Nicole Kidman adds another accent to her repertoire -- from
invented African nation Matobo -- and turns in another hushed,
guarded performance. Also starring is the UN building itself, which
serves as a stunning physical location for this more-than-competent
thriller as well as a metaphor for the tense geopolitics that shape
our world.
Political thrillers have all but disappeared in recent years, and
perhaps the potential backlash against their backers (witness the
uproar over hyper-partisan documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11") can
bear some responsibility for it. Either way, Sydney Pollack has
made a very classy, staid film that seems rooted in the aesthetics
of the '70s but with a potent contemporary message about
genocide in sub-Saharan Africa.
There are several great suspense sequences in "The Interpreter"
that would make Hitchcock proud; the bus chase and the final
assembly gathering come immediately to mind. But it's the studied
performances that bring this drama to life. (In another era,
Catherine Keener would be looking at a Best Supporting Actress nod
for her brief, authoritative turn as Sean Penn's field partner.)
Nothing extraordinary here, but it makes you think. Few films this
year can say that, and thus I recommend.
My grade: B
Screened: May 30
About a half hour into this "Batman" sequel I started getting antsy
in my seat. Christian Bale, as millionaire heir Bruce Wayne, had
voluntarily entered a Far-East prison to feel what pain was like. (!)
Liam Neeson had then taken him under his wing to teach him some
kung-fu moves and vengeful world-weariness. (!!) There was also
a flashback of little Brucey falling down a well and stirring his
legendary fear of bats. (!!!) Luckily the cliches (and "Kill Bill"
rip-offs) ended there and I was free to enjoy this powerful action
flick.
One thing that quickly caught my eye was the popcorn-movie
socialism on display. (Says Bruce's dad: "The rich have a duty to
help the poor." See also: "Land of the Dead," below.) But
"Batman" movies are all about the villains, and I can't say enough
positive things about the creepy Cillian Murphy (nicely pumping up
his resume with another left-field role) and the threatening Tom
Wilkinson (delving into a brogue so thick it seems like his natural
accent). Even Gary Oldman, usually the bad guy in these
situations, plays Commissioner Gordon so straight that you might
do a double-take to make sure it's the same Gary Oldman. It is.
Christopher Nolan's take on the Caped Crusader is dark, fatalistic,
exciting, filled with appropriate humor (A+ each to Morgan Freeman
and Michael Caine), stirring, and filled with many an inside nudge to
the character's legend. It still can't replace Tim Burton's original,
but it's a worthy addition to the catalog.
My grade: B
Screened: June 13
Horror movies were my bread and butter as a kid ("Friday the 13th,"
"A Nightmare on Elm Street," "Motel Hell," "Pumpkinhead," "Puppet
Master," "Creepshow," "Terror Vision," "Carrie," etc). Needless to
say, 1978's "Dawn of the Dead" ranked very high on that list.
I can gladly say that George A. Romero's vision has been
resuscitated intact and is one of the best horror flicks I've seen in a
long time. There's social commentary (the classes of zombie,
street-dweller, and high-rise elite are strictly segregated), action,
gore, thrills, and politics (colony head Dennis Hopper -- unusually
normal -- tells his advisors, "We don't negotiate with terrorists!"
when an employee makes a ransom demand). There's also better
acting than you typically find in these sorts of movies; Asia Argento,
Robert Joy, and Simon Baker pull off their admittedly simplistic
characterizations extremely effectively.
The problem with horror films -- well, good ones at least -- is that
right when they're over, you want more. I want to know what lies
ahead for the surviving characters, and what becomes of the
remaining flesh-eaters. Romero hasn't announced plans for
another movie yet (and he has wisely changed characters during
each cycle of "Dead"), but I hold out hope. With his evident
influence over an entire generation of filmmakers, the zombie
conquest is far from over.
My grade: B+
Screened: June 25
