Category Archives: 2006

2006, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, TV Series, Vulgar

30 Rock (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Tina Fey stars as Liz Lemon, the lead writer on a television variety series à la “Saturday Night Live,” in this Emmy-winning workplace sitcom co-starring Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan and the scene-stealing Alec Baldwin. When brash network executive Jack Donaghy (Baldwin) arrives on the scene to pep up the show, he unnerves the cast and crew with his meddlesome ways — among them, hiring a whacked-out movie star (Morgan).

I warn you: this TV series is at best acceptable trash. My son Mike suggested this series. His tastes are juvenile, sophomoric, and crass. Unfortunately, genes being what they are, he and I seem to share those tastes. I learned this during the recent Christmas vacation when I sadly realized that my tastes and those of my daughter Kate seemed to have diverged. Could it be that Kate is maturing ? What have Kathy and I done wrong ?

Every now and then there is a good laugh that was worth waiting for. Surprisingly, after her success imitating Sarah Palin, Tina Fey in this series is the straight man who leaves the laughs to others. Alex Baldwin does indeed steal the show, he just knows how to deliver a line. Jane Krakowski (she was Elaine in “Ally McBeal”) always gets it right.

You were warned, so don’t complain.

2006, Danish, Drama, Love Story, Susanne Bier

After the Wedding (2006)

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From NetFlix:

To save the failing orphanage he runs in India, Danish transplant Jacob Petersen (Mads Mikkelsen) returns to his homeland to meet a self-indulgent businessman named Jørgen who’s offered a generous donation — and represents everything the noble-minded Jacob abhors. Complicating matters further are the unusual strings Jørgen has attached to his so-called gift. Rolf Lassgård co-stars in this Oscar-nominated emotional powerhouse of a drama.

Danish directory Susanne Bier has made many films such as “Things We Lost In The Fire”. In this review and the other two reviews we are recommending three of her films: “Open Hearts”, “Brothers”, and “After the Wedding”. The language is Danish with subtitles. Susanne Bier directs fine films.

2006, Could Be Hard To Watch, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gay theme, Love Story, Non-physical Violence, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, War

The Secret Life of Words (2005)

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From NetFlix:

After surviving the war in Yugoslavia, taciturn nurse Hanna (Sarah Polley) heads to Ireland for some rest and relaxation. But when she hears about an oil-rig accident off the coast, she agrees to tend heroic burn victim Josef (Tim Robbins). Personalities clash aboard the derrick as Hanna contends with Josef, a Russian soldier (Sverre Anker Ousdal), a lively Spanish chef (Javier Cámara) and other oddballs in this compelling character study.

Where to begin with this superb but disturbing film ?

If anything, this is a story of a severly damaged woman little by little returning to life due to her nursing the burn survivor Tim Robbins on the almost deserted oil-rig. It is also the story of his gradual return to life physically and mentally. His character has a wonderful talent for words. From the very outset he is determined to break through Hanna’s defenses, initially just because he is a very accomplished flirt. Both he and she have some horrible history which eventually emerges.

Some of the other actors are notable. I won’t say what role she plays (it is part of the mystery surrounding Hanna) but Julie Christie is still a beautiful woman with those startling blue eyes. It took me awhile to place the cook Jose Cámara. He was one of the men who was a caretaker for a comatose girl friend in the Almodóvar film “Hable Con Ella”.

I have some nitpiks: It would have been impossible in my opinion for the burn victim to have located Julie Christie’s character. Also Kathy and I found the ending to be too good to be true.

Challenge: Who or what was the childlike voice narrator ?

The next paragraph is a spoiler, but I owe it to you. WARNING: if vivid descriptions of war atrocities bother you, do NOT watch this film.

2006, Detective, Drama, Imperfect, Not Feel Good

Hollywoodland (2006)

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From NetFlix:

When George Reeves (Ben Affleck), the actor who famously played the Man of Steel in TV’s “Adventures of Superman,” turns up dead, a dogged private eye (Adrien Brody) investigates and unearths a string of strange secrets. Diane Lane and Bob Hoskins also star in this gritty noir-style drama based on the true story of one of Hollywood’s most infamous mysteries, a film that marks television director Allen Coulter’s feature film debut.

For all the name stars in this film, it could have been better. Adrien Brody carries the story as a private detective trying to solve a possible murder. Ben Affleck gets a chance to act in a serious role. Give the film a B, but it is still watchable.

So, what really happened ?

2006, Drama, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Violent

Children of Men (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Play Preview Alfonso Cuaron directs this film version of P.D. James’s classic dystopian novel (and Oscar nominee for Best Adapted Screenplay), a futuristic drama set in a world in which humans have lost the ability to reproduce and subsequently face certain extinction. Things change when a single woman mysteriously becomes pregnant, prompting a conflicted government bureaucrat (Clive Owen) and his ex-wife (Julianne Moore) to join forces to protect her. Michael Caine co-stars.

I am a Clive Owen fan. However, his films really run the gamut from serious or derpressing to just plan stupid fun as in Shoot Em’ Up. (If you love trash, don’t miss this impossible shoot fest!)

“Children of Men” offers suspense, quasi sci-fi, and a depressing vision of the future. I can’t give away the ending, but it’s not a typical Hollywood ending. This film is worth seeing.

2006, 2007, 2008, Acceptable Trash, Gay theme, Love Story, Nudity, Sci-Fi, TV Series, Violent

Torchwood (2006)

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From NetFlix:

In this series that spun off from “Doctor Who,” policewoman Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) stumbles upon a secret organization known as Torchwood, a clandestine group led by the mysterious Capt. Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) that monitors alien activity on Earth. Cooper soon joins Harkness, tech expert Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) and medic Owen Harper (Burn Gorman) in their quest to protect Earth from invasion.

OK all you kids out there, if you liked either “Doctor Who” or “Lost” or “X-Files” and are into a lot of sex (and some violence) this is a TV series for you. You don’t have to know anything about “Doctor Who”, you just need to have that mindset. Certain characters are straight and others are gay and some few seem not to have made up their minds just yet. Start with Season One and work your way through Season Two and Season Three.

Season One

Nothing more than acceptable trash, this TV series can still be fun to watch. To give you a taste of the kind of nonsense involved, consider: An alien has come to Earth in search of orgasmic energy (yes, that is correct). This alien enters the body of a young woman who then serially attracts male sex partners. But as each young man reaches climax he turns into a small pile of dust. In time there is a trail of small piles of dust. Heard enough ?

As I recall, the last disk (7?) of Season One is not episodes, but rather extra commentary. You might not want to waste a rental on this last disc.

Season Two

Every review I read says that Season Two is better and I agree. Some episodes are stupid. But for the most part the plots are clever and varied. More interesting is that mixed in with all the nonsense are valid situations applicable to real life. For example, the fiancee of one couple has to keep her membership in Torchwood secret from her boy friend. He feels neglected, etc. etc. Sound familiar ?

Torchwood actually kills its characters permanently. The joke (ahem, important feature), however, is that Jack Harkness is condemned to live forever young. Many episodes kill him in all sorts of diabolical ways and he just keeps coming back for more. You really don’t believe I am saying this, right ?

Besides, when have you ever been to a wedding in which the bride is unfortunately pregnant with an alien whose mother alien is at the wedding in disguise waiting to nab the baby alien ?

Season Three

Season Three is one long multi-part story “Children of the Earth”. Aliens have come to earth. These aliens truly can destroy the earth at their whim. We are defenseless. The aliens demand that we give them ten percent of all the children of the earth (never mind why – you have to watch the show). What do you suppose the British politicians do in such a desperate situation ? What would you do ?

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No one over the mental age of, say, 16 need apply. So why on earth am I watching this garbage ? That’s easy …

I LOVE TRASH !

2006, Could Be Hard To Watch, Detective, Docudrama, Explicit sex, Nudity, Occasional gore, Suspense, Todd Robinson, Violent, Vulgar

Lonely Hearts (2006)

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From NetFlix:

In this unnerving docudrama, John Travolta and James Gandolfini play homicide detectives assigned to pursue lovers Martha Beck (Salma Hayek) and Raymond Fernandez (Jared Leto) — dubbed the “Lonely Hearts Killers.” Luring unwary war widows and spinsters through personal ads in the late 1940s, the couple stripped respondents of their savings before slaying them in a sexually charged frenzy. The supporting cast includes Laura Dern and Scott Caan.

Well worth seeing, this film is violent and could be hard to watch if only because there is a very explicit execution by electric chair (which you know immediately at the start of the film). Children not invited to watch because of the grisly shootings, the explicit sex, and the coarse sexual banter of the police officers.

Over the years I have seen John Travolta become a fat actor playing himself. In this case his face has changed so much (no, it is not makeup) that I almost did not recognize the face, although the body type has not changed. In all fairness, he does an excellent and sullen job as a man wounded by and unable to recover from his wife’s suicide. James Gandolfini is not just Tony Soprano and can, in fact, act well in certain kinds of roles including this role as Travolta’s sidekick.

Salma Hayek throughout the film is drop-dead gorgeous, especially when she is dolled-up in a smart black outfit plus big hat plus decolletage. She plays a wonderful sociopath right down to her never-give-in demise.

Not bad at all!

2006, Conspiracy, Detective, Drama, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Inside Man (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Dispatched to a crime scene where a bank robbery is in progress, police detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) hopes to apprehend the cunning thief (Clive Owen) so he can make his case for a promotion. But when a savvy negotiator (Jodie Foster) with questionable motives arrives on the scene, an already unstable situation threatens to implode. Spike Lee directs this tense action-drama co-starring Willem Dafoe and Christopher Plummer.

“Inside Man” is probably for me the most unusual and original bank robbery movie I have ever seen. Clive Owen does not disappoint. Pay close attention the the very final scene that involves a subtle slight of hand.

2006, Car Chase, English Dubbing, French, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Suspense, Violent

Tell No One (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Eight years ago, pediatrician Alexandre Beck (François Cluzet) was the prime suspect in his wife’s murder. He’s put all that behind him, but now, two dead bodies have been found near his home — and once again, he’s the suspect. The case takes an unexpected turn when he receives an anonymous email showing his wife alive — and eight years older — instructing him to “tell no one.” Kristin Scott Thomas co-stars in Guillaume Canet’s powerhouse thriller.

To watch this French film I used the excellent English dubbing (and the subtitles). From the very beginning I was glued to my seat. All the acting is good, but François Cluzet is the center of attention throughout. Suprisingly the film turned out to contain alot of action sequences (running, car chases) and Cluzet is either in very good physical condition or there is some digital trickery involved. But this is French action, so no Hollywood fireworks (except for some car crashes). The plot was clever, involved, with many twists. Even if you get confused by the end of the film all will be made clear and easy to understand.

There is violence, nudity, and abused bodies. Not for children.

If you want a solid 2 hours and 5 minutes of suspensful escape, this film is a good choice.

2006, Not Feel Good, Revenge

The Prestige (2006)

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From NetFlix:

At the dawn of the 20th century, rival magicians Robert Angier
(Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are desperate
to reveal each other’s secrets. Obsessed by the escalating
competition, the two illusionists begin to perform increasingly
risky tricks — which soon turn deadly. Michael Caine, Scarlett
Johansson and David Bowie also star in this taut psychological
thriller from director Christopher Nolan.

Pay close attention while watching this film. I guessed half the
surprises at the end and had to suspend belief for the other
surprise.

This film is not only about magic, but also about revenge. Of the
two dueling magicians, in my humble opinion, Hugh Jackman is
a better actor than Christian Bale.

David Bowie plays Nikola Tesla. You should look up Tesla in
Wikipedia. He invented alternating current and was recognized
by congress as the inventor of radio. He died poor because he
paid no attention to money. He was ostracized because of his
bizarre personality. I do not know if Thomas Edison really
hired thugs to harass his competitors. Thomas Edison championed
direct current and invented the electric chair to prove how more
humane DC was over AC.

Is Scarlett Johansson really a good actress ?

Please also see “The Illusionist” which has a completely different
intent.