An Uncomfortable Reality

The Savages is a good movie. I won't go so far as to say it is a great movie, but it touches on all the hallmarks of a quality dramatic film: tension, relationships, uncertainty, relatability, redemption, and closure. I can understand why there was considerable buzz around this movie when it came out. Tamara Jenkin's movie deals with an all too common reality here in the United States, what a family is to do with a loved one as they pass beyond the point of being able to care for themselves.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Laura Linney play a convincing brother and sister pair that have to figure out what to do with their father, Lenny. Although not exactly stated in the movie, the viewer is correct to assume that Lenny was an abusive father. There are frequent references to this throughout the film. Despite this strike against Lenny, his character is still highly sympathetic. The movie is difficult to watch sometimes because of Lenny's inability to cope with situations as well as the multiple indignities he suffers. Speaking of Lenny, the actor who plays him, Philip Bosco, did a very convincing job. He manages to slip in and out of lucidity in a very natural manner.

I could have used a little more background information on the family dynamic as a whole, specifically how their mother fit into the equation. Did she die young? Did she run away? Was she even more abusive than Lenny? The two kids hadn't spoken with their father in a long time when all of the action of the film starts occurring, but we aren't given much of a window into what the characters were like before their current time. I get that the kids are neurotic, and intelligent, but ultimately a little messed up, but it doesn't feel entirely organic, or justified. Perhaps that is my own biases coming into play.

I think that my favorite character in the movie may have ended up being the attendant Jimmy at the nursing home, played by Gbenga Akinnagbe. Jimmy is one of the few characters developed in the movie that seems relatively normal. He is audience to the final moments of the Savage family, and there isn't much he can do to avoid that, but he takes it in stride.

The movie was a pretty realistic, at least I think, portrayal of our nursing home culture. The movie moves slowly at times, but so does life. As if to accentuate that slowness, the movie makes ample use of dramatic pauses, awkward situations, and emotion to bring you in. I don't know if I would watch the movie again by choice. I'm not sure I would turn the channel if it came on tv, but at times it seemed just a little too real.

8/10, glad I watched it, but may not see again.

A Lonely and Secret World

I re-watched The Good Shepherd and I must say that it is far darker than I remember. I can't help but feeling quite sorry for Edward. The life that he eventually lives can't be what the budding young poet had in mind. There really is nothing happy about the movie. The movie is not only dark from a thematic standpoint, but it is also just dark in general.

I remember the first time I watched the movie I was enthralled with the story it told about the CIA. This time around I was much more interested in the story of Edward. The movie is in part about the CIA, but really it is about the rise of, and compromising of, Matt Damon's character. He dutifully does as he is asked throughout the movie, but then he goes and has his dalliances throughout the film. He is a very flawed character, but I found him a very compelling character. He is obviously pained as he goes through his life, but he rarely shows it on his face.

The movie did a good job of pacing that I don't recall from my first viewing. It is a long movie, but it does cover a lot of ground. The story it tells, if you are a fan of Cold War history, is one that will keep you connected to the film. The supporting cast is excellent, although I thought Angelina Jolie's character was a little off. I think they should have cast someone a little less va voom, and a little more conservative.

This is Robert De Niro's film (he directed it) because his character takes the cake. His lines are full of gems about the nature of the CIA. Although he was obviously a bigot, he was the only character who showed concern for the agencies place in American society. The movie ends with Lee Pace's character Richard Haye's calling Damon the "heart and soul" of the agency. That was almost exactly what De Niro advised a young Edward against happening.

I should mention something about Edward's son. The dynamic between the two is fairly straightforward: Edward, the distant father; Edward, Jr., the starving for approval son. What is interesting to me is that Edward does sacrifice his son's happiness because of his commitment to a higher duty than his family. Yet another tragic layer to an already tragic figure.

Good movie. A bit confusing at times, but I would watch it again for sure.

7/10, already own it, gonna watch it again.

Downey Jr. Plays Snarky Playboy

It took me forever to see the first Iron Man movie, but I am happy I finally did. Jon Favreau's movie was thoroughly entertaining. First off, Robert Downey, Jr. is perfectly cast as Iron Man. There is something about his personality that matches the snarky, playboy billionaire that Tony Stark is supposed to be. The casting of Gwynenth Paltrow doesn't make all that much sense to me, however, I do think she was good in the role. I think it is mostly just odd to see her in such a supporting role, although I guess her last lead role was Sky Captain? Bounce? Seriously, what is Gwyneth Paltrow doing these days?

The film itself was quite enjoyable. The plot was very straightforward comic book fare, but at the same time wasn't overly cheesy. The delivery of one-liners was timely, and not awkward. There was a sufficient back story for me to believe Stark's transformation from nihilist to savior. One thing that I would have liked to see more of was information on the leader of the Ten Rings. Up until the point he showed up it seemed like Stark was kidnapped by a fairly unsophisticated bunch, but then BAM some dude with no accent shows up speaking English, and laying down the law. That was an interesting twist. Also, Jeff Bridges losing his mind was not terribly convincing. I mean, yes, he did get his hit exposed by Paltrow's character, but then he just decides to suit up? He doesn't try to flee? He just goes nuts? I think maybe if Jeff Bridges had whipped out a silenced pistol and killed the leader of Ten Rings I would be a little more okay with his suiting up at the end of the movie. Point being, he didn't do enough explicitly bad things (aside from ordering the hit) to make me buy the suit donning. I guess he did later say that he didn't have the stomach "for this kind of thing," but that seems very insufficient.

I think as far as comic book movies go, this has to be near the top for me. My first introduction to Iron Man was The Avengers. I loved the Avengers, and specifically Robert Downey, Jr. It is pretty easy to kind of do whatever you want technology wise when your protagonist is a billionaire weapons manufacturer. You can just have him invent stuff. I feel like the movie ended perfectly to set up the next in the series. In this movie SHIELD's involvement is somewhat confusing, but it doesn't take away from the movie. You probably just think that there is no reason for them being there. That is assuming you aren't familiar with the comic book universe, or The Avengers.

I wonder if I would like this as much if someone else had played Iron Man. I also wonder how much of the character is just just Downey, Jr. himself, and not acting. Come to think of it, he is like this in pretty much every movie. That's not a knock on Downey, Jr., but more of an observation.

All around, I would totally watch this again. I would recommend it to others, but I think a great many people I know have already seen it.

8/10, will watch again, probably buy too, seriously fun.