Juno, Atonement, The Bucket List

Juno

Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Gardner & Jason Bateman

It's quirky, trendy, fun and easy to spend and hour and a half with it's title character, "Juno." In a world of cliques, rules and judgements, Juno (Ellen Page) finds herself thrown into a world where none that matters when she becomes pregnant with Bleeker's (Michael Cera) baby. She decides to have the kid and give it away to a family in need of child - that would be Jennifer Gardner in her best performance to date as Vanessa Loring and Jason Bateman as her reluctant husband, Mark.

Ellen Page is phenomenal, bringing her amiable, wisecracking cynicism to the role, and with the popularity "Juno" has received from the public, Page will be expected to become a favorite, and hopefully not a sell-out (I trust her though). The reality of pregnancy mixed with the hilarious, though over-the-top dialogue, by newcomer Diablo Cody creates a world we know and love to watch.

Grade: A-

Atonement

Starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai & Vanessa Redgrave

Joe Wright, director of "Pride & Prejudice," enables himself to bring a story of longing to life with some of the most beautiful shots I've seen in years. The story is Briony's (Saoirse Ronan, age 13; Romola Garai, age 18; and Vanessa Redgrave), a girl who tragically mistakes (or lies) about an occurrence she didn't fully understand. The occurrence involves a number of people, but most particularly Cecilia (Keira Knightley), her sister, and Robbie, Cecilia's love interest and Briony's childhood crush. Briony's the only witness, but an unreliable one. As time goes by, Robbie is forced into the military and Cecilia exiles herself from her family, while Briony seeks atonement.

Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey ("World Trade Center" & "The Hours") deserves Oscar for his captivating shots, rich with color, angles and symmetry. There is a point in the film, when Robbie and a few army friends walk along a beach of other soldiers waiting to deport. The shot lasts for about five minutes and doesn't stop to blink. There is so much beauty in the filming that it's difficult to take in everything, just as it's difficult for the characters for forgive and forget and reconcile.

Grade: A

The Bucket List

Starring Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman

You would think that Mr. Freeman, a one-time Oscar winner, and Mr. Nicholson, a three-time Oscar winner, would know not to do a movie that involves Rob Reiner and the Seven Wonders of the World. They are obviously losing their minds. "The Bucket List" is the slowest, crappiest, piece of junk I've seen in a while. The only thing that brings the film up a few notches is the duo of caliber. The film was so low budget that they couldn't even spend the money to go to the pyramids or the Himalayas or anywhere else the script takes them - oh, and what a horrible script! The two characters don't even get off their asses for an hour of the movie. Then they fly around together and die. I hate this movie.

Grade: D

I'm Not There

I'm Not There
Starring Cate Blancett, Ben Whishaw, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Michelle Williams, and Bruce Greenwood

If anything can push itself closer to a masterpiece than what "I'm Not There" does, it's trying too hard. Through the eyes of director and writer Todd Haynes, we are given a collage of Bob Dylan, though he's never there (pun). With five, six or seven different interpretations of Dylan's life through five and up to seven fictionally true life characters, a near masterpiece - and the most original movie I have seen in years - forms.

There is Woody Guthrie, the lone wanderer, played masterfully by the young Marcus Carl Franklin. The casting is perfect for Woody, a version of Dylan. He is naive, adventurous, and running from or to something. Franklin's youth carries the character from place to place. Then we have Heath Ledger's Robbie Clark. This Dylan is washed-up and very persuasive in character. Love to anguish, Clark falls for Charlotte Gainsbourg's artsy Claire, and in the midst of the 60s, we see the evolution of couple. Probably my least favorite Dylan, Christian Bale is the epitome of folk music. He lives it. He is it. But Bale's character, Jack Rollins has the easy road compared to the other Dylans. (Bale also plays Pastor John, which may be the sixth Dylan). The final two definite Dylans are the most spectacular. Ben Whishaw's Arthur Rimbaud, outlaw, jailed up, delivers a picturesque interview monologues that trail throughout the film.

And finally, Cate. Cate Blanchett, in her most terrifically jaw-dropping role, is "I'm Not There." Her Dylan named Jude Quinn is the rock of Haynes film, and he knows it. She embodies Dylan more than any of the men playing him. She is the chameleon. She is perfect. She is, and I say this with all my knowledge of Hollywood, the best actress of our generation. Hand her the effing Oscar now.

Oh, yes - what about that seventh Dylan? Well, Richard Gere has a fun role near the end of the movie, playing Billy the Kid. Though he does cross paths with Franklin's Woody-Dylan, one may list Billy the Kid as a mirrored Dylan. I do. His scenes are bizarre and imaginative, giving us an alter-reality and something to ponder.

Todd Haynes delivered one of the best films of 2007, and one that really needs to be watched 50 times to grasp everything. I honestly can't wait to see it again.

Grade: A

Ratatouille

Ratatouille
Voiced by Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Peter O'Toole, Ian Holm & Janeane Garofalo

In "Ratatouille" (pronounced rata-too-ee), we are introduced to Remy, voiced by Patton Oswalt. Remy is a rat. But not just an ordinary, garbage-theiving, will-eat-anything rat. Remy has a keen sense of smell. This may seem useless for a rat, but not for Remy: he detects poisonous food, or at least he is forced to by his rat-proud father. Like a rat, Remy loves food, but not the garbage his pals eat - he wants cuisine and top cheeses and things that make his tiny belly growl with hunger. He can read too. He reads Chef Gusteau's Anyone Can Cook book, and believes that he too can cook... if he were only a little bit bigger. One day, as he's scrounging up some rosemary and freshly plucked mushrooms, Remy sees on an old woman's television that Gusteau, his true chef hero, has died. Then the old woman finds Remy and, with a shotgun, unleashes all of Remy's ratty friends. He is separated from his family and must begin a life alone in the beautiful city of Paris.

As a Pixar animation, "Ratatouille" is exceptionally above anything they have created previously. It is the only Pixar film to bring together the human world with the world of the unknown successfully and passionately. Remy meets a dish dog, Linguini (Lou Romano), who works at Gusteau's restaurant, and they discover a way to make food together - by the rat pulling Linguini's hair, thus controlling every move he makes.

There are two fun love stories in between, with Linguini and the talented and very bossy Chef Colette (Jeneane Garofalo), and with Remy the rat and his love for food. But when Remy and Linguini make an amazing soup by accident, the people of Paris - and the food critics - are all coming back to Gusteau's. With perfect plot complications like this and many others, "Ratatouille" feels like a great PG-13 movie, but plays like it's made for the kids.

But unlike it's predecessors (Toy Story 1 & 2, A Bug's Life, Monster's Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars), "Ratatouille" is not the best Pixar for children, for much of its dialogue consist of ingredients and criticism - something that bored most of the kids in the theatre but amazed the adults. Yet, this film is nearly the best Pixar installment yet.

Grade: A

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (DVD)
Starring Roberty Downey Jr., Shia LaBeouf, Chazz Palminterri, Rosario Dawson, & Channing Tatum

This is one of those goldmines in modern cinema. "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," written, directed, and based on the book by Dito Montiel, tells the true-life story of life in Queens during an era of violence, racial prejudices, and hopeful teens. Dito's story is illustrated through the memories kept by his older self (Robert Downey Jr.) of his once innocent and naive teenage self (Shia LaBeouf). Dito, friends with the rumbling brawler Antonio, impeccably played by rising star Channing Tatum, is bombarded with mixed emotions and situations from every level of the playing field. Jealously of Antonio sets in when Dito's father, Monty (Chazz Palminteri), becomes quickly fond of the street hooligan. Love ignites between Dito and Laurie, a local girl played by Melanie Diaz in the past and Rosario Dawson in the present, who wants more than just puppy love and is led on by Dito's promises. A Puerto Rican gangster hits Queens as he graffittis the streets and terrorizes Dito and Antonio.

Dito's only mode of survival is escaping Queens. Hope finds its way into his life through a Scotish kid named Mike (Martin Compsten) who helps Dito find a job walking dogs and brings dreams of setting off for California. Dito is determined, but single-minded Monty thinks differently.

"Recognizing Your Saints" is explosively heartfelt, especially in the scenes between LaBeouf, Palmenterri and Tatum. This trio of talent grasps your insides and twists them around. Their portrayal of their characters is admirable and saddening that movies like this don't come around often. Downey Jr. and Palmenteri also have great on-screen caliber, when the older Dito comes back to Queens to take his sick and bullheaded dad to the hospital.

With wonderful performances for its supporting cast including Dawson, Diaz, Dianne Wiest, Anthony DeSando, and a long list of unknown talents, "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," a paramount coming-of-age story, is not only one of the best movies of 2006, but one of the best I've ever seen.

Grade: A

Bug

Bug
Starring Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon

Not really knowing what to expect with the intense psycho-drama, "Bug," I caught on quickly. First of all, it isn't a "normal" Hollywood film. With passionate dialogue, confined settings, limited characters and loads of character development, I knew "Bug" had to be based on a play. Sure enough, it was. The stage version also starred Michael Shannon as Peter Evans, and did very well in Chicago and New York City. However, without knowing that its an adapted movie, most people in the audience (which were the leftovers who didn't get a ticket to see "Pirates of the Caribbean") were confused and annoyed. With that in mind, let me tell you why "Bug" is the best film of the year (so far).

First off, the acting was beyond superb. Judd and Shannon gave the performances of a lifetime. Judd with her sweet Southern accent and scruffy looks went beyond the character of Agnes. She embraced her naivety, forlornness, and willingness to please, taking the character from being an unrealistic character to a very believable one. Her avidity to believe her new-found lover, Peter (Shannon), with all of his fantastic and extravagantly bizarre ideas, is a tough trait to overcome as an actor. Judd accomplishes this responsibility, giving Agnes congeniality and a strange kind of strength.

Michael Shannon, being just as worth of an Oscar as Judd, delivers a gut-wrenching, powerful performance. His take on Peter Evans surpasses many memorable characters in the past decade of roles. There are some actors who were born to play a character: Tom Hanks and Forrest Gump, Julia Roberts and Vivian Ward, Jim Carrey and Ace Ventura. The psychotic, twisted, insane character of Peter Evans in "Bug" is the role Shannon was destined to play. He nails it.

As for director William Friedkin ("The Exorcist"), he allows the audience to see and understand the insanity and corruptness of Evans' condition - whether there really are bugs in his system or if its part of his delusional/psychotic/schizophrenic self are yet to be determined, but Friedkin gives us a good battle of the wits as to what is actually going on. And it's not like it's a confusing battle - it's understandable, and one is allowed to feel compassionate and empathetic for Peter and Agnes.

"Bug" lets loose its incredible ferocity and is without a doubt a favorite for the year.

Grade: A