The Legacy Works Archives contain past movie, music, book recommendations in alphabetical order.

Movie Recommendations

Any comments or questions regarding Trey’s movie recommendations may be sent to trey.townsend@legacyworksproductions.org

• (500) Days of Summer

In an age where romantic comedies are largely diluted down to formulaic cliches, (500) Days of Summer is refreshing, realistic, and tremendously funny. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives easily the best performance of his career as a young man desperately in love with Summer (played by Zooey Deschanel), but frustrated by her nonchalant attitude toward their relationship. (500) Days of Summer could have become one of those guy-finally-gets-the-girl movies that haven’t been effective since When Harry Met Sally, but it makes sure it is anything but. Anyone that has felt they must be with a certain person and there is no other way to be happy will totally relate to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character. What (500) Days of Summer tells us is that it’s not the end of the world after all. This movie is genuisly written and has one of the most perfect conclusions I can recall. I’ve yet to find someone who has seen (500) Days of Summer who did not absolutely love it.

• 3:10 to Yuma

A remake of a 1957 film by the same name, 3:10 to Yuma revives the classic Western genre, standing out as the top western in modern film, along with the Coen brothers’ remake of True Grit. 3:10 to Yuma showcases two great performances from Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. Crowe plays Ben Wade, a notorious outlaw in post-Civil War Arizona. Wade has been captured and must be transported at 3:10 p.m. to the train station to be taken to the prison at Yuma, where he will undoubtedly be executed. Bale plays Dan Evans, a struggling rancher who lost a leg in the Civil War fighting for the Union. Evans volunteers to help bring Wade to the train stations. This is only scratching the surface; these characters go much deeper. Ben Wade is an outlaw, yes, but is he really as cold-hearted as he puts out? Evans is tired of being pushed around, he wants to prove to his wife, children, and, most importantly, himself that he is a capable man, husband, and father. Things occur as they do in westerns and Evans is solely responsible for Wade, with a small army between him and the train station. Though Wade is his prisoner, it is apparent he enjoys the company of Evans. Evans could do as most anyone would. He doesn’t have to risk his life, but he does at the same time. This must sound like a bunch of jargon, but you will catch on upon viewing this movie. Like most great Westerns, 3:10 to Yuma is about the human spirit, the paths we take, and satisfaction. 3:10 to Yuma has a great soul to it and has plenty of thrilling chases and shootouts to please action-seekers.

• 35 Shots of Rum

35 Shots of Rum is a French film that is centered on four people living in the same Parisian apartment complex, all of whom are connected to each other in one fashion or another. Lionel (played stoically by Alex Descas) lives with his daughter, Josephine (Mati Diop), who he has raised as a single father and is maturing into a young woman. Noe is played by Gregoire Colin; he is obviously in love with Josephine and it is apparent that is the only reason he remains living in the apartment. Gabrielle (Nicole Dogue) was once romantically involved with Lionel, and sees herself as a mother figure to Josephine. 35 Shots of Rum studies how the lives of these four people have evolved, how they are changing, and the relationships among these people who all have feelings for one another to some degree. The most important dynamic in this film is the father-daughter relationship between Alex Descas And Mati Diop. It is authentic; they know each other as well as themselves. Lionel is struggling with the thought of Josephine becoming a woman and leaving him alone. Director Claire Denis gives a personal view of human development. 35 Shots of Rum is renowned by critics and contains one of the most moving sequences I have seen involving Lionel watching on as Josephine and Noe dance slowly. Who knew The Commodores “Nightshift” could be so moving?

• About a Boy

About a Boy is a quirky, feel-good movie that puts Hugh Grant’s apathetic charm to great use. Grant plays Will who prefers being alone, but enjoys his fair share of women. Will does not have to work because he lives off the royalties from a popular (and corny) Christmas song his father wrote in the 1960s. Will discovers that single mothers are incredibly vulnerable targets, which leads him to attend a SPAT meeting, which stands for  Single Parents Alone Together. This leads to him fabricating a story about his imaginary about his imaginary two-year-old son Ned, which leads to Will securing a date with a woman in the class, Suzie. Much to Will’s dismay, Suzie brings along Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), the awkward son of the one of the members of SPAT. After a hilarious incident involving a duck at the park, Will takes Marcus home, where they find his mother unconscious on the couch, having tried to commit suicide. About a Boy deals with some serious issues without ever becoming dark or melodramatic, mostly because the story is told through the point of view of both Will and Marcus, who both have a mature child’s point of view. Marcus is a boy with many problems: he has an unstable mother (Toni Collette of Little Miss Sunshine), he is bullied at school, and has trouble interacting with kids his age. Marcus begins following Will, developing a scheme to set up Will with his mother, which obviously is both ambitious and absolutely ridiculous. Marcus shows up at Will’s house and forces himself into Will’s life. Although reluctantly, Will begins to care about Marcus. Will and Marcus have two completely different views on having a support system, Will believing that some men are islands and he is one of them, while Marcus feels that two people are not enough, that you need at least three people for backup. It becomes apparent as the film progresses that as much as Marcus needs Will to look up to, Will needs Marcus to feel relevant. About a Boy is directed by the brothers Chris and Paul Weitz, who interestedly also directed American Pie, quiet a leap from the heartfelt nature of this film. Hugh Grant proves that he is able to provide some depth in his acting and is a solid core to About a Boy. It prompts you to ask yourself the question, “How good can it really feel to be an island?”

• After the Wedding

I doubt anything can be as extraordinary as knowing you are dying. After the Wedding, a terrific Danish drama that has as many twists as a spy thriller, is a study of several characters as they deal with death, life-changing revelations, and becoming acquainted with the past. The film begins with Jacob Petersen (Mads Mikkelsen), who runs an orphanage in India which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Jacob hears of a potential large donation, and unwillingly returns to Denmark to meet with the potential donor, Jorgen Hannson (Rolf Lassagard), a wealthy businessman. Jacob is suspicious of Jorgen, especially after he offers a substantial sum of money for seemingly no reason. Jorgen invites Jacob to his daughter’s wedding the next day. This is where the story becomes complicated. Jorgen’s wife, Helene (Sidse Babett Knudsen), is Jacob’s former lover from two decades earlier. Through various hints throughout the wedding night, Jacob gathers that the bride, Helene’s daughter, is not the biological daughter of Jorgen, but is in fact his own daughter from his relationship with Helene twenty years ago. Stine Fischer Christensen plays Anna, Jacob’s daughter, as a fragile young woman, confused with the series of revelations that have been unjustly thrown upon her. Many other events unravel and the relationships between these characters become increasingly intriguing. Jacob’s bitterness towards Helene eventually subsides and we see two people who may have worked out as a couple in a different life. Jacob is not particularly aggressive in pursuing a relationship with Anna, but feels obligated to be there for her. The oddest relationship is between Jacob and Jorgen. Jacob instinctively distrusts Jorgen, although Jorgen shows nothing but acts of kindness. As the movie progresses, we gather that Jorgen is hiding something and there are ulterior motives behind his compassion. Jorgen turns out to be deeper than the greedy businessman that he is portrayed as in the first act. After the Wedding struck me as a completely sincere look at how the prospect of death can evoke the best in humans and the instincts we possess that bring out the best. After the viewing of After the Wedding (that was intended), I was grateful for these characters that provided more personal depth beyond surface-level.

• Apocalypto

A fascinating watch, Apocalypto paints an unforgiving portrait of Maya civilization. Mel Gibson once again shows off his many talents, this time as a director. Apocalypto stars Rudy Youngblood as a young tribesman in 16th century Mexico. When his tribe is attacked by a group of outside warriors, Youngblood’s character, Jaguar Paw, hides his pregnant wife and young son in the bottom of a well close to their village in order to save them from harm. The village is ravaged and the women are taken to be sold as slaves, the men to be used as sacrifices to the sun god. From here, Gibson produces a highly entertaining action movie, involving a jaguar, a waterfall, a poisionous frog, and of course, a birth in a well during a thunderstorm. The first time I heard someone describe this movie they said it was “real”. “It’s real. It’s real.” If nothing else, Apocalypto is an enjoyable film for most everyone. Set almost solely in the jungle, the visuals are inviting, the action harsh.

• The Artist

There is little doubt in my mind that a solid majority of the members of my generation have never seen a silent film, certainly not by their own choice. The Artist not only has but a few lines of audible dialogue and is in black and white, but easily has a spot on my shortlist of the best films I have had the pleasure to see. French director Michel Hazanavicius has made one of the daring films of the year and more than pulled it off. The Artist is aware of its audience throughout and never ceases to engage. In the modern age of relentless action movies and raunchy comedies, how is it that The Artist manages to not only be relevant, but establish itself as a superior film? The cast is superb, in particular Jean Dujardin as George Valentin, a silent movie star dealing with the emergence of the “talkies” and the subsequent dive his career takes. Dujardin has an incredibly expressive face. His smile exudes elegance, his expression delves between romance and despair with ease, and his portrayal of a dog is spot on. Berenice Bejo plays Peppy Miller, who first appears as a fan of George Valentin, then as an extra in his film. George and Peppy show a romantic interest. As George finds himself broke and out of work, Peppy becomes a movie star, a “fresh face” to coincide with the talkies. The Artist is a love letter to cinema, particularly the silent films from the Chaplin and Keaton era. Through Dujardin’s excellent physical comedy, Bejo’s irresistible charm, and a superb supporting cast consisting of the likes of John Goodman and James Cromwell (not to mention Uggie as George’s dog), The Artist is both a homage to early cinema and completely unique. In the theater that I viewed the film in, the crowd seemed completely engrossed the entire viewing time. Though much of The Artist is playful and humorous, the climax is anything but, and happens to be as emotionally involving as any film. The Artist has already won Best Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes and is one of the frontrunners for Best Picture at the Academy Awards next month. It is no question the film would deserve this award, for The Artist is truly a must-see film.

• Beginners

Beginners draws you in to the point where you can literally feel Oliver (Ewan McGregor) falling in love with the beautiful Anna (Melanie Laurent), you can understand the confusion Oliver contains regarding how his parents shaped him, you feel the joy of Oliver’s father Hal (Christopher Plummer) finally being able to be himself and the sadness of watching illness slowly take that away from him. Beginners really never missteps and director Mike Mills utilizes a fascinating story and perfectly cast actors to create a truly engrossing film. The story is loosely based off of Mills’ own life experiences. Shortly after the death of his mother, Oliver’s father Hal tells him he is gay and  has been so his whole life, despite his long marriage. At 75, Hal begins to live the life he always wanted to, attending parties, gaining a new group of friends, and finding a younger boyfriend. Meanwhile, Oliver has his own struggles with relationships. Then he meets Anna, a French actress, and is quickly swept away. But can he prove himself wrong and make a relationship last? But Beginners is not that kind of movie. Through the use of fantastic dialogue and mostly natural lighting, Mike Mills gives Oliver and Anna’s relationship an authenticity that is not seen in romantic comedies. Melanie Laurent is enchanting. Many men will find themselves falling love with her along with Oliver. Ewan McGregor is predictably strong playing Oliver as a compassionate, but sometimes guarded man. Christopher Plummer, who recently won an Academy Award for his performance, is key to Beginners‘ success. He portrays Hal as a passionate man eager to start afresh, even in the late stages of his life. Plummer and McGregor are so convincing as father and son in what becomes a complicated relationship. One can imagine how having a parent come out late in life would bring every memory and perspective of your parents into question. Ewan McGregor provides a relatable center of the film. Oliver is certainly not a dominating character and is struggling to piece together how the lives’ of his parents affects his own life. Beginners was the most enjoyable watch I’ve experienced in a long while. The largest compliment I can give a film is to say that it is human, and Beginners certainly is so. Mike Mills has directed a film that will have a special place in my memory and I look forward to his future work.

• Brothers

In the past, Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal have not exactly been actors that I would get excited about. However, both turn in terrific performances in Brothers, a remake of a Danish film by the same name. In fact, I’m pretty sure that Brothers is the only Tobey Maguire movie that I have actually enjoyed and provides what I believe is the best performance of his career. In the first act of the film, Maguire and Natalie Portman are a happy couple with two little girls. Sam (Maguire) has a brother Tommy (Gyllenhaal) who has just been released from prison, where he was imprisoned for armed robbery. Tommy is the black sheep of the family and has a strained relationship with their father who compares him with Sam, a military man like himself. Sam is deployed to Afghaanistan where he is involved in a helicopter crash and is assumed dead. Back at home, Tommy comforts Grace (Portman) and bonds with Sam’s little girls. As you can gather from the trailer, Sam is not actually dead but has been captured. He returns home, having undergone unspeakable things that might shock some viewers. As one would expect, Sam is a completely different person, unable to connect with his children, suspicious of Tommy and Grace’s relationship, and refusing his wife’s comforting. Brothers is another film that displays how compelling it can be when people are placed in extraordinary circumstances outside of their comfort zone. Brothers was a pleasant surprise to me, with a great storyline and better performances, and is highly recommended.

• Cold Mountain

Few films have captured the brutality and desperation of war better than Cold Mountain. Cold Mountain tells the story of Inman, a reserved young man who enlists to fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War, and Ada, his female contact at home. What is so polarizing is that the relationship between Inman and Ada has little history. The two only had a few conversations before Inman left for war and only one romantic encounter. However, as the war progresses the two grow lonelier, Ada mourning the death of her father as Inman experiences the horrid battles and the loss of his fellow men. They come to be a symbol of hope for one another that one day things will be back to normal and the war will end. There are many secondary storylines here, including possibly the best work of Renee Zellweger’s career as Ruby Thewes, a hard-working girl who helps Ada restore her farm. In a film set in the South about the American Civil War, the cast is littered with international actors; Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, Cillian Murphy, and Donald Sutherland are among the vital actors in the film. Also giving great supporting performances are Natalie Portman and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Jack White of the White Stripes has a small role and lends his musical gifts to the soundtrack. Cold Mountain is aided immensely by the music in the film, which consist mainly of traditional bluegrass songs. “I Wish My Baby Was Born” is exceptionally effective on an emotional level near the climax of the film. Cold Mountain plays like an American version of The Odyssey, as Inman tries desperately to make his way home and Ada tries to escape the violence of the Home Guard, who are probably just as dangerous to the Southern people as the Union army. Cold Mountain is the epitome of human struggle and resolve. Jude Law must be given credit here for ditching his British accent and brilliantly displaying a man who is tired; tired of fighting, tired of struggle, tired of running. I will admit it is not an easy watch, but what you can gain from Cold Mountain is much more important.

• Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop

Conan O’Brien’s hosting and subsequent departure from The Tonight Show has been well publicized. A man that would choose to leave The Tonight Show because of a proposed timeslot must have solid principles and in Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop we find out what kind of person Conan is and what drives him as an entertainer. The title to this documentary is very fitting and completely true. The film follows Conan as he prepares his “Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour” and the exhausting tour that follows. It becomes obvious that Conan requires an audience to entertain and cheer him in order to be satisfied. We see all the people Conan fans will be familiar with: Andy Richter, producer Jeff Ross, and Jimmy Vivino and the band. Andy Richter just seems happy enough to be along for the ride. He takes all kinds of flack from Conan but always remains in a relaxed, upbeat mood. There are also many celebrities in the documentary such as Jim Carrey, Jon Hamm, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert. However, other than Conan himself, the most prevalent person in Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop is his personal assistant Sona. I get the impression that without Sona, Conan would be out of control. Their relationship is the most interesting in the film. At times, Conan jokingly degrades her; in others he seems more like an uncle to Sona, and she almost takes the role of caregiver at other times. Whatever their relationship is, Sona comes off completely likable and is probably one of the few people that could handle Conan O’Brien. But the main storyline of the documentary is Conan’s ever-present need to entertain. He seems addicted to performing on a stage in front of an audience. From experience, I can relate to that and tell you that it is an exhilarating feeling. When someone is put in front of that large an audience, their reaction is unpredictable. But Conan takes things a step further; he is unable to turn down an autograph or photo request. Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop brings about respect for Conan O’Brien, a driven individual who will never know how to stop.

• Dad’s in Heaven with Nixon

Often families prove to be more interesting and dramatic than any script a Hollywood screenwriter could come up with. Dad’s in Heaven with Nixon, a documentary by Tom Murray, is a forthright and touching story of such a family. No one event is really responsible for the disruption of the Murray family, but one person certainly is. The inability to gain recognition from his own father, the birth of an autistic son, the economic downturn of the 1970s, and probably bipolar disorder all contributed to Thomas E. Murray II losing touch with reality, and his family along with it. The story of the Murray family is told by his oldest son, Tom, who wrote and directed the film. Also at the center of the film is Chris, Tom’s autistic brother. Chris was born in the 1950s before autism was diagnosed and through interviews with his mother Janice, we gather that this was essentially unbearable for his father. However, when it became apparent that Chris would never be “normal”, Janice decided there was one thing she could control and she, in her words, “smothered him with love”. Because of his condition, what you see is what you get with Chris in David’s in Heaven with Nixon, and what you get is a truly caring and inspirational person. It is revealed that Chris is self-dependent and a well-known artist, his paintings selling as quickly as he paints them. As for their father, the Murray children, who are now middle-aged, describe their dad as delusional, bad-tempered, and unable to deal with negativity. Although it is clear they all shared love for their father, it seems that his death was somewhat of a relief, that all parties could finally have some peace. The source of the title derives from Chris’ description of his father in heaven. One of Thomas E. Murray’s defining qualities was his hatred of Richard Nixon, but in Chris’ mind, Nixon and his father have become good friends in heaven and talk about Chris regularly. The family drama in Dad’s in Heaven with Nixon is intriguing, but for me what made this documentary great was the human being that Chris Murray is. It would be something if we could all enjoy life as Chris does, if only for a fraction of the time.

• Dan in Real Life

For those of you looking for one of those heartwarming, wholesome films, Dan in Real Life will fit the bill. Steve Carell is an extremely gifted comic actor, but here his dramatic chops are more on display. Of course, there are funny moments in Dan in Real Life, most of which are contained in the trailer. Not that it ever gets hard-core dramatic; the film is light-hearted and you will most likely have a slight smile on your face throughout its viewing. Carell stars as Dan Burns, a columnist, widower, and father of three daughters. It has been a few years since the death of his wife and Dan is beginning to lose touch with his children, especially Cara, who is in that teenage rebellion stage. Dan and the girls travel to his parents’ home for the annual family get-together. The Burns family is one of those that everyone wishes to have. Together, for the most part, they are laid-back and stress free, which can be rare in extended families. Anyways, while at a local book store, Dan meets Marie, who he is instantly attracted to. Marie is played by Juliette Binoche, French acting royalty, as the ideal woman: smart, attractive, witty. There is a problem, however. Marie is Mitch’s girlfriend, Dan’s brother played by Dane Cook. You can guess where this leads as Mitch and Marie’s romanticism drives Dan crazy. Dan in Real Life eventually boils down to Dan’s role as a father to his three daughters. He loves them, they love him. Dan just has to learn how to let them be and not smother them. This film relies on Steve Carell to play Dan low-key, caring, and funny. This is right up his alley and Carell turns Dan in Real Life into something truly memorable.

• Dans Paris

Some films seem so real that you never even think about the illusion of cinema. Dans Paris, “Inside Paris” in English, is one of those films. Few are as true to life as one. Romain Duris, one of the best actors in the world no one knows, gives a commanding performance as Paul, a man who has just separated from his longtime girlfriend and is staying with his father and brother in their Paris apartment. Dans Paris is certainly not bashful and is heartbreaking, hilarious, and puzzling all at the same time. At the end, you get a fantastic film about depression, falling out of love, and the relationships between brothers.

• Dear Zachary

I stumble upon the documentary Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father by chance and found the result to be ultimately rewarding to say the least. Dear Zachary tells the story of the life and death of Dr. Andrew Bagby, told through the perspective of his longtime friend and film director, Kurt Kuenne. Through countless friends and family members, we find out how important Andrew was to so many people. He was beloved by almost everyone he knew. On November 5, 2001, Andrew Bagby was shot five times at close range, presumably by his psychotic girlfriend, Shirley Jane Turner. Before Turner could be arrested and charged for Bagby’s murder in the United States, she fled to Newfoundland, Canada, where she and Andrew went to medical school. It is soon revealed that Shirley is pregnant with Andrew’s child. Andrew’s parents, David and Kate, devastated after losing their only child, move to St. John’s, Newfoundland to fight for custody of their grandchild. The Canadian justice system moves slow and Shirley is let out on bail multiple times. Nevertheless, the Bagbys do whatever is necessary to see their grandson, Zachary, even if it means tolerating the woman they know murdered their son. Suddenly, Kuenne’s film has a new purpose: letting Zachary know what kind of person his father was. Dear Zachary is very well put together and forces the viewer to become emotionally involved. Kuenne even visits Canada where he meets Zachary in person. What Dear Zachary documents next is astonishing. It develops into an indictment on the Canadian legal system, a portrait of a man’ life tragically cut short, and a showcase for the two great people that are David and Kate Bagby. As one person says in the film, “I think God puts some people on Earth to be an example for the rest of us.”

• The Descendants

Movies like The Descendants are exactly the type of movies that make me love the movies. An early Oscar favorite, The Descendents is one of those rare films that combine tragedy, absurdity, and hilarity to create what is the funniest, most charming film of the year. Director Alexander Payne scored with 2004’s Sideways, but The Descendants is his best film to date. George Clooney stars as Matt King, a Hawaiian real estate agent presented with two dilemmas. First, his wife is in a coma after a boating accident and Matt is left to parent their two daughters, which is not in his nature. Also, Matt is the trustee of 25,000 acres of pristine Hawaiian land, passed down from his ancestors. Matt’s numerous cousins are urging him to sell the land to be developed for tourism, while the locals wish the land to not be sold. In a terrific performance, Shailene Woodley plays Matt’s 17-year-old daughter Alex. Alex drops a bombshell while her mother is in the hospital: she was having an affair with another man. The majority of the movie involves Matt, Alex, Matt’s 10-year-old daughter Scottie (Amara Miller), and Alex’s goofball friend Sid (Nick Krause) traveling around to see family and friends and trying to hunt down the man their wife and mother was having an affair with. George Clooney gives my favorite performance of his career as a man whose life is asking new demands of him. He probably feels some responsibility about the failure of his marriage, but at the same time is angry at his wife for being unfaithful. Matt and Alex for the first time share a common bond: betrayal. The slow bond that develops between previously disconnected father and daughter is the heart and soul of this film. As great as Clooney is in The Descendants, Shailene Woodley really steals the spotlight here. Her vulgarity combined with her occasional displays of empathy portrays the process of a rebellious teenager becoming an adult. There is no doubt that come Oscar night, I will be rooting for The Descendants to take as many awards as possible.

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Every once in a while it is comforting to watch a great family movie. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is enjoyable for everyone. Though it is about middle school, I found myself cracking up over and over, then thinking Why am I laughing so hard?. This is a great example of how absurd and ridiculous a family can be, yet reminds you why it’s important. Of course there is a moral story about not trying to fit in and being yourself, butDiary of a Wimpy Kid is clever about how it gets there. One of the main points I took from this film was how glad I am that I’m not in that awkward middle school age anymore.

• Downfall

Adolph Hitler has become more of a symbol and a punchline in the last 50 years than an actual person who spurred on a nation to commit mass murder and spread unfounded hatred across Europe. Downfall is a German film chronicling the last ten days of World War II, almost all spent inside of the Berlin bunker in which Hitler lived. Through the real life experiences of Traudl Junge, one of Hitler’s secretaries, and the memoirs of various Nazi generals, we are able to know what it was like inside that bunker. Traudl Junge in one of the main characters, played by Alexandra Maria Lara as compassionate, gentle, and loyal to Hitler. The real-life Junge, who was 22 at the time, stated that she was completely unaware of the horrible nature of the war and the millions of Jews and civilians who died during the war until she fled Berlin after the war. Hitler is played by Bruno Ganz, in what is certainly one of the most courageous and convincing performances I have witnessed. Yes, Hitler was crazy and a horrible person, but Ganz portrays him as an actual human rather than the cartoon-like image most people have of him. He changes moods, periodically, one day claiming that the war has been lost and the German people deserve their fate; the next imagining up troops that will save Berlin from the Russians. The binding loyalty that so many had for Hitler is frightening, and it goes to show that if people are manipulated well enough, they can be brainwashed. Downfall also tells the story of some of the brave Germans who worked to help the wounded and defend Berlin. Although most of the Nazi characters are disgusting in this film, a few are sympathetic, which is probably true to reality. What is most astounding, although expected, is the willingness of the Nazis, high and low rank, to commit suicide when defeat was imminent. Hitler is one of the first to do so in the film. The most disturbing event involves the six small children of Joseph and Magda Goebbels. The Goebbels were so devoted to Hitler they refused to have their children live in a world without him. In a sickening scene, the mother puts the children to sleep, then places poison capsules in their mouths and forces their teeth together, ensuring their deaths. Downfall is a fascinating film about the most fascinating and horrendous period in the history of the world.

• The Duchess

Before you make any rash decisions about my manhood for recommending The Duchess, you must see this film first. It keeps the viewer engaged throughout and the fact that it is based on a true story makes it all the more credible. I put off seeing this film for a while, thinking it would be a dry British period piece about privileged life in the 1700s. I was surprised to find an incredible film containing incredible plot and incredible performances by Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. Knightley is Georgiana, a young attractive girl at the beginning of the film of the film who is a prime candidate to be married into a powerful family. William Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire and one of the most powerful people in England arranges with Georgiana’s family to marry her. Ralph Fiennes displays his superior talent, playing the Duke as a man who is unflappable, joyless, and largely insensitive. As the Duchess, Georgiana’s life is not as she would have hoped. The Duke rarely has a meaningful conversation with her and is nothing close to a loving husband. His affairs, child out of wedlock, and lack of compassion wear on Georgiana. The Duke sees their marriage as an understanding; her only purpose is to produce him a male heir. Meanwhile, the Duchess is becoming a national figure, influencing political affairs and fashion. As a line in the movie says, “Everyone in England is in love with the Duchess other than the Duke.” As the film progresses, many complications arise and the situations the Duke puts Georgiana in are reprehensible at times. I cannot say enough about the performance of Ralph Fiennes. His character is so convincing, you would thing Fiennes himself is cold-hearted. Keira Knightley proves here that she is more than another beautiful actress. Knightley is quickly becoming one of the most passionate actresses in the game and she has decades of inspiring performances ahead of her. In a way, both the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire are victims of a system that goes against human nature. Neither really ever had a choice in life. The Duke’s main purpose in life is to be seen and produce a male heir. Georgiana’s purpose is to bear children and be a pretty face. Georgiana Cavendish is an ancestor of Princess Diana and it seems their lives had many similarities. The Duchess contains more than enough drama to go around.

• Easy A

Emma Stone has as bright a future as any actress in the business and Easy A backs me up on this. With Stone’s pitch-perfect performance (which earned her a Golden Globe nomination) as its backbone, Easy A emerges as one of the best comedies of the last decade and the most tasteful teenage comedy in years. The story revolves around Olive (Stone) and one white lie that changes her entire reputation. After Olive tells her best friend about her weekend experience with a guy at a community college, which wasn’t true, her friend assumes things and before long, Olive is the school slut without ever actually doing anything sexual. The first half of the film is filled with huge laughs, particularly the scene involving the song “Pocketful of Sunshine”. Easy A is filled with terrific supporting performances as well. Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson are hilarious and enormously likable as Olive’s parents, providing some of the funniest moments in the movie. Amanda Bynes is good as the stereotype overbearing-hypocritical-Jesus-freak, Thomas Haden Church proves how underrated he is as a comic actor as Olive’s favorite teacher, and Penn Badgley shows some chops as “Woodchuck” Todd. Easy A also makes a statement about the ridiculous social standards and sexual pressures in youth culture. Easy A is a smart, hilarious comedy displaying the star potential of Emma Stone.

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Easily Jim Carrey’s best performance and film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an unusual film with an even more unusual title. It stars Carrey as Joel, an unremarkable man with a largely uninteresting life. But this all changes when he meets Clementine, played by Kate Winslet. Clementine is interesting, odd, and unpredictable, pretty much the opposite of Joel. Nevertheless, they are drawn to each other and enter into what becomes a pretty serious relationship. This is where the movie becomes completely unconventional and original. Clementine becomes sick of Joel and breaks up with him. But that is not all; she goes to a firm that specializes in erasing memories to erase every memory of her and Joel’s relationship. Tom Wilkinson is good as always as Dr. Howard Mierzwiak, who is responsible for the procedure. Joel, completely distraught over losing Clementine, discovers what she has done and decides to have the same procedure done to erase Clementine from his memory. The most intriguing part of the film occurs during Joel’s “extraction.” Unconscious, he revisits all of his memories with Clementine, good and bad, in no particular order. This is suprisingly moving as he attempts to save some of the memories. Director Michel Gondry displays his creativeness with the memory sequences and the special effects are a clever way of distorting the memories as they are removed. Kate Winslet is outside of what many are accustomed to with her as Clementine. She is unstable and is constantly changing her hair color, not exactly what you would expect from Winslet, but she shines her. Carrey plays a great depressed, lonely Joel and hits his awkardness with Clementine head on. Like many comic actors, he is better when he shows some versatility. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a thought-provoking, well acted film that encompasses the essence of artistry in cinema.

• Everything Must Go

Will Ferrell is without question one of the most gifted comic actors of this generation. In films like Anchorman, Ferrell plays outrageous, over-the-top characters to great effect. The Ferrell we see in the subtle but magnificent Everything Must Go is far from Anchorman Ferrell. Everything Must Go, based on a Raymond Carver short story, stars Ferrell as Nick, an alcoholic man who has just lost almost everything: his job, his wife, his house, and most likely his peace of mind. Nick possessions are strung out in his front yard and that is where he settles. Frank (Michael Pena) is Nick’s AA advisor and a detective. Frank gives Nick a yard sale permit good for three days. This is where two gentle-hearted neighbors come into the story. Rebecca Hall is lovely as always as Samantha, Nick’s new neighbor across the street. Samantha is pregnant and has moved across the country, her husband yet to follow. Christopher Jordan Wallace, the son of the late Notorious B.I.G., portrays Kenny, a lonesome neighborhood kid who continuously rides his bike around. Much like Nick, Samantha and Kenny do not really have anyone to talk with. Nick pays Kenny to watch his stuff and organize a yard sale, eventually forming a friendship with Kenny that is beneficial to both sides. Samantha sympathizes with Nick for whatever reason, but how could a character played by Rebecca Hall not sympathize with him? The three form an unlikely friendly trio. Everything Must Go features strong performances by all of its major characters and delves between light comedy and drama. The premise of Everything Must Go is one that is always interesting to me: How will an ordinary person react to an extraordinary situation?

• The Father of My Children

The Father of My Children is a film that examines how we react to extraordinary circumstances. I will not reveal the extraordinary circumstance here; I feel the film is much more effective if the viewer is not aware going in. The description for the movie on Netflix reveals the main event in the film. I urge you to refrain from reading this. In the French The Father of My Children, the Canvel family is the center of the story. The father in question is Gregoire, played by Louis-Do de Lencquesaing. Gregoire is slick, charming, and constantly smoking. A producer at a small film company, he is under some financial stress, as some of his gambles have failed to pay off. His wife is Sylvia, an Italian. Sylvia (Chiara Caselli) still loves Gregoire, which is obvious, but is fed up with the amount attention he places on work, even at home. They have three daughters: Clemence, Valentine, and Billie. Clemence is played by Alice de Lencquesaing, Louis-Do’s daughter in real life. She steals the second half of this movie and I would expect here to be one of the leading French actresses of her generation. The complication in The Father of My Children completely turns the film around and it becomes two different films in one. The Father of My Children makes us realize how delicate we are, how perspectives change, and roles are transformed. With superb performances by both de Lencquesaings, The Father of My Children is a touching film about the bond of family, in good times and bad.

• Father of the Bride

Steve Martin is at his absolute best when he plays a loving father and Father of the Bride is the best example of this. This movie is funny, consequential, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. They say there is no greater love than the love a father has for his daughter. The last 15 minutes of The Father of the Bride prove this true. Martin and Diane Keaton play George and Nina Banks. Their only daughter and oldest child, Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), returns home one day to tell them that she is marrying Bryan (George Newbern), although they have only known each other for three months. George and Nina take it differently. Nina is ecstatic for her daughter and accepts it much easier than George. George is reluctant to see his daughter cement her status as an adult, realizing that if she marries Bryan, he will replace him as the man in her life. The actual wedding incurs all of the complications imaginable and provides comedy through multiple sources including the groom’s parents, a character of a wedding planner, and a navy blue tuxedo. George gripes about the cost of the wedding, but that is not really what he is upset about. The center of the film is always the relationship between George and Annie. One scene involving basketball on the eve of the wedding is especially touching. Martin’s performance is totally relatable and convincing and Williams-Paisley is adorable as Annie. Father of the Bride is one of those movies that make you smile and feel good about life.

• Four Lions

Four Lions, a satire on terrorism directed by Chris Morris is one of the smartest films I’ve ever seen. Who could ever think that a film in which the four main characters are terrorists could be funny? But it is funny, sometimes so funny you will find yourself falling over laughing. There are a few scenes in particular, one involving a sheep, that are extremely memorable. While this film will have you laughing, it is ultimately about how naive people are and how if someone tells you something enough, you might begin to believe it.

• Friday Night Lights (Television Series)

I have long held the view that besides a few select shows such as The Office and Arrested Development, television is regularly disappointing, especially when it comes to dramas, save Mad Men. However, after watching two episodes of Friday Night Lights, I knew there was something special about this series. It would truly be a disservice to not include this show in my recommendations, even though it is not a movie. Very rarely can anyone maintain high performance at anything for five years, but Friday Night Lights is terrific from Episode 1 through the fifth and final season. A critical darling, Friday Night Lights does not have near the following it deserves, and always struggled to find ratings. Probably like many, I wrote off the show for years without a second glance after watching the movie version starring Billy Bob Thornton. The film Friday Night Lights is not necessarily bad, put paints a dark and sometimes depressing portrait of Texas high school football which would be grueling over fifteen episodes or so a season on television. Though there are certainly dark moments, the television series Friday Night Lights takes a lighter approach and utilizes the format to explore the numerous intriguing characters on the show. At the core of the show are Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Eric and Tami Taylor. Eric coaches the fictional Dillon Panthers football team in small-town Texas. Aimee Teagarden, Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch, Adrianne Palicki, Gaius Charles, Scott Porter, Minka Kelly, and others make up a great cast that includes a crop of riveting characters. Scott Porter plays Jason Street, the star quarterback who is paralyzed in the first game of his senior season, setting his life on a completely different course. Zach Gilford is Matt Saracen, the shy backup quarterback thrust into the starting position. Taylor Kitsch plays Tim Riggins, the starting fullback who parties too much, drinks too much, and lives with his brother Billy. The Riggins brothers are the source of many great scenes in the series. Special mention has to be given to Brad Leland as Buddy Garrity, the main booster for the Dillon football team and probably the most interesting character on the show. What Friday Night Lights is able to do is capture the realities of living in middle-class America true to the bone. From issues such as racism and abortion to murder and teenage rebellion, the show never becomes over the top. Chandler and Britton give an absolute dead-on portrayal of marriage (as far as I can tell) and Aimee Teagarden reminds me of about ten girls I went to school with. Peter Berg, the creator and executive producer, has created a gem that is highly addictive. Films and shows about sports have a low rate of success in my eyes, but Friday Night Lights is really not about football at all, it serves only as a backdrop. There are only two types of viewers concerning this show: those who love it and those who have never seen it. “Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.”

• The Ghost Writer

Roman Polanski’s last film, The Ghost Writer, is an extremely well-built thriller that does not rely on fiery explosions and car chases to create tension. Most of Polanski’s work is well before my time, so therefore I know very little about him, and his work is solely being judged here. Running over two hours, The Ghost Writer may seem a little tiresome to some, but the climax is worth sitting through some necessary scenes in the middle of the movie that may seem a little dry. Ewan McGregor is ideally cast here as a ghost writer, replacing another ghost writer who was mysteriously found dead after writing the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister (who seems to be a lot like Tony Blair), played by Pierce Brosnan. Twist after twist occur, but I will not reveal anything here. To cap it all off, Tom Wilkinson, one of my favorite actors, makes an appearance in a puzzling supporting role. For anyone looking for a smart, entertaining thriller, The Ghost Writer is for you.

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Noomi Rapace’s Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the most intriguing and original character in recent memory. Running at a speedy 152 minutes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on the novel by Stieg Larrson, is thrilling and engrossing for the entire two-and-a-half hours. The two primary characters are Lisbeth Salander (Rapace) and Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist). Lisbeth is extremely individualistic; due to a mysterious childhood, she does not trust others easily. Wearing all black with piercings all over, Lisbeth comes off as determined and is revealed to be an expert hacker. Mikael is an editor of Millennium Magazine in Stockholm and has been set up and sentence to three months for libel against a Swedish billionaire. Through a series of events, Lisbeth and Mikael are matched together to solve a 40-year-old murder mystery on a island off the coast of Sweden. Romantic tension and dangers presented by the locals up the stakes as the tension and danger greatens. After watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I looked up an interview with Noomi Rapace and found her to possess a warm and gentle personality. That only makes her performance more impressive; Lisbeth is the most distinct and complex character I have witnessed. Mikael is the relatable character and seems to be one of only a few people that truly sympathize with Lisbeth. The atmosphere in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is quite addicting and the sequels are equally entertaining. Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig have been cast for the David Fincher version that comes out later this month. I look forward to that version, but do not see how it could be any better.

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (English version)

David Fincher is one of the few directors that actually deserved a crack at an English-language remake of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, and he certainly did not disappoint. Fincher’s version contains substantial differences from the brilliant 2009 Swedish film. I would argue that the screenplay is actually more true to the novel by Steig Larsson than the original film. But central to this story is the role of Lisbeth Salander, and relative unknown Rooney Mara plays her as unwavering, but sometimes childlike, in a compelling and breakout performance. The main difference in Mara’s portrayal compared to Noomi Rapace’s chilling depection is that Mara’s Lisbeth seems more vulnerable and wounded. While Rapace’s Lisbeth is bitter and fiercely independent, Rooney Mara’s character is torn between independency and understated longing. Both performances are incredible, I see each as its own; neither is better or worse than the other. The other essential character is Mikael Blomkvist, played here by Daniel Craig. I like Daniel Craig well enough, and he delivers an expected quintessential Daniel Craig performance. Overall, I slightly prefer Michael Nyqvist’s Mikael. It’s just so hard to disregard the whole James Bond thing. But enough of the inevitable comparisons; David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is perfectly constructed, as expected in a Fincher film. Every shot is expertly framed, and the soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross combined with the chilling Swedish landscape creates the necessary tension for a murder mystery. But “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is, at its core, character-driven, specifically by the character of Lisbeth Salander, the most interesting female character in film in at least the last decade. Rooney Mara’s Oscar-nominated performance and David Fincher’s impeccable direction make “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” one of the best films of 2011. David Fincher took a film that did not necessarily need to be remade and made a riveting, entertaining film.

• Goodbye Solo

Goodbye Solo is different; it has no explosions, shootouts, or surprise-ending. What it does have are characters that are true to the bone. Solo is played by Souleymane Sy Savane. Solo is a cab driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and is originally from Senegal. He works to try to make a better life for his wife and stepdaughter Alex (Diana Franco Galindo). Solo picks up an older an, William, played by Red West. William wants to hire Solo to drive him to Blowing Rock in the Appalachian Moutains and drop him off with no return ride. Solo gathers that William wants to commit suicide. For the next couple of weeks, Solo tries to befriend William, hoping he can sway him from jumping off the rock. He brings Alex around the old man and makes sure he drives him wherever he needs to go. William is flippant, depressed, and quiet. Red West looks like a man that has seen just about everything a man can see in life. He was a bodyguard and personal friend of Elvis and a successful athlete. The lines and wrinkles in West”s face say everything about the life that William has led, probably full of regrets. Goodbye Solo puts life into scope through observing. What is interesting and very wise of the director Ramin Bahrini is that Solo and William never really speak about William committing suicide. It is understood; they both know what is at stake, William has accepted it and Solo cannot. Bahrani grew up in Winston-Salem and it shows in the film. The locations feel like places where one would find themselves: mediocre hotels, gas stations, and a movie theater. Bahrani is known for making large films on small budgets. Once you watch Goodbye Solo, you will understand what I mean by “large”.

• The Grey

Premise for a film: a rough group of men are involved in a small plane crash in the remote Alaska wilderness and then have to deal with a vicious pack of wolves. If you would have told me just this premise, I would have immediately dismissed this film’s chance for being any good. Add Liam Neeson, a terrific script by Director Joe Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, and a few scenes where the men talk about life and you get an early frontrunner for the most thought-provoking film of 2012. Neeson plays Ottway, a strapping Irishman who shoots wolves for an oil company. I was amazed to learn that Neeson is now 59 years old, and suddenly he has become the go-to action star in Hollywood. However, it would be a slight insult to call “The Grey” a classic action movie. The supporting actors I will not bother to name, because none of them were recognizable; this is Liam Neeson’s film. We learn through the opening monologue that Ottway is a troubled individual. When the plane crashes in the cold, barren Alaskan wilderness, Ottway becomes the natural leader of the seven survivors. What follows is the men scrambling to find cover in the trees to evade the wolves and attempting to find a sign of civilization. The concept of Ottway, an obviously depressed individual who lacks willpower to even live at the beginning of the film, faced with death and the determination to live his fascinating. For those looking for Liam Neeson battling wolves, it is certainly there. For those looking to be intellectually stimulated, you will not be disappointed either. The more I thought about “The Grey”, the more I liked it. Its plight is substantially aided by Neeson, who has the most powerful, expressive set of eyes in the business. He can convey the slightest emotion with a stare. Consider the short poem repeated throughout the film:

Once more into the fray

Into the last good fight I’ll ever know

Live and die on this day

Live and die on this day

• In Bruges

In Bruges is an outrageous, hilarious, moving, and violent black comedy involving two hit men who end up stuck in Bruges, Belgium. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson star as two Irish hit men who are sent to hide out in Bruges after a job has gone horribly wrong. Although Ken (Gleeson) and Ray (Farrell) murder people for money, they are highly sympathetic characters. We root for them, laugh at them, and become attached to them by midway through In Bruges. This is a testament to the screenplay by Director and Writer Martin McDonagh. He has attempted a genre in black comedy that can be very difficult and produces a smart film about morality. Ralph Fiennes is brilliant once again as their boss, who seems to be yelling every time we hear  him speaking. Listen for his line involving the phrase “inanimate object.” Unlike some dark comedies, In Bruges does not rely on absurd violence, though there is some absurd violence involved. There is an especially funny scene involving overweight American tourists that will have even the most prideful Americans rolling. What makes In Bruges special is Brendan Gleeson’s character, Ken. It is clear that Ken has a good heart and we watch him become almost a father figure to Ray. Ken makes a stand at the end of this film, probably thinking about the consequences of his actions for the first time in a while. Ray, in turn, finds new meaning in life through Ken. The final scenes of In Bruges are riveting as the gangster life clashes with their newfound idealism. Containing a “midget”, a flare gun, cathedrals, a bell tower, and more than 200 uses of the f-bomb, In Bruges is not for the bashful and is unlike anything you will see in theaters.

• Little Miss Sunshine

Few movies have put life and the manner in which we live it into perspective better than the genius Litte Miss Sunshine. With a superb cast including Steve Carell, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, and Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine creates the most intriguing and interesting characters a film can contain. The focus of the film is really Olive, played by Abigail Breslin as a little girl who still sees the world through rose-colored glasses, dreaming of being a beauty pageant queen. Carell plays a gay, world-renowned scholar who has recently attempted suicide after one of his students left him; Kinnear plays a failed businessman who is blind to his failure; Arkin plays the cocaine-addicted grandfather who has been kicked out of a retirement community; and Collette is the mother who tries to keep the family sane, including her son Dwayne who has taken a vow of silence. Not only is Little Miss Sunshine ridiculously funny, it is sweet, outrageous, and meaningful. In a society driven by appearance, from politicians to shiny cars and beauty queens, Little Miss Sunshine tells us what really matters. It a tremendously intelligent film and, in my opinion, deserved the Oscar for best picture.

• Lost in Translation

A near-perfect film driven by Bill Murray’s effortless performance, Lost in Translation is one of the best I have ever seen. Sofia Coppola’s film is the main reason why I much prefer Bill Murray’s dramatic performances than his comedic ones. This is an understated film that entices you by mood. While it is hard to pinpoint what it is about, one could say it’s about the turning points in life, and how comforting it can be to confide in another. Set in Tokyo, Murray and Scarlett Johansson give subtle, yet powerful performances in this bittersweet, funny, and ultimately moving film.

• Mesrine: Killer Instinct

Jacques Mesrine is one of the most notorious criminals in history, claiming responsibility for somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 murders and 3 prison breaks in the 1960s and 1970s. Most Americans are unfamiliar with Mesrine because most of his activity took place in France, his home country. However, he was arrested in the United States and spent time in prison in Canada. John Dillinger has nothing on Jacques Mesrine. Mesrine was more daring, violent, and bloodthirsty. Much like Dillinger, Mesrine was largely regarded in the French public as a soldier against greed and exploitation. Mesrine: Killer Instinct, the first film of two about Mesrine’s life, chronicles the start of his criminal career. The three lead actors may be familiar with American audiences. Vincent Cassel, who plays Mesrine so convincingly you wonder how much of Mesrine’s personality overlaps with Cassel’s, played in the Academy Award-nominated Black Swan. Cecile de France, an acclaimed Belgian actress, stars as Mesrine’s lover and accomplice. She starred in Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter. Gerard Depardieu, French acting royalty who has international star power, plays Mesrine’s first mob boss. Mesrine: Killer Instinct will keep you glued to the screen. It is based on Mersrine’s autobiography and some of the events are almost unbelievable, but apparently true.

• Mugabe and the White African

Every once in a while, a documentary filmmaker will capture something truly remarkable on camera. The story of Mike Campbell in Mugabe and the White African is one of those instances. Campbell and his son-in-law Ben Freeth are involved in a battle with the Zimbabwe government and Robert Mugabe for the rights to their farm. They are protesting the land distribution program that began under Mugabe’s rule that takes land from white farmers and distributes it to the black peasants of Zimbabwe. Campbell and his wife had owned their farm for decades when they were told by the government that their farm is to be confiscated. Campbell and his son-in-law Ben decide to fight until the end, refusing to give up their farm without a fight. They brought their case before the Southern African Development Community tribunal claiming racial discrimination and human rights violations. The trial is a focus in the documentary. They do this at great personal risk, as Mugabe’s gangs often resort to violence and beatings as a mean of intimidation. Some of the events in Mugabe and the White African are eye-opening and angering. Some have disputed the credibility of Campbell’s case but nevertheless, Mugabe and the White African provides an intriguing and sometimes heart wrenching portrait of real-life human drama.

• Our Idiot Brother

Paul Rudd has become the most likable, delightful actor around these days. In Our Idiot Brother, Rudd plays the most likable character I have ever witnessed in a film, Ned. Ned works as a biodynamic farmer until he sells marijuana to a uniformed cop because the officer was having a rough day. The love of his life to this point is his dog Willie Nelson. He’s just that kind of guy. He leaves prison after being most cooperative inmate four months in a row and finds his girlfriend has found someone else. After his mother becomes too overbearing, Ned rotates living with his three sisters. First is Liz, played by Emily Mortimer, who is in a dead marriage with the cruel Dylan (Steve Coogan) and has a young son, River. Ned finds Dylan nude with another woman, but believes Dylan when he tells him that is part of his job. Next, Ned visits his harsh and sometimes mean-spirited sister Miranda, played  by Elizabeth Banks. Miranda derives from what Ned tells her that Dylan is having an affair with her sister and precedes to tell Natalie. Natalie (Zooey Deschanel) is Ned’s remaining sister who is in a relationship with Cindy, played by the ever-charming Rashida Jones. You might see where this is going as Ned inadvertently is thrown into his sisters’ drama, which clashes with his wholesome attitude. Ned even feels bad when he turns down an advance from a man, prompting a great quote in the film: “Just because you’re straight doesn’t mean you’re homophobic”. It is as if Ned has grown into an adult but still the the soul and outlook of a child, trusting everyone and rarely worrying. Of course there are downsides to this, but Ned is certainly enjoying life more than his sisters and has no enemies. Who could fault him? Many adults forget what it means to be a child, which is necessary to remember, every once in a while at least. There is nothing spectacular about Our Idiot Brother, but I found it enjoyable all the way through and Paul Rudd retains his pedigree of never failing to deliver.

• Party Down (Series)

I believe I watched the entire 20 episodes of Party Down in about 10 days. Here is a show that I had previously never watched that has rich characters, hilarious situational comedy, and romance to up the stakes. Party Down ran on Starz for two seasons between 2009 and 2010 and was ultimately cancelled due to poor ratings. Much like the demise of Arrested Development, I believe the main fault lies with the network for the statistical failure of the Party Down, because the material is certainly there and could have easily obtained the large fan base The Office and Modern Family enjoy. Party Down features a cast of six characters who work for a small catering company, Party Down. They all are or were aspiring actors or writers in Hollywood waiting for their big break. Adam Scott, has the lead role of Henry Pollard, a failed actor who was once famous for saying the cheesy catchphrase “Are we having fun yet?!” in a beer commercial. Ken Marino plays Ron Donald, a Michael Scott-type role without the Michael Scott self-confidence. Lizzy Caplan is Henry’s love interest, Casey Klein, an aspiring comedian. Henry and Casey are the sane characters amidst their crazy co-workers. The great thing about the concept of Party Down is that the setting changes from show to show with each catering event, and the writers can place these characters in ridiculous settings with regularity. Adam Scott has possibly the best role I have seen in television. Scott may not be on that list of underappreciated actors much longer, as Party Down fans can now watch and enjoy his work on the wonderful Parks and Recreation. Henry, Scott’s character, probably has endured a period of depression, but still retains his sense of humor and irony. Lizzy Caplan is fantastic as Casey, making witty and sarcastic remarks throughout the show and still remaining incredibly attractive. Casey constantly toys with Henry, breaking his heart and then coming on to him. Party Down will provide you with plenty of laughs and romantic interest and I cannot overstate how much I loved this show.

• The Patriot

The first time I saw The Patriot seven or eight years ago as a skinny tween, I was blown away. To this day, The Patriot is one of the most thrilling movies I have yet to experience and I catch it every time it is showing on cable. It is inevitable that I enjoy this movie so much, being that I am a huge history buff, but The Patriot creates fantastic drama, redemption, and a truly memorable antagonist. Mel Gibson is great as Benjamin Martin, a widower father of seven children who is reluctantly dragged into the War of Independence in the 1770s, fighting the British. Heath Ledger plays his eldest son, Gabriel, who joins the Continental forces, much to his father’s dismay. After the war literally comes to his doorstep, Martin, a hero from the French and Indian War a decade earlier, is forced into the war. His rival is a British colonel, Colonel Tavington, played convincingly by Jason Isaacs. Isaacs, best known for playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, is an ideal bad guy. The battle scenes make you realize how barbaric warfare was at that time, with thousands of men standing in a field taking turns firing at one another. Without Gibson in the lead role, The Patriot may become too far-fetched and ridiculous for us to care about Benjamin Martin and his family, but Gibson is in prime form as a fierce fighting, but sensitive man. There is a slew of supporting characters including a French soldier, a slave, and a preacher. The most effective supporting performance comes from (who else?) Tom Wilkinson as Lord Cornwallace, the commander of the southern British army. The Patriot has it all: action, acting, drama, love, passion, and a few laughs. The fight scene included in the first twenty minutes of the film is an astounding, rousing action sequence as Gibson is a man angry, distraught, and determined.

• Rachel Getting Married

In my eyes, Rachel Getting Married is the film that vaulted Anne Hathaway from her Princess Diaries image to incredible actress. Apparently the Academy Award voters agreed, giving Hathaway a much-deserved Oscar nomination for her role as Kym, a recovering drug addict on leave from rehab for her sister Rachel’s wedding. This film has many comparisons to the French film Dans Paris, with Hathaway and Rosemarie Dewitt as the sometimes troubled syblings with a younger deceased sybling always in the back of their minds. Like Dans Paris, Rachel Getting Married feels totally real and unscripted as Jonathan Demme has created an atmosphere for the viewer that is totally authentic. Apparently, Demme had the actors act at all times during the wedding reception and would just walk around the party shooting different things with the actors never knowing if they were on camera. But this film’s success depends on the strong performance by Anne Hathaway. We realize that her character has made some mistakes, but we root for her, sympathize with her, and question her at the same time.

• The Science of Sleep

The Science of Sleep is my favorite (and probably only) French-English-Spanish film that I have seen. After his brilliant Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, French director Michel Gondry delivers another gem with The Science of Sleep. It stars Gael Garcia Bernal as Stephane, who has moved back in with his mother in Paris after his Mexican father has passed away. Stephane has a problem: he confuses dreams with reality. He meets his neighbor, Stephanie, and becomes smitten with her. However, his dreaming leads to embarrasing instances between himself and Stephanie, played by the talented Charlotte Gainsbourg. Gainsbourg’s intelligence and personality make her attractive. It is refreshing to see an attractive leading female that is more than eye candy. Gondry is creative with Stephane’s dreams and some of the visuals are amazing. The mood of The Science of Sleep is playful and Alain Chabat provides some hilarious moments as Guy, Stephane’s coworker. It is hard to explain why I like this movie so much, but it is one of the few movies I can watch several times over. One thing I can say is that The Science of Sleep would have never worked without Gainsbourg’s terrific performance.

• Somewhere

Sofia Coppola has directed four feature films, two of which are fairly good, and two of which are all-time greats. I’ll give Coppola benefit of the doubt on The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antionette since they both starred Kirsten Dunst, whose acting has never been worthy of leading roles. However, 2010’s Somewhere, much like Lost in Translation, is a gem. Also like Lost in Translation, it is set largely in a hotel, the historic Chateau Marmont in Hollywoood. Coppola is on to something here; hotels are some of the most interesting places you can go. In Somewhere, Stephen Dorff stars as a washed out movie star staty at the Cheateau Marmont. He has it all: fame, money, women. But really, he has nothing, and is realizing it. His 11-year-old daughter helps him realize this. We gather hat he has been an absent father for most of her life, and she is more aware of this than him. Elle Fanning plays the daughter, matching Dorff line for line. The scenes between Dorff and Fanning are magical. They rarely say anything too meaningful to each other, but gradually mutual understanding grows between them. As the film progresses, this becomes more apparent and the scene involving breakfast in a suite in Italy is powerful because of the way father and daughter communicate through facial expression. Fanning is absolutely terrific and gives one of the best performances by a young actor in recent memory. Look for her perfect delivery of the line “That’s embarrassing”. Coppola is a special filmmaker; no one makes films like her. Lost in Translation and Somewhere are intrusive examinations of life and meaning. Something happens when you watch them. On first viewing of both of them, I wasn’t sure what I just witnessed; then, after sleeping on it, I felt I had to watch the movie over. It is such a comfort to learn that a Sofia Coppola film is being released, because at least I know that in the midst of meaningless explosions, crappy superhero movies, and middle-school-humor comedies, there will be something completely genuine and thought-provoking.

• The Station Agent

As of 2012, Peter Dinklage is established as an accomplished actor, winner of an Emmy and Golden Globe. However, Dinklage had shown his skills long before Game of Thrones. In 2003’s The Station Agent, he plays Fin, a man suffering from dwarfism who retreats to an abandoned train station after his good friend’s death. Fin wants nothing to more but to live a life of solitude; he has given up on social interaction. The cast of characters in the rural town he has moved to will not allow this, however. Fin meets Joe (Bobby Cannavale), who runs a snack truck next to the train station. Joe is persistent in pursuing a friendship with Fin, almost annoyingly so. But ultimately, Joe is a kind-hearted big kid. After she almost runs Fin over with her car twice, Olivia (Patricia Clarkson) feels obligated to be nice to Fin and somehow Fin, Joe, and Olivia form a strange, but genuine friendship. Olivia is dealing with the separation from her husband (John Slattery) after the death of their child two years earlier. She is emotionally fragile and borderline depressed, while Fin is perhaps too guarded with his emotions. Together, they sort of offset each other by facing their issues. Joe can be a nuisance, but means no harm and proves to be a loyal friend. Also appearing are a young African-American girl Cleo (Raven Goodwin) and a young Michelle Williams as a pregnant girl who finds herself confiding in Fin. Writer-director Thomas McCarthy delivers a film that is much more than a man with dwarfism. These characters have real problems that won’t be resolved by sex or meaningless romance. Peter Dinklage shows us so much by how little Fin shows. Dinklage’s performance is truly admirable. Patricia Clarkson seems to handle the role of the woman-on-the-brink well, and that is true here. Olivia and Fin’s friendship is believable because neither of them were really looking for friendship in the first place. The Station Agent is one of those rare movies that trust the intelligence of the audience, not forcing over-the-top gimmicks to get its effect across.

• Super 8

pretty much as advertised, a highly entertaining film with solid performances by young actors at its core. the film’s main character is Joe, played by Joel Courtney, a 13-year-old boy who has just lost his mother in an accident at a factory. Joe and his father Jackson (Kyle Chandler) are left alone. Jackson loves Joe, but really does not understand him like his mother did. Joe and a group of friends are helping their friend Charles, played by Riley Griffiths, shoot a short film on Charles’ Super 8 camera. Charles manages to get Alics (Elle Fanning), a pretty girl from school a couple of grades older than them, to act in his film. Alice and Joe flirt with one another like only shy middle-schoolers can. When the crew is shooting a scene at a train station in the middle of the night, they witness a glorious train crash. Soon, the army is in town and people are vanishing. That is pretty much all you need to know. It’s best to just go with the flow and witness Super 8 as it happens, accepting it and not questioning it. If you do this, Super 8 is pure entertainment and highly enjoyable. The cast of young actors handles the material well. Courtney proves worthy of the lead role and Elle Fanning once again proves that she is one of the promising young actresses in the movies. The final act is not as great as the first half of the film, but nevertheless, Super 8 is one of the best films of the year so far.

• The Tillman Story

The Tillman Story is a documentary focusing on the aftermath of the death of Pat Tillman, a football star and war-hero in Afghanistan. I’m sure you know the story. The documentary raises several important questions: What in the world were Tillman’s fellow soldiers thinking when they fired repeatedly at him? Why did the military and the government see the need to cover the true circumstances of his death? Did they really believe no one would ever find out the truth? Tillman was obviously not your average American and through his mother, father, wife, and brother, we figure this out. He did not enjoy stardom, he was very private, he was possibly atheist, and he definitely did not approve of the wars overseas. I wasn’t sure what to think after watching The Tillman Story, but the fact that I was thinking says something about this documentary.

• The Trip

Sometimes simply listening to a conversation between two very funny people can be as entertaining as anything, and Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon reaffirm this in The Trip. Coogan, a British comic actor who may be familiar to Americans, and Brydon, a Welsh comedian, play fictionalized versions of themselves on a restaurant tour of Northern England. Coogan is kind of a douche-bag and a womanizer, but has good intentions at heart. Brydon is essentially the opposite of Coogan, kind-hearted and happily married with a small child. The two starred in 2005’s Tristham Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, in which they also played fictionalized versions of themselves. A large portion of The Trip involves Steve and Rob eating extravagant meals and trying to one-up each other on impressions. Which one of them has a better Michael Caine impression is a reoccurring topic. Coogan and Brydon are both gifted comedians and a large amount of dialogue must have been improvised. Some might find two British comedians arguing with each other for two hours disinteresting, however I found The Trip to be an entertaining look into the somewhat fictionalized relationship between two comic actors. Steve is without question jealous of Rob’s comedic skills, especially his “small man in a box” routine. Brydon’s “Small Man in a Box” is one of the most ingenious things I have heard and I am perplexed on how he does it. Anyways, The Trip is an amusing, entertaining display of comedic talent that utilizes the film’s unique format to great effect.

• Trucker

Trucker grew on me as the film progressed and by the end I made up my mind that I love it. Trucker could have easily turned tack but manages to hit all the right notes. Michelle Monaghan’s performance as Diane is completely authentic. Diane is a truck driver in her late twenties whose closest friend is her neighbor Runner (Nathan Fillion), a married man. Diane is a fiercely independent woman, yet very attractive. her life is disrupted when her son Peter (Jimmy Bennett) is left in her care. Peter’s father Len (Benjamin Bratt) is in the hospital with cancer and Len’s wife Jenny (Joey Lauren Adams) has to leave town for a few weeks. Diane and Len had made an arrangement when Peter was an infant that Len would take care of Peter. Peter, now eleven, does not trust his mother at all and Diane seems to resent having him thrust upon her. He is unforgiving in his tone when he speaks to her and Diane seems to resent having him thrust upon her. He is unforgiving in his tone when he speaks to her and Diane only tolerates him. But Diane is a good person and the two slowly begin to care for each other. The plot is fairly predictable but is handled so well by the cast and director James Mottern so well that all is forgiven. The story never provokes doubt, retaining its credibility throughout. Michelle Monaghan really impresses here. Diane is like a female version of one of those men everybody knows that will never recognize how they are feeling. She is a layered individual and Monaghan nails this complicated character. Monaghan has been typecast in her career as the ideal girl that everyone falls for, and for good reason. It is nice to see her in a role with some depth. Jimmy Bennet is good as the son and never seems to be acting, per say. The supporting actors do a great job of doing just that: supporting. I highly recommend Trucker, one of those films that makes one reassess their perspective.

• The Visitor

Many of you will probably recognize Richard Jenkins as the dad from Stepbrothers, but in The Visitor his character is far from the on-edge character he plays in Stepbrothers. Jenkins plays Walter Vale, a widower economics professor at at Connecticut college. Walter has one of those jobs that has become unrewarding. He goes to “work”, but never feels like he really does anything. Walter is sort of going through the motions of life, never really finding anything enjoyable or meaningful. This is until he goes to his apartment in New York City for a conference and finds two immigrants staying there. Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira). It becomes obvious that they are illegal immigrants and they quickly move to leave the apartment. Walter allows them to stay. Things are awkward between them, especially between Walter and Zainab, but eventually a friendship sparks between Walter and the couple. The film and Jenkins’ character change when Walter plays drums with Tarek in Central Park. However simple, this scene is powerful in what it represents. The Visitor is never what you expect and has no happy ending. What emerges is a film that investigates what can occur when people encounter others they never would otherwise and finding reason.

• We Need to Talk About Kevin

Tilda Swinton continually blows me away as an actress. Every second she is on screen is engrossing. In We Need to Talk About Kevin, Swinton portrays a woman in a fragile state of mind, somewhat shell-shocked, somewhat guilty. Eva (Swinton) has obviously undergone some tragic situation and slowly the root of the tragedy is unveiled through flashbacks, while Eva attempts to cope in the present. Flashbacks are often overused in movies, but here the effect works to show the muddled state of mind Eva is in. In short, the root of all her pain is her son, Kevin, who might possibly be the most disturbing character since Hannabal Lecter. Eva married nice-guy Franklin (John C. Reilly) and they soon have a son, Kevin. We gather that Eva perhaps never wanted children, and she holds this against her son, who is a monster from the start. Kevin is played by Jasper Newell as a younger boy and by Ezra Miller as a teenager, to great effect. Kevin is manipulative and cunning. He can use the toilet, but doesn’t just so Eva has to change his diaper. However, Kevin is the golden child around his father. Franklin is not able to see his son’s madness, and that just further frustrates Eva. This all culminates with a horrific event hinted at throughout the film, but never fully revealed until near the end. Ezra Miller is truly haunting and heartless as Kevin. It seems he exists to make Eva miserable. Swinton is convincing as a mother on the fritz and Reilly is perfectly cast as the naïve father. The score by Jonny Greenwood is creepily effective and the directing by Brit Lynne Ramsey is superb. We Need to Talk About Kevin was ten times more intense than I was expecting and never lulls. Few films have ever prompted more discussion after viewing that this one. Was he just pure evil or was she to blame as well? Why was she spared? Was the father a total idiot or was he conned? 

• White Material

Claire Denis’ films, especially in recent years, seem to be a study of human nature, socially and culturally. Her great film 35 Shots of Rum portrayed the turning point in the lives of African immigrants in Paris and White Material involves a French family living in a war-torn African nation. Isabelle Hupert stars as Maria. Maria has a run a coffee plantation along with her ex-husband and his father for years. The country is being torn apart by civil war and the plantation is no longer economically viable. The workers abandon the farm, afraid of being killed for being associated with white farmers. The tension between Maria’s family and the black population is great. Her son, Manuel (Nicolas Duvauchelle) lies in his room unmotivated, frustrating his mother, and then undertakes a troubling transformation in the second act of the movie. Despite warnings to leave from the French army and essentially everyone surrounding her, Maria refuses to leave and attempts to continue on as she has always done. Hupert plays Maria as feisty and determined. Despite being faced with death and the destruction of her family, Maria remains unafraid of any threat to her existence. What is it that motivates her? It is hard to say; her son disappoints her routinely and her ex-husband is of little importance. Maria seems to care for the workers, though their living conditions are unenviable to say the least. Many of the rebels are kids and we see one troop of children carrying guns and machetes around like it is natural. At times White Material is hard to watch. However, Isabelle Hupert’s performance is a beautiful thing to watch. It is focused and takes on a personality of its own. Denis’ direction and Hupert’s acting make White Material one of the best foreign films I have been fortunate enough to see.

• Winter’s Bone

Usually when people think of poverty in America, they picture inner-city slums and apartment complexes. However, just as troubling is the rural poverty that is portrayed so realistically in Winter’s Bone. It stars Jennifer Lawrence in an Oscar-nominated performance as Ree Dolly, a 17-year-old girl who lives in the Ozarks, forced to care and provide for her two younger siblings and catatonic mother. Her father Jessup has been in prison for cooking meth and now is nowhere to be found. This presents a problem because Jessup was only able to leave prison because he posted the house and the family’s property as bail. Ree is told that if she is not able to find her father and he fails to show up for his court date, the Dolly family will lose their home. Ree sets out into the harsh, Midwest countryside, trying to discover clues to where her father may be, dead or alive. She goes to her uncle Teardrop, played by John Hawkes, also in an Oscar-nominated role. Teardrop is a weathered man and it seems that if Ree were not kin to him, he wouldn’t give her a second thought. He warns Ree to forget about looking for her father and that she would only get hurt. Ree follows leads, but hardly anyone will help her, most echoing the warning she received from Teardrop. The story, based off a 2006 novel of the same name, is unforgiving, and the the script (written by Director Debra Granik) is no different. The backdrop to Winter’s Bone is authentic and many of the actors cast were locals. Jennifer Lawrence is terrific and should have plenty more nominations and awards ahead of her if placed in the correct roles. One scene is particularly touching when Ree takes her nearly brain-dead mother into the woods, begging her for advice and breaking down in tears. John Hawkes, a relative unknown, kept my attention every second he was onscreen, his acting completely convincing. Rarely has a film captured the bleakness of impoverished rural life as true as Winter’s Bone.

 

Trey Townsend

P.S. Vist rogerebert.com for the best movie reviews on the web.

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Favorite 10 Films of 2011 December 22, 2011

Below is a list of the best 10 films that I was able to see released in 2011. I labelled the list “Favorite Films” since there are several notable films I was unable to see. As I catch up watching these, check The Cheetah Chronicles for my thoughts.

1. The Descendants

Alexander Payne’s The Descendants fires on all cylinders. George Clooney shines as Matt King, a dorky-dressed real estate agent and father in a desperate situation. Shailene Woodley is fantastic as Matt’s 17-year-old daughter, and probably deserves the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, though it would be a surprise at this point. There are plenty of laughs in this film, but where The Descendants impresses are the scenes between Clooney and Woodley. We gather they have never been close as father and daughter, but are drawn together during trying circumstances. The Descendants was the most enjoyable film of the year and I look forward to seeing it again in the near future.

2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I was skeptical that another The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was needed after the 2009 terrific Swedish version starring Noomi Rapace, but director David Fincher makes the English version his own, creating visually stimulating, unforgiving film. Of course, Fincher has some help from the engaging and original characters Stieg Larrson created in the book. Rooney Mara gives a captivating performance as Lisbeth Salander, in what will surely be the female role of the decade. Mara portrays Lisbeth as more of a wounded soul than Rapace, who brilliantly played Lisbeth with focused aggression. Both are terrific performances and I cannot decide which is better. Daniel Craig has the other starring role as Mikael Blomkvist, an ashamed journalist investigating a 40-year-old disappearance. The supporting cast is pitch-perfect and Fincher does not shy away from the forthright nature of the book, as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo definitely earns its R rating.

3. The Trip

The Trip is probably the funniest film of the year, but not funny in any traditional sense. This film’s humor derives from Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s odd friendship and subsequent contests about which one of them could do a better Michael Caine impression or who could sing more octaves. Coogan and Brydon portray fictional versions of themselves, and Brydon is really the one who has it all together. Coogan acts as if he truly enjoys Brydon’s company, but refuses to admit it because he would rather be seen with someone more cool-looking. The banter between these two kept me laughing throughout as they take a restaurant tour of Northern Britain. Although The Trip has a running time of about two hours, at its conclusion I wished for more.

4. Martha Marcy May Marlene

Martha Marcy May Marlene, that tongue-twister-of-a-title, easily holds the title of most disturbing film of 2011. Elizabeth Olsen is mesmerizing in the title role as a young woman who fell into the trap of joining a cult. John Hawkes is equally as effective as the convincing cult leader, subtly asserting his will upon its members. Olsen’s performance is the most unexpected, breakout performance of the year, right there with Rooney Mara. Her face brilliantly communicates the mind of a traumatized individual. Hawkes backs up his Oscar-nominated role in Winter’s Bone with chilling results. Martha Marcy May Marlene is a daring, provocative film that disturbs to the core.

5. Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop

Easily possessing the most fitting title of the year, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop chronicles the exhausting tour Conan O’Brien undertook after his resignation from The Tonight Show. This film shows a man who is addicted to the stage and thrives in front of a live audience. I was fascinated with every second of this documentary watching Conan drive himself to exhaustion. The soul of this film is really the relationship between O’Brien and his personal assistant Sona. At times Conan jokes of firing of her and the next he is praising her every move. I get the sense Conan would have been lost without her on this tour. Conan fan or not, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop was the most engrossing documentary of 2011.

6. Our Idiot Brother

By including Our Idiot Brother, I am going back to my comic roots. This film is harmless in every way, but entirely enjoyable and funny. Paul Rudd, the most likable actor in the business, plays Ned, the most likable movie character imaginable. He is the most optimistic, naïve character you will see, holding a childlike view of the world. Zooey Deschanel, Rashida Jones, Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Banks, Steve Coogan, and Adam Scott make up a great supporting cast. Nothing is really unexpected in Our Idiot Brother, it wants to be a laugh-out-loud kind of a movie and that is what it is. And really, what is wrong with that?

7. Win Win

Paul Giamatti is perhaps the most versatile actor around these days. Win Win sees Giamatti play Mike, a good man on the brink of collapse. His law practice is struggling, the wrestling team he coaches is unable to win, and the pressure from his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan) is overpowering Mike. Kyle, a troubled teenager and a fantastic wrestler, appears in Mike’s life and changes everything. Win Win is a funny and sweet film about priorities and finding happiness. Win Win did not blow me away, but lingered with me and I realized it was a really good film.

8. Source Code

Source Code is carried by the chemistry between Michelle Monaghan and Jake Gyllenhaal. The action sequences are handled very well and Gyllenhaal is very effective as Cpt. Colter Stevens, who time and time again tries to disarm a bomb on a train. The plot is not crystal clear, but who cares? Monaghan is so captivating that we totally believe Stevens would become obsessed with saving her life. I give Source Code credit for originality, good acting, and a more-than-satisfying ending.

9. Trust

Who would have predicted that David Schwimmer (you know, Ross from Friends) would direct a dramatic film about the aftermath of the rape of a 14-year-old girl. Liana Liberato gives a brave performance as Annie, who falls prey to an online sexual predator. The parents (Catherine Keener and Clive Owen) have opposite reactions: one of support and one of absolute rage. Trust easily could have become a feature-length soap opera but always remains believable. Clive Owen is terrific as the frustrated and hell-bent father. Trust is highly effective as a study of a family in the aftermath of a sexual crime.

10. Cedar Rapids

Ed Helms has proved to very talented at portraying characters uncomfortable with their surroundings. In Cedar Rapids, Helms plays Tim Lippe, a sheltered, small-town insurance salesman who experiences the big-time at a conference in Cedar Rapids. Through fellow attendees Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly) and Joan (Anne Heche), Tim flirts with becoming out of control. Sigourney Weaver is funny as Tim’s former teacher and hometown lover. Cedar Rapids, much like Tim Lippe, has a heart of gold, full of fun and laughs.

Trey Townsend

Follow Trey on Twitter @LegacyWorksProd

 

Madeline Rogero: A Civic Celebration December 18, 2011

If you missed Mayor Rogero’s inauguration Saturday, you missed an opportunity to experience Knoxville at its finest: a civic celebration that was hopeful and inspiring. The event was a seminal turning point in the political life and history of the city.  Saturday Knoxville experienced some positive civic growth spurts.

Mayor Rogero in her carefully crafted inaugural address conveyed to the audience in language we could comprehend that the social, political, and psychological environment would be more inclusive and respectful.  We heard that she intends to listen carefully, make wise decisions, and behave in a manner that’s more inclusive rather than exclusive.  Our new mayor is a seasoned politician, an experienced activist, and thoughtful person.  So we also heard that it is not her modus operandi to run rough shod over those from the left or right to get things done.  We sensed that she is bringing a new era of political dealing to Knoxville.

In 1983 my husband and I worked hard to get Harold Washington elected Chicago’s first African American mayor, and attended his inauguration.  Mayor Rogero’s inauguration conjured up memories of that magnificent occasion.  It was an event that included broad based participation from a cross section of the city. Harold became mayor of all the people, and fought valiantly for the rights of common folk.    Twenty-eight years later, his ability to be inclusive, spread growth, and develop civic pride among many is still alive.  Mayor Daley who was elected to the office after his untimely demise was not able to govern as the “Pharaoh of the Midway” like his father in earlier times.  People from various ethnic, racial, and religious groups who gained political chops under Mayor Washington were able to sustain the initiatives and attitudes started in his regime.  Today, Mayor Rogero spoke so matter-of-factly about the respect and understanding that would be given to all voices in the city. Her words opened a gate that cannot be closed: eloquent and forthright.  She caused audience heads to nod affirmatively, and outbursts of applause to electrify the house.  Harold was there today in spirit passing the torch on to Mayor Rogero.

Today was inclusive, welcoming and inspiring.  It was wonderful to see Governor Haslam, Ambassador Ashe, past County Chairperson Strickland, and many others there to participate in this civic celebration.  The presiding over the ceremonies was The Honorable Daniel Brown, Knoxville’s Police Department Honor Guard presented colors and Marcus L. Walker Jr. sang the National Anthem with such fervor and professionalism that the audience was stunned.  Words were spoken by Governor Haslam and the swearing in ceremonies began.  George Wallace, Marshall Stair, Finbarr Saunders, and Mark Campen were sworn in as city council members: a new breed of politicians who have a collective willingness to work for meaningful change in the civic fabric of Knoxville.  Ms. Rogero with her family was sworn in as mayor.  She then presented her address which was succinct, inclusive and inspiring.  The ceremonies concluded with Ronni Chandler singing, “What About the Children?”  It was a festive, nurturing, and carefully organized event with a great deal of organizational attention paid to the people who attended the ceremony.

There was a wonderful reception afterwards that enabled everyone to meet, greet, and have nourishment.  Our mayor and governor mingled for pictures, autographs, and love.  The Jacob Building where a bomb was thrown when Louie Armstrong performed for an integrated audience in the 1950’s was full of civic pride, diversity and joy this day.   Mayor Rogero at the stroke of 12:00pm called an open meeting of the City Council to elect officers and others.  It was a sight to see: Knoxville citizens observing and participating in the political process.  Mayor Rogero demonstrating in a profound manner that she loves Knoxville and cares about its citizens.  She is the first female mayor of large city in Tennessee.

So you missed the celebration today, sorry about that.  Your job will be to not miss her term as Mayor of Knoxville.  She cannot do the job of changing everything by herself.  You and I must be present and work with her to make transformation possible in the city and the region.  You and I must thank the political leaders before this day that have laid the groundwork for this important time.  It will be our responsibility to work with Mayor Rogero to bring important changes to our political lives.  So I urge you don’t miss the civic celebration.  Do not miss the next four years.  Join the Rogero regime, and participate in the parade.

 

Sylvia L. Peters

 

 

The Plain Truth

“The Plain Truth” is a blog where Sylvia Peters shares her thoughts about our nation, Legacy Works, education, and various other topics.

 

Against Ourselves June 10, 2011

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses

yearning to be free. The wretched refuse of your teeming

shores. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I

lift my golden lamp beside your shores.”

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

These words grace the base of the Statue of Liberty at the entrance of the harbor to the port of New York. Thousands and thousands of immigrants have flooded past this magnificent statue to enter the United States of America. It was given to America by France, and has inspired many people to come to America and plant themselves in the land of liberty, justice, and freedom.

But lately, what has happened?! Those who are one or two generations removed from the New York harbor or other ports of entry are opposed to immigrant brethren from south of the border “coming to America.” Citizens can be heard calling them “lazy chicanos” even though many of these people come from countries beyond Mexico. The debate started with Arizona’s regressive and sad reaction to people whose ancestors probably owned the land upon which the state is located. Some of these viewpoints, and local legislative reactions have spread across the nation and formed a vicious “backlash” against people coming to America.

Oh how desperate and misinformed we are as a body politic. Here in Knoxville, Tennessee a part of the great tornado that leveled sections of Tuscaloosa, Alabama also damaged a number homes. The sub-division where we live was repeatedly lashed by the whip of the weakened tornado’s tail and our homes, gardens, and automobiles were pelted with what seemed to be an unlimited supply of golf and baseball sized hail. The next morning everyone awoke to roofs that leaked, blasted gutters, cracked stucco, pelted brick exteriors, and everything else that could be destroyed by winds, hail, and rain.

Water ran through the cracks of our roof, destroying dry walls, computers, and whatever else was in the way. The look outside our home was shocking, and made us feel grateful to be alive. Our next task was to inform the insurer about the damage to our home. We were lucky because forty-five minutes before the storm, doors, part of the deck, and roof were restored and painted to maintain the exterior of the property, so when the storm from Tuscaloosa came the repairs lessened the damage to the interior of the house, and we also had the attention of a reputable contracter.

So here it is…early June. The local temperature for the last eleven days has been more than 90 degrees. It’s only rained once in that time and water ran down the walls of our home. It was obvious to us that we had to have our roof repaired.

Yesterday morning, a gentleman from Honduras showed up with a rope coiled around his shoulders, and climbed up a ladder. He started removing the rotting shingles and went down to the sheets of wood covering the rafters. He looked like a man in his fifties He started on the highest peak of the structure, a place where insurance folks and others refused to travel because of the height and steepness of the roof. It was scary to watch him move around the roof like a person naturally designed to climb steep places. The temperature rose to 95 plus and he, with one helper, continued to work. Finally at noon, they took a break. Upon returning around two o’clock, he continued to work until the last glimmer of light dropped behind the mountains. He removed all of the shingles and roof paper from one of a series of small houses that are connected together to make the house.

He’s one of many who’ve come to this country in search of the right to work. He’s not one of the countless people who have swarmed through our neighborhood seeking to be paid before doing any work. He’s not a person who asked about our insurers, nor is he a “lazy person” gathering money to purchase drugs. No! He’s a man like my father who was a rat trapper during the Great Depression. He, like my Dad before him, is a man willing to learn how to do. Every time we utter an inflammatory word about our brown neighbors we are working “against ourselves.” It’s easy to fuss about everything, but talk, so to speak, is cheap.

Truth is difficult for us to see, to feel, and to understand. We complain about everything, and believe anything that the huge mass information networks tell us.

This country was built by people of color who labored as less than full class citizens for generations. This country was also builty by immigrants from across the pond that came past the “great lady” seeking freedom and the right to work for a reasonable amount of pay. So why are we allowing so many to speak against the most recent influx of brown immigrants to America? Where are those who are so against these people when the roofs need to be repaired, the crops picked, and the flood damaged homes restored? When will we see people for what they are really doing and to not be afraid of them because they speak, eat, and look differently? When will we learn to value the diversity that has made us a great country? The gentlemen putting a new roof on my house is a vital part of the nation’s workforce, and we must stop speaking against him.

Legacy Works Productions as it continues to grow will look for the stories that tell the truth about us. “We the people.” Legacy is committed to finding the stories of ordinary people and telling them well; people who in spite of it all, continue to make America a great nation.

 

Deliberate Speed June 30, 2011

This is not the time to enter the field of education as a teacher or principal. The politicians, school boards, unions, foundations, private industry, career central office administrators, state, and federal education agencies have made it clear that education, the art and science of guiding, assisting, and inspiring young people to learn is finished. Education, teaching, learning, and so many ideas associated with schooling in this country are dead. The death has been slow and excruciatingly painful: subjecting families and their school aged children to intolerable acts of persecution, condemnation and instiutionalized thievery.

When historians reflect, review, and write about these times they’ll come to realize that as the nation grew into a world power, it failed to fully enact its founding principles. The current tension between the words of independence and the actual implementation of reasonable laws, policies and practices is so volatile that it is destroying the institutions needed to maintain an intellectually engaged and informed body politic. Unlike the recent minister who predicted that the world would end on a certain day in May, the death of this great nation is occurring in “deliberate speed” time.

As public school systems around the nation close for summer vacation, many well educated and dedicated classroom teachers are retiring, being riffed, or just leaving public schools in large numbers. They are being pushed out by the scurrilous indictments of elected officials, business people, and others who don’t have a clue about how to effectively manage schools. These decisions have so negatively impacted the image of public education in America that it is doubtful it will ever rebound.

These powerful detractors fail to understand that schools are people centered institutions that require teams of people with distinctive behaviors and sensibilities who can humanely manage the day to day social, intellectual, and physical development of students. Instead of supporting, developing, and providing professional development that was aligned with the knowledge demands of students, these external influences selected curricula, strategies, and materials that represented their particular interests. Their choices often reflected the rather manic behavior of the society at large rather than what students and families needed from local schools.

No, this is not the time to enter education as a teacher or principal. It is not the time to enter a profession that has been torn asunder by the politicians, teachers’ unions, school boards, central office bureaucrats, higher education, and credentialing boards. No, this is not the time to enter a profession that has no way to measure or honor those who have engaged, inspired, and educated countless numbers of young people. No, as long as the nation continues to work against our best interest, this is not the time to become a professional educator.

Sylvia L. Peters

 

 

Music Recommendations

• Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

The 11 song album rocks! My personal favorites are Arlandria, I Should Have Known, and These Days. If you enjoyed the album then keep your eyes open for their documetary Back and Forth set to release June 14th on dvd and July 12th on blu-ray. It’s very interesting to see the Foo Fighters grow. You can see it in their documetary and can hear it in their music. If you’re a big Foo fan then pop in their first album,  then Wasting Light and compare the two. All in all, I can say I have personally been caught air drumming many times to all the songs on the album. If you haven’t heard it, go check it out!

• Rush – Clockwork Angels

This is my album to look for. Unfortunately there is no release date set yet, only that the album is set to release this year. If you’re lookin for new tunes look up: Caravan and BU2B. Rush is known for being the holy trio, and having groovy bass lines and killer drum solos. I have had the pleasure of seeing Rush in concert and they rocked the house! They played Caravan, and BU2B. You can tell that Rush is staying true to who they are, but also changing with the time. Their singles have a more heavy feel to them. Either way old Rush or new Rush I cannot wait to hear their new album in its entirety.

• Yelle – Safari Disco Club

First, dont knock it if you haven’t tried it! Yelle is a very unique trio consisting of a drummer, D.J., and singer. My favorite songs are Safari Disco Club, Comme Un Enfant, and Ce jeu. Yelle is an electro pop band, but not just any electro pop band, they are so cool because their songs are in French. Lead singer, Julie Budet, is a must see female vocalist with back up vocals and drummer Jean-François Perrier and keyboardist and back up vocals Tanguy Destable.  Yelle is touring in the U.S. now and I urge you to look the schedule up. If you get a chance to go to one of their shows, dont think, go! Whether you speak English or French and whether you shoe gaze or dance you will be moving to the beat of Yelle!

• Seether – Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray

So how is Seether’s new album Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray? The album dropped May 17, 2011 and as I have listened to it, it has grown on me. “Country Song”, the album’s lead single has a western twang feel as the song opens, then adds punch and distortion as it goes along. “Tonight” has a 90s vibe and then changes to something much more. I particularly enjoy the bells in the background. Is that criminal? This song brings plenty of ups and downs and the lyrics invoke emotion. “Fur Cue”, the first song on the album, has a punch to it and is one of the heavier songs on the album, reminding me of the earlier Seether songs from Disclaimer II. The chorus brings this song together with the line “stay for a while, stay cause you make me smile”. This is the song you want to see live! From all reports, the crowd is jumping for the new Seether tour!  Listen: Seether “Fur Cue”

• Incubus – If Not Now, When?

If you are an Incubus fan, then of course you are excited about their new album If Not Now, When? The album releases July 12, 2011 and their 6th studio album. The first single, “Adolescents”, has a fun lead riff on guitar and if you really listen and get into the beat, it is actually pretty technical. What do I think personally? It is a great single for Incubus to release. Check it out and see if you feel like going to an Incubus concert because they are going on tour!

Daniel Rhodes

Any comments or questions may be sent to daniel.rhodes@legacyworksproductions.org

Book Recommendations June 13, 2011

• If the title does not scare you off, then proceed with caution: “He’s a Stud and She’s A Slut, and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know.” This guide on how to distinguish the double standards presented in society today by Jessica Valenti is eye-opening and revolting. Not only does Valenti create a sarcastic and humorous environment to this harsh issue of sexism, she provides very personal experiences to back up her statements and explanations. Valenti produces the angle of the accused woman for being on the dirtier side of the fence versus the male on the greener side. The title says it all; He’s a stud and she’s a slut. All the double standards you could possibly imagine from slut/stud, to he’s angry and she’s PMS’ing. Not only does Valenti address the issue of falling to the cracks of the paradigm, her analysis will give you the “Oh” Factor. Now the “Oh” factor is one that makes you go, “Oh, yeah. I totally get that now.” Or “I see what she means.”  I highly recommend this book not only to the feminists but to the people who believe that inequality does not still exist between the genders; it will either validate one‘s thoughts or anger another. Either way, she reaches her audience in a way they will not forget the book. Once you start to read this book, you will not be able to put it down (except for the occasional throw across the room out of anger or acceptance.)

• For those wanting a book to escape reality for a little while, “The Mists of Avalon” by Marion Zimmer Bradley, is the book to pick up and sail into a realm of magic and legend “The Mists of Avalon” is a book based off the Arthurian legend of King Arthur, the holder of Excalibur, sword of the pagans. One of the greatest things about this book, beside the intensive read, is the fact that Bradley did not distinguish the good versus evil of Christianity versus Paganism, but rather the truths that each religion and faith believes in. The tragic love triangle is not that of a senseless Romeo and Juliet scenario but of how King Arthur’s beloved, Guinevere fell in love with Lancelot, King Arthur’s First Knight. All the while Morgaine, who is Arthur’s sister, has fallen for the valiant Lancelot, too. The threads between each character continue to entangle throughout the story, intertwining and showing the polarity of each leading role of Guinevere versus Morgaine, and Arthur versus Lancelot. Although it seems that this story is nothing but a tragedy of lost love, there are controversial issues presented between the characters. What do you do when you think that fate has a hand on everything you must choose? Or do you think free will can and will over-ride anything that destiny has written? Bradley’s story is original and yet still so emotional to the retellings of King Arthur. Many will say that this verson of the legends is only written for the feminists who have unveiled the strength of the leading female characters, but I think that Bradley’s execution of roles have only shown us a different way to see the leaders that were once of Avalon.

• For those in need of loyalty, devotion, and crisis (those in need of a good cry), “Where the Red Ferns Grow” should be your first choice. Although this is an easy read, I highly recommend that anyone from 3rd grade and up to the 60 year old seniors read this book by Wilson Rawls. Rawls has created a story of boy and canine best friends, of how Billy, a young boy has worked his way to buy two coonhound dogs for hunting. Living in the valley on the farm, Billy sells fruit and bait and scraps every penny he earns and gives to his grandfather to hold. Billy is finally able to buy his coonhounds and goes into town secretly to pick them up. A crisis that lands them in a cave for the night only to have them cornered by a mountain lion, Billy decides to name his dogs Little Ann (a smart witted female) and Old Dan (a brave and protective male.) He trains his dogs  for competitions every night for the summer. He ends up making a bet with the local bully Pritchard boys’ and their dog, that his Little Ann and Old Dan can actually kill this ghost coon no one can catch. But with their training and quick wits and bravery, the two dogs tree this coon up. Despite this hard effort, Billy cannot bring himself to kill this coon. The Pritchard boys start to beat up on Billy and being protective of their owners, starts to attack the boy. Needless to say that the boy was not careful and while trying to kill the dogs with an axe, he falls and ends up killing himself. Though this seems climatic enough, the real plot is when Billy’s grandfather enters him and his dogs into a competition that is mainly adults, decked out in expensive gear and beautiful hounds. But despite his poor social standing and young age, Billy enters and gets into the championship round much to everyone’s surprise. Throughout this hunt, the dogs do not want to stop hunting even when the blizzard hits and when Billy’s grandfather sprains his ankle. They end up finding the dogs covered in ice, yet still alive, with enough coon hides to win the pot of $300. Boy and dog have won the greatest treasure of all, devotion, loyalty, and love. While hunting one night, they run across a mountain lion again. While Billy fights to save his dogs, his dogs fight to protect their master. Billy is able to defeat the lion, but not without cost; Old Dan is badly injured and dies the next day. Little Ann, his sister companion, goes into deep depression over her lost brother who she has grown up with since birth. With no will to live, Little Ann dies days later. Billy is lost, hurt, and broken. His father breaks to him that they need to move into town now that they can finally with the money Billy and the dogs won. Billy goes to visit his faithful companions buried side by side, only to notice that this beautiful red fern (that according to Indian Legend, can only be planted by an angel) has grown between the two graves. This is a story that evokes every childhood dream in every reader, teaching a lesson of life, love, and growing up.

 

Kendall Templin