Category Archives: 2004

2004, Could be boring, Drama, Horror, Unusual

The Village (2004)

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From NetFlix:

M. Night Shyamalan assembles an all-star cast — including Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt — in this chilling tale about an isolated village whose residents face the constant threat of evil creatures. The villagers’ lives are changed forever when one of them decides to venture beyond the town borders to see what’s lurking in the surrounding woods and makes an unexpected discovery.

Not for everyone, this unusual film features a 19th century village in which the characters speak very slowly and deliberately, almost as if they were on stage rather than in a film. Leave it to Joaquin Phoenix to appear in a strange production.

Almost from the beginning I guessed what was going on and you probably will also. Adrian Brody plays a retarded man who needs a haircut badly. There are some surprises. I stuck around to see just how everything resolved, but it takes a bit of fortitude.

Could this happen ? You are warned.

2004, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children

Dear Frankie (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Faced with the prospect of raising her son, Frankie (Jack McElhone), with a good-for-nothing man, the resourceful Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) spirits him away to Scotland with good intentions and pretends the boy’s father is aboard the HMS Accra. But after years of Lizzie’s skillful lying, the jig is up when Frankie learns the ship is docked right by their home. Now, the only way to protect Frankie’s heart is to find a man willing to pose as his dad.

“Dear Frankie” is one of my favorite films and I’m not sure why. Perhaps I feel sorry for the mother and son on the run from an abusive father. Perhaps the way a stanger enters their life to help out in a bad situation is touching. At any rate it is a quiet film with some very poignant moments.

You will recognize Emily Mortimer as one of the Rachels in “Shutter Island”. Gerard Butler plays the stranger. Considering his slide into mediocre potboilers, this might be one of Butler’s best films. The fighting scenes between Frankie’s parents could be too much for children to watch.

2004, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Gay theme, Nudity, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense

Walk on Water (2004)

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From NetFlix:

American-born Israeli director Eytan Fox lenses this contemporary road movie that takes its Israeli characters to Berlin as they attempt to understand the role that the past still plays in the lives of young Israeli and German people. Stars Lior Ashkenzai, Carola Ranier, Hans Tischler, Israeli Gideon Shemer and Yousuf Swaid. The soundtrack includes tunes by Esther Ofarim, Bruce Springsteen, Telepopmusic and Gigliola Cinquetti.

Thanks to my Spanish teacher Joaquín for lending me this film. If any theme is strongest, it is that of personal change and overcoming prejudices. The plot itself offers many surprising turns all the way to the end of the film. In fact for me this was one of those films in which the suspense of the plot line is so strong that I could not even pause the film for a second.

No film is perfect. The main actor, the Mossad assassin, was best when he was purposely emotionless. In one scene he is not terribly successful in portraying remorse. Was the ending a bit too good to be true ? And of course the Mossad agent is an expert martial artist.

This film is not for children not so much because of its gay subtheme but because there is very explicit discussion of gay sexual practices.

If I had not seen this movie, I would have missed a really worthwhile film.

2004, Ballet, Biographical, Documentary, Feel Good For All

Born to be Wild (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Fans of the American Ballet Theatre will delight in this documentary about the renowned company’s four lead male dancers: Angel Corella, Vladimir Malakov, Hose Manuel Carreno and Ethan Steifel. Find out how each dancer got started in classical ballet, learn about their individual approach to the discipline, their backgrounds and their strengths onstage, and view clips of their best performances from the beginning to the apex of their careers.

It’s hard to believe that human bodies can do what these 4 men can do. The climax of this documentary will be all 4 men dancing together to the finale of Robert Schuman’s 4th piano quartet in a dance choreographed by Mark Morris. But interspersed with the rehearsals are biographical interviews with the dancers. Who knew that ballet was alive and well in Castro’s Cuba ?

2004, Drama, Mystery Film, Redemption, Religious Theme, Suspense, Unusual

The Reckoning (2004)

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From NetFlix:

A priest (Paul Bettany) on the run gets mixed up with a band of wandering thespians in this tale of salvation based on the book Morality Play by Barry Unsworth. In a tiny village, the group comes upon a woman who’s been charged with murder and sentenced to death. The actors put on a production based on the crime and soon realize that the townsfolk know the woman isn’t guilty.

Consistent, well-acted, unusual, original, suspenseful are all adjectives that describe this worthwhile fim. Essentially it is a mystery story plus a quest for justice. I can only assume that the 1300s in England were exactly this grubby. Among the actors Gina McKee was Irene in the PBS production of “The Forsyte Saga”. Willem Dafoe is of course a well-established actor.

If I can’t stop watching a film, that’s a good sign. Highly recommended!

2004, Comedy, Drama, Lawyers, TV Series

Boston Legal: Season 1 (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Alan Shore (James Spader) and Denny Crane (William Shatner) lead a phalanx of pricey litigators in a Boston law firm in this David E. Kelley series that examines the professional and personal lives of brilliant (and often emotionally stunted) attorneys. For perspective, Brad Chase (Mark Valley) joins the firm to keep an eye on loose-cannon senior partner Crane. Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra and Rene Auberjonois co-star.

Season 1 of this TV series is 5 discs. Watching the outrageous behavior of all the lawyers involved as well as their support staff is just plan dirty fun. It’s the kind of nonsense that reminds me of another series “Arrested Development”. Just suspend any ethical sense you might have and enjoy the sport.

2004, Drama, Not Feel Good, Suspense, Unusual, Violent

Enduring Love (2004)

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From NetFlix:

One man’s placid, circumspect life is thrown wildly off kilter when he becomes the target of another man’s obsession after witnessing a horrific hot-air balloon accident and attempting to rescue its passengers. This harrowing drama stars Daniel Craig, Samantha Morton, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy and Alexandra Aitken. Roger Michell directs from his own script, an adaptation of the novel by Ian McEwan.

Reading a novel by Ian McEwan is almost always harrowing, and the plot of this film is no exception. Basically the film is about one man’s stalking another for reasons that you eventually discover. Some of the stalking scenes are downright embarrassing, others violent and you cannot imagine where all of this will end. Sometimes the film seems slow, especially when a dinner party sits around and discusses the main theme: what is true love and can it endure ?

Currently Daniel Craig is pigeon-holed as “Bond, James Bond”. That is a pity because Daniel Craig can actually act. (Don’t miss him in “Defiance”.) Hats off to the Welsh actor Rhys Ifans for a stunning performance as the stalker. He has been in too many films to list. Samantha Morton was Mary Stuart in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”.

If you can stand the sadness, the stalking, the anger, the violence, and some failed relations, then be my guest.

2004, DO NOT MISS, Feel Good For All, FilmReview, Sports, Western

Hidalgo (2004)

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From NetFlix:

    Viggo Mortensen stars as Frank T. Hopkins, reputed to be
    one of the best riders of the Wild West. His chance to
    prove his talent comes when an affluent sheik invites
    him to join one of the most outrageous and grueling
    races of all: a 3000-mile trek across the Arabian
    Desert. Previously open only to those who ride Arabian
    horses, the event allows Hopkins to join with his
    Mustang, Hidalgo. Can they win?

Goosebumps and more goosebumps! “Hidalgo” is not just a
western. It’s a feel-good, an adventure, and almost a
sports movie (horse-racing). The story is true. In fact
there is a Frank T. Hopkins WEB site.

Viggo Mortensen has proven himself an adaptable actor
(Good,  Appaloosa, Eastern Promises, A History of Violence,
Lord of the Rings, 28 Days). He speaks 4 languages
fluently and 2 others acceptably.

As I have said, a good western has to have good guys
and bad guys. “Hidalgo” has some great villains including
a beautiful British woman who continually speaks through
her nose and plots evil deeds.

Underlying the entire film is a clash of cultures: U.S. Army
versus the Sioux indians, British versus American, Cowboy
versus Bedouin.

Be prepare for a few sobs as well.

2004, Not Feel Good, Spanish

Live-in Maid (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Winner of a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival,
this film tells the story of Beba, a spoiled member of the
Argentinean upper middle class, and Dora, the maid who’s
worked for her more than 30 years. When Beba’s wealth begins
to fade, the relationship between the two women undergoes
subtle and not -so-subtle changes, amplifying the cataclysmic
transformation occurring in Argentinean society. Norma
Aleandro and Norma Argentina star

This film in Spanish (subtitles) is not a feel-good. The ensemble acting between the two women is well-done, understated, but effective. The ending is a real kick. If anyone else sees this movie, I would like to do a sanity check about the ending. And did you by any chance choose sides ?

2004, Suspense, TV Series, Violent

Lost (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Stranded on a tropical island after their plane crashes 1,000 miles off-course, a group of castaways must learn to survive in their new home — as well as avoid the gigantic something crashing through the trees and determine whether they really are alone. Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O’Quinn, Dominic Monaghan and Naveen Andrews head up a diverse cast in creator J.J. Abrams’s Emmy winner for Best Drama.

“Lost” concerns the adventures of the survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious island. It is very imaginative. There is much violence. Plot twists are inventive. The fun never stops. If this kind of story appeals to you, once you get into “Lost”, you will be trapped. The above NetFlix description is just for Season 1. At the time I am writing this, the series is still going strong on TV.