It's May! Here in Hog Heaven it's time to plant the corn that will grow up to be ethanol and pork chops. That is, if the fields are dry enough. Farming is a lot of waitin' and worryin' sandwiched between a couple of slices of intense activity.
But, real farmers are few and far between. Even here in Iowa—the heart of farm country—most of us don't know a rootworm from a corn borer. And, just like everybody else, we just wanna have fun. So, for all those who're still trying to fill their weekend planner, here are a few suggestions.
If you can't get enough of comic book heroes, you're in luck. The latest in the X-Men franchise, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," opens today. It stars Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and it has fan boys everywhere in a lather. Industry estimates predict gonzo opening-weekend box-office in the $100 million range. Early reviews have been mixed, but this genre is immune to movie criticism. That said, you can check out "Variety's" take here: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940156.html?categoryid=31&cs=1
The main competition is romantic comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner. In a caustic review, critic Nick Schager dismisses it as "formulaic" and an "assembly line studio rom-com" here: http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film review.asp?ID=4256
For the stay-at-home movie crowd, the selection of newly-released DVDs is also limited this week. Besides the forgettable romantic comedy, "Bride Wars," there's not much other than re-releases. "Bride Wars" stars Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as best friends forever until they schedule their fairy-tale weddings in the same venue on the same day.
Given that May is Sweeps Month, even TV offers slim pickings this weekend. ABC's got "Harry Potter 3" on Saturday night, but who needs all those commercials? Rent the DVD if you must and save yourself forty-five minutes. HBO has the continuing saga of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" on Sunday night, and Showtime features "The Great Debaters" on Sunday evening.
Sports fans fare a bit better. The best-known horse race in the U.S., the Kentucky Derby, comes down the home stretch on NBC late Saturday afternoon. It's the perfect entertainment for an attention-deficit nation: two weeks of sizzle and two minutes of meat.
Later on Saturday evening, HBO will televise the Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton junior welterweight championship fight from Las Vegas. Where else?
Elsewhere, the never-ending NBA and NHL playoffs continue. Wake me when they're over.
Given the paucity of entertainment choices, I'm going to suggest something radical: Read a book. And, I've got one in mind: Jim Sheeler's Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives. It's just out in paperback this week, and it's a powerful, unforgettable experience. It's the story of some of the young Americans who have paid the ultimate price in the War on Terror and the families they left behind. I reviewed the book when it came out in hardcover in 2008 here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/books/book-reviews/military-bookshelf-honoring-heroes
With Memorial Day coming along at the end of the month, you might want to pass it along when you're finished.
Showing posts with label DVD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DVD. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Back to the Future
Call me romantic. Call me nostalgic. Call me the Duke of Ted.
For some reason, I've always enjoyed time travel movies. Maybe it's from growing up reading the "Alley Oop" comic strip every day in the paper. The strip featured a time machine that whisked Alley Oop back into history: e.g., ancient Egypt, the Old West, and Homeric Greece. So, from an early age, I was intrigued with the notion of time travel. Especially backward. Maybe that's why I became a historian.
I also was a faithful reader of "Dick Tracy," but all his futuristic devises—especially the iconic Two-Way Wrist Radio—didn't spark in me a similar interest in the future.
It is generally accepted that H.G. Wells, whose The Time Machine was published in 1895, coined the term "time machine," and if he didn't invent the concept of time travel, he at least popularized it. Wells' protagonist used his invention to visit the distant future, not the past. But, there was nothing to prevent Wells' time machine from moving backward as well as forward in time.
I can't recall the first time-travel movie I saw, but I can enumerate my favorites.
My all-time favorite isn't a single movie but the "Back to the Future" trilogy. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the franchise follows young Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) as he travels back and forth among past, present, and future in a tricked out DeLorean. The DeLorean time machine is the creation of local eccentric Dr. Emmett (Doc) Brown.
Of the three movies, my favorite is the first which takes Marty back to 1955 where he tries to ensure that his parents meet. Otherwise, there'll be no Marty. Funny how that works. I grew up in the 1950s and can identify with much in the film—including the clothes, music, cars, and values.
The second "Back to the Future" film takes Doc Brown, Marty, and Marty's girlfriend to the future and then to an alternate—and very dark—1985.
The final movie finds Doc Brown and Marty back in the Old West of 1885 where Doc works as a blacksmith and local tinkerer. Here, Zemeckis pays tribute to H.G. Wells and gets in some friendly ribbing of the Western genre, including one of its most popular stars: Clint Eastwood.
When I stumble across "Peggy Sue Got Married" while channel surfing, I never fail to stop and watch. Peggy Sue (Kathleen Turner) married her high school sweetheart, Charlie (Nicolas Cage), but twenty-five years later, they're separated and contemplating divorce.
When Peggy Sue attends her 25th reunion, she faints and . . . wakes up in 1960 when she was a high school senior. So, she gets a second chance at senior year. That, I believe, is the primary attraction of this movie. Who hasn't wondered if things might have turned out differently if only?
This is fun. This is nostalgic. This is improbable. Whatever the physics, time travel is likely unrealistic given the extent of our knowledge. But, most writers and film makers who use the concept try to make it at least remotely plausible. But Francis Ford Coppola, the Oscar-winning director of the "Godfather" trilogy and "Apocalypse Now," makes no effort to explain Peggy Sue's time travel. There's no DeLorean. No wormhole. No nothing. I faint; therefore, I travel.
No matter. It's still a favorite. And, it's moral is always timely: Some things were just meant to be. Or, as Doc Brown warns Marty, the space/time continuum is nothing to play with.
Doc Brown's warning about messing with the space/time continuum is also on the minds of the officers onboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in "The Final Countdown." After sailing into a freak electrical storm, they are transported back to the eve of Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Can they—or even should they--try to prevent the attack? It's an intriguing proposition; the movie features some good performances (Martin Sheen, Charles Durning, Kirk Douglas, Katherine Ross, James Farentino); and there's a surprise waiting at the end.
I usually prefer my travelers to go back in time, but forward travel can be intriguing too. In "Time after Time," the past intrudes on the future when serial killer Jack the Ripper uses writer H.G. Wells' time machine to escape to 1979 San Francisco. Soon enough, Wells shows up to track down the killer. This cross-genre piece is part sci-fi, part romance, part thriller, and all fun. With Malcolm McDowell, David Warner, and Mary Steenburgen. You might recall Steenburgen as Doc Brown's love interest in "Back to the Future Part III."
"The Terminator" and its sequels and prequels belong on any list of time travel favorites. The original, of course, features Arnold Schwarzenegger as the indestructible cyborg who travels back in time.
I'm also a sucker for father/son movies so it's no surprise that "Frequency" makes this list. It's a sci-fi thriller starring Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel as a father and son who communicate across time (thirty years) via a ham radio: a time paradox that's made possible by a couple of fortuitous solar storms.
Add baseball to the father/son and sci-fi elements and throw in an Iowa setting and you've got one of my sentimental favorites: "Field of Dreams." The problem is that the operative concept here seems to be travel between two dimensions of space—heaven and Iowa—and not across time. Doc Graham (Burt Lancaster), however, might be the exception that keeps this Kevin Costner fable on the list.
Bill Murray stars as a weatherman who's forced to relive Groundhog Day again and again in sci-fi comedy "Groundhog Day." The cause of the time warp Murray's character falls into is never explained, but that doesn't deflect from the fun.
Bruce Willis delivers a convincing performance in "12 Monkeys," another time travel thriller. Willis plays a convict who's sent back from 2035 to 1996 to retrieve a sample of a deadly virus that has laid waste to the planet.
For juvenile fun, there's "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as Valley boys trolling the past via a phone booth for a show-and-tell history project. I doubt that this one would be on Einstein's list.
That's ten. Check 'em out. Or, not. As Doc Brown said, "Your future is whatever you make it."
For some reason, I've always enjoyed time travel movies. Maybe it's from growing up reading the "Alley Oop" comic strip every day in the paper. The strip featured a time machine that whisked Alley Oop back into history: e.g., ancient Egypt, the Old West, and Homeric Greece. So, from an early age, I was intrigued with the notion of time travel. Especially backward. Maybe that's why I became a historian.
I also was a faithful reader of "Dick Tracy," but all his futuristic devises—especially the iconic Two-Way Wrist Radio—didn't spark in me a similar interest in the future.
It is generally accepted that H.G. Wells, whose The Time Machine was published in 1895, coined the term "time machine," and if he didn't invent the concept of time travel, he at least popularized it. Wells' protagonist used his invention to visit the distant future, not the past. But, there was nothing to prevent Wells' time machine from moving backward as well as forward in time.
I can't recall the first time-travel movie I saw, but I can enumerate my favorites.
My all-time favorite isn't a single movie but the "Back to the Future" trilogy. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the franchise follows young Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) as he travels back and forth among past, present, and future in a tricked out DeLorean. The DeLorean time machine is the creation of local eccentric Dr. Emmett (Doc) Brown.
Of the three movies, my favorite is the first which takes Marty back to 1955 where he tries to ensure that his parents meet. Otherwise, there'll be no Marty. Funny how that works. I grew up in the 1950s and can identify with much in the film—including the clothes, music, cars, and values.
The second "Back to the Future" film takes Doc Brown, Marty, and Marty's girlfriend to the future and then to an alternate—and very dark—1985.
The final movie finds Doc Brown and Marty back in the Old West of 1885 where Doc works as a blacksmith and local tinkerer. Here, Zemeckis pays tribute to H.G. Wells and gets in some friendly ribbing of the Western genre, including one of its most popular stars: Clint Eastwood.
When I stumble across "Peggy Sue Got Married" while channel surfing, I never fail to stop and watch. Peggy Sue (Kathleen Turner) married her high school sweetheart, Charlie (Nicolas Cage), but twenty-five years later, they're separated and contemplating divorce.
When Peggy Sue attends her 25th reunion, she faints and . . . wakes up in 1960 when she was a high school senior. So, she gets a second chance at senior year. That, I believe, is the primary attraction of this movie. Who hasn't wondered if things might have turned out differently if only?
This is fun. This is nostalgic. This is improbable. Whatever the physics, time travel is likely unrealistic given the extent of our knowledge. But, most writers and film makers who use the concept try to make it at least remotely plausible. But Francis Ford Coppola, the Oscar-winning director of the "Godfather" trilogy and "Apocalypse Now," makes no effort to explain Peggy Sue's time travel. There's no DeLorean. No wormhole. No nothing. I faint; therefore, I travel.
No matter. It's still a favorite. And, it's moral is always timely: Some things were just meant to be. Or, as Doc Brown warns Marty, the space/time continuum is nothing to play with.
Doc Brown's warning about messing with the space/time continuum is also on the minds of the officers onboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in "The Final Countdown." After sailing into a freak electrical storm, they are transported back to the eve of Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Can they—or even should they--try to prevent the attack? It's an intriguing proposition; the movie features some good performances (Martin Sheen, Charles Durning, Kirk Douglas, Katherine Ross, James Farentino); and there's a surprise waiting at the end.
I usually prefer my travelers to go back in time, but forward travel can be intriguing too. In "Time after Time," the past intrudes on the future when serial killer Jack the Ripper uses writer H.G. Wells' time machine to escape to 1979 San Francisco. Soon enough, Wells shows up to track down the killer. This cross-genre piece is part sci-fi, part romance, part thriller, and all fun. With Malcolm McDowell, David Warner, and Mary Steenburgen. You might recall Steenburgen as Doc Brown's love interest in "Back to the Future Part III."
"The Terminator" and its sequels and prequels belong on any list of time travel favorites. The original, of course, features Arnold Schwarzenegger as the indestructible cyborg who travels back in time.
I'm also a sucker for father/son movies so it's no surprise that "Frequency" makes this list. It's a sci-fi thriller starring Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel as a father and son who communicate across time (thirty years) via a ham radio: a time paradox that's made possible by a couple of fortuitous solar storms.
Add baseball to the father/son and sci-fi elements and throw in an Iowa setting and you've got one of my sentimental favorites: "Field of Dreams." The problem is that the operative concept here seems to be travel between two dimensions of space—heaven and Iowa—and not across time. Doc Graham (Burt Lancaster), however, might be the exception that keeps this Kevin Costner fable on the list.
Bill Murray stars as a weatherman who's forced to relive Groundhog Day again and again in sci-fi comedy "Groundhog Day." The cause of the time warp Murray's character falls into is never explained, but that doesn't deflect from the fun.
Bruce Willis delivers a convincing performance in "12 Monkeys," another time travel thriller. Willis plays a convict who's sent back from 2035 to 1996 to retrieve a sample of a deadly virus that has laid waste to the planet.
For juvenile fun, there's "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as Valley boys trolling the past via a phone booth for a show-and-tell history project. I doubt that this one would be on Einstein's list.
That's ten. Check 'em out. Or, not. As Doc Brown said, "Your future is whatever you make it."
Friday, April 24, 2009
Weekend Adviser
It's shaping up to be a nice spring weekend across the country. The northern Plains look a bit on the cool and wet side, but that's not unusual. Much of the rest of the country should enjoy above average temps with an early taste of summer in some spots.
That means lots of outdoor time, but we wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't note what you'll be missing if you spend all your time outdoors.
Actually, you won't be missing that much at the Cineplex. Of the movies premiering widely this weekend, only "The Soloist" looks interesting. It stars Jamie Foxx as a brilliant but troubled homeless musician and Robert Downey, Jr., as the reporter who befriends him. Check out the movie's official site here: http://www.soloistmovie.com/ and an early, enthusiastic review here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124052480101050043.html
The other movies opening widely this weekend include "Obsessed," a "Fatal Attraction" clone starring Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter, and "Fighting," which looks like a "Fight Club" derivative. "Fighting" stars Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, and Luis Guzman.
Better to stay home and check out the excellent crop of new DVDs. First, there's "Frost/Nixon," director Ron Howard's fascinating dramatization of celebrity journalist David Frost's interviews with disgraced former President Richard Nixon in 1977. The film garnered five Oscar nominations including one for Best Picture.
"The Wrestler," a redemption drama starring Mickey Rourke as an aging professional wrestler looking to make a comeback, was another Oscar contender. Rourke was nominated for Best Actor and Marisa Tomei nabbed a Best Supporting Actress nomination playing his stripper girlfriend.
Finally, there's "Caprica," a feature-length prequel to the Sci Fi Channel's hit drama "Battlestar Galactica." Set fifty years before the events portrayed in "Battlestar," the movie will serve as a feature-length pilot episode for a new series set to debut on Sci Fi in 2010. "Battlestar" ended its four-season run this spring, but "Caprica" promises to continue the franchise's provocative story-telling. See my take on "Battlestar" and an earlier feature-length movie spawned by the series, "Battlestar Galactica: Razor," here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews/dvd-picks--pans-stocking-stuffers
Except for diehard NFL fans, the TV listings look rather slim this weekend. Showtime has the Vietnam War drama "Rescue Dawn" on Sunday evening, and over on rival HBO, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" continues its delightful run. See my 2007 review of "Rescue Dawn" and a companion documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews/dvd-picks--pans-an-american-hero
For those who can tolerate The Donald, NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" slouches on Sunday evening with Red Carpet mavens Joan and Melissa Rivers, Playmate Brande Roderick, and country-music star Clint Black still in the mix. Which raises the question: Where have all the jocks gone? Four--golfer Natalie Gulbis, androgynous bad boy Dennis Rodman, running back Hershel Walker, and skater Scott Hamilton—started the competition. None remain.
For those aforementioned pro football fanatics, ESPN will be televising the most over-analyzed event in human history: the NFL draft. Try to contain yourself. It'll be all draft, all the time. I don't understand this particular fascination, but millions seem mesmerized by it. Heck, an entire cottage industry has sprouted up around it. Check it out here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft
How anyone can find any residual drama in the actual draft is surprising. Various analysts—real and imagined—have been handicapping the draft for weeks. Just Google "mock NFL draft" and you'll see what I mean. ESPN has enough on its draft webpage—from mock drafts to player profiles, podcasts, and blogs—to keep fans busy for weeks.
And, just think, some of these guys will actually make it.
That means lots of outdoor time, but we wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't note what you'll be missing if you spend all your time outdoors.
Actually, you won't be missing that much at the Cineplex. Of the movies premiering widely this weekend, only "The Soloist" looks interesting. It stars Jamie Foxx as a brilliant but troubled homeless musician and Robert Downey, Jr., as the reporter who befriends him. Check out the movie's official site here: http://www.soloistmovie.com/ and an early, enthusiastic review here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124052480101050043.html
The other movies opening widely this weekend include "Obsessed," a "Fatal Attraction" clone starring Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter, and "Fighting," which looks like a "Fight Club" derivative. "Fighting" stars Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, and Luis Guzman.
Better to stay home and check out the excellent crop of new DVDs. First, there's "Frost/Nixon," director Ron Howard's fascinating dramatization of celebrity journalist David Frost's interviews with disgraced former President Richard Nixon in 1977. The film garnered five Oscar nominations including one for Best Picture.
"The Wrestler," a redemption drama starring Mickey Rourke as an aging professional wrestler looking to make a comeback, was another Oscar contender. Rourke was nominated for Best Actor and Marisa Tomei nabbed a Best Supporting Actress nomination playing his stripper girlfriend.
Finally, there's "Caprica," a feature-length prequel to the Sci Fi Channel's hit drama "Battlestar Galactica." Set fifty years before the events portrayed in "Battlestar," the movie will serve as a feature-length pilot episode for a new series set to debut on Sci Fi in 2010. "Battlestar" ended its four-season run this spring, but "Caprica" promises to continue the franchise's provocative story-telling. See my take on "Battlestar" and an earlier feature-length movie spawned by the series, "Battlestar Galactica: Razor," here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews/dvd-picks--pans-stocking-stuffers
Except for diehard NFL fans, the TV listings look rather slim this weekend. Showtime has the Vietnam War drama "Rescue Dawn" on Sunday evening, and over on rival HBO, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" continues its delightful run. See my 2007 review of "Rescue Dawn" and a companion documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews/dvd-picks--pans-an-american-hero
For those who can tolerate The Donald, NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" slouches on Sunday evening with Red Carpet mavens Joan and Melissa Rivers, Playmate Brande Roderick, and country-music star Clint Black still in the mix. Which raises the question: Where have all the jocks gone? Four--golfer Natalie Gulbis, androgynous bad boy Dennis Rodman, running back Hershel Walker, and skater Scott Hamilton—started the competition. None remain.
For those aforementioned pro football fanatics, ESPN will be televising the most over-analyzed event in human history: the NFL draft. Try to contain yourself. It'll be all draft, all the time. I don't understand this particular fascination, but millions seem mesmerized by it. Heck, an entire cottage industry has sprouted up around it. Check it out here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft
How anyone can find any residual drama in the actual draft is surprising. Various analysts—real and imagined—have been handicapping the draft for weeks. Just Google "mock NFL draft" and you'll see what I mean. ESPN has enough on its draft webpage—from mock drafts to player profiles, podcasts, and blogs—to keep fans busy for weeks.
And, just think, some of these guys will actually make it.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Weekend Adviser
Weekend Adviser
Driving across Nebraska last weekend, I noticed that the migratory waterfowl that stop off along the Platte River on their northward journey were mostly gone. Just another sign that the gradual arrival of spring here in the upper Midwest and on the northern plains is now likely irreversible.
That means, of course, that my to-do list just got longer. Besides the weekly chores, there's the annual rite of spring cleaning. Not to mention the yard which needs lots of work. And, with the arrival of Daylight Savings Time, there are more hours to get it done. Of course, that means less time for relaxing which means less time for entertainment.
Less time doesn't mean no time though. Plus, who knows, it might rain.
With that in mind, I'm making a list of possible weekend diversions. Take a look in case you find yourself with some unexpected free time.
The best bet at the Cineplex this weekend looks like political thriller "State of Play." It stars Ben Affleck as a bright young political star tripped up by the murder of his research assistant cum mistress and Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams as reporters searching for the truth. In another thriller—of sorts—assassin Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) returns to wreak vengeance on his enemies in "Crank: High Voltage." Amy Smart reprises her role as Chev's girlfriend Eve. The original played like a videogame. With directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor returning for the sequel, I'd expect a similar result. For a change of pace, there's "17 Again," wherein a middle-aged Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) becomes . . . yes, seventeen again (now played by Zac Efron) and tries to change his (past) future.
"State of Play" sounds interesting but not $9 interesting. More like $2.59 interesting. In other words, I'll wait for the DVD.
I'll also wait for the DVDs of two other films opening elsewhere this weekend: "Every Little Step," a documentary on the rehearsals for a revival of the smash Broadway hit "A Chorus Line," and "Tyson," a documentary on the boxer and bete noir. Documentaries almost never play here in my corner of Hog Heaven where Showcase Cinemas has a virtual monopoly.
Speaking of DVDs: I've stocked up on a few recent releases and a couple of old favorites for weekend viewing. The former includes "The Reader," a Holocaust-themed drama starring Kate Winslet (who won an Oscar for her performance); "Rachel Getting Married," another dysfunctional-family drama starring Anne Hathaway (who snagged a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role); and a 50th Anniversary Edition of the Rock Hudson/Doris Day classic romantic comedy, "Pillow Talk." I'm particularly looking forward to the new bonus material on the "Pillow Talk" disc, including a "Making of" feature and commentary with three prominent film historians.
Instead of "17 Again," I've got a couple of my personal favorite high-school redux/time travel movies on hand: "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Back to the Future." "Peggy Sue" is a rare comedy from director Francis Ford Coppola and stars Kathleen Turner as an unhappy wife who goes back—via a nasty bump on her head—to high school and meets her husband (Nic Cage) again. The "Back to the Future" trilogy is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Michael J. Fox as teenager Marty McFly who travels back—via a nuclear-fueled DeLorean—to 1955 where he meets his high-school age parents. That's just the beginning. Before the trilogy is over, Marty has visited the future, an alternative 1985, and the Old West. I've seen it several times, and it never gets old.
(Sometime soon, I'm going to do a "Top 10 Time Travel Movies." The older I get, the more I enjoy the genre. Must be nostalgia. Stay tuned.)
As usual, there's a lot on TV. And, some of it is worthwhile! Saturday evening brings the premiere of the original HBO film "Grey Gardens," starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange as eccentric relatives of Jackie Kennedy. For more on the film see here: http://www.hbo.com/films/greygardens/
Botswana's first and only female detective continues her winning ways on Sunday evening on HBO. If you haven't made the acquaintance of Mwa Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," check out episode 4 this Sunday. You won't be sorry. For more on this captivating series, see here: http://www.hbo.com/no1ladiesdetectiveagency/
Also on Sunday evening and over on CBS, a new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler," tells the remarkable story of a Polish social worker who helped rescue some 2500 children in Warsaw's Jewish Ghetto from the clutches of the Nazis. Oscar- and Golden Globe-winner Anna Paquin (for "The Piano" and HBO's "True Blood," respectively) stars as the heroine. For more, see here: http://www.cbs.com/specials/courageous_heart/
Holocaust heroes like Irena Sendler are a particular inspiration. I don't believe that an individual can save the world, but he/she can save a life or 2500. That's no small thing. Moreover, when others rationalized that they were just following orders, some—too few surely—chose to follow something else: their conscience. Their stories should be heard.
Driving across Nebraska last weekend, I noticed that the migratory waterfowl that stop off along the Platte River on their northward journey were mostly gone. Just another sign that the gradual arrival of spring here in the upper Midwest and on the northern plains is now likely irreversible.
That means, of course, that my to-do list just got longer. Besides the weekly chores, there's the annual rite of spring cleaning. Not to mention the yard which needs lots of work. And, with the arrival of Daylight Savings Time, there are more hours to get it done. Of course, that means less time for relaxing which means less time for entertainment.
Less time doesn't mean no time though. Plus, who knows, it might rain.
With that in mind, I'm making a list of possible weekend diversions. Take a look in case you find yourself with some unexpected free time.
The best bet at the Cineplex this weekend looks like political thriller "State of Play." It stars Ben Affleck as a bright young political star tripped up by the murder of his research assistant cum mistress and Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams as reporters searching for the truth. In another thriller—of sorts—assassin Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) returns to wreak vengeance on his enemies in "Crank: High Voltage." Amy Smart reprises her role as Chev's girlfriend Eve. The original played like a videogame. With directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor returning for the sequel, I'd expect a similar result. For a change of pace, there's "17 Again," wherein a middle-aged Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) becomes . . . yes, seventeen again (now played by Zac Efron) and tries to change his (past) future.
"State of Play" sounds interesting but not $9 interesting. More like $2.59 interesting. In other words, I'll wait for the DVD.
I'll also wait for the DVDs of two other films opening elsewhere this weekend: "Every Little Step," a documentary on the rehearsals for a revival of the smash Broadway hit "A Chorus Line," and "Tyson," a documentary on the boxer and bete noir. Documentaries almost never play here in my corner of Hog Heaven where Showcase Cinemas has a virtual monopoly.
Speaking of DVDs: I've stocked up on a few recent releases and a couple of old favorites for weekend viewing. The former includes "The Reader," a Holocaust-themed drama starring Kate Winslet (who won an Oscar for her performance); "Rachel Getting Married," another dysfunctional-family drama starring Anne Hathaway (who snagged a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role); and a 50th Anniversary Edition of the Rock Hudson/Doris Day classic romantic comedy, "Pillow Talk." I'm particularly looking forward to the new bonus material on the "Pillow Talk" disc, including a "Making of" feature and commentary with three prominent film historians.
Instead of "17 Again," I've got a couple of my personal favorite high-school redux/time travel movies on hand: "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Back to the Future." "Peggy Sue" is a rare comedy from director Francis Ford Coppola and stars Kathleen Turner as an unhappy wife who goes back—via a nasty bump on her head—to high school and meets her husband (Nic Cage) again. The "Back to the Future" trilogy is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Michael J. Fox as teenager Marty McFly who travels back—via a nuclear-fueled DeLorean—to 1955 where he meets his high-school age parents. That's just the beginning. Before the trilogy is over, Marty has visited the future, an alternative 1985, and the Old West. I've seen it several times, and it never gets old.
(Sometime soon, I'm going to do a "Top 10 Time Travel Movies." The older I get, the more I enjoy the genre. Must be nostalgia. Stay tuned.)
As usual, there's a lot on TV. And, some of it is worthwhile! Saturday evening brings the premiere of the original HBO film "Grey Gardens," starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange as eccentric relatives of Jackie Kennedy. For more on the film see here: http://www.hbo.com/films/greygardens/
Botswana's first and only female detective continues her winning ways on Sunday evening on HBO. If you haven't made the acquaintance of Mwa Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," check out episode 4 this Sunday. You won't be sorry. For more on this captivating series, see here: http://www.hbo.com/no1ladiesdetectiveagency/
Also on Sunday evening and over on CBS, a new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler," tells the remarkable story of a Polish social worker who helped rescue some 2500 children in Warsaw's Jewish Ghetto from the clutches of the Nazis. Oscar- and Golden Globe-winner Anna Paquin (for "The Piano" and HBO's "True Blood," respectively) stars as the heroine. For more, see here: http://www.cbs.com/specials/courageous_heart/
Holocaust heroes like Irena Sendler are a particular inspiration. I don't believe that an individual can save the world, but he/she can save a life or 2500. That's no small thing. Moreover, when others rationalized that they were just following orders, some—too few surely—chose to follow something else: their conscience. Their stories should be heard.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Weekend Adviser
I'm in Colorado Springs this week visiting my Army officer son who's stationed at Ft. Carson. As much as I love books and movies, I also love the Great Outdoors. So, much of my time this weekend will be spent hiking in the mountains looming on the city's west side.
That still leaves lots of hours for entertainment.
There's not much new for adults at cineplex this weekend. Your tweens might insist on seeing "Hannah Montana: The Movie," wherein the teen queen, returns to her Tennessee hometown for some downhome perspective. Don't fight it: Miley Rules. For the boys [of all ages], there's the sophomoric comedy, "Observe and Report," with slacker Seth Rogen.
While the kids are away, the adults get the big-screen TV for a while. This is a good time to catch the newly-released DVD of "Doubt," the Oscar-nominated film adaptation of the eponymous Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play. It's a provocative drama about a rigid nun (played by Meryl Streep) who accuses a popular priest (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) of pedophilia. The problem is that she has no proof.
Also new this week is a 2-Disc Collector's Edition in Blu-ray of "No Country for Old Men," the 2007 Best Picture Oscar-winner from the Coen brothers. It's a sprawling thriller that defies genre: chase movie, modern Western, noir. The film starts with a drug deal gone bad and an unfortunate loser who chances upon the scene and helps himself to $2 million. That choice sets in motion a relentless and bloody chase to recover the purloined cash. Set in West Texas desert country, the sweeping vistas are even more spectacular in Blu-ray. This edition also includes over five hours of new bonus features. For my review of the original release of the "No Country for Old Men" DVD, see here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews/dvd-picks--pans-march-madness-pt-2
March Madness is over, but baseball is back. Check your local listing for games in your area.
I'd also encourage you to set aside an hour on Sunday evening for the latest episode in HBO's dramedy "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." See my review of the pilot episode here: http://flyover-culture.blogspot.com/2009/03/no-1-ladies-detective-agency.html
And, finally . . . The season finale of the best show on television, "Friday Night Lights," airs tonight on NBC. If you haven't discovered this gem yet--and too many viewers haven't--take a look. I'll have more on "Friday Night Lights" next week.
Stay tuned.
That still leaves lots of hours for entertainment.
There's not much new for adults at cineplex this weekend. Your tweens might insist on seeing "Hannah Montana: The Movie," wherein the teen queen, returns to her Tennessee hometown for some downhome perspective. Don't fight it: Miley Rules. For the boys [of all ages], there's the sophomoric comedy, "Observe and Report," with slacker Seth Rogen.
While the kids are away, the adults get the big-screen TV for a while. This is a good time to catch the newly-released DVD of "Doubt," the Oscar-nominated film adaptation of the eponymous Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play. It's a provocative drama about a rigid nun (played by Meryl Streep) who accuses a popular priest (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) of pedophilia. The problem is that she has no proof.
Also new this week is a 2-Disc Collector's Edition in Blu-ray of "No Country for Old Men," the 2007 Best Picture Oscar-winner from the Coen brothers. It's a sprawling thriller that defies genre: chase movie, modern Western, noir. The film starts with a drug deal gone bad and an unfortunate loser who chances upon the scene and helps himself to $2 million. That choice sets in motion a relentless and bloody chase to recover the purloined cash. Set in West Texas desert country, the sweeping vistas are even more spectacular in Blu-ray. This edition also includes over five hours of new bonus features. For my review of the original release of the "No Country for Old Men" DVD, see here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews/dvd-picks--pans-march-madness-pt-2
March Madness is over, but baseball is back. Check your local listing for games in your area.
I'd also encourage you to set aside an hour on Sunday evening for the latest episode in HBO's dramedy "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." See my review of the pilot episode here: http://flyover-culture.blogspot.com/2009/03/no-1-ladies-detective-agency.html
And, finally . . . The season finale of the best show on television, "Friday Night Lights," airs tonight on NBC. If you haven't discovered this gem yet--and too many viewers haven't--take a look. I'll have more on "Friday Night Lights" next week.
Stay tuned.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Weekend Adviser
Ouch! This is the second Friday 13th in two months. How often does that happen?
I actually looked it up. There's at least one Friday 13th in every calendar year. Some years have two, and a few have three. No calendar year has more than three. Interestingly enough, the 13th day of the month is more likely (only slightly so) to fall on a Friday than on any other day. Who knew?
2009 is one of those unlucky years with three: February 13, March 13, and November 13. So, batten down the hatches.
This only matters if one is superstitious. Which I am. I know better. I know that superstitions are irrational. But, I can't help myself. Better safe than sorry, I guess. I'm not alone though as this piece shows: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/06/superstitious-ufo-alien-conspiracy-opinions-columnists-superstition.html
Anyway, I won't be taking any chances today. But, starting tomorrow, I'll be enjoying the weekend. And, there's a lot to enjoy.
If you want to get out of the house on Saturday night—and have outgrown the bar scene—there's always the multiplex. This weekend sees the opening everywhere of Disney's remake of the 1975 sci-fi classic "Race to Witch Mountain." I haven't seen it, but the early reviews aren't encouraging. Joe Morgenstern, the Wall Street Journal's film critic praises "Sunshine Cleaning" (see next paragraph) while panning "Witch Mountain" here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123689237471111537.html
If you're lucky enough to live in markets where "Sunshine Cleaning" opens today, consider yourself lucky. It's from the same independent studio that brought us "Little Miss Sunshine," and it stars Amy Adams and Emily Blunt as sisters who start a business cleaning up crime scenes. Both are fine actresses and appeared together in "Charlie Wilson's War"—Adams in a supporting role; Blunt in a small (but revealing) role. After this weekend's limited open, the film expands into more theaters next week and should be open everywhere by March 27.
If you'd rather cocoon, the choices are practically endless. New DVDs this week include "Milk," with Sean Penn starring as gay activist Harvey Milk, and "Rachel Getting Married," a dysfunctional-family drama starring Anne Hathaway. Penn won a Best Actor Oscar for "Milk," and Hathaway was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for "Rachel Getting Married."
How about a viewing marathon? I don't do it often, but when a new season of a favorite show comes out on DVD—"Friday Night Lights," "Life"—I hunker down for episode after episode. It's the only way to watch episodic television. This week's new releases include "The Starter Wife: Season One" and "Caroline in the City: The Second Season." That's seven hours of Hollywood ex-wife Molly Kagen (Emmy Award nominee Debra Messing) or nine hours with sexy cartoonist Caroline Duffy (Lea Thompson).
This is a big weekend for sports fans. The World Baseball Classic begins Round 2 on Saturday. The U.S. team has already qualified for a spot in the second round. Games will be televised on ESPN2 and MLB.TV.
And, for college basketball fans, March Madness is upon us. There is no calm before the storm. This weekend is the storm before the storm with most conferences holding end-of-season tournaments. Winning teams go straight to March Madness. The fate of losing teams is in the hands of the NCAA selection committee. With finals in the ACC, Big 12, SEC, Big 10, Big East, and Pac 10, there should be plenty of marquee matchups. Check your local listings.
The weekend's round ball climax arrives at 6:00 p.m. (EDT) Sunday with CBS's "Selection Sunday" program when the 65-team field for this year's NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship will be announced. Seeds, brackets, and initial matchups also will be revealed. Full scale Madness begins next week.
Enjoy your weekend!
I actually looked it up. There's at least one Friday 13th in every calendar year. Some years have two, and a few have three. No calendar year has more than three. Interestingly enough, the 13th day of the month is more likely (only slightly so) to fall on a Friday than on any other day. Who knew?
2009 is one of those unlucky years with three: February 13, March 13, and November 13. So, batten down the hatches.
This only matters if one is superstitious. Which I am. I know better. I know that superstitions are irrational. But, I can't help myself. Better safe than sorry, I guess. I'm not alone though as this piece shows: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/06/superstitious-ufo-alien-conspiracy-opinions-columnists-superstition.html
Anyway, I won't be taking any chances today. But, starting tomorrow, I'll be enjoying the weekend. And, there's a lot to enjoy.
If you want to get out of the house on Saturday night—and have outgrown the bar scene—there's always the multiplex. This weekend sees the opening everywhere of Disney's remake of the 1975 sci-fi classic "Race to Witch Mountain." I haven't seen it, but the early reviews aren't encouraging. Joe Morgenstern, the Wall Street Journal's film critic praises "Sunshine Cleaning" (see next paragraph) while panning "Witch Mountain" here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123689237471111537.html
If you're lucky enough to live in markets where "Sunshine Cleaning" opens today, consider yourself lucky. It's from the same independent studio that brought us "Little Miss Sunshine," and it stars Amy Adams and Emily Blunt as sisters who start a business cleaning up crime scenes. Both are fine actresses and appeared together in "Charlie Wilson's War"—Adams in a supporting role; Blunt in a small (but revealing) role. After this weekend's limited open, the film expands into more theaters next week and should be open everywhere by March 27.
If you'd rather cocoon, the choices are practically endless. New DVDs this week include "Milk," with Sean Penn starring as gay activist Harvey Milk, and "Rachel Getting Married," a dysfunctional-family drama starring Anne Hathaway. Penn won a Best Actor Oscar for "Milk," and Hathaway was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for "Rachel Getting Married."
How about a viewing marathon? I don't do it often, but when a new season of a favorite show comes out on DVD—"Friday Night Lights," "Life"—I hunker down for episode after episode. It's the only way to watch episodic television. This week's new releases include "The Starter Wife: Season One" and "Caroline in the City: The Second Season." That's seven hours of Hollywood ex-wife Molly Kagen (Emmy Award nominee Debra Messing) or nine hours with sexy cartoonist Caroline Duffy (Lea Thompson).
This is a big weekend for sports fans. The World Baseball Classic begins Round 2 on Saturday. The U.S. team has already qualified for a spot in the second round. Games will be televised on ESPN2 and MLB.TV.
And, for college basketball fans, March Madness is upon us. There is no calm before the storm. This weekend is the storm before the storm with most conferences holding end-of-season tournaments. Winning teams go straight to March Madness. The fate of losing teams is in the hands of the NCAA selection committee. With finals in the ACC, Big 12, SEC, Big 10, Big East, and Pac 10, there should be plenty of marquee matchups. Check your local listings.
The weekend's round ball climax arrives at 6:00 p.m. (EDT) Sunday with CBS's "Selection Sunday" program when the 65-team field for this year's NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship will be announced. Seeds, brackets, and initial matchups also will be revealed. Full scale Madness begins next week.
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Cyber War
Last month, I read the apocalyptic thriller Daemon. It's a gripping novel of internet Armageddon by Daniel Suarez, an independent systems consultant. It's his first novel, and it's quite an impressive debut.
It also got me thinking. First, about plausibility. I did some checking and found that lots of smart people are worried about internet security and cyber attacks including the Pentagon as Wall Street Journal columnist L. Gordon Crovitz makes clear in this commentary: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122930102219005425.html
Science fiction has been interested in the issue for decades, and Hollywood has shown increasing interest. I'm not exactly a sci-fi fan. Or, a computer whiz. That would be my brother and son. My brother—who majored in math and computer science and is a math professor—has read every sci-fi novel ever published. Okay, I exaggerate. But only slightly. I usually rely on him and my son—whose engineering track at West Point was computer science—for sci-fi recommendations.
The movies on the subject of computer systems, cyber attacks, internet security, etc., that I can name off the top of my head make a short list. But, I figure that if I've seen them, most everyone else has too.
The list begins with "The Matrix," a haunting tale of computer tyranny. Wildly popular, "The Matrix" mixes action, groundbreaking special effects, sci-fi, and philosophy to provocative effect. The movie's message is that computers are part of the problem, not part of the solution, which seems to be the typical conceit of computer-themed movies.
"The Matrix" was a breakout role for Keanu Reaves. "The Net," another 1990's cyber thriller, owed much of its success to the presence of Sandra Bullock who was already a star. Bullock plays a systems analyst who discovers a back door in a popular computer security program that allows hackers to tap into classified systems. (Interestingly, the daemon of Daemon also exploits back doors to invade computers. Again, the message is one of sinister forces let loose upon society.)
The Robert Redford vehicle "Sneakers" likewise plays upon our fear of technology out of control. In the film, Redford leads a team of hackers who are blackmailed into finding a black box that can compromise any computer system.
"I, Robot" completes my short list. I probably saw it because it stars Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan. Set in 2035, it raises fears about robots turning on their putative masters. The film takes its title at least from the Isacc Asimov short story of the same name.
(It's interesting that one of the leading robotics firms has a similar name, iRobot, and provides robots to the Department of Defense. The troops love them. And, why not? Among other things, they're used to check out and dismantle IEDs. None have been reported to have turned on their handlers.)
So far, I'd say that computers and the internet have been more liberating than anything else. But who knows what the future holds?
We should remember that entertainment thrives on drama, and drama thrives on conflict. So, it's no surprise that writers and filmmakers are drawn to the potential conflict in any new technology—and especially one as pervasive and mysterious as computers. And, to be honest, computers pose real dangers.
Daniel Suarez has tapped into that potential danger in a big way. I'm guessing that you'll be seeing Daemon on the NY Times bestseller list. You might also be seeing him at the movies. Author Suarez has signed a film deal with producer Walter Parks whose movies include "Minority Report" and "A.I." Plus, Suarez just got the USA Today treatment here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-01-05-daemon_N.htm
It also got me thinking. First, about plausibility. I did some checking and found that lots of smart people are worried about internet security and cyber attacks including the Pentagon as Wall Street Journal columnist L. Gordon Crovitz makes clear in this commentary: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122930102219005425.html
Science fiction has been interested in the issue for decades, and Hollywood has shown increasing interest. I'm not exactly a sci-fi fan. Or, a computer whiz. That would be my brother and son. My brother—who majored in math and computer science and is a math professor—has read every sci-fi novel ever published. Okay, I exaggerate. But only slightly. I usually rely on him and my son—whose engineering track at West Point was computer science—for sci-fi recommendations.
The movies on the subject of computer systems, cyber attacks, internet security, etc., that I can name off the top of my head make a short list. But, I figure that if I've seen them, most everyone else has too.
The list begins with "The Matrix," a haunting tale of computer tyranny. Wildly popular, "The Matrix" mixes action, groundbreaking special effects, sci-fi, and philosophy to provocative effect. The movie's message is that computers are part of the problem, not part of the solution, which seems to be the typical conceit of computer-themed movies.
"The Matrix" was a breakout role for Keanu Reaves. "The Net," another 1990's cyber thriller, owed much of its success to the presence of Sandra Bullock who was already a star. Bullock plays a systems analyst who discovers a back door in a popular computer security program that allows hackers to tap into classified systems. (Interestingly, the daemon of Daemon also exploits back doors to invade computers. Again, the message is one of sinister forces let loose upon society.)
The Robert Redford vehicle "Sneakers" likewise plays upon our fear of technology out of control. In the film, Redford leads a team of hackers who are blackmailed into finding a black box that can compromise any computer system.
"I, Robot" completes my short list. I probably saw it because it stars Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan. Set in 2035, it raises fears about robots turning on their putative masters. The film takes its title at least from the Isacc Asimov short story of the same name.
(It's interesting that one of the leading robotics firms has a similar name, iRobot, and provides robots to the Department of Defense. The troops love them. And, why not? Among other things, they're used to check out and dismantle IEDs. None have been reported to have turned on their handlers.)
So far, I'd say that computers and the internet have been more liberating than anything else. But who knows what the future holds?
We should remember that entertainment thrives on drama, and drama thrives on conflict. So, it's no surprise that writers and filmmakers are drawn to the potential conflict in any new technology—and especially one as pervasive and mysterious as computers. And, to be honest, computers pose real dangers.
Daniel Suarez has tapped into that potential danger in a big way. I'm guessing that you'll be seeing Daemon on the NY Times bestseller list. You might also be seeing him at the movies. Author Suarez has signed a film deal with producer Walter Parks whose movies include "Minority Report" and "A.I." Plus, Suarez just got the USA Today treatment here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-01-05-daemon_N.htm
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
"Miracle at St. Anna"
With my son returning from 14 1/2 months in Iraq last month, I fell behind in my reading and viewing. Now, I'm hustling to catch up, but I'll never get to everything. Since it takes much less time to watch a DVD than read a book, I imagine that the DVD inventory will fare better. Even so, I'm afraid that several titles--"Body of Lies," the Ridley Scott CIA thriller starring Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio and the Clint Eastwood/Angelina Jolie collaboration "Changeling," among them--will have to be postponed indefinitely.
I was able to rescue Spike Lee's World War II drama, "Miracle at St. Anna," from the "Purgatory Pile." As a former historian and a student of war films, I especially wanted to see how Lee would handle a story based on World War II's all-black 92nd Infantry Division.
The Italian Front, where the 92nd Division fought, is largely the forgotten front of the European war. But, some of the war's bitterest fighting took place there in some of the worst conditions, and some of the most unique units fought there: the 92nd Division; the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a Japanese-American outfit; and the 10th Mountain Division--all three experimental units that distinguished themselves.
Unfortunately, Lee's effort doesn't measure up to his subject.
***********************************************************
"Miracle at St. Anna," DVD-2009 ($29.99, Touchstone/Disney) Also available in Blu-ray.
Director Spike Lee ("Inside Man") should leave the war movies to others and stick with the edgy urban dramas he does best.
I can imagine any number of excellent films drawn from the war-time service of the all-black 92nd Infantry Division.
Unfortunately, "Miracle at St. Anna" is none of them.
The 92nd Infantry is historical. Lee's story is beyond fiction. It's fanciful.
The story begins in 1984 in New York City when a postal clerk, Hector Negron (Laz Alonso) inexplicably pulls out a Lugar and guns down a customer who had asked for a stamp. Who knew? Turns out this isn't just another case of going postal. No, it's a framing devise for a mystery that has its roots in Italy in 1944.
Back then, Negron was a member of the 92nd Infantry fighting its way up the Italian peninsula. Ordered to cross a river by a racist officer, the unit is ambushed by entrenched Germans, and four GI's—Staff Sergeant Aubrey Banks (Derek Luke), Sergeant Bishop Cummings (Michael Ealy), Negron, and PFC Sam Train (Omar Benson Miller)—are stranded behind enemy lines.
After Train rescues an enigmatic young Italian boy, Angelo (Matteo Sciabord), the quartet holds up in a small Italian village where they encounter friendly villagers—-including a very sexy Renata (Valentina Cerri)--clash with local partisans, and fight among themselves.
This isn't a conventional war drama. The combat action is just another framing devise. And while Lee is keen to dramatize the injustice faced by African-American soldiers, even that gets lost in the myriad subplots.
Lee's good intentions—to expose a broader audience to the story of the 92nd Infantry—aren't enough to save this particular "joint" from tepid action, stereotypical characters, and a muddled plot. It's enough to make a reviewer wonder what Lee's been smoking.
I was able to rescue Spike Lee's World War II drama, "Miracle at St. Anna," from the "Purgatory Pile." As a former historian and a student of war films, I especially wanted to see how Lee would handle a story based on World War II's all-black 92nd Infantry Division.
The Italian Front, where the 92nd Division fought, is largely the forgotten front of the European war. But, some of the war's bitterest fighting took place there in some of the worst conditions, and some of the most unique units fought there: the 92nd Division; the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a Japanese-American outfit; and the 10th Mountain Division--all three experimental units that distinguished themselves.
Unfortunately, Lee's effort doesn't measure up to his subject.
***********************************************************
"Miracle at St. Anna," DVD-2009 ($29.99, Touchstone/Disney) Also available in Blu-ray.
Director Spike Lee ("Inside Man") should leave the war movies to others and stick with the edgy urban dramas he does best.
I can imagine any number of excellent films drawn from the war-time service of the all-black 92nd Infantry Division.
Unfortunately, "Miracle at St. Anna" is none of them.
The 92nd Infantry is historical. Lee's story is beyond fiction. It's fanciful.
The story begins in 1984 in New York City when a postal clerk, Hector Negron (Laz Alonso) inexplicably pulls out a Lugar and guns down a customer who had asked for a stamp. Who knew? Turns out this isn't just another case of going postal. No, it's a framing devise for a mystery that has its roots in Italy in 1944.
Back then, Negron was a member of the 92nd Infantry fighting its way up the Italian peninsula. Ordered to cross a river by a racist officer, the unit is ambushed by entrenched Germans, and four GI's—Staff Sergeant Aubrey Banks (Derek Luke), Sergeant Bishop Cummings (Michael Ealy), Negron, and PFC Sam Train (Omar Benson Miller)—are stranded behind enemy lines.
After Train rescues an enigmatic young Italian boy, Angelo (Matteo Sciabord), the quartet holds up in a small Italian village where they encounter friendly villagers—-including a very sexy Renata (Valentina Cerri)--clash with local partisans, and fight among themselves.
This isn't a conventional war drama. The combat action is just another framing devise. And while Lee is keen to dramatize the injustice faced by African-American soldiers, even that gets lost in the myriad subplots.
Lee's good intentions—to expose a broader audience to the story of the 92nd Infantry—aren't enough to save this particular "joint" from tepid action, stereotypical characters, and a muddled plot. It's enough to make a reviewer wonder what Lee's been smoking.
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