The BC Review: Moneyball

Each time my husband and I make the mistake of heading to Tysons Corner on a Saturday night we always end the trip with the same refrain, "Never again!". Of course, despite this realization of our faulty judgement, we continue to repeat the act over and over again, and prove ourselves (apparently) none the wiser. As you've probably guessed, last night was no exception.

The opening weekend for Brad Pitt's true-story sports chronicle, "Moneyball" turned out to be quite the popular event with a viewing in the Tysons Corner AMC's largest theatre and a sold out audience. For those (like myself) who may not be familiar with baseball trivia, Moneyball is the true-life story of Billy Beane, the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics (A's). In early 2000, facing an ever-growing realization that the A's simply could not compete financially with other big league teams like the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees who systematically bought the team's "A list" roster (including Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi), Beane realizes a different method could make a sizable difference to the team's chances of acquiring talent, and most importantly, wins.

The term "Moneyball" was henceforth coined and with the help of a young economist serving as a baseball statistician, Peter Brand (played by comic Jonah Hill of Superbad and Get Him to the Greek fame). The premise - create winning baseball team using not so-called big, and expensive talent, but skilled players whose ability to "get on base" or "score a run" is the wave of the future. After all, it's all about numbers... the stats are what matters, build a team of less expensive (and by all accounts, overlooked, talent) and you just may see a team make it to the championships spending less than half of what the other teams expend to pay for their talent. Overall, not a bad plan and an exciting premise for a film!

Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, a real-life ex-pro baseball player who was recruited out of high school to play for the Mets but shortly fizzled out. Pitt does a good job in this role - he is able to play Beane with a sense of humbleness, but at the same time, exuding inner strength. As one can imagine, Beane faces some significant criticism both within his own club house and outside from skeptical baseball scouts touting their 30-years of experience in recognizing talent and even his own team manager (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) who refuses to "play ball" with the new scheme. One point of detraction I will make is the film's pace. At 133 min, the film moves at times in a sluggish pace (perhaps mimicking the pace of an actual baseball game!).

So, my recommendation - do not attempt to see this one past 8:30pm on a school night (or else opt to pick up the book of the same title). Moneyball is recommended for baseball fans and true-life stories. It is certainly an inspirational film and may make a believer out of even the most skeptical baseball guru.

The Bee Charmer Review: B

The BC Review: Blue Valentine

I've been struggling with how to write this review. As I was placing the DVD back into its Netflix (soon-to-be Qwikster) envelope last night I remember liking it. And I think I still do. I'm just realizing the word "blue" in the title is more apropos than I originally thought. I'm not going to sugar coat it, this pick is a doosey. So, with that said, enjoy (?) the review!

At its core, Blue Valentine is a love story (and looking at the movie poster the phrase "A Love Story" under the title confirms my opinion, funny enough I did not notice that before starting this post! Apparently I've taken away from the film the point they wanted me too. Ha ha). The film begs the question, "Maybe not all love is meant to last?" Despite the feelings that exist between two people, in some cases love just isn't enough...(not the most uplifting of films, but valiant in its assertions).

Blue Valentine showcases two people who fell in love as young adults, eloped, and started what they expected to be a happy, if not stable, life together. But that's where the story goes awry... or is it life that gets away from them? As the film opens we see a little brunette girl standing in a field calling "Megan" at the top of her lungs with an exasperated expression on her face. She quickly turns and runs inside to a house with children's playground equipment outside. The little girl jaunts through the back of the house and leaps onto the bed, waking her father, Dean (played by Ryan Gosling) and the two head out to the backyard to inspect a broken fence surrounding a dog house. In the resulting moments the father and daughter run to wake up mom, Cindy (played by Michelle Williams), enthusiastically jumping on her bed and eliciting a tired and tousled mother. A bit of expertly employed foreshadowing is at work here. Life is not as it should be for this rural Pennsylvania family.

Cindy, is the at times confused and utterly unhappy wife of Dean and a medical professional administering sonograms to ebullient expectant mothers with the pained look of a woman suffering from what could only qualify as regret. As we learn, Cindy was full of potential and far-out-shined Dean in the brains department but we get the distinct impression her life has not taken her where she thought she'd be.

The film flashes back and forth between the present (including a slightly heftier version of Dean with less hair and a drunken swagger) to the past, showing us two young lovers who met under atypical circumstances and fell head over heels for each other. I should point out, much to the film's credit and romantic appeal to me, it is the male character, Dean, who was really the initiator of the relationship and questions whether a person can truly fall in love at first sight (Ryan Gosling playing a strikingly similar role in The Notebook ring any bells?).

Following days of tense looks across the kitchen and petty arguments over the trivial goings on of day-to-day life, Dean "whisks" his adoring (?) wife away for a romantic get away to "the future room" (a corny and completely depressing hotel suite) to rekindle what's left of their love life.

*Spoiler Alert* - it does not go as planned.

Blue Valentine is recommended for fans of the King of Indies, Ryan Gosling, and enthusiasts of off-beat loves stories (i.e. 500 Days of Summer).

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: A

The BC Review: The Whistleblower

I was first made aware of this riveting drama detailing the hideous involvement of United Nations personnel in post-war Bosnia sex trafficking from a friend of mine a few weeks ago. It had yet to be released in the United States, but I knew from the trailer posted on Movietickets.com that I had to see it as soon as it made its way to the local theatres here in NOVA.

Disclaimer: When I set out to write this review, I could not see how I could do the film justice without delving into some of the history of the conflict and the hideous nature of sexual violence to provide some context to the film. Much of my graduate studies focused on the conflict and specifically the 1995 Dayton Accords, so I do know a fair amount about the conflict and the accompanying post-conflict and subsequent peacebuilding efforts undertaken by the United Nations, but I promise to keep these details as short as possible and will attempt to weave these in coherent way throughout my review.

The Whistleblower is based on the true account of an American policewoman who took a job as a United Nations peacekeeper in 1999, following the historic signing of the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords and the "end" of the Bosnian war. This was not wholly uncommon at the time as an international police force was formed to facilitate the country's evolvement from post-conflict to sustainable peace. Police officers, former military, and even every day citizens from the United States, Britain, Holland, Italy, and elsewhere in Western Europe joined the force to make a difference in Bosnia. But with any group or organization, there is bound to be corruption, and sometimes it runs rampant.

Seeking a transfer from her home police district, Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop takes a highly lucrative job as a private military contractor for a British-based defense contractor known in the film as "Democras" (I'll let you do the research to find out the company's true name) and soon uncovers a devastating and depraved sex trafficking ring, involving UN personnel profiting from girls trafficked across the border from such countries as Ukraine into post-war Bosnia. And yes, this is a true story.

Rachel Wiesz, in a role very reminiscent to her portrayal of Ralph Fiennes' wife in The Constant Gardner (another excellent film portraying the world of foreign policy as seen through the eyes of Western diplomats), is authentic in her characterization of what I would imagine the real Kathryn Bolkovac might be like. Her appearance in the film is not your typical Angelina Jolie-esque glamorous woman at all times complete with perfectly coiffed hair, applied lipstick, and heels -- Kathryn is dressed in a blue International Police Task Force (IPTF) uniform, complete with sensible shoes for traipsing around post-conflict Sarajevo, and as one might expect, her long brunette hair is tied back in a variety of not quite perfect ponytails and braids. And throughout the film, she becomes increasingly disheveled. The emotional toll of what she is encountering is evident in her appearance and her increasingly visceral reaction to events.

The film is benefited by the addition of Vanessa Redgrave as the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Madeleine Rees. As you might know, UNHCR representatives dispatched to Bosnia to address the thousands returning from displacement and hiding in the aftermath of the war to find their family homes destroyed, pillaged, or even sold to third parties who in turn sold them to ethnic rivals. In Rees, Kathryn finds a friend, a fellow woman working to help other women, some of whom suffered at the hands of men who employed rape as a tool of war.

There are of course several problems -- the overbearing policy of the United Nations for one, bureaucratic institutions are not known for their expediency and flexibility in navigating around their own systems even if it is to the detriment of the very people they are charged to protect and save -- and the attitudes of local police towards women. We see a glimpse of this as Kathryn begins her first investigation as part of the IPTF and comes up against local attitudes toward a Muslim woman's account of intimate partner violence at the hands of her husband. In short, the men do not see why this woman's plight should be any of their concern because in their minds intimate partner violence is a "woman's issue".

Despite these ignorant attitudes and the almost constant stonewalling of UN officials and IPTF's primary contract holder, Kathryn forges ahead with conviction and nerves of steel and she is ultimately able to make a real difference in the lives of some Bosnian women. Sadly, she is not successful in all.

The Whistleblower is not for the faint of heart. It is recommended for fans of true-life dramas and those with a passion for human rights.

The Bee Charmer Review rating: A-

The BC Review: Frozen River

Much to my mother's dismay, it has taken me some many months to finally catch her recommendation from almost a year ago (and well, honestly it took an active choice to move the title from somewhere in the middle region of my Netflix queue to commandeer to the top slot) but I finally watched Frozen River over the long 4th of July holiday weekend.

I should caution you, this film is certainly similar to this past year's Best Picture nominee-- Winter's Bone-- in its wrenching portrayal of a woman struggling to survive and the questioning of morality and the virtue of "following the rules".

Frozen River, released in 2008, stars Melissa Leo (winner of the Best Supporting Actress in The Fighter) as Ray Eddy, a not-so-young, but at the same time not-so-old (the deep lines of worry on her face may deceive us) mother living in upstate New York along the Canadian border, scraping to get enough money together for her dream house. No, this is not Malibu Barbie's mansion or even a modest split level home with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, it is a double wide. A double wide trailer. A significant upgrade from her current trailer she shares with her two sons and her gambling-addicted husband who's just run off with all of her savings just a few days before Christmas.

Working part-time at a local dollar store aptly called Yankee Dollar, Ray can barely afford to put food on the table (and sometimes even that is a stretch as on more than one occasion Ray is reduced to feeding her two sons popcorn and tang).

On arguably a fortuitous trip to the local Mohawk Reservation so-called "high stakes" Bingo, searching for her degenerate husband, Ray recognizes her husband's car in the parking lot. Following the vehicle as it peels out of the driveway leads Ray to another trailer (in possibly worse condition than her own) and to a Mohawk woman named Lila. From this first meeting we learn that Lila makes her living in an inventive, if not illegal, way - smuggling illegal aliens across the border from Canada.

From here it is not long (and a few more hardships begin to take their tole) and Ray is pulled deeper and deeper into the smuggling game. The question is, how long until the smuggling duo's luck runs out? And, will Ray triumph over all and finally get that double wide?

Melissa Leo gives a commanding performance as Ray. If you've ever spent time in upstate NY (to some of us who have fondly referred to as "the frozen tundra") you will recognize Ray in every down trodden woman looking to take care of her kids on a minimum wage salary while contending with frozen pipes, addiction, K-Mart's short operating hours, and searching for a good deal on food stuffs at the local "Chopper" (Price Chopper that is) food market.

Little known Misty Upham (also seen in HBO's Big Love) portrayal of Lila Littlewolf is reminiscent of the character "Sue" in Clint Eastwood's triumph Gran Torino (another great film, but for entirely different reasons)-- honest and bare-- and what one might expect of a single mom working just enough to get by on the reservation.

Frozen River is not for the faint of heart, but is recommended for movie goers who enjoyed Winter's Bone, The Fighter, and perhaps Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Jim Carroll in 1995's The Basketball Diaries.

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: B+

The BC Review: The Fighter

I suppose a celebration is in order - this is my first post of the New Year! Happy New Year everyone! Fortunately, there seem to be quite a few good flicks opening this year (and so early on) - hopefully this is telling of what the year has in store for us movie-buffs!

I am happy to report one of the first ones of the 2011, based on the true life story of Micky Ward and his brother Dickie Eklund, The Fighter, is hands down one of the best sports-themed films I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. I may even go as far as to say this is one of best films of the year (early, I know, but I'm in the gambling mood!). For those of you like myself who may not be up on the sports scene, let alone, the boxing world, I will tell you that flat out The Fighter gives you a feel for what goes on behind the scenes of the sporting world and the dynamics of family.

In the late 1980s - mid 1990s Micky Ward, hailing from Lowell, Massachusetts, was making his way into the world of boxing -- following in the foot steps of his once great half-brother, Dickie Eklund, aka "The Pride of Lowell". The Fighter is the true story of their lives, full of chaos, drama, love, sacrifice, and ultimately, enduring support for one another.

Mark Wahlberg stars as the up and coming Micky Ward. Rumors have it Wahlberg hand-picked this film, serving as its producer, and physically preparing for it - consistently training his arms, legs, and well, fists - for several years. It shows! As many of you know, I am an admiring Wahlberg fan (catch him in The Departed, Date Night, Rock Star, and Boogie Nights to name a few of his highlights), and yes, he was genuine and convincing as the Irish underdog, but paled in comparison to the real star of the film - Christian Bale.

Christian Bale plays Ward's older half-brother, Dickie Eklund, a former pro boxer who (arguably) bested the great Sugar Ray Leonard, however has fallen from grace and battles a crippling addiction to crack cocaine. Our first glimpse of Bale is in the opening scene of the film. Suffering in the sweltering summer heat, we see the camera following Micky as he does back-breaking work sweeping the streets of Lowell while Dickie follows-- jovial in mind and in spirit throwing fake punches at his kid brother. The camera pans out and we see an emaciated Bale, easily 50 lbs lighter than normal (this is no Dark Knight) with a sweat-stained shirt, backwards hat, shorts, and Timberlands. We soon learn that HBO is filming Dickie -- he is set to make a come back and is apparently a very good showman (dancing around working his fancy ringside footwork, mugging for the camera, and stopping to kiss and hug various women on the street). Bale truly transforms into what we can all imagine the real Dickie would look like -- a battered crack addict with a glory-filled past and a not-so-bright future.

Amy Adams lends her charm to the film as well. Playing Micky's girlfriend, Charlene, sassy red-headed bar tender who partied too much and dropped out of college. Charlene is dynamic - it's evident she loves Micky and she is strong, constantly battling Micky's (on all accounts crazy) family. Starting with Micky's no less than six sisters (some real, some half, some adopted) and Micky's mother/manager, Alice, expertly played by Melissa Leo, and of course, Dickie. But she does it well - she loves her man, she sticks by him, and she teaches him that love comes in all forms.

Finally, we come to Micky and Dickie's mom, Alice Ward, played by Melissa Leo. Alice is exactly what one would expect of a woman who's lived a hard life and tries to do what's best for her family but just can't get out of her own way to see the damage she is doing to them. Alice is bleach blond, chain smoking, loud, and if nothing else, ambitious. She manages Micky and she'll be damned if anyone else will take her place (even if it means putting her son's future in jeopardy). We want to hate Alice for what she does to her son (mostly Micky, but Dickie has suffered at her hands too) but in the end we do see she is a mother with nothing but the best intentions.

In addition to the actors (all of whom deserve an award nomination - Bale and Adams likely an award win), there are two factors that put this film at the top of my list for best film of the year.

1. The locale
2. The cinematography

As I mentioned, the film takes place in Lowell. As my friends from Massachusetts put it - Lowell is easily considered the "deep south" of MA. Everything from the accents (think Boston with a much harsher sound) to the clothing (circa late 1980s-early 1990s), to the make-up (lots of eye shadow and pink lip gloss), to the hair (easily the best part of the sisters- huge bangs sticky with hairspray), and even the bar, feel authentic. It's as if the audience is transplanted from our cozy AMC seats to the gritty streets of Lowell 25 years ago.

The second aspect that makes this film great is the cinematography. As we see Micky slowing climbing the ladder to success the audience is taken on that journey with him through time. When we see Ward fighting in the arena during a televised event the film quality itself actually changes and it looks as though we are watching him fight not only on television, but on our old tube television complete with old school HBO graphics, sound quality, lighting, and music. This level of detail takes the film to an entirely new place and in this reviewer's opinion, firmly secures its place at the award winners' table.

The Fighter is recommended for fans of the sports biopic, dramas, and of course The Dark Knight and Marky Mark.

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: A

The BC Review: Eat Pray Love

Well, much to almost every woman's delight, it was finally released - the Hollywood version of Elizabeth Gilbert's engaging memoir, Eat Pray Love.

Starring one of the biggest Hollywood stars of her time, the lovely Julia Roberts, Eat Pray Love managed to please this reviewer. Indeed, it could not possibly compare to the book, but it did manage to provide a heart-warming story of a woman searching to re-discover herself after two failed relationships across three countries.

For those of you who haven't read the book, I HIGHLY recommend you do. I managed to pick it up at the recommendation of a friend in the publishing business (you know who you are!) and literally couldn't put it down for the duration of my honeymoon in St. Lucia. Yes, you read that right. I read the book while vacationing with my husband on our island honeymoon... it was THAT good!

But, for those of you who do not categorize yourselves as avid readers, the film is worthwhile (and perhaps more so for you as the film cannot compare to the written word).

I will hold back from telling you too much about the plot, but will say it is an adventure across three very distinct and unique countries: Italy, India, and Bali.

Julia plays Elizabeth with class and style (which in this case actually is a dissapointment). I am in agreement with other reviewers in that, Julia would not have been my first pick for this role. But she does an OK job (not great, but far from terrible). In short, the real Elizabeth is tired, beaten by the world, and frankly, down-right frompy. This should come as a surprise to no one, Julia lacks a certain "frompiness"!

The best parts of the book (namely, the FOOD she indulges in while embarking on a "no carb left behind diet" in Italy) are successfully portrayed in the film, as is the oppressive heat of India (trust me, it is HOT and HUMID there) and the breathtaking island views from her home in Bali.

A self-professed travel bug myself, Gilbert's story makes me want to hop on the next plane and embark on my own globe-trotting adventure! She illustrates with searing accuracy the feeling all travelers can relate to. That is, when one travels alone overseas, you often find yourself open to new experiences and people who you otherwise would never have engaged with at home in the States. It's almost like everyone who is traveling is on an adventure together. No one is alone, everyone is friends, and everyone (as corny as this may sound) is living an out-of-body experience. In the film, we manage to get a taste of this - but as I mentioned, nothing can really compare to the book (or of course, the actual experience of traveling!).

The film does succeed in showing us these three countries in a somewhat realistic light (although, as can be expected, it is somewhat "Hollywood-ized"). But expect to see some beautiful (and not-so-beautiful) sites in Italy (namely, the crazed streets of Naples) and India (the traffic scenes and poverty-stricken street urchins bring back memories of my trips to Delhi).

As an added bonus, in the film we are treated to the rugged good looks of Javier Bardem as Elizabeth's Bali-based latin lover, Felipe. Bardem plays the role exceedingly well; authentically portraying a man looking to rebuild his life after a painful divorce. I for one, am I big fan of Bardem (see No Country for Old Men and Love in the Time of Cholera). Hopefully this role signals his intention for more roles in the not-so-distant future.

Overall, the film is delightful and if nothing else, illustrates the beauty of three very distinct countries: Italy, India, and Bali.

Eat Pray Love is recommended for those with a passion for travel and a love of food!

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: B

The BC Review: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

For those of you who are not previously aware, I am happy to report that indeed, I have fallen victim to the latest teeny-bopper craze; Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga. I've read all four books and up until the other night, saw the first film adaptation of Book 1 via Netflix (and subsequently purchased the DVD), and took my husband along with me for the ride opening night of Book II: New Moon.

For the recently released third adaption, Twilight: Eclipse, we really went out of our way and made an entire evening/night/morning out of it. As it were, on opening night of Eclipse (for an extra special treat) Regal Cinema theatres played a double feature of Twilight and New Moon at 6:30pm, followed by the premiere of Eclipse with a 12:01 am start time. Needless to say (as I'm quite sure you've already surmised), my husband and I were indeed included in this group of so-called "Twihards" and made our way to the theatre for the triple feature.

As the storyline goes, the third in the series brings us back to the love-sick Bella. We continue to follow our heroine through her struggles to hold onto her life's love; Edward Cullen (a literally blood-sucking, but "vegetarian" vampire) while at the same time desperately trying to figure out her feelings for her best friend, Jacob Black (an attack-driven, vampire-hating Werewolf). Throughout the film Bella is torn between the two and of course, must ultimately make a choice (of course, it is pretty obvious who she favors as she desperately tries to persuade Edward into "changing" her, but we go along for the ride!).

As we watch the three struggle through an intense love triangle, an interesting sub-plot develops. When scenes are directed away from the three love-stricken teenagers, an old enemy; a flame-haired, vengeful vampire by the name of Victoria, serves to complicate things... eventually breeding an army of vampires set to destroy the Cullen coven (or at the very least, make a dent) in her desperate attempt to kill Bella. The sub-plot and accompanying battling vampire scenes are perhaps the best of the film and achieve minimal anticipation from the audience. But as this is not the primary storyline, it is no surprise as all ends well at the film's conclusion.

Fans of the Stephanie Meyer books will always see something worthwhile in the film adaptions. Although, despite no-less-than-three different directors for each theatrical adaption, the films pale in comparison to the riveting and utterly indulgent written words of the originals.

However, to rate the three adaptions that have been released so far, Eclipse is decidedly the best. This may be the result of a couple key factors:

1. The "characters" portrayed by the film actors (Kristen Stewart as Bella, Robert Pattinson as Edward, and Taylor Lautner as Jacob) appear to have grown into their roles and thus present a more authentic/organic depiction of the heroine and her two heros

2. The Eclipse storyline itself lends itself better to big screen adaptation than the prior films due to its intense action scenes (vampires not only fighting werewolves, but other vampires makes for some intense reading/viewing)

3. A bigger budget/more "hype". It is very apparent in the newly released film that more money has been thrown at this project (better action sequences, better make-up, etc).

Of course, the less-than-stellar film does not lessen this reviewer's anticipation of the fourth and final adaption of the series. Much to a "Twihard's" delight, Twilight: Breaking Dawn is slated for release as two separate films (Fall of 2011 and undetermined in 2012).

Twilight Saga: Eclipse comes recommended for fans of the series. This point I cannot stress enough. For those uninterested in teen romance and epic battles, this one is best left for the self-described (or as the case may be, self-denied)"Twihards".

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: B-

The BC Review: Robin Hood

I’ve been waiting to write this review foolishly entertaining the idea that I would sit down and watch Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (the rival Kevin Costner version) in it’s entirely and then compose a comparison of the two. Unfortunately, as no less than a full month has gone by and it is likely I may never find time to screen it. Therefore, I’m forgoing the original idea and replacing it with this; a standard review of the Ridley Scott version.

In Ridley Scott’s 2010 version of the legendary tale of the true “Prince of Thieves” we are introduced to Robin Longstride, fighting along King Richard the Lionheart (a term used rather loosely in this depiction) in a series of battles; slowly, but steadily plundering his way back home from the Crusades. Robin Longstride, as he was known prior to his days of merriment, is a worse-for-wear archer who takes his leave after the fall of the King.

Along with some notable friends, to include “Little” John, Robin makes his way to Nottingham wherein he meets Marion, albeit a somewhat less-than-we-are-used-to-seeing-her, glamorous version. In Scott’s rendering, Maid Marion is not a maid at all but rather a matron as she has married some ten years prior (and unbeknown to her, subsequently widowed).

In terms of story, this version veers only slightly from the story we all know, giving us a bit of a prequel to the legend. To his credit, Scott succeeds in giving us some minor surprises, i.e. throwing the French and some nefarious insiders into the mix, but in the end, leaves much to be desired. Although this is not entirely unexpected, it seems Scott took the safe route; deciding against giving us a completely new interpretation and instead providing a litany of action scenes. Of course, as this is a Scott film, the action scenes are as expected; fast-paced, gritty, and always bloody.

Scott’s use of dialogue also leaves much to be desired (Shakespeare, this is not!). But, perhaps in a nod to critics (and a gift to the audience?), Scott fortunately keeps the dramatic love scenes to a minimum.

The presumed (and well-marketed) star, Russell Crowe plays Robin as we would expect; an unrelenting warrior full of vengeance, yet, also a man of heart.

Cate Blanchett, though not originally cast for this role, provides a decent interpretation of Marion. By all accounts Blanchett is one of the few remaining Hollywood actresses not afraid to “let her hair down” as they say, and show a less-than-perfectly-manicured-and-done-up-heroine. She never fails to bring a certain reality to the big screen and usually succeeds in attributing to my ability to suspend my disbelief (check her out as the incomparable Katharine Heburn alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator).

Blanchett’s talents aside, the best characters fall a bit farther down on the cast of characters list. Two favorites include Little John (played by Kevin Durand, previously seen in Wild Hogs) and Friar Tuck (played by Mark Addy of the television sitcom, Still Standing). These two, though not given a whole lot of on-screen time, give the audience excellent portrayals of inherently comedic characters.

Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood comes recommended for Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe fans. For those seeking a really creative interpretation of the legend, we suggest adding Robin Hood: Men in Tights to your Netflix queue! Additionally, as the film is billed as a prequel, the ending leaves us primed for at least one more (if not, several) follow-on features.

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: C

The BC Review: The Hurt Locker

Due to the unprecedented 10 films selected as Best Picture Oscar nominees, this year's viewing of the AMC Best Picture Showcase 2010 was somewhat limiting as the viewing I chose to attend (for fear of losing my sanity attempting to watch all 10 in a row) was limited to just 5 of the Oscar nominees (Up in the Air, Precious - Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, Inglorious Bastards, AVATAR, and The Blind Side).

To be sure, I had definitely intended to see the victor, The Hurt Locker, but unfortunately was forced to wait for its DVD release (admittedly, the formerly little-known Indie flick failed to garner my attention earlier). Following a couple weeks in my Netflix queue labeled "very long wait" it finally arrived in my mailbox.

Katheryn Bigelow's Best Director/Best Picture winner, though markedly less romantic than it's (and her personal) rival, James Cameron's AVATAR, gives the viewer something better; a realistic depiction of the conditions of war (and despite numerous critiques this reviewer has come across, sans any romantic, or for that matter, political, zeal).

Focused on three primary characters, The Hurt Locker presents three young American soldiers serving in Iraq in the improvised explosive device (IED) detection/removal division. In a jarring opening scene we see Guy Pearce (of LA Confidential and Memento fame) as Staff Sergeant Matt Thompson; the first of the squad to suffer the dire consequences of a grueling job. Watching as he carefully plots his course in an attempt to diffuse a small-scale roadside IED, the viewer is instantly sucked into the war drama and can literally feel the dirt, the dust, and the sweat, pouring off Staff Sergeant Thompson's face as he strides down the street in a huge explosive-detection suit. This first scene, indeed sets the backdrop for the rest of the film with Bigelow giving us all-encompassing explosions, annoying dust, and what actually feels like relentless thirst for a Capri Sun in the desert.

Sergeant Thompson is subsequently replaced with Sergeant First Class William James (played by Jeremy Renner); a wildly enthusiastic soldier with a cowboy-esque attitude. Of course, the two remaining members of Thompson's original team, Sergeant JT Sanborn (played by Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (played by Brian Geraghty) struggle to cope with the new guy's cavalier attitude, and at times, brash decisions. Adding to the already imbedded drama throughout the film, the dynamic between Sanborn and James is always teetering on the edge; wavering between sworn adversaries and mutually respected friendship.

Specialist Eldridge, vastly different from James, gives us an inside view into the mind of a young soldier as he struggles to literally fight each and every day for his life (and the lives of those around him). As the days on his tour of duty languish, each minute of the day seems to get harder for him to deal with. Taking solace in the Army-provided medical staff, Eldridge reaches out to a psychologist, Colonel John Cambridge (interestingly enough played by Christian Camargo, AKA Dexter's "The Ice Truck Killer"). Colonel Cambridge provides a much-needed shoulder for Eldridge, but unfortunately falls victim to the circumstances of his own surroundings while out with the team.

On a more personal note, as a former analyst in the security/force protection world, this reviewer thoroughly enjoyed the addition of private security contractors thrown into the story line. Specifically, as the IED detection team comes across an overturned vehicle in the wild Iraq "countryside" we are introduced (albeit briefly) to a nameless Ralph Fiennes, playing a British private contractor leading a definitely worse-for-wear team. In an outward nod to American-British cooperation on the battlefield, against the blazing sun, blistering winds, and downright pesky flies, Sergeant First Class James, Sergeant Sanborn, and Specialist Eldridge stop to lend a hand to Fiennes and his group.

Finally, I suppose it should be noted that Kathryn Bigalow's Best Director win was, like the 2010 Best Picture nominee list; unprecedented (Bigelow is the first female director to win the award). However, it should also be noted that this should come as no surprise to anyone (including Bigelow's ex-husband, Cameron); she did a phenomenal job on this film!

The Hurt Locker is recommended for fans of the "War Time Drama" (flicks like Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan) and those just interested in an enthralling human drama.

The Bee Charmer Review rating: A

The BC Review: An Education

As I am still catching up on all of the Oscar-nominated films from the past year, last night I checked one more off my list with Lone Scherfig's, An Education. This one was yet another pleasant surprise as it wildly exceeded my expectations. My mother mentioned I might like it, as she had seen it as part of AMC's Best Picture Showcase back in February. And indeed she was right!

An Education, starring Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Peter Sarsgaard, and much to my surprise, Emma Thompson, presents the story of a 16-year-old school girl coming of age in 1960s London. Mulligan plays Jenny, our fresh-faced heroine, from a position of complete, unfettered honesty, and an indescrible sense of self. Little known until her performance in An Education, Mulligan is surely off to a whirlwind career. Her portrayal of Jenny is astounding, clearly reminisicent of Audrey Heburne at her greatest(which may explain her recent casting as Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady).

Alfred Molina brings us the at-first, sterotypical over-protective father set on giving his daughter Jenny a first class classical education complete with exactly one "music/hobby" (in Jenny's case, the cello) in accordance with the strict acceptance standards Oxford University requires. As any young girl can probably atest, the father-daughter relationship is turbulent; however, through it all, the love they share for each other is constant and strong.

Jenny meets David (played by Peter Sarsgaard), a not-much-to-look-at older man while walking home in the pouring rain with her cello in hand. Asking to carry her cello in his car, as he is an avid cello fan, David presents himself as a kind, considerate, and "proper gentleman" (this of course does not last). Soon after their initial meeting, David and Jenny strike up a relationship, full of wine, French music, shopping, and "art dealing" leads Jenny on a winding path, ultimately leading her to question her entire sense of what is right and what is expected in life.

In an interesting twist, Jenny's parents, at first hestitant to allow their daughter to spend weekends in Paris with her David, soon become enchanted by his spell, just as their daughter (and we have). Practically swooning as a result of David's high-powered connections (to include a personal friendship with C.S. Lewis), Marjorie and Jack thrill at the idea of Jenny marrying the likes of someone such as David. Unfortunately, it is not until it is too late that they see the error in their own judgement.

Emma Thompson plays a small, but pivotal role as the headmistress of Jenny's school and serves as one of the only vestigages of reason in Jenny's now chaotic world. The headmistress and Jenny's teacher, Ms. Stubbs (played by Olivia Williams), foresee the poor decisions Jenny is about to make as a result of her love affair with a glamorous older man, and try to disuade her from her ill-informed choices. However, it is Jenny that must make the decisions in her own life; she is unwilling to take them at their word.

In the end, the fantasy life Jenny's been living does come crumbling down, leaving our Jenny left to contemplate her REAL education, only this time, not the education gained from her Latin lessons and concert rehearsals, but the education of life she has experienced through David.

The Bee Charmer Rating: A-

The BC Review: Crazy Heart

Since I was fortunate to have last Monday off from work for President's Day and my husband was well, not so fortunate and thus had to get himself to school, I took the afternoon and treated myself to my favorite past-time, a matinee flick!

To be perfectly honest, when I arrived at the Ballston theatre I had no idea what I wanted to see or even more important, what was playing. But I walked up and got in the customer service line and asked to see the next showing of Crazy Heart. As luck would have it, it was 12 o'clock and the show was starting in merely 15 minutes. It seemed I had timed this perfectly, and without even trying. For those of you who know me, I absolutely hate to be late, really for anything, but especially for movies (I'm a big fan of previews, for obvious reasons, and well, I also REALLY like to see the entire film, from beginning to end). In any event, lucky for me, this had worked out perfectly.

Crazy Heart is one of those "fly-under-the-radar-too-good-to-miss" flicks that somehow never garners the attention it so rightfully deserves. Chronicling the life of a down-and-out has-been country singer, the film showcases the vocal stylings of Jeff Bridges and shows us a deeply humanizing side of Bad Blake, a gruff aging star, as he struggles to find meaning in his life and get back on top in the industry.

Arguably one of the best male actors of our time, Bridges truely succeeds in this one. A role vaguely reminiscient of The Big Lebowski's, the Dude; Bridges bring us a down-trodden, yet at the same time, resilient man, stumbling through the endless days and nights.

Coming along on part of his journey is Jean, a single mother from Oklahoma, some 30 years his junior. A down-home, brunette beauty, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal (Jake Gyllenhaal of Brokeback Mountain fame), she takes his hand and reintroduces him to a life off the road for a change. Unfortunately for him (and for us!) her time in the film is somewhat cut short. Following an incident involving her 4-year-old son, Bad is forced to recognize his weakness and suffers the pain of Jean's departure.

Interwined in the slow-moving film, somewhat reminiscent of No Country for Old Men (without the over-the-top violence) we are fortunate to hear the musical stylings of Bad Blake, while witnessing the human drama of a man struggling to get back on top.

As a very welcome surprise, we are treated to the addition of Colin Farrell, playing Bad's former protege, Tommy Sweet. Farrell's portrayal of Sweet, student turned master, far out selling Bad these days, is an honest and welcome addition to the plot line. Not knowing if this was purposeful or not, surprisingly Farrell did not receive top-billing for this role. But in this blogger's humble opinion, a good move and a refreshing role for Farrell.

Though not nominated for Best Picture, Crazy Heart has garnered a total of three Oscar nominations, including a Best Actor nod for Bridges. Definitely a worth-while film, entertaining and inspiring.

The Bee Charmer Rating: B+