Broken Embraces

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A blind screenwriter (Lluis Homar) looks back on the time when he used to be a film director, and how that all came to a tragic end.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Lluis Homar, Penelope Cruz, Blanca Portillo, Jose Luis Gomez, Tamar Novas, Ruben Ochandiano, Angela Molina, Lola Duenas, Carmen Machi, Kiti Manver, Chus Lampreave

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. For fans of Almadovar's films, like me, this one will likely be classified as not his best one.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There is not as much of that brilliant, squirmy, dark humor that makes you feel like a terrible person for enjoying it, as in his other films.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: In true Almadovar style, the saddest part is when a dead person comes back to life.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: This is one of those films that gets nominated a lot because with the combination of Pedro Almadovar and Penelope Cruz, people expect it to. By the same token, it doesn't win a lot, because it's not as good as people expect Almadovar and Cruz to be together.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: There's a reason why Almadovar has made Penelope Cruz part of his regular cast. And this time, she shows her breasts, too. But the true lead is Lluis Homar, who gives a beautifully understated portrayal of a blind man, as well as one who can see.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Because of the film within the film, there are many opportunities for the director to play with the look and graininess, differentiating when we're watching life versus film versus video. Almadovar uses each of these looks in obvious ways to show us that he knows what he's doing.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I'm still not sure that anyone cares to watch stories about the lives of filmmakers. They always come off self-indulgent, even when they're Spanish filmmakers. But the biggest problems this script has are that most of the twists are predictable, and the funny, weird, awkward scenes are few and far from hilarious.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/broken-embraces/28978/trailers

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The Wackness

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A coming of age buddy movie between a high school graduate (Josh Peck) and a middle aged psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley), who form a friendship as they simultaneously learn to become men.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Olivia Thirlby, Famke Janssen, Mary-Kate Olsen, Jane Adams, Method Man, Aaron Yoo, Talia Balsam, David Wohl

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! You see, indy movies can have a point!

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Right when you least expect it.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Probably not, but the feeling of heartbreak is palpable.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It won the Audience Award at Sundance.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Ben Kingsley clearly chose this role because he wanted to remind everyone of how infinite his talent is, and he does. Josh Peck makes you forget that he's a graduate of the Nickelodeon school of sitcoms. And Olivia Thirlby, in the role of the perfect woman, proves that she's got what it takes to be a leading lady.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Shot entirely in sepia tones, the film has a deliberately nostalgic feeling to it. Adding to that are a smattering of dream sequences and surreal moments, that seem to have no place in the style of the film, and yet somehow never take you out of it.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It's a small film that doesn't try to do very much, but the emotion is relatable, and the dialogue is lean and often original.

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

A: The soundtrack is like a dope mixed tape of old school hip-hop.
Word.

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