Big-Screen Bonanza

Over the past few weeks I've seen quite a few movies on the big screen. Here are my thoughts on a few of them:

Bug - Disturbing movie about a down-on-her-luck woman (Ashley Judd) who welcomes a mysterious stranger (Michael Shannon) into her home. The man tells her that he is an unwitting test subject for U.S. Army experiments involving tiny aphids growing under his skin. Ashley Judd gives a surprisingly intense, powerful performance; this may be the best work of her career. Harry Connick, Jr. pops in as the snarling, abusive ex-husband; it's an easy role, but he plays it very convincingly, and his muscular pecs are a fun bonus. This movie is not for the faint-hearted, but if you can handle the gross and scary stuff, it's a worthwhile movie with psychological twists and turns and very effective stage decorations and lighting. I saw it at the Century 20 in Daly City with my friend Austin.

Waitress - I read a review saying that this movie was more substantive than its corny plotline (waitress, unlucky in love, makes pies and gives them clever, unexpected names based on her mood) suggests. So I decided to give it a chance. Results: mixed. I enjoyed the sensuous, slow-motion pie-making sequences with dreamy narration by Keri Russell. Made me seriously question my commitment to my no-dessert rule. The rest of Russell's performance, though, was nothing special, reflecting her limited acting range. Certainly there are many Hollywood stars who could have imbued the character with more subtleties and quirks--Maggie Gyllenhaal comes to mind. An unrecognizable Andy Griffith plays the grumpy old codger with a heart of gold underneath. The script was not terrible overall, but the craptastic ending made me groan. I saw Waitress with my friend Jeff V. at the Metreon.

Black Book - This is a Dutch movie from Paul Verhoeven, the man responsible for the nasty-fun Showgirls and Starship Troopers. Unlike those movies, Black Book is a serious film that tells the inspired-by-a-true-story of a Jewish woman who joins the Dutch Resistance in fighting the Nazi occupying forces in Holland near the end of World War II. The violence is extremely intense and disturbing, which is appropriate for the horrors being portrayed. The Dutch actress in the lead role gives a solid performance, but this movie is appealing mainly because of the exciting, fast-paced action and unexpected plot twists. I saw it at the Kabuki with my friend Ian.

Away From Her - The best new movie I've seen this year. This is a devastatingly beautiful film written and directed by Sarah Polley, who was already known as a very good actor (My Life Without Me, The Sweet Hereafter) and is now my favorite young director. Portraying a woman facing early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the divine Julie Christie lights up the screen. Her gorgeous blue eyes and bright smile fade ever-so-gradually as the movie progresses; by the end, nearly all of the life is gone from her face. Gordon Pinsent brings tremendous dignity to the role of Christie's husband. His conversations with the head nurse at the assisted-living facility made me cry. Olympia Dukakis, in a difficult supporting role as the spouse of another Alzheimer's patient, shows why she is among our very best living actors. The cinematography is excellent, with beautiful shots of the snow-covered Canadian landscape providing a visual symbol of the characters' journey through the winter of their lives. Overall, an incredible achievement by Polley--I'm very excited about her potential as a filmmaker. I saw this one at the Embarcadero.