French singer Edith Piaf was known as the little Sparrow. Petite but powerful, Piaf’s unique voice carried her to unbelievable highs. Alcohol and drugs fueled the lows.
“La Vie En Rose” is as uneven and difficult to follow as the singer’s life. Though you won’t be bored, writer/director Olivier Dahan does bounce you all over the place as Piaf slips from one tragedy to another.
It’s the amazing work of Marion Cotillard that gives Dahan’s film its power and appeal. Five minutes into her performance and why she took home the Best Actress Oscar is obvious. Biopics are tough for an actor. To transform oneself body and soul into a legend is the hardest acting of all.
Cotillard makes it look easy.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
David Rakoff on Woody Allen
Sometimes those apparently random links that pop up--this one on my GMail inbox--take you interesting places. I might never have discovered this series of reviews of Woody Allen movies.
In late 2006, the critic David Rakoff decided to watch all 28 Allen movies in the space of about 20 days, and lucky for us, to write about the experience. A listing of all of his reviews is called
Back When We Were Interesting. Rakoff is knowledgeable and intelligent and has a certain quirky way with words that is fun to read even when you don't agree with him.
In late 2006, the critic David Rakoff decided to watch all 28 Allen movies in the space of about 20 days, and lucky for us, to write about the experience. A listing of all of his reviews is called
Back When We Were Interesting. Rakoff is knowledgeable and intelligent and has a certain quirky way with words that is fun to read even when you don't agree with him.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Mr. Movie's review of "Brothers"
Mr. Movie, a/k/a Gary Wolcott, asked me to post his review of last Friday's film "Brothers" for him. Besides appearing in the March 7th print version of the newspaper, the review is also posted on the Tri-City Herald's site. What did you think of the film? Feel free to comment.
One brother is happily married, a solid family man and the light of his parent’s life. The other drinks too much. One brother goes to war in Afghanistan. The other stays home. Horrible things happen to the good brother. The irresponsible brother becomes responsible.
The subtle flip-flop gets you a closer look at the younger brother, a man desperate for a center. And that deeper look reveals gaps and flaws not seen in the older. Anchoring the conflict and also at its hub is the older man’s wife.
The subtitled Dutch film “Brothers” is a character study masterpiece; quiet, powerful and difficult. The three lead characters are given plenty of space as the story weaves in and out of their lives in such a personal way that sometimes you feel like you’re eavesdropping.
One brother is happily married, a solid family man and the light of his parent’s life. The other drinks too much. One brother goes to war in Afghanistan. The other stays home. Horrible things happen to the good brother. The irresponsible brother becomes responsible.
The subtle flip-flop gets you a closer look at the younger brother, a man desperate for a center. And that deeper look reveals gaps and flaws not seen in the older. Anchoring the conflict and also at its hub is the older man’s wife.
The subtitled Dutch film “Brothers” is a character study masterpiece; quiet, powerful and difficult. The three lead characters are given plenty of space as the story weaves in and out of their lives in such a personal way that sometimes you feel like you’re eavesdropping.
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