Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey (2011)
written by: Philip Shane and Justin Weinstein
produced by: Constance Marks, Corinne LaPook & James Miller
directed by: Constance Marks
rating: none
runtime: 80 min.
U.S. release date: January 14, 2011 (2011 Sundance Film Festival), October 21, 2011(limited)
DVD release date: April 3, 2012 – now streaming on Netflix
There are many out there who make fun of Elmo, the furry red child monster who’s lived on Sesame Street since 1985. They may find his high-pitched laugh and sing-songy voice more of an annoyance than an infectious delight. At first, I’ll admit – a little Elmo goes a long way, but the more you hang out with him (as many celebrities do) you’ll see a clever humor, an optimistic spirit, and most importantly, a character of who loves to love and give hugs. What’s not to like about that? But the straightforward “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey”, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, isn’t about Elmo at all really. It’s a moving and inspiring documentary about Kevin Clash, the person behind the puppet. Like the Oscar-winning song from “The Muppets”, Clash is both a manly muppet and a muppet of a man.
Being Flynn (2012)
written by: Paul Weitz
produced by: Michael Costigan and Andrew Miano
directed by: Paul Weitz
rating: R (for language throughout, some sexual content, drug use, and brief nudity)
runtime: 102 min.
U.S. release date: March 2, 2012 (limited) & March 9, 2012 (wide)
Making my way home from the screening of “Being Flynn”, I became more aware of the eyes that were watching me. They were the tired, bloodshot eyes belonging to the homeless men and women that populate the journey home I’ve taken numerous times. They’re always there, sometimes jovial, other times catatonic, asking for money or delivering a scripted monologue detailing their plight. So why was I more aware of them on this night? It only took me a second to answer that question, realizing that I was still surprisingly affected by writer/director Paul Weitz’s (“About a Boy”) new movie. It’s a drama that does a lot of things quite well – provides a compelling and complicated father/son relationship, proves us that Robert DeNiro can still be Robert DeNiro (given the right material), confirms that Paul Dano is an actor to watch, and reminds us that the homeless out there in the streets were people before they became society’s often ignored demographic.
This Week on DVD & Blu-ray (02-28-12)
The 84th Academy Award Oscar Winners….
Was it just me, or did Eddie Murphy look different? Heh heh. Well, that’s it for the Oscars. If you’re like me, you probably still have 2011 films to catch up with, it’s just that now there’s no rush. Safe bet, Billy Crystal returned for his 9th time as host with a semi-strong start that soon fizzled to what we knew all along – a comfortable and predictable choice. The expected opening where Crystal inserts himself into the nominated films was pretty funny, especially the Clooney kiss and “The Princess Bride” line, but by the time we got to the What are they thinking? bit that fell flat before it even started – well, I started feeling uncomfortable for him. One thing I’ll admit, it certainly didn’t feel as long as past shows.
The Secret World of Arrietty (2012)
written by: Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa (screenplay) & Mary Norton (book)
produced by: Toshio Suzuki
directed by: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
rating: G
runtime: 94 min.
U.S. release date: February 17, 2012
While the many animated films released each year are often quite entertaining, I found myself perking up when I see a new release coming from the wonderful artists at Studio Ghibli. Known for delivering beautiful films inhabited by surrealistic characters, gorgeous environments, and absorbing stories, like “My Neighbor Totoro”, “Spirited Away” and the recent “Ponyo”, the Japanese studio is highly regarding by many – especially other animators. So, it comes as no surprise that Walt Disney Pictures have been responsible for bringing these gems to the U.S. audience. Nothing has been sacrificed in the process though, the spirit and integrity of the studio remains intact, leaving the only Americanized aspect being the expected voice actors chosen to redub the original Japanese cast. Even if their latest release doesn’t rate with their best feature from Ghibli, the fact that it is still immensely enjoyable, speaks to the overall quality of their films.
This Week on DVD & Blu-ray (02-21-12)
With this being Oscar week, the spotlight is on two releases that were overlooked by the Academy – one thankfully so, while the other quite erroneously. First, there’s the underwhelming collaboration between Clint Eastwood and Leonardo DiCaprio, ”J. Edgar”, that came out last fall. It initially earned some end-of-the-year nomination buzz, but that thankfully that fizzled out. But “Martha Marcy May Marlene”, an impressive directorial debut from writer/director Sean Durkin, was erroneously overlooked - maybe because, like the titular character (excellently played by Elizabeth Olsen), Oscar was confused. Whatever the reason, this uneasy character study is definitely worth your time. Other titles out today: the Bret Ratner/Eddie Murphy (no Oscars for them!) semi-hit, “Tower Heist”, also starring Ben Stiller and Matthew Broderick, and “London Boulevard” the directorial debut of Oscar-winning screenwriter William Monahan ( “The Departed” ), starring Colin Farrell and Keira Knightly, which saw a limited release overseas with only a short VOD release here in the States.
Beauty and the Beast 3D (1991)
written by: Roger Allers, Brenda Chapman, Chris Sanders, Burny Mattinson, Kevin Harkey, Brian Pimental, Bruce Woodside, Joe Ranft, Tom Ellery, Kelly Ashbury, and Robert Lence
produced by: Don Hahn
directed by: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
rating: G
runtime: 84 min.
U.S. release date: January 6, 2011
When “Beauty and the Beast” originally came out in the fall of 1991, I was a sophomore in college into films such as “Rush”, “Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country”, “The Fisher King” and “The Last Boy Scout”. Say what you will about that selection, but needless to say, a fairy-tale romance/musical was the furthest thing from my mind. Come to think of it, Barry Sonnenfeld’s “The Addams Family” was released on the same day and I think I opted for that instead. That’s just where I was at the time and I never caught up with Disney’s 30th animated feature, until now. It took a 3D post-convert to do it, but I finally saw the award-winning film loved by many, Best Picture nominee and two-time Oscar winner (Best Original Score and Best Original Song), and for that I’m glad, but that’s about it.
Oscar-Nominated DOCUMENTARY Shorts (2012)
For some reason, the studio behind “God is Bigger than Elvis” did not offer their Oscar-nominated Documentary Short to be included in Shorts International’s limited run currently making the rounds in select theaters. But the four (out of five) films that were shown are exceptional – all very powerful, important and emotional, in their own way. You won’t find any feel-good vibrations coming from any of these films though, so be forewarned. In traveling to Baghdad and Islamabad, we witness the horrors humans inflict on each other. We also visit the survivors of a devastating natural catastrophe in Japan and then head to Alabama to find a man who’s seen his share of humanity’s ugliness. Out of all the Oscar-Nominated Shorts (Live-Action and Animated), this is the batch that are the overall best.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)
written by: Eric Roth (screenplay) and Jonathan Safran Foer (novel)
produced by: Scott Rudin
directed by: Stephen Daldry
rating: PG-13 (for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images, and language)
runtime: 129 min.
U.S. release date: December 25, 2011 (limited) & January 20, 2012 (wide)
There were a handful of crowd-pleasing and manipulative movies released in 2011, but none of them earned as vitriolic a reception as “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” did. It’s been called precocious, pandering, and cloying by critics, and even some avid moviegoers, while some viewers have found it satisfying despite its blatant heavy-handed nature. And now the latest Oscar bait from director Stephen Daldry has acquired a Best Picture Oscar nomination, a move which baffled many, including myself, and elicited even more vehement disapproval. While I’m not as outraged by this film’s existence, I do find myself perplexed that a cast of actors – who usually deliver performances ranging from good to great – are unable to redeem a film that, at its best, feels like a trite Hallmark special and, at its worst, a typical Lifetime movie.
This Week on DVD & Blu-ray (02-14-12)
