The Kite Runner

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Based on the best selling novel by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, a rich kid in 1970s Kabul who betrays his best friend, Hassan, a Hazara servant boy. In present day, Amir is still guilt-ridden from not having protected his loyal friend in a time of dire need. So when he is confronted with his past, he must choose whether he will make up for his childhood cowardice or continue running away from his mistake.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Nobody who’s famous in America. Homayon Ershadi, Khalid Abdalla, Zekeria Ebrahimi, Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! This is the kind of powerful drama that reminds us that the movies are not only a form of entertainment, but also an art form.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Not very much.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Definite possibility, although not a guarantee. While it is emotionally tense, there are no tear-jerking moments.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Although it hardly has any English in it, this movie is a likely contender for the Best Picture Oscar. It also has a good chance at nominations in the areas of Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. See the next three questions for more details.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The acting is impressive. And even though I didn’t understand a word of what anyone said, I walked out feeling that Homayon Ershadi would get a best supporting actor nomination for his role as Baba, Amir’s father, whose life spans 30 or 40 years in the course of the tale. I also hope that the two young children will not be overlooked by the Academy, as their performances were deep and rich and realer than a reality show. One performance which is sure not to get any award recognition, due to its short length of only one scene, was the brilliant performance of Nasser Memarzia, as the director of the orphanage… After all, everyone knows that only Judy Dench can win awards for being in less than 10 minutes of a film.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Exuding a warmth that is missing from many of his previous films, this is Marc Forster’s best work to date. The Academy voters will want to honor this movie, as well as Forster’s growing track record for films that are both artistic and commercially successful. Not to mention that the kite flying scenes are inarguably visually stunning.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: David Benioff has become one of Hollywood’s most sought after writers, and this film demonstrates why. Often when books are turned into screenplays they fall into two traps: 1) They disappoint those who enjoyed the book by leaving the best parts out. 2) They discount those who haven’t read the book by not putting enough insider knowledge in. Coming from someone who has not read the book, I thought as a movie this story worked beautifully. Without doing any homework or bringing any back story to the theater, I knew who the characters were, I understood the plot, and I was able to engage in the emotions of these boys’ lives… And somehow Benioff managed to pull that off with characters who speak mostly in Dari!

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Jimmy Carter Man from Plains

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: This Documentary follows Jimmy Carter on his 2006 book tour to promote his book, “Palestine: Peace not Apartheid.”

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jimmy Carter and a bunch of his groupies. People can’t help but go ga-ga when faced with a former President.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. While it is an endearing portrait of the 39th president, and proof of his outstanding diplomacy skills, as well as his ability to stay positive, the story is thin and goes on a bit too long.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There are a few laughs due to the fact that Carter and his family are so “down home” it almost seems like they’re faking it. And also, other people’s problems are funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If by “cry” you mean “think”, then yes. Just as Carter’s book has opened up a discussion about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, so will the movie about him talking about his book.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Only if the Academy thinks that a Nobel Peace Prize isn’t award enough for this guy.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Carter is amazing at acting cool under pressure. This becomes especially clear three-quarters of the way into the movie, when his 30-something publicist clearly starts to tire of the book tour, and Carter in contrast manages to look like he’s just getting started. For a man in his 80s, this guy is tireless!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The directing seems biased, as the film plays a bit like a love letter to Carter. It achieves its goal in that you do walk out wondering why this president was only elected for one term, but it would be more effective had Jonathan Demme cut about 25 more minutes out of the film, as it currently runs at over 2 hours.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Carter compares how the Palestinians must feel about having their land taken from them, to how he would feel if his land on the Georgia Plains, which has been in his family for generations, were taken away from him. He makes a compelling point, but ultimately it is not sustained through the 2 hrs and 5 minutes that follow. The film delves more into the controversy over using the word “Apartheid” in his book’s title than anything else. Ultimately, much of the movie ends up being about semantics.

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Dan in Real Life

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a family advice columnist whose relationship with his own three daughters is anything but perfect. Things get aggravated when he falls in love with the beautiful Marie (Juliette Binoche), only to discover that she is dating his brother (Dane Cook), and will be spending the weekend with them at their annual family reunion.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Diane Wiest, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! Sure to be a holiday classic, the moments are real and relatable for anyone who has a family.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Yes. While the jokes are not a laugh a minute, the awkwardness you feel as the tension escalates between Dan and Marie will keep you chuckling uncomfortably in your seat. Also, a dance battle, a hilarious song about Ruthie “Pig face” Draper, and a teenage daughter in love for the first time, (brilliantly portrayed by Brittany Robertson), provide for many, well earned, big laughs.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Only if you start to think about how few comedies are being made lately about characters who seem like real people and are dealing with issues that feel like real problems. If you begin to consider how tired you are of being spoon fed jokes, and talked down to by Hollywood movie makers, and how the quality of many movies is actually making you dumber… then, yes, you might get a little teary at this film.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Probably not. It’s not nearly pretentious enough to collect nominations, and dangerously close to being considered a comedy—which, as we know, will knock any movie out Academy Award consideration.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Great. Be prepared to be impressed with Steve Carell’s versatile range, Juliette Binoche’s comprehensible accent, a break out performance by both Brittany Robertson and Marlene Lawston, and to fall in love with Diane Wiest all over again.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Peter Hedges’ work is imperceptible and therefore perfect.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Simple and relatable. Without pandering for laughs, the script presents a plausible situation and plays it out realistically. The conclusion is a little forced and requires a slight suspension of disbelief, as many of Dan’s family members react to his behavior in ways that are overly forgiving. That said, I’ll accept this easy out because like most audience members I love a happy ending.

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