The Class (Entre les Murs)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Based on a book that's based on a true story, this movie about a French teacher (François Begaudeau) who  struggles to get through to his upstart students, in an underprivileged upper school in Paris, is entirely improvised.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: François Begaudeau (writer of the book, teacher of French, and now bona fide movie star), Franck Keita, Rachel Regulier, Wey Huang, Boubacar Tour, Carl Nanor, Louise Grinberg, Esmeralda Ouertani,

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. The film holds your attention over the course of the school year, even though it is more like a string of interesting moments than an over-arching story. The banter and impromptu dialogue between the teacher and the students is witty and engrossing, as we watch these kids try to bully their teacher into losing complete control of the situation.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: If you speak French you will laugh a little. If you don't, you will laugh a little less. What I'm trying to tell you is the subtitles are terrible. Some of the most hack-job translation I've ever seen.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you've ever been a kid who's been accused of being bad, when you know in your heart that you're good, or if you've ever been a teacher who's been accused of trying to make a difference, when you know in your heart that it's not possible.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It was nominated today for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film (France). Allons enfants de la patrie le jour de gloire est arrivé! (Sorry, I'm just getting a little patriotic on my French side-- Hi, Mom!)

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The teacher, François Begaudeau, who plays himself, and the students, who are also non-actors, are unreasonably comfortable and natural in front of the camera.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Between the hand held camera and the shakiness of the teacher's hold on his students, you will definitely feel the squirm factor, as you worry that at any moment, he could go too far and misspeak, with that fast talking mouth of his, or his students could waft him a verbal blow so severe that he might never recover.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: As I watched it, I kept thinking the story would build to something. When it didn't, I left the theater feeling cold. But as the days have gone by, since I left the theater, I've found myself thinking about it more and more, and bringing it up with passion in conversations. So if you're planning to see me anytime soon, be warned.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/the%20class/trailers

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Medicine for Melancholy

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After waking up from a one night stand, two Black people with nothing in common besides the shade of their skin, spend a day together trying to get closer, despite that fact that the woman has a white boyfriend, who's away on a business trip.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Wyatt Cenac and Tracey Heggins

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! Imagine if Before Sunrise took place in San Francisco, and had hardly any dialogue. Yes, this is a movie about two people talking, that has almost no words.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The woman's emotional arc might. Let me paint you a picture. When she wakes up next to him she seems deeply annoyed, and yet she agrees to go to coffee with him. When he shows up at her house with the wallet she left in the cab, she seems deeply annoyed, and yet she lets him come in for a drink. When he won't leave the house (which she tells him belongs to her boyfriend), she seems deeply annoyed, and yet she agrees to spend the rest of the day with him... Not only that, she starts to smile and laugh at his lame attempts at humor. Then out of nowhere she angrily snaps at him, "This is just a one night stand!" Which is obviously followed immediately by playfully running around San Francisco and taking a ride on a Merry-Go-Round. Although it was never mentioned that she might have a mental disorder, I have to imagine her psychosis is the reason for the "medicine" mentioned in the title.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Yes!... Oh, no, wait. I was just having a bout of dyslexia and I thought the question said, "Will this movie make me cyr?" Hold on a minute, it doesn't make you cyr either.  That's southern for "care."  It's true, ask anyone from the south. (Disclaimer: I've never met or spoken to anyone from the south.)

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It's nominated for 3 Independent Spirit Awards-- which is a dead giveaway that the movie will be esoteric and make you feel very sleepy.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I find Wyatt Cenac to be a little too understated for my taste, both here and on The Daily Show. But he's also specific enough in that thing he does that his whole acting style could catch on as a hip joint.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Disjointed and non-sequitur are two words that come to mind. I would like to mention the cinematography, too, which was one of the only interesting aspects of the film. They shot in 97% color, so it looks like they shot on colored film and then developed it in black & white. I thought it was a pretty cool effect until I found out (during a Q & A with the director of photography) that this look was only chosen because they couldn't figure out another way to light the Black actors without making their skin look chalky.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It's supposed to be about the growing socio-economic divide occurring in San Francisco as the poor get pushed out due to gentrification. It's not... But there is a random scene where we see a group of concerned citizens, who have nothing to do with the rest of the film, discussing those ever-so-timely Propositions 98 and 99 from last June's California ballot. In case you didn't get the memo, they were about getting rid of Rent Control and they didn't pass.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: The filmmakers clearly know a lot of aspiring Indie Rock musicians, and they put all of their music in the film. So the soundtrack is pretty good if you like that sort of white boy independent stuff. That said, I'm not sure it went well with the characters in this story who are constantly discussing the Black man's place in this city.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFHWGvDRKYw

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Notorious

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The true life story of Christopher Wallace, A.K.A Biggie Smalls, A.K.A Notorious B.I.G., A.K.A. Big Poppa, covering his childhood dealing drugs on the streets of Brooklyn to his highly publicized East Coast/West Coast hip-hop/rap rivalry with Tupac Shakur, which ultimately led to both of their untimely deaths. This movie begs the question: does any man need that many names?

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Anthony Mackie, Angela Bassett, Naturi Naughton, Antonique Smith, Dennis L.A. White, Marc John Jefferies, Julia Pace Mitchell, Kevin Phillips, and Christopher Jordan Wallace-- Biggie's real son, playing his dad as a youngster.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It's a perfectly well done movie about a perfectly overdone story. While this is the first fictionalized version of Biggie's life, it doesn't shed any new insight onto the matter that hasn't already been brought to light in the 2002 documentary Biggie and Tupac or the 2007 documentary Notorious B.I.G. Bigger Than Life... Or for that matter, from having lived through it, since it all only happened 12 years ago.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The funniest thing is how even keeled and charming Sean "Puffy" Combs comes off, as portrayed by Derek Luke. Just to give you an idea of how funny this is, here's a story: My friend Kimberly's friend used to work for P. Diddy, until she quit because she realized he was a chair thrower. Yes, at people. What makes this joke particularly funny, is that Puff Daddy is an executive producer on the film, and the only surviving member of the feud, and therefore also the only one who could protect his image as to how he would be represented in this film.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: There is a very touching scene, where Biggie's friendly neighborhood drug dealer takes a rap for him, and goes to prison in his place, so that Biggie can pursue his rap career. I don't buy it for a second as truth, but it's very good writing.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Probably an Image Award. After all, in this version of the truth, Biggie does manage to make amends, before he dies, with all the women he'd been using, abusing, cheating on, impregnating, and undeservedly treating like complete whores. His apologies make for another moment that I don't buy, but I enjoyed as a piece of good writing.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The most impressive thing is how all these drop dead gorgeous women manage to act like they're attracted to this ugly-ass man. (No offense to newbie actor, Jamal Woolard, who was pretty much pulled off the street to play this part, and does a very convincing job.) And don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of his music, too, but talent is no excuse to despicably disrespect women like he does-- especially if he was raised by a mother as loving and strong as the one depicted in this film by Angela Bassett.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: George Tillman Jr. creates the perfect ambiance for the story, using the grain in the film stock to create a look that's glamorous but not glossy-- perfectly matching the tone of Biggie Smalls' life.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story is well told, it has simply been told too many times... Which is probably why my favorite parts were the parts that seemed made up.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: It's somewhat distracting that the actress who plays Lil' Kim, , looks exactly like Mary J. Blige.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/notorious/32029/trailers

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Wendy and Lucy

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: While some might describe this as the sobering account of a young woman’s life, as misfortune and bad luck conspire to leave her destitute, I would describe it as the Michelle Williams-loses-her-dog movie.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Michelle Williams, Will Patton, Lucy the Dog, Wally Dalton, Larry Fessenden, Ayanna Berkshire, Will Oldham

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! This is sort of an ‘anti-movie.’ It has no plot to speak of, no character arcs, and no real conclusion. It truly is 80 minutes of watching Wendy (Michelle Williams) look for her lost dog (Lucy) in some depressing Oregon blue-collar town where pretty much nothing else happens. I’d be willing to bet that Michelle Williams’ home movies have more dramatic thrust than this collection of images and sounds. And higher production values as well.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: No. But after the movie was over, we laughed a lot at our friend Brian’s impersonation of Wendy looking for her dog. He just put his hoodie up and wandered around calling out: “Lucy!... Lew!... Lucy!” I counted even a few strangers laughing. They, too, had clearly seen the film.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Yes. It will make you weep for the current state of indie films. Because when boring, pointless pieces of of film like this are not only getting made, but also getting released, it kind of justifies why most of the independent film making companies closed up shop last year. Independent film is dying. But if this is what passes for independent film, maybe it deserves to die.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It has already won Best Film and Best Actress (Michelle Williams) from the Toronto Film Critics Association. It’s nominated in the same categories for the Spirit Awards. After seeing it, I can honestly say that Canadians have no taste and filmmakers should be insulted if they get nominated for a Spirit Award.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Thanks to filmmaker Todd Haynes, a mutual friend of the director and Michelle Williams, all parties were able to convince her to sign on-- proving once again that old Hollywood adage: it’s not what you know, but who you know. I can’t think of a single good reason why Williams would do this project, unless she was craving an award from the Toronto Film Critics and had a psychic premonition that they’d vote her the winner. I mean, she’s fine, but like I’ve said before, in my review of Deception, she deserves much better parts. Anyway, to talk about acting in an anti-movie is like answering a question about editing while watching America’s Funniest Home Videos: oxymoronic.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: This anti-movie at least adheres to a few well-worn rules when making a low-budget indie that’s meant to be depressing: open on an overcast day as a train moves through a rail yard. Check. Now move to a meandering overly-long tracking shot of the star in which you can’t really make out that it’s the star. Check. Cover that with someone humming a pointless tune and we’ll go ahead and pretend that’s the score. Check. I’m beginning to wonder if there was even a director behind the camera because it all seemed like a collection of security-camera images that caught Michelle Williams roaming around Oregon looking for her dog in real time for 80 minutes. Are you still reading this?

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There is none. There were opportunities for dramatic story-telling set forth, but each of them was promptly avoided like the plague. Wendy could have gone off the rails and gotten angry, or confronted someone a number of times, but the writers simply defused each dramatic opportunity with a character who doesn't stand up for herself. This anti-movie is supposed to be a mediation on our times and economy. How responsible are we for each other? What is the American Dream in 2009, and does it still really exist? Those are truly interesting themes. None of which have any resonance in Wendy and Lucy. I did feel for Wendy – probably because of Michele Williams. But the character is pretty much an idiot.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Did I mention that this is not a movie?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzMP6jQ5Txc

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Gomorrah

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A fictionalized true-life glimpse into the modern day Italian Mafia in Naples, knows as The Camorra.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Salvatore Abruzzese, Simone Sacchettino, Gianfelice Imparato, Maria Nazionale, Carlo Del Sorbo, Toni Servillo, Carmine Paternoster, Salvatore Cantalupo, Gigio Morra, Ronghua Zhang, Marco Macor, Ciro Petrone

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! The first scene is fantastic, then you can go home.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: After watching The Sopranos become a national pastime, it's hard to imagine a mob story devoid of a single humorous moment, but they pull it off here.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: You would if you cared about even one of the characters in this film, especially considering most of them get killed. But you don't, so you won't.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Somehow, it has been nominated and won several big awards around the world. Not only that, but Martin Scorsese has decided to endorse this film by adding a "Martin Scorsese Presents" credit to the front of the film for American audience. So you can take his word for it, considering he is one of the premiere cinematic authorities on all matters mob, but I was bored out of my mind.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Imagine Pulp Fiction. Now imagine it in Italian. Now take away all the funny parts. And voila!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: 2 hours and 17 minutes for 4 unrelated stories, all of which are uncompelling and add nothing to this tired old genre, besides the insight that Italians are dumb enough to get involved in this nonsense in their own country, as well as in ours. If the director wasn't going to do something original, then at least he should have cut the movie down to a palatable length. I checked my clock 3 times.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Apparently the author of the book that this movie is based on, Roberto Saviano, had to go into hiding, and is under permanent police supervision, due to the death threats he received for exposing The Camorra's secrets. I'm still trying to figure out what special secrets this guy exposed about organized crime that we hadn't already deduced from seeing The Godfather, Goodfellas, and Analyze That.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hky53gXyjX0

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The Secret of the Grain

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: In this French indy, a French-Arab man (Habib Boufares) gets laid off after 35 years of work on the docks, and decides to try to open a restaurant on a boat, in the hopes of leaving something behind for his family.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Habib Boufares, Hafsia Herzi, Farida Benkhetache, Abdelhamid Aktouche, Bouraouia Marzouk, Alice Houri, Leila D'Issernio, Abelkader Djeloulli, Olivier Loustau, Sabrina Ouazani, Mohamed Benabdeslem, Bruno Lochet, Cyril Favre, Sami Zitouni, Hatika Karaoui, Henri Cohen, Jeanne Corporon, Viloaine de Carne

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This film is an intimate and accurate portrait of what family life looks like for a French family of Arab descent. Culturally, the way Arabs fit into French society is not dissimilar from the way Black people fit into American society.  So much like a Black-American film, this story is filled with subtle depictions of racism, as well as cultural inside jokes and lingo. It's unfortunate that it takes over half the film before anything starts happening story wise in this 2 1/2 hour long piece, because when the drama gets going, in the final hour, it's gut-wrenching and painfully suspenseful.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: If you've never been privy to the French child rearing style-- which consists primarily of publicly humiliating your child with yelling and insults, until he is shamed into doing as you please-- then you will get an insightful glimpse into this humorous, yet deeply disturbing form of love.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If the child rearing style doesn't make you laugh, because you recognize it for what it really is-- a not-so-subtly veiled form of child abuse-- then it could also make you cry. But joking aside, the film does grow to be pretty sad, and I imagine it gets even sadder, were we to see what happens after the screen fades to black.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It has won all but 2 of the 19 Awards it's been nominated for, including several Cesars (the French Academy Awards), and several from the Venice Film Festival. Currently, it's in competition for its 20th nomination for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The acting is reason alone to go see this film (and for the record, I don't generally believe in seeing films just because the acting is good). There is not a remotely false moment to be found, as the actors argue, talk over each other, and have emotional meltdowns for hours at a time. Amazing. Who are these people?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Whether at a large family gathering or the extravagant party for 100 people that goes on for the last hour of the film, the director, Abdellatif Kechiche, manages to capture every little moment with quick cuts and a hand held verity cam that puts both Rachel Getting Married and The Hills to shame.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Once again, this is the problem. While the dialogue is so true it almost takes your breath away, the plot points (which do ultimately lead to something compelling), come out more slowly than a guy writing his memoir by blinking his left eye. (If you don't get that obvious reference to French film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, then you have not seen one of my most highly recommended movies of 2007, and you should rent it.)

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY1xuBEpa80

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