or use deodorant. Another friend applies lip gloss slowly, routinely, and excessively, almost as if she’s hypnotized, and Alma’s crush Artur, broadcasts the blankest look on his face whenever he is asked any question. The characters are superb, and the story is told is a mesmerizing fashion, with black and white flashbacks populated with frozen frames narrated by Alma to explain either what is happening or what she might wish is happening. The film’s title, which has already been toned down from its festival title, “Turn Me On, Goddamit!” may deter audiences, but this is an altogether mature, endearing and enjoyable experience.

A-

Thursday Triple Features

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies With Abe, Thursday Triple Features. Throughout college, I would often head to the movies for three films in a row on a Friday or Sunday, and I’m excited to recall some of my most memorable experiences. I don’t necessarily advocate that you try this at home, but I’ll explore that as well.

My fourth triple feature experience was, appropriately enough, a quadruple feature. Returning from a summer in Massachusetts where I had to drive almost an hour to get to anything independent, I decided to catch up on recent cinema by spending the entire day at the Angelika Film Center, seeing all the most buzzworthy of films at the time. I even documented it in Minutes with Abe. You can watch all four segments here.

August 21, 2008

Movie #1: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Time of Day: 11:00am
Runtime: 96 minutes
Before last year’s “Midnight in Paris,” this was widely considered to be Woody Allen’s big comeback. It won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical and the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Penelope Cruz. Aside from eliciting amusing performances from Cruz, Rebecca Hall, and Javier Bardem, this film did what many Allen films of late do: transplant New York City characters and dialogue to another city, where they feel considerably less comfortable.

Movie #2: The Wackness
Time of Day: 1:20pm
Runtime: 99 minutes
This peculiar film is a low-key, sedated experience featuring Ben Kingsley in a highly entertaining performance as an untraditional therapist. Olivia Thirlby is also great as his daughter, and though lead Josh Peck is considerably less enthusiastic, this film succeeds as a result of its funky dialogue and amusing premise.

Movie #3: Frozen River
Time of Day: 3:30pm
Runtime: 97 minutes
This dark drama about border smuggling functions exceptionally well as a subtle thriller, and showcases a powerhouse performance by Melissa Leo that earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Its snowy landscape helps establish its eerie, surreal feel, and this original story is highly enthralling and captivating.

Movie #4: Elegy
Time of Day: 5:15pm
Runtime: 112 minutes
My second encounter with Cruz and Kingsley for the day was this strong human drama adapted from the novel “The Dying Animal” by Philip Roth. The talented cast also includes Peter Sarsgaard and Patricia Clarkson, and a powerful romance with deep, complex characters.

The review: Though I didn’t love the first film as much as most, the next three were all great, albeit quite varied in tone and style.
The grades: B-, B+, B+, B+
A good lineup? Absolutely. The first film was something I needed to see for awards reason, and the other three were very good films. Quite random to be sure, but highly worthwhile.

Coming next week: back to three films for an adventure in October!

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: First Five Forgotten in 2007

Welcome back to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The First Five Forgotten is the sixth in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed, not to be confused with my first series, the Forgotten Five, which looked at the five films that came closest to getting nominated for Best Picture and ended up getting shut out entirely.

As Oscar season goes into hibernation for more than half the year, it’s a time to take a look back at past races. This time, I’ll be spotlighting the five performers that came closest to earning their first Oscar nominations and then ended up getting snubbed, in alphabetical order. If you feel I’ve left anyone off, please say so in the comments!

First Five Forgotten in 2007

Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild): This young actor, who broke out in 2002 with several film roles, was a SAG nominee for his performance as a young man who abandons society to live in the wild. The film, for no discernible reason, faltered come Oscar time, and Hirsch got left off the list in favor of surprise nominee Tommy Lee Jones. His roles since have been too supporting for Oscar to notice, but I imagine he’ll get there one day.

Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood): After a prominent role a year earlier in “Little Miss Sunshine,” Dano went toe-to-toe with powerhouse actor Daniel Day-Lewis as a preacher trying to get him to change his ways. The film surged to a strong showing on Oscar nominations day, but Dano got left out in favor of the much more prominent and unmatchable Day-Lewis. His parts since have been interesting, though I’m not sure he’ll ever be quite mainstream enough for Oscar voters.

Jennifer Garner (Juno): This Golden Globe and SAG winner for TV’s “Alias” finally found a quality film to star in, yet none of its cast, including fellow TV transplants Jason Bateman and J.K. Simmons, got recognized aside from star Ellen Page. Garner has established herself as a comedy leading lady, and I suspect that’s what she’ll continue doing in the future, rarely taking on Oscar-worthy roles.

Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men): A key supporting part in a Coen brothers film put this Scottish actress in the spotlight, but only Javier Bardem made it to the Oscars, despite some buzz for Macdonald, Tommy Lee Jones, and Josh Brolin along the way. Fortunately, Macdonald found a superb role on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and has been earning Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work. Whether or not she’ll search for a major film role again is uncertain.

James McAvoy (Atonement): He came close the year before for “The Last King of Scotland,” but it was too hard to put him in any category, so this obviously lead role should have put him at the head of the competition. For some reason, the film experienced considerable backlash , and he was out of the race. Since then, he’s performed consistently, and I assume it won’t be long before the part of a lifetime comes along.

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Prometheus

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Prometheus – Opening June 8, 2012



This full-length trailer, released last week, demonstrates that this movie is a sci-fi lover’s dream. It has the classic feel of “Alien,” stranding its intrepid crew far from home with no hope of defense against a predatory alien race. Its effects and visuals look magnificent, and its story is certainly large-scale. It looks intense as anything, starting out slow and smoothly and then erupting into a violent, frightening fight to stay alive. This looks somewhat similar to the disappointing 2007 film “Sunshine,” but I think that this has appropriate credentials, directed by Ridley Scott and co-written by Damon Lindelof of “Lost” fame. The cast is packed with strong actors, including Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce, and the trailer focuses specifically on a cool-as-ice Michael Fassbender, who, true to form, doesn’t appear to speak much, and Noomi Rapace, the original “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” as a researcher going out of her mind with fear and anxiety after her encounters. All signs indicate that this could be a remarkable and excellent film, and let’s hope that expectations don’t lead to disappointment, because this could be a truly fantastic sci-fi production. I’m quite looking forward to it after seeing this trailer.

Monday Sequel Spotlight: Back to the Future Part II

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. In this series, I’ll be taking a look at some famous (and infamous) sequels to see how they compare to the original. I'll do my best to alternate between the greats and the best forgotten. Leave your thoughts or a suggestion for a spotlight in the comments!

Back to the Future Part II
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Released November 22, 1989



Some film series don’t have a bad installment. And some don’t have an agreed-upon best film in the set. Many will argue that the purity of the first “Back to the Future” with its highly original, exciting, very 1980s feel is the greatest film in the trilogy. I would posit, however, that “Back to the Future Part II” takes it one step further, preserving the comic and sci-fi elements that worked from installment number one and transforming them for the three time periods that Marty visits. The future, with its hoverboards and 3-D glasses, is intriguing, while the alternate present is horrifying and the 1955 past is just as familiar, but more interesting this time around since we’ve already been there to see how things played out. Whereas Marty was on his own in the first film, it’s fun to have Doc with him this time around, explaining him to him how things work in the future and then nervously avoiding his younger self when they’re in 1955. Most prominent in my memory is Marty and his multiple wakeups, always being told that he’s safe and sound, be it in 2015 or on the 27th floor. This film is cleverest for its last few scenes, in which it gloriously closes out this installment and sets up number three, back in the wild, wild West. This trailer doesn't quite do the film justice, emphasizing its campy elements more than anything, but what a blast!

Sunday Similar Standards: Seth Rogen

Welcome to a new semi-regular weekly feature here at Movies with Abe. On those weeks where reviews are sparse, I’ll be taking a look at an actor or actress whose body of work boasts many roles that may not be as diverse as those taken on by other actors or actresses. This is hardly a judgment on their abilities; rather an analysis of the kind of parts they play so well.

Seth Rogen
This comedian can usually be found making a fool of himself in foul-mouthed parts as a jokester in some kind of uninteresting dead-end job. He’s most often likeable, though sometimes his obnoxiousness gets in the way of his more charming personality traits. If he’s not too boisterous, he fits in just fine in the background as comic relief.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005): He was loud and rather unattractive with a poorly chosen hairstyle as one of virgin Steve Carell’s buddies.

Knocked Up (2007): He got the lead role as the nervous but endearing Ben, accidental impregnator of reporter Alison.

Superbad (2007): Too old to play the part of the mouthy young lawbreaker, Rogen instead portrayed the idiotic wise-cracking cop.

Pineapple Express (2008): Process server Dale, no stranger to wild schemes and charades, was just as ridiculous when running after witnessing a murder.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008): Desperately broke Zack made plenty of jokes and goofed off in the process of filming an adult film with his female roommate.

Observe and Report (2009): Rogen was a full-on jerk as the brainless, violent-prone drone Ronnie, who was a security guard at a mall.

The Green Hornet (2011): Being in a superhero flick didn’t change Rogen’s default character at all, here seen being silly and irresponsible as the heir to a major media empire.

50/50 (2011): When he found out that his best friend had cancer, Kyle dealt with it as any Rogen character would: support through humor.

Anything different?

Funny People (2009): In this film, Rogen was training to be like Adam Sandler’s seasoned comedian, but neither of them was showboating or playing the fool in this more serious fare.

What’s next?

A part in the drama “Take This Waltz,” out this June, and a role in a comedy about phone sex, “For a Good Time, Call…”

The verdict?

He’s usually great entertainment, and putting him in a lead part has mixed results – excellent in “Knocked Up” and lamentable in “Observe and Report.” Most often, if Rogen’s having a good time, audiences are too, and the more depraved his character is, the more amusing.

Saturday Night Movie Recommendations with Abe

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. I'm going to be providing a handy guide to a few choice movies currently playing in NYC as well as several films newly released on DVD. I’ll also aim to comment on those films I have not yet had the chance to see, and I invite you to add in your thoughts on any films I haven’t seen in the comments below. Understandably, some weeks will have considerably fewer releases to address than others.


Now Playing in NYC

All In: The Poker Movie (highly recommended): This documentary is a winning and informative depiction of the evolution of poker and the culture it has created. As a recent regular poker player, I heavily enjoyed it, but it think it will entertain a diversity of audiences. Highly recommended for all. Now playing at the Cinema Village. Read my review from yesterday.

No, I haven’t seen The Hunger Games. I haven’t read the books either, so I’m not sure if it’s at the top of my list.


New to DVD

Carnage (recommended): This Roman Polanski-directed film is essentially a play captured on camera, which means that it’s fascinating for its content but unremarkable for its style. Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, and Christoph Waltz all deliver memorable performances, acting out a clever and entertaining script.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (recommended): This David Fincher-directed remake isn’t as good as the Swedish original, but were it not for the existence of the other, this might be much more impressive. Rooney Mara is a fantastic Lisbeth Salander, and it’s still plenty thrilling and unsettling.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (recommended): This moody thriller earned three well-deserved Oscar nominations, and showcases an astonishing performance from Gary Oldman, as well as strong turns from so many great British actors in the ensemble. It may slow down in the middle, but for any spy fans, it’s a must-see.

I imagine I’ll soon see The Muppets now that it’s out since my roommate Josh absolutely loves it.

Now on Netflix Instant Streaming

New York, I Love You (mixed bag): This English-language follow-up to “Paris, Je T’aime” isn’t nearly as charming, and with the exception of a strong scene or two, it’s rather overdone and forced. It’s a decent date movie with a few romantic vignettes, but nothing more.

They’re not technically films, but it’s worth nothing that the fabulous Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and a bunch of TED Talks have been added to Netflix’s offerings.

Movie with Abe: All In: The Poker Movie

All In: The Poker Movie
Directed by Douglas Tirola
Released March 23, 2012

It’s difficult to capture and relay the essence of a sport, and even more difficult to do so with a culture. Doing so in a nonfiction narrative is an increased challenge, since, most often, devotees and die-hard fans may not seem camera-ready. “All In: The Poker Movie” is an extraordinarily competent, totally engaging immersion into the world of poker, tracking its history and development over time. Like many documentaries, it has many focal points and hits on numerous topics over the course of its runtime, and it remains thoroughly interesting and compelling as it navigates each piece of the poker universe.

“All In: The Poker Movie” can be broken down into four major parts, which overlap as one feeds into another. The history of poker is explored in enormous detail, back to presidential poker games in the White House and the mass mailing of card decks overseas to soldiers in World War II. The science of poker and gambling is an obvious subject, and the energy of those interviewed appropriately conveys the personalities and attitudes that go into the game. Poker in film comes into play as well, with Matt Damon serving as an interviewee due to his participation in the film “Rounders,” which he claims is the role for which people most recognize him. Finally, the rollercoaster rise and fall of online poker is chronicled in the most dramatic of fashions.

This documentary is full of fantastic anecdotes, such as one interviewee’s assertion that, several decades ago, watching poker on television was less interesting than watching paint dry. Such stories lead to more stories about impactful changes, such including the introduction of the hole cam in televised poker, which shows a player’s hand to viewers. Veteran players complain about rookies wearing sunglasses while playing inside, and the tale of the aptly-named Chris Moneymaker’s rise to fame is fascinating. Like any good documentary, the film includes statistics and hard facts, charting the introduction and demise of online poker and its effect on the industry as a whole. This reviewer has become a casual poker player of late, and therefore this film holds a certain appeal, but it’s broad enough in its construction and appropriately specific in its defense of its sport as legitimate that it should please just about anyone. Even those that find the notion of gambling deplorable might may be swayed by this honest, even-handed portrayal of poker culture.

B+

Thursday Triple Features

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies With Abe, Thursday Triple Features. Throughout college, I would often head to the movies for three films in a row on a Friday or Sunday, and I’m excited to recall some of my most memorable experiences. I don’t necessarily advocate that you try this at home, but I’ll explore that as well.

My third triple feature experience kept me at only two theaters and didn’t include terribly excellent films, but it did allow me to take advantage of discount prices for specific movie times. This particular adventure was on a Sunday.

December 9, 2007

Movie #1: Beowulf
Theatre: AMC Lincoln Square
Time of Day: 10:45am
Runtime: 115 minutes

This film was most notable for being terrible and for having one awesome scene in which Beowulf compares himself to many other terrific things and ends with a ferocious declaration of “I…Am…Beowulf!” What makes its inclusion here exciting is that AMC theatres in New York City offer a discounted matinee (before 12pm) price of $10 for a film that is both in 3-D and IMAX. This movie still wasn’t worth $10, but oh, well. One of my friends left midway through because it was too loud and bloody; I stayed through the whole miserable thing.

Movie #2: Grace is Gone
Theatre: AMC Lincoln Square
Time of Day: 2pm
Runtime: 85 minutes

This quiet, somber film was the movie that could have won John Cusack an Oscar for his bespectacled performance as a father who must find a way to tell his daughters that their mother has been killed in Iraq. The film wasn’t as strong as its premise, and, aside from a great original song, also called “Grace is Gone,” wasn’t too memorable.

Movie #3: Enchanted
Theatre: Regal Cinemas Union Square
Time of Day: 6:50pm
Runtime: 107 min

It’s funny to think of this film now that “Once Upon a Time” is airing on ABC and puts a whole new spin on fairy tale characters coming to life. In this case, Amy Adams’ overly bubbly performance didn’t do it for me, and the very literal notion of animation coming to life wasn’t all too appealing either. I understand why people like this film, but it’s just not for me.

The review: I hated “Beowulf,” didn’t love “Grace is Gone,” and thought “Enchanted” wasn’t my cup of tea. Not bad for a day’s work.
The grades: F, B-, C+
A good lineup? Not my best selection, but these were three films that were all buzz-worthy for extremely different reasons at the time.

Coming next week: fast-forward to August for my first legendary quadruple-feature!

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: First Five Forgotten in 2008

Welcome back to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The First Five Forgotten is the sixth in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed, not to be confused with my first series, the Forgotten Five, which looked at the five films that came closest to getting nominated for Best Picture and ended up getting shut out entirely.

As Oscar season goes into hibernation for more than half the year, it’s a time to take a look back at past races. This time, I’ll be spotlighting the five performers that came closest to earning their first Oscar nominations and then ended up getting snubbed, in alphabetical order. If you feel I’ve left anyone off, please say so in the comments!

First Five Forgotten in 2008

Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married): This actress actually played the title role in the film that netted Anne Hathaway an Oscar nod for Best Actress. Her biggest hurdle towards a nomination was probably the fact that Debra Winger was also in contention for the same film, and voters elected to reward neither. Her few roles since haven’t shown much Oscar promise, but maybe her next film, another sibling-oriented movie, “Your Sister’s Sister, could change that.

Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky): This snub was easily the most egregious omission of that year. After winning the Golden Globe for her delightful, bubbly performance, Hawkins lost out to Kate Winslet and a handful of others. Mike Leigh has directed other actresses to Oscar nods before, and it’s possible he’ll do it again. Hawkins’ 2010 film “Made in Dagenham” looked like a contender but never took off, and, sadly, she’ll have to try hard to find a role quite as lovely as that of Poppy.

Eddie Marsan (Happy-Go-Lucky): This British actor racked up a bunch of critics’ mentions for his hilarious performance as a moody driving instructor, yet his lack of fame stateside probably hurt him most. Small parts in big films like “War Horse” and “Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows” will help him there, as he continues to steal scenes in numerous British films each year. It’s possible that it could eventually lead to Oscar for him.

Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire): It’s always strange when the year’s biggest film and surefire Best Picture winner doesn’t have any accompanying acting nominations, and though Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, and Freida Pinto were better, Patel was the choice from BAFTA and SAG. The former put him in lead, the latter in supporting, and it turned out that there wasn’t room for him anywhere. He’ll have a strong career, but it won’t be filled with Oscars.

Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire): Pinto was one of the year’s breakout stars in a positively charming screen debut as Jamal’s lifelong love interest Latika. This role didn’t make it to Oscar, but she did score a BAFTA nod, and her biggest reward was the roles she’s taken on since, with directors Woody Allen and Julian Schnabel, not to mention a part in one of 2011’s biggest movies, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” She may not be hunting for awards, but she’ll be seen on screen for some time to come.

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Moonrise Kingdom

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Moonrise Kingdom – Opening May 16, 2012



I missed this trailer when it was first released a while ago, but now that it’s featured on the IMDB home page, I had the fortune to catch it despite its peculiar title. It’s a fitting moniker for a film that looks downright bizarre, but what else would you expect from director Wes Anderson? His last live-action film, “The Darjeeling Limited,” was my favorite film of 2007, and the Oscar-nominated animated feature “Fantastic Mr. Fox” was pretty great too. Now, Anderson is back to using well-known actors in funky outfits to tell this story that centers on children, and from the looks of it in the trailer, these kids are going to be having a blast. What works so well about the trailer is the moody music and melodramatic scenes, turning the hunt for two young lovers into a search-and-rescue operation of the highest dramatic proportions. I’m pleased to see that, along with Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, and Edward Norton, who I’d see in just about anything, are also in the cast. As usual, the cinematography and art direction is stylized and mesmerizing, and this looks to be one of the most unique and hypnotic films of the spring.

Movies With Abe Turns Five!

I am thrilled to announce a very exciting anniversary. On March 19th, 2007, Movies With Abe began at the address of movieswithabe.blogspot.com. At that date, films like “300” and future Oscar winner “The Lives of Others” were on my mind, and it wasn’t until four months later, in July, that I spun off and created TV With Abe. After five years, I’m at 1,864 posts on MoviesWithAbe.com and just shy of an additional 4,000 on TVwithAbe.com and have been posting on a daily basis on both since fall 2009. It’s been a pleasure writing, and I’d like to thank those of you that have visited regularly, frequently, infrequently, and even just occasionally. If this is your first time reading, welcome, and please stick around. Though Oscar season is my focus on this site, I’m happy to offer a weekly feature on all seven days of the week now, and reviews of as many films as I have time to see. Thanks for visiting, and I’m always eager to hear what you’d like to see written about here on MoviesWithAbe.com. It’s been a great five years!

Movie with Abe: Seeking Justice

Seeking Justice
Directed by Roger Donaldson
Released March 16, 2012

These days, Nicolas Cage movies don’t tend to get a good rep. The Oscar-winning actor hasn’t exactly challenged himself with parts in the past five to ten years, and people have come to expect a certain type of quality – of writing, acting, and hairstyling – from his films. Predictably, “Seeking Justice,” a mangled thriller that never really finds itself firmly tethered to reality, fits into that category exactly, taking a concept that could potentially be cool and ruining it entirely with awful writing and a script that makes less and less sense as it goes on. Even Cage can’t make this film worth watching, not that he stood much of a chance in the first place.

“Seeking Justice” is not your average revenge movie. Laura Gerard (January Jones), the wife of Will Gerard (Cage), is brutally attacked on her way home one night at the start of the film. At the hospital, a shadowy man named Simon (Guy Pearce) approaches Will, and tells him that his organization can find and take care of Laura’s assailant, if he agrees to do something for them when called upon. The rest of the story is obnoxiously obvious, and logic is quickly discarded for the sake of plot convenience. By the middle of the film, Laura has completely forgotten the trauma of being attacked, and Will has inexplicably transformed into an entirely new man as his life continues to spiral out of control.

Cage, who proved he could act in “Leaving Las Vegas” and “Adaptation” (and even in “The Rock,” according to this reviewer), displays no hints of thespian ability in this role. It’s an entirely phoned-in performance, and Cage doesn’t possess the Liam Neeson awesomeness that could have made this movie slightly more tolerable. Jones proves that she is capable of playing only one role well, and that’s Betty Draper on AMC’s “Mad Men,” something she’ll have the opportunity to do again next week when the show returns for its fourth season. Here, she has no personality and lends zero credibility to her character. Pearce is the only one that displays any hint of talent, and he’s just having fun playing an evil puppeteer.

“Seeking Justice” is the kind of film that has been made many times, and most of those have been far better than this underdeveloped, lazy story that feels like a much paler version of a far more complex and competent film. Conspiracies have rarely been so infuriatingly inconsistent and omnipresent, and the film lacks any kind of finale that truly delivers. Even some of Cage’s bad movies of late have been more exciting and enthralling, and this film serves as nothing more than a bitter disappointment, and a reminder that Cage should really be using his time better.

F

Saturday Night Movie Recommendations with Abe

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. I'm going to be providing a handy guide to a few choice movies currently playing in NYC as well as several films newly released on DVD. I’ll also aim to comment on those films I have not yet had the chance to see, and I invite you to add in your thoughts on any films I haven’t seen in the comments below. Understandably, some weeks will have considerably fewer releases to address than others.

Now Playing in NYC

Detachment (highly recommended): This drama about education from director Tony Kaye is a harrowing, thought-provoking, strongly-executed film. Adrien Brody delivers a terrific lead performance, and is surrounded by a tremendously talented cast. It may be bleak, but it has an important message, presented via a fictional narrative. Now playing at AMC Empire and Village East Cinemas. Read my review from yesterday.

Seeking Justice (anti-recommended): This action thriller starring Nicolas Cage is exactly what you’d expect from such a film: senseless, illogical, infuriating, annoying, and ultimately unfulfilling. If Cage was Liam Neeson, this film might have been better, but, unfortunately, Cage can’t even shelter all the blame. Skip it! Now playing in limited release. My review will be up tomorrow.

New to DVD

The Adventures of Tintin (highly recommended): This inexplicably snubbed animated features is one of the year’s most exciting, enthralling adventures seen on screen in a while, serving both as a landmark achievement in its format and a perfectly excellent film for all ages in its own right.

The Descendants (recommended): This somewhat light drama stars George Clooney as a Hawaiian businessman whose wife is in a coma and who has to figure out a way to put his life together. It’s somewhat slow to start, but gradually picks up the pace to become both compelling and entertaining by its end.

Happy Feet Two (recommended): This animated sequel is very similar to the first, and those who enjoyed the original will enjoy its follow-up film about as much. Brad Pitt and Matt Damon steal the show as two crustaceans thinking outside the box.

Melancholia (recommended): This end-of-the-world drama comes from the mind of Lars von Trier, which means it’s understandably unusual. In many of its moments, however, it’s entirely gripping and fascinating, and certainly worth a viewing if its subject matter isn’t too unsettling.

My Week with Marilyn (mixed bag): This film is most reminiscent of “Me and Orson Welles,” presenting a fleeting, inevitably doomed look at one bright-eyed young director’s experience with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The film presents intriguing turns from Michelle Williams and especially Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier. The film as a whole is less satisfying and impressive.

Young Adult (recommended): This reteaming of “Juno” director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody is a fun black comedy notable most for its showcasing of a tremendously competent and surprisingly funny performance from Charlize Theron. It may not be as good as their last collaboration, but it’s still highly worthwhile to those that don’t get offended easily.

Now on Netflix Instant Streaming

My Joy (mixed bag): I saw this film a year and a half ago at the 2010 New York Film Festival, and I remember it as an impossibly bleak, meandering film that just gets more and more demoralizing as it goes on through its two-hour-plus runtime. The production values are better than the film itself, and otherwise this is better saved for truly patient foreign film buffs.

Movie with Abe: Detachment

Detachment
Directed by Tony Kaye
Released March 16, 2012

There have been many documentaries made over the past couple of years about the state of education in the United States. Few portray it in a positive light, and any educational system that is successful is considered an exception to the rule. Tony Kaye’s new film trades real-life statistics for a fictional narrative, dramatizing the lack of energy and passion put into teaching through the story of an unconventional substitute teacher and the students and faculty with whom he interacts in his latest job. “Detachment” is an appropriately-named, harrowing, and timely argument for the importance of caring and commitment in the field of education.

Kaye, whose previous credits include the powerful racial drama “American History X,” brings together a talented cadre of actors to make his story come alive. Adrien Brody, who previously hadn’t yet found a follow-up role as strong as his Oscar-winning part in “The Pianist,” astounds as Henry Barthes, the substitute unwilling to let those kids he teachers slip through the cracks. His techniques are honest and often surprising, yet it’s clear that he has not lost his drive, and he’s hardly a typical inspiring movie teacher. Marcia Gay Harden, James Caan, Lucy Liu, Blythe Danner, Tim Blake Nelson, William L. Petersen, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Christina Hendricks appear as principals, teachers, and guidance counselors lost within a cyclically unproductive system. Kaye’s daughter, Betty, delivers an impressive breakthrough performance as one of Henry’s more artistic students, and Sami Gayle does a fine job as the young prostitute that serves as a perfect lost cause for Henry to save.

“Detachment” is heavy-handed and dense, crafted that way so as not to sell itself short or minimize the seriousness of the situation, interspersing reflective commentary by Henry about how untenable and lamentable things are in the present. At times, the film veers into overdramatic territory, but just as in “American History X,” the emphasis succeeds in making the given scene much more heartfelt and memorable, refusing to let his audience look away and ignore its events. “Detachment” pulls no punches and forces its viewers to deal with its disturbing and unsettling content, tackling difficult issues with a harsh sincerity. Upon its heartbreaking end, “Detachment” and its themes linger. It is a difficult movie to forget, achieving greatness both as a commentary on society and as a cinematic experience. As far as “teacher movies” go, this is one of the most unusual and one of the best.

B+

New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival Spotlight: Empty Boxcars

I have the distinct pleasure of covering some of the films being screened at the Center for Jewish History as part of the 16th Annual New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival, taking place March 15th-22nd.

Empty Boxcars
Directed by Ed Gaffney
Screening March 18th at 3:30pm

This documentary is one of several films this year that seeks to profile a population almost entirely lost in the Holocaust. The story of the Jews of the Balkans is full of tragedy and horror, yet there’s also room for some hope, as Bulgaria managed to hold on to its preservation of rights for Jews for longer than many other countries, before similarly falling prey to hatred and discrimination. The film takes care to tell each person’s story with individuality, spirit, and dedication, seeking to honor the memory of each as well as of the whole. It functions well as a memorial, a tribute, and a tale of hope and perseverance.

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: First Five Forgotten in 2009

Welcome back to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The First Five Forgotten is the sixth in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed, not to be confused with my first series, the Forgotten Five, which looked at the five films that came closest to getting nominated for Best Picture and ended up getting shut out entirely.

As Oscar season goes into hibernation for more than half the year, it’s a time to take a look back at past races. This time, I’ll be spotlighting the five performers that came closest to earning their first Oscar nominations and then ended up getting snubbed, in alphabetical order. If you feel I’ve left anyone off, please say so in the comments!

First Five Forgotten in 2009

Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria): After earning a Golden Globe nomination for “The Devil Wears Prada” three years earlier, Blunt got the lead role in an epic regal drama and netted herself another Globe nod. Had the Best Actress race not been so locked up, she could have made it in. She continues to get good parts, though it’s not clear that she’s aiming for an Oscar on her mantle with the roles she chooses.

Abbie Cornish (Bright Star): The well-reviewed romance from Oscar winner Jane Campion never quite caught on with awards bodies, but Cornish definitely had her fans for her lead role. She’s not yet as well-known in the United States, and supporting parts in “Sucker Punch” and “Limitless” aren’t going to help change that anytime soon. She’ll need another role like this one to draw attention again.

Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds): Though her costar Diane Kruger ended up with a SAG nomination, Laurent’s role was always much juicier, and it’s likely that she didn’t miss out by much, though category confusion may have kept her out of both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Since then, Laurent has turned in fine performances as alluring Jewish girls in difficult situations, and I suspect an Oscar opportunity will present itself again sometime in the future.

Christian McKay (Me and Orson Welles): This British actor came from out of nowhere with a debut tour de force performance in an otherwise unremarkable film as the incomparable Orson Welles. The film couldn’t rally enough support for him to earn a mention, but he’s definitely one to keep an eye on, though he’d better to focus on parts in films like “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” than as the lone non-American in “I Melt With You.”

Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man): The lead role in the well-received Coen brothers film put Stuhlbarg as close to an Oscar nod as he’s ever likely to get, mainly because he’s usually found embedded in the ensemble. Stuhlbarg got a Golden Globe nomination for “A Serious Man,” and his next awards venture is more likely to be a mention for his under-featured performance as tycoon Arnold Rothstein on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire.”

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: On the Road

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

On the Road – Opening May 23, 2012



I’ve been hearing about this movie for a bit, the adaptation of the classic 1950s novel by Jack Kerouac on which I did a 12th grade AP English project. Walter Salles, director of “The Motorcycle Diaries” and “Central Station,” is a strong choice to direct this material, and the cast is spearheaded by two up-and-coming young actors, Garrett Hedlund, recently seen in “Country Strong,” and Sam Riley, who appeared in “Brighton Rock” and “Control,” among others. This cross-country tale is littered with other actors, including Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Elisabeth Moss and Alice Braga, and it looks like Kristen Stewart may even be properly cast in her role. The film appears to be beautifully shot, and if ever there was going to be a genre-defining road movie, this is it. The costumes are detailed and the colors pop, and something tells me this is going to be one of the most talked-about and well-reviewed films of 2012.

Monday Sequel Spotlight: Aliens

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. In this series, I’ll be taking a look at some famous (and infamous) sequels to see how they compare to the original. I'll do my best to alternate between the greats and the best forgotten. Leave your thoughts or a suggestion for a spotlight in the comments!

Aliens
Directed by James Cameron
Released July 18, 1986



Rather than alternate between good and bad for my first two installments, it’s worthwhile to showcase two stellar sequels directed by James Cameron in a row (let’s hope “Avatar 2” makes it onto this list also). In this case, Ridley Scott directed the first film, released in 1979, which proved slightly underwhelming upon my first viewing after I had been told that it was the scariest movie ever. The tagline “In space no one can hear you scream” is eternally classic, and there’s nothing quite like watching an alien burst out of someone’s stomach for the first time. The sequel, however, added action to the experience, sending in a whole team fully aware of what threat the aliens posed and still no match for what they encounter. This full-on science fiction film earned Sigourney Weaver an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, which is no small feat. Her Ellen Ripley is unhinged and entirely protective of her people after her traumatizing experiences in the first film. Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein, Bill Paxton, Paul Reiser, Michael Biehn, and a young Carrie Henn, in her only film role ever, round out a superb cast performing at an above average level for this kind of film. Its expert combination of action and suspense should be cited as one of the ultimate examples of how to make a superb film. I have plenty to say about the third film in a series, but I’ll save that for a future post. If you haven’t seen this film and even mildly like science fiction and action, see it now.