Category Archives: Drama
Drama
Flash Movie Review: Rampart
When you need crazy intensity who better to get then Woody? The role of Los Angeles dirty cop, David Douglas Brown aka Date Rape Dave, was perfectly cast with Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, The Messenger). I could not think of another actor who could have brought the intensity the way Woody did for this character. As I watched this movie, I cringed with anxiety every time it looked like Woody, as Officer Brown, was about to explode with dark, fiery emotions–that is how good he acted in this role. Not only was I tensing up, but almost every character in the movie was when interacting with this police officer. For example, his former wives Barbara and Catherine, played by Cynthia Nixon (The Babysitters, Sex and the City) and Anne Heche (Volcano, Cedar Rapids) were excellent as they had to tread carefully around their explosive ex-husband. This movie was all about the acting, unfortunately sacrificing the story, letting it sink into a mess. The story was set in 1999 Los Angeles, where scandal had befallen the police department and Dave Brown already had an outrageous reputation. When he was recently filmed severely beating a citizen, officer Brown’s life spirals out of control, while the police department tried to figure out how to get out of the mess. If you are a fan of Woody Harrelson, you definitely want to see him in this movie.
2 2/3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Akeelah and the Bee
I always assumed spelling bees were somewhat boring; give me a good game of scrabble instead. But I have to tell you, this movie could have been titled Word Battle. With a perfect mix of drama and excitement, I was enthralled with the steady build up of it, all the way to the final scene. Akeelah Anderson, played by Keke Palmer (Joyful Noise, Madea Goes to Jail), was an eleven year old girl from South Los Angeles. Life was not easy for her, having a seemingly inattentive single parent, a troublesome brother, along with the daily school pressures from teachers and peers. Keke’s performance was totally believable, as she displayed a great range of emotions. Entering the school’s spelling bee, she surprised herself and everyone else by winning it. With some coaxing, the principal pushes Akeelah to continue on to the next level, with help from English professor Dr. Joshua Larabee, played by Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, Contagion). Between the two characters, I loved watching the emotional bond forming between them, as the story progressed. By the end of the movie I wanted to yell out letters at the television to help Akeelah. This was a wonderful story that really inspired me, as I recalled what that feeling is like when you realize you can do something well.
3 1/3 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: Irina Palm
Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands to make a difference. In the case of Irina Palm, she certainly did. Widowed grandmother, Maggie played by Marianne Faithfull (Paris, je T’aime, Marie Antoinette) was desperate to get money for her ill grandson’s surgery. Without having any marketable skills, Maggie in her search, spotted a help wanted sign in the window of a commercial business, looking for a hostess. However, the establishment was not a restaurant. It was a sex club being run by Miki, played by Miki Manojiovic (Underground, The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner). I must tell you I had my doubts, thinking this story would not be feasible in the real world. But then I started thinking, what if I were in that situation and needed to get money to save someone’s life. And you know, I would do everything I humanly could, to make it happen. What seemed like a joke at first, Miki decided to test Maggie, to see if she could “handle” the responsibility, eventually dubbing her “Irina Palm”. With sparse dialog, I loved Marianne’s acting performance and was hooked into this odd, but interesting film. The story brewed with subtle undertones that unfolded with a couple of interesting twists. For you music fans, do a search on Marianne Faithfull to read about the inspiration behind several classic songs. Oh, and if you have been wondering what Miki had Maggie do at his live sex club, the answer can be found in the movie title and within this review.
3 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: Rabbit Hole
How does one handle tragic loss? For me, it can manifest into a physical pain that feels as if it is consuming my body. When a family member or friend experiences a heartbreaking loss, I never know what to say or do, always feeling I’m not doing enough for them. It is an uncomfortable feeling and it was this same type of feeling that welled up in me as I watched this powerful drama. Becca and Howie, played by Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge, The Hours) and Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, Thank You for Smoking), were a married couple dealing with the heartbreaking loss of their son. Each of them had their own way in dealing with the loss. Unfortunately, this caused the bond between them to crack, bringing forth deeply embedded emotions. Even though I felt uncomfortable, I am grateful to have seen this raw yet beautiful movie. Nicole was wonderful in this role, easily conveying her feelings without uttering a single word. And I have to give her credit for hand picking Aaron to play her husband, for his performace blew me away. The depth and range of his emotions on display were a complete surprise. The play this movie was based on won the Pulitzer prize for best drama and was nominated for a Tony award. Even though the movie drew a feeling of discomfort out of me, it did not compare to what I witnessed in this intense actor driven film.
3 1/3 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: Big Miracle
Do you remember where you were when the real story was breaking news? Please do not tell me you were at a fish fry. I have no memories about the trapped whales; but no matter, the movie still charmed me. This dramatization of the real story was sweet and smooth to watch. Adam Carlson, played by John Krasinski (It’s Complicated, Leatherheads), was the reporter who spotted the three whales trapped by encroaching ice off the coast of Alaska. His news reel hits the airwaves where his former girlfriend, Rachel Kramer played by Drew Barrymore (Charlie’s Angels, 50 First Dates), witnesses the mammals’ plight. Now she happens to work for Greenpeace, so you know she is going to fly up there and try to save the whales. There were no surprises here and the acting was a bit mundane. However, I have to tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. Maybe I am just a sucker when it comes to an animal in peril. Drew is not a great actress but she is reliable, while John comes across as your old childhood friend, who has a little more growing up to do. This film is what they call “a feel good” movie. We have opposing groups wanting their needs met as the clock is ticking on the whales’ fate. But in the end as the audience applauded, I left the theater feeling upbeat and happy.
2 1/2 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Last Station
His novels were not the only place where drama took place. In this movie, Leo Tolstoy’s personal life was filled with substantial drama. Played magnificently by Christopher Plummer (Beginners, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), the majority of this fiery drama occurred between Tolstoy and his wife of 43 years, the Countess Sofya, played with electrifying fire by Helen Mirren (Arthur, The Tempest). Determined to prevent her husband from changing his will, relinquishing his copyrights and property to the Russian people, Sofya enlisted a confederate in recently appointed assistant to her husband, Valentin played by James McAvoy (Wanted, Atonement). The acting was superb in this movie, as the dialog had a fine accompaniment in the musical score. Completing the movie’s feel were the beautiful set pieces, with the attention to detail; I felt as if I had been transported back to Tolstoy’s estate, to witness the final years of this great writer’s life.
3 1/3 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: Albert Nobbs
Happiness is not something that can be given or bought for you. Its birth starts inside of you. For this reason, I felt the movie was lifeless, that Albert Nobbs, played by Glenn Close (Dangerous Liaisons, Air Force One), was an odd character. I felt no matter what Albert did there was never a solid foundation where her/his emotions could bloom. Glenn played this role live on stage years ago, but I do not understand why she wanted to bring it to the big screen. Set in Dublin, Ireland in the late 19th century, Albert Nobbs was born a woman but living her life as a man. Was it because she was a lesbian, or was it because women had very few opportunities open to them in business, or maybe because she felt she was a man trapped in a woman’s body? I never found the reasons why. As a butler working at a hotel, Albert had a dream of opening up a small business for himself. But with no sense on his ability to be truly joyous, I did not believe Albert would ever find true happiness. As a result, the movie was dry for me; I did not find an emotional connection to the character. The real star of this movie was the painter, Hubert Page, hired by the hotel. This character had life, purpose and emotions. It was a powerful performance. By the end of the movie, I simply felt tired and thought, what was the point of this film? As I left the theater, I did treat myself to some ice cream and felt better.
2 1/3 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Vow
Could the only reason to see this movie be the opportunity to see Channing Tatum’s (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Dear John) bare buttocks? Based on the majority of the crowd’s reaction, I think that was enough for them to say this movie was great. For the rest of us, it was not enough. Channing is not a great actor; however, what works in his favor is the combination of his physique with his sad, teary eyes and romantic streak on display throughout this film. Playing husband Leo to wife Paige, played by Rachel McAdams (Sherlock Holmes, Midnight in Paris), the happy couple’s life is shattered when a car accident causes a memory loss for Paige. She has no memory of Leo, let alone being married to him. Rachel is good in this type of romantic drama and the two actors blended easily enough. The story is predictable and I wonder how much of the actual true story was used to make this film. With that being said, this is an easy movie to watch as it tries to squeeze your heart and elicit a tear from your eye.
2 1/2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Dear John
The heart is a hard organ to understand. There are times where it elevates us to a state of euphoria, feeling as if we can float on air. Other times it weighs us down, where every step we take feels as if it takes all of our energy just to lift our foot off the ground. For Savannah Curtis and John Tyree, played respectively by Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia, In Time) and Channing Tatum (The Eagle, Step Up), it was their hearts reaching out to embrace the other in a matter of a couple of weeks. I can see where this scenario can work for some people; however, I just wasn’t feeling the chemistry between John and Savannah. Not that it was totally unbelievable, but it lacked a key element for me–passion. It is that passion and connection of the heart and mind that keep a couple together when distance is an issue, as it was for this couple. There is nothing awful about this movie; in fact, I enjoyed the surprise twist in the story. But I found my interest waning as I watched Savannah and John deal with the miles that separated them. Were their hearts strong enough to hear the echo of the other one’s heartbeat as time passed on? If you are interested, you may want to fast forward through a few scenes to find out.
2 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: The Great Debaters
My 7th grade teacher told me I would “amount to nothing,” when I told her I wanted to be a writer. I have since had a couple of stories published. In high school I flunked physical education class twice. Presently I am a yoga, cycle and group fitness instructor. My point is this: when you have a belief, follow it. Isn’t it better to have tried to accomplish something instead of wondering, “What if…?” It is that internal strength that resonated with me as I watched this movie; based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, played by Denzel Washington (Training Day, American Gangster), who was a professor at Wiley College Texas in the 1930’s. This man inspired his students to form a debate team, which would later surprise the country. As you may have guessed, I root for the underdogs. In my case, I had to deal with people’s prejudices. However, I did not fear for my life as some of the characters had to do in this film. This movie was a clear inspiration, which left me feeling as if I could accomplish anything I put my heart and mind to. What a well done movie about an historical time.
3 stars — DVD
