Little Reviews

Where the Truth Lies (DDDD), starring Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth and Alison Lohman, talk about a movie with surprises and twists. While I was watching this film I kept thinking about Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Perhaps it was the focus on the telethon, and there were many similarities. Kevin Bacon has given some great performances over the years as has Colin Firth, but I think a lot of Bacon’s work goes unnoticed. I had never heard of this film. I saw it on the shelf for a dollar; I liked the premise and since it starred two great actors decided to give it a look see.  I like when I get my hands on a directors cut or an unrated version of a film. It means that there were issues with the film. Either it ran too long or there were scenes too hot for the theaters. Since the 90’s films just get cut since they know they can released the unrated version on DVD. No more NC-17, or the risk of a film not getting shown at a theater. Sometimes its only a few seconds that makes all the difference between an R and NC-17 rating.

W., (DDDD)The first time I saw the film I was able to see President differently. Living in the shadows of someone the majority of your life is not easy. Not everyone gets the back story on politicians. All we know is that all of a sudden there they are.
Some of us are still learning about Obama. When it comes to politics there’s the person we see on the campaign trail and then the person that gets into office, but the real person we don’t get to see unless we know them on a personal level.
Oliver Stone has a way with political films. Sarah Halley Finn did a great job with casting  with Jeffery Wright as Colin Powell and Thandie Newton as Condalesa Rice. I couldn’t help but wonder if Janet Jackson was ever up for the role. She did an excellent potrayal of Miss Rice in an SNL sketch many years ago.
Josh Brolin, James Cromwell, Ellen Burstyn, Elizabeth Banks and Richard Dreyfuss were all great.
I things it’s a good film and regardless of what you think of the former president you might learn something you weren’t expecting.



Here is my new rating system. DDDDD highly recommend. DDDD It should be watched. DDD Entertaining DD So if you like the stars. D Just out of curiosity watch it.
(I like all movies. Even those that most people don’t like, it makes for great conversation.)


Thanks for stopping by and keep an open mind. Become a follower while you are here.

2 Days In Paris

A friend that I met at SIFF many years ago, sent me some films from his collection that he decided he would no longer watch. It’s no secret that I love movies. I have an extensive collection. I use to watch 3 to 4 movies a day depending on my schedule. The collection has grown as others began contributing and video stores going out of business.

Now back to the feature. 2 Days In Paris stars Julie Delpi and Adam Goldberg. The film is in English and in French and it is one of the funniest films I’ve ever seen in a long time.
Since I’ve never been to Paris (which is on my list) I can’t say if French people actually behave in this manner., but its hilarious. The film follows a couple for 2 Days in Paris as the audience devolves deep into their relationship. We, the audience become the voyeurs as we discover right along with the characters about their dysfunctional relationship.

At times your wondering if the female characters is mentally unstable. We go back into her past throughout the film so that we get an understanding of how personality evolved.
Being an artist that takes pictures, I can understand the frustration when someone else takes on that role.
The film will make people dissect their own relationships. Everyone has their opinion as to what constitutes as an affair or sex. Check out 2 Days in Paris and start the conversation.




Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. Check back or become a follower.

Coming up: Shutter Island, I Love You Phillip Morris, Kansas, The Blob, Seven,


http://artbydlonzo.blogspot.com

http://vimeo.com/27482821

http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

The Back Story

      A few days ago I had a conversation with some people that didn’t like to hear about a stars personal life because it interfered with them watching their movies.

I’m sure I’ve written about this before, but most of the stars that I really like were no longer around by the time I came along. I was two years old when Marilyn Monroe passed away. I saw her films when I was young and then at some point I was interested in the woman behind the films.
It all started when I found out she had posed for Playboy. I remember wanting to be like Hugh Hefner and Howard Hughes. By the time I got to High School that changed when I read Malcolm X, but there was still a part of his life where he was surrounded by women.

The camera loved Marilyn Monroe. There aren’t a lot of bad pictures that were taken of her. They are all sexy, bubbly and full of personality. Marilyn Monroe embodied sensuality.

When I read or hear about what an actor went through to get a role or during the production it makes me want to see it depending on the actor. If there is controversy surrounding a film even before it gets distribution I’m sometimes curious about it.

I watched several movies, Harsh Times with Christian Bale. I’ve watched this film many times. Christian Bale is really an intense actor. Now that the Batman trilogy has come to an end, I’m curious to see what he does next.

I can’t say how many times I’ve actually watched the film Making Love. When it was available on Laser disc I purchased it. Then when it became available on VHS and finally on DVD. The back story makes this film so much more appealing. It was very controversial for its day and yet now so many people don’t see the big deal or even like the film. It’s a difficult choice that an actor makes to take on a certain role. Today the more drama behind a role the more people want to see it. That wasn’t always the case. Harry Hamlin was basically an unknown and Michael Ontkean and Kate Jackson were television stars.
Of course every film has moments that don’t seem real, but sometimes life doesn’t seem real. It’s as if we are looking at ourselves in slow motion.
Last night I watched Left Behind with Kirk Cameron. I was just going through my catalog to see what I wanted to watch and I had pulled out a film, but then decided I would watch Left Behind.

There was a moment during Katrina when I felt as if I were having a flashback of the film. I keep thinking about writing a story of my experience. There are several reasons for wanting and needing to do this. One is its good therapy and the other is that it’s a story like all of the others that needs to be told. Of course sometimes I feel as if people are tired of hearing about Katrina. Still, I get asked about it sometimes. I’ve often said of all the people that went through that traumatic experience, they all have a story to tell and each story even though people may have been side by side have something different to say.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.


http://artbydlonzo.blogspot.com

http://vimeo.com/27482821

http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247

Thanks for stopping by. Come back soon or become a follower to know when the next entry is posted.