Category Archives: 2006

2006, Feel Good Not For Children, FilmReview

Outsourced (2006)

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From NetFlix:

When his department is outsourced to India, customer call
center manager Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) heads to
Mumbai to train his successor (Asif Basra). Amusing culture
clashes soon ensue as Anderson tries to explain American
business practices to the befuddled new employees — and
in the process learns some important lessons about
globalization and life. Director John Jeffcoat’s delightful
comedy also stars Ayesha Dharker and Matt Smith.

Thanks to Lynn for suggesting “Outsourced”. This film is bound to bring a smile
to your face. It is an easy watch because there is really no tension. Relax and
enjoy as if you had traveled to India as Todd Anderson and really learned to accept
India.

Every detail seems to ring true except possibly for the following: Following his
being turned blue, red, and every other color in the feast of Holi, Todd notices that
the Indians clean themselves in the river. So Todd follows suit and submerges.
I suspect that if a germ susceptible American did that, he might die on the spot.
But correct me if I am wrong.

Possibly not for children due to sexual references. At one point the couple spend
a night in the “Kama-Sutra” room. Even that comes off innocently.

Just plain chill-out fun,

2006, French, Unusual

Paris Je T’aime (2006)

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From NetFlix:

A collection of five-minute films about the City of Lights brings
Paris to life with a unique patchwork of 20 stories. Numerous
writers, directors and actors lend their distinctive vision to the
project, employing a wide variety of styles and subject matter.
Participants include Gérard Depardieu, Gus Van Sant, Ethan Coen,
Joel Coen, Wes Craven, Marianne Faithfull, Steve Buscemi, Juliette
Binoche, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gena Rowlands and many others.

Because this is one weird film, I have put it into the “not for everyone” category. Despite the
beautiful photography, most of the 20 episodes deal with some negative aspect of Paris: Steve
Buscemi gets beaten up in the subway; Juliette Binoche mourns her dead young son; a female
vampire (vampiress ?) turns a young man into a vampire; etc.

Although the film is never boring, after awhile Kathy started to get itchy. All French dialog is
subtitled automatically. In addition we put on the English subtitles for hard-of-hearing because
some of the English is mumbled.

It was a fun challenge trying to identify the actors. At the end there is an alphabetized list
of all the actors which doesn’t tell you the episodes in which each actor appeared.

After seeing this film, I would not feel safe in much of Paris. My list of safe places to visit
in this world seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Or as the Kingston Trio used to sing:
“Oh, they’re rioting in Africa, la la la la la la”.

Caution,

2006, Revenge, Unusual

Daratt (2006)

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From NetFlix:

As the Chadian government declares nationwide amnesty after years
of war, 16-year-old Atim (Ali Barkai) sets out to take revenge on
the man who killed his father. After traveling to the capital, Atim
locates the man, but instead of finding a coldhearted murderer, he
comes across something entirely different. From the director of Bye
Bye Africa, Daratt is a compelling moral standoff as piercing for its
visuals as it is for its narrative.

The NetFlix raves a bit too much. This is one S L O W W W W W film. Acting is more than understated. It is a chance to see Chad. I can only hope that the characters behave in a manner that real Chadians would do. I don’t regret watching Daratt, but it is definitely not for everyone. In some African language plus French. English subtitles.

2006, TV Series, Unusual

Dexter (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Playing a sympathetic serial killer may sound like a stretch,
but former ‘Six Feet Under’ star Michael C. Hall pulls it off
neatly in this Showtime drama about a likable forensics expert
who channels his violent tendencies by killing miscreants
who’ve avoided punishment. So harmless is Dexter Morgan’s
(Hall) demeanor that neither his girlfriend (Julie Benz) nor
his sister (Jennifer Carpenter) has any inkling of his
extracurricular activities.

At first I thought “this is stupid and creepy and sensationalistic”. But it isn’t really violent (but really creepy). There are involving subplots and the plot twists are clever (if a tad unbelievable). You have to wade through the entire season to see the bad guy get his deserved due. I suspect that only someone like Michael Hall could actually make this idea work.

I Dare You!

2006, Feel Good For All

Bella (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Two lost souls, Nina (Tammy Blanchard), a pregnant, unmarried waitress,
and Jose (Eduardo Verástegui), an introspective yet troubled cook with
a mysterious past, find solace in each other as their lives become
unpredictably linked throughout the course of one incredible day.
An uplifting story of love, hope and forgiveness, this remarkable
tale is co-written and directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde

This “feel-good for everyone” is 98% in English. But most of the characters are Latinos in New York City. Any Spanish is subtitled. This is really a warm film with lots of good human values. It is just a tad corny. The ending seems too good to be true. But just watching the interactions in the Latino family made me feel good all over. The mother is great. And yes, I found myself wishing I had grown up in a family like that.

2006, Feel Good Not For Children

Driving Lessons (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Looking to earn some cash — and to get out from under the
thumb of his domineering mother (Laura Linney) — shy teen
Ben Marshall ( Rupert Grint) goes to work as an assistant to a
tetchy retired actress (Julie Walters). But what begins as a
simple summer job soon turns into a life-changing experience
for young Ben. Nicholas Farrell plays Linney’s henpecked spouse
in this affecting coming-of-age drama from director Jeremy Brock.

I can’t even remember how I stumbled upon this small gem of
a movie. Laura Linney plays to perfection an evil religious hypocrite.
Rupert Grint captures “downbeaten teenager” like no one else.
Even Kathy loved this movie (and that’s saying something).

It’s a definite feel-good with some strong language from gritty
Julie Walters.

2006, French, Unusual

The Man of My Life (2006)

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From NetFlix:

When Frédéric (Bernard Campan) and his family meet a gay man named Hugo (Charles Berling) while vacationing in the Provençal countryside, their lives are irrevocably changed, as the two men develop a strong yet unconventional friendship. Although Frédéric is happily married to his wife, Frédérique (Léa Drucker), his bond with Hugo challenges the strength of his marriage and ultimately inspires him to reevaluate his life.

This film is French in many ways: language, culture, beautiful photography,
symbols, ambivalence, ambivalence, and more ambivalence. Don’t expect
a definitive ending. You have to be in the mood for this one. And if you do
last through this dreamy, slow movie, please tell me how you interpreted the
relation between the straight husband (who truly loves his wife and family)
and the gay man when everyone meets on an extended summer holiday.

How did this end ?

2006, Feel Good For All, Sports, Underdogs win

We Are Wallace (2006)

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From NetFlix:

After a plane crash takes the lives of most of Marshall
University’s football team, new coach Jack Lengyel
(Matthew McConaughey) must rally the surviving players and
a grieving community to victory. Based on true events, this
inspiring drama follows Lengyel and his assistant coach
(Matthew Fox) as they try to renew Marshall’s football
program and help the close-knit West Virginia town find
new hope. David Strathairn and Anthony Mackie co-star.

You’ve seen this movie before in many guises. Nonetheless
it is always a warm feeling seeing an underdog finally win.

2006, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Feel Good For All

Miss Potter (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Blending lush animation sequences with live-action drama, director Chris Noonan constructs this biopic about the personal life of beloved children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Featuring the Academy Award-winning Renee Zellweger as the title character and co-starring Emily Watson and Ewan McGregor, the film traces Potter’s private life as well as her contributions to literature such as the timeless “Tale of Peter Rabbit.”

Every now and then you see a movie that fits its genre perfectly. “Miss Potter”, the life of Beatrix Potter, is such a film. Renee Zellweger is Beatrix and Ewan mcGregor fits the role of Norman Warne to a tee.

Warning: this movie is a tear-jerker at times.

This movie is for everyone, children invited. No violence, no sex. It is also the blooming of a Victorian protected daughter into an independent creative artist and environmentalist.

Don’t Miss It.

2006, DO NOT MISS, Not Feel Good, Redemption, Violent

Steel Toes (2006)

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From NetFlix:

This intense crime drama stars Oscar nominee David Strathairn as liberal Jewish attorney Danny Dunckelman, who’s appointed by the court to defend Mike Downey (Andrew W. Walker), a neo-Nazi skinhead on trial for the murder of an East Indian man. Confronting religious and racial intolerance, Mike and Danny struggle to form an alliance despite their divergent beliefs and sensibilities in this provocative exploration of hatred and forgiveness.

“Steel Toes” is violent because Andrew Walker as a Nazi skinhead in Montreal kicks a defenceless East Indian to death. As a result liberal Jewish lawyer David Strathairn (CIA Deputy Directory in “The Bourne Ultimatum”) decides to defend the skinhead. What follows is some very tight ensemble acting and I found myself riveted to their give and take. My appreciation of Strathairn has, as a result, grown immensely.