The BC Review: Stone

I have been wanting to see the Robert De Niro and Edward Norton psychological thriller, Stone, since opening night some three or four months ago, but until last night, never got the chance. Although not quite as good as I had hoped, Stone leaves a powerful mark on the psyche. That is, for better or worse, it leaves you thinking (never a bad thing in my opinion).

Stone opens with a young couple living in suburbia circa late 1960s, an Italian man with greased hair sits in an armchair sipping Jack Daniels and watching television. His young auburn-haired wife strives to get his attention, but is rebuffed. Fast forward a few moments we see the woman carrying the couple's small child up the stairs to her bedroom, her mother tenderly kissing her before turning to leave. But for some reason the woman stops. Her attention is placed on a small fly caught in the screen of the window. She watches this fly as it furiously flaps its wings, creating a grating buzzing sound, chillingly contrasting with the quiet room and pastoral scene below the child's window.

Unable to save the trapped insect, the woman descends down the stairs. The tension builds. She enters the living room, stops, and addresses her husband. Four simple words come out - "I am leaving you." The man turns, runs up the stairs, grabs his daughter from her bed and holds her out the bedroom window, threatening to drop her. The wife pleads and promises - "I will not leave you."

We are now in present day.

We learn more about the man. His name is Jack. He is life-long prison psychiatrist three months shy of retirement. The woman, his wife Madylyn, appears broken and distant - she has learned to live a life with Jack; not a healthy or loving one, but a life.

Jack (played by Robert De Niro) is the doorway to the outside for his patients. To get 'out there', you must go through him. He's had many patients, some tough, some not so tough, some clearly described as con artists, but it is not until he meets Stone (played by Edward Norton), that he is truly challenged. Stone, a convicted arsonist, believes he has served his time (8 years out of 10-15) has a job lined up on the outside, a record of good behavior in prison, and a loving wife who has been faithfully awaiting his return. Jack has dealt with thousands just like him. Young, cocky, raring to get out. But there is something Jack does not know - Stone is a master manipulator. His one goal, his only goal, to get out, consumes him. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Edward Norton is one of the most authentic actors out there. He does not disappoint as the arsonist, adorned with tattoos on his forearms, corn rows, and piercing eyes. His portrayal of a young man with an unsavory past and not-so-hidden agenda is stirring and reminiscent of his role as a violent white supremacist in American History X. Just listening to this guy carry on in his vaguely southern accent and self-deluded grandeur makes my skin crawl. An excellent performance.

Stone both loves and uses his wife. Perhaps telling of his feelings for her, he likens his wife to an 'alien' stating she does not feel as others feel, she does not act as others act, and most events she treats as simply games. Lucetta (played by Milla Jovovich) is arguably the most interesting character in the film and Milla gives an honest and visceral performance as the strong-willed vixen.

Finally, interwoven throughout this thriller is the presence of God and the Church. It seems to guide the characters along and we experience each struggling to define what God means to him/her. The line between 'good' and 'evil' is blurred and each character makes her/his own way through the use and study of divinity - and often failing to understand its true meaning and place in their lives.

- Jack spends much of the film driving in his car, listening to preachers using radio as a powerful medium. But we see he is beginning to fall apart at the seams, visibly questioning his faith. His wife Madylyn reads every night from the Bible, often asking Jack to finish the blessings. He often loses his place.

- Stone begins to experiment with God as well, only he takes a different angle. The clear bastardization of religion.

- To Lucetta, there is no God.

Stone will leave you questioning and perhaps wanting more.

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: C -

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: Burlesque

Despite the abundance of criticism this film is receiving, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience I shared with my fellow movie-goers when checking out the new musical; Burlesque.

Not placing too much emphasis on the details (who really needs quality dialogue anyway?) the Christina Aguilera/Cher-helmed musical Burlesque is an entertaining array of glitz, glamour, seduction, stage theatrics, and above all - the astounding vocals of Ms. Aguilera!

Admittedly, before catching Aguilera on the big screen, I had a few of her bigger top 40 hits on my iPod (Fighter and Genie in a Bottle to name a couple), but following the film I have a funny feeling I will be increasing my Aguilera intake. I believe I am now a fan of the blond diva!

Our first glimpse of Aguilera, playing the role of Ali, is of her working in a dive diner in her mid-west hometown. Fed up with the trappings of small-town life, Ali sets off for the big city - Los Angeles - but not without belting out a killer rendition of the great, Etta James' "Something's Got a Hold On Me". From here we are hooked. Throughout the film Aguilera's Ali takes to the stage in a LA retro-Burlesque club, chimmying and belting out one hit after another (as well as a few originals).

In addition to Aguilera, we are treated to the talented vocal stylings, red lips, and legs that seem to go on forever, of one of the most famous divas of them all, Cher. It seems the inclusion of Cher to the Burlesque cast was likely an attempt to draw some "star power" to the film. But it really wasn't needed. Of course, Cher is fun to gaze at and she lends her voice to the flick in two notable numbers, but her presence seems forced. In this reviewer's opinion, Burlesque embodies enough pizazz without the additional swagger Cher brings to the stage.

Stanley Tucci and Kristin Bell lend their talents to the film as well. Tucci playing a familiar role as the unlucky in love assistant/best friend to Cher (think Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada). But Bell steps out of her comfort zone, taking on the villainous Nikki who will stop at nothing to halt Ali's ascension to the Burlesque spotlight.

Burlesque will fulfil the guilty pleasure in us all - lots of sparkle, even more lip gloss, and tons of toe-tapping music.

The Bee Charmer Review rating: B-

Watch the Trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PiPYAz7f0Q

The BC Review: Black Swan

Perhaps one of the flicks I was most excited about seeing this year, Natalie Portman's Black Swan, was none other than an ultimately thrilling, and very dark portrait of a prima ballerina plummeting her way down her own personal rabbit hole.

In case you haven't heard about this one, don't worry - you are not alone. Black Swan is in limited release, largely circulating among the "Indie" crowd. Honestly, I'm not sure why - it seems the film has enough twists and turns (literal and figurative) to please most audiences.

Black Swan is the story of Nina Sayers (played by Natalie Portman) a prima ballerina in NYC competing for the coveted role of the Swan Queen in the ballet classic "Swan Lake". Upon attaining that goal, she finds herself coming apart at the seems, physically and emotionally. And this is where it gets really good. The film mirrors the story of Swan lake, the story of a princess who is turned into a swan (the White Swan) by a spell. The spell can only be broken by her true love. But of course, there's a twist, her prince is seduced by her evil twin (the Black Swan) and upon learning of this, the White Swan realizes she can only be free in death and thus commits suicide.

I won't spoil the film for you, but suffice it to say - Nina begins to connect with both the White Swan and the Black Swan and must find a way to live both sides of her personality. The genius of the film hinges on this point, Nina's duality - both good and evil - co-existing within one person. The director really takes this to a whole new level as we see Nina battling her own psyche (sometimes in some shocking scenes) and interestingly developing the physical characteristics of the swan.

Natalie Portman (best known for The Professional, The Other Boleyn Girl, and Closer) is one of Hollywood's best kept secrets. Her roles tend to be far and few between, but when she makes an appearance she jumps head first into her role! Her role as Nina Sayers is no different; Portman purportedly studied ballet for a year in preparation for the role (both body and mind) and lost over 20 pounds (a sizable amount of weight for the petite actress). Not that I want to focus on the weight loss so much, of course, it definitely shows, but it is the way she transforms into Nina -vulnerable, fearful, striving for perfection to the point of physical and mental anguish.

A lesser known actress, Mila Kunis (catch her in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Date Night, and the voice of "Meg" in Family Guy) plays Lily - Nina's sometimes friend, sometimes nemesis. Lily is everything Nina is not; sexy, natural, and uninhibited, making for a formidable rival to the virginal Nina. Not surprisingly, Nina starts to believe her worst fear - Lily will take the Swan Queen role from her; ultimately replacing her. I think each of us can connect with this idea - someone wanting to replace you - your dreams, your accomplishments, your life... it's a scary prospect.

Finally, I would be remiss not to mention Barbara Hershey's visceral role as Erica Sayers, Nina's mother. Erica is tense to the point of horrifying, desperately trying to protect her daughter, while at the same time mourning for her own long-lost ballet career. Adorned all in black, with her hair tied securely in a bun, Erica represents the "what could happen" scenario for Nina; falling out of the spotlight and plummeting into darkness.

As I mentioned, due to its limited release you may have to dig a little deeper than usual to find a listing near you (but, believe me, it'll be worth it). Black Swan comes recommended for thriller fans seeking an out-of-the-ordinary flick with a talent for both beauty and the grotesque!

The Bee Charmer Review rating: A-

The Bee Charmer Review: Morning Glory

Over the weekend my husband and I made a trip to what is quickly becoming our go-to theatre, the AMC Courthouse 8, to catch the new Rachel McAdams romantic comedy - Morning Glory.

Morning Glory, also starring Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Jeff Goldblum, is a delightful, tasteful, light-hearted "rags to riches" comedy with a few ups and downs (but mostly, ups!).

Movie Tagline (if it were up to me): Prepare to embrace your inner nerd!

Rachel McAdams plays Becky; the slightly nerdy, seriously perky, over-achieving producer who is desperate to reach her goal: Executive Producer of the Today Show! I know, seems like kind of a lofty goal, but also seems like kind of a disappointing one too! I mean, it doesn't get much quirkier than morning "news" programs (if we can really call them that). And throughout the film, we are not alone in this feeling - nearly every character has trouble taking Becky and her dream seriously. Even her mother begs her to give it up - expressing the utter embarrassment she suffers as a result of her 30-something daughter's ambitions.

From a character perspective, I really enjoyed watching McAdams in this role. She is the standard "girl next door" actress (see her in the Time Traveler's Wife, Wedding Crashers, and of course, The Notebook) and she played Becky with a natural ease. At first Becky is disheveled and almost panicky, but as the film progresses, so does she. Even the nuance of her ragged hair is transformed to a stylish curled coiffure.

Of course, despite all that, we still find ourselves cheering Becky on and hoping she will make it to her own personal grand finale. (Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil it for you).

Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford lend their serious acting chops to this romp - the former more in a comedic tone akin to her performance in The First Wives Club - the latter in a markedly more serious role. Mind you, Ford manages to be amusing, but in a very "I'm Harrison Ford and I always maintain an air of dignity" sort of way.

Because this was one of the better romantic comedies I've seen, I will hold back from giving you too much detail, but I will give you one of the best scenes. If you've ever wondered if the "Today Show" or "Good Morning America" actually managed to get those large crowds of people outside in the plaza (even on really cold days), the fictional producers of "Day Break" have it covered - cut to a very small crowd ( 3-5 people tops) filmed just within the parameters of the camera! It may be nearly non-existent in real life, but to the average TV viewer the effect is somewhat different!

In the hope you will run out see this one, I will end this commentary with one final thought. Instead of the overly gratuitous love scenes that dominate the box office these days, Morning Glory steers clear; choosing instead taste and creativity. Sure, they give us enough to know where our heroine's love-life stands, but spare us the unimaginative details. If only other films could follow this lead...

Morning Glory is a fun-filled romantic comedy the whole family can enjoy.

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: B+

The Bee Charmer Review: Inception

Hi everyone!

I know, I know, it's been quite a while since I've written. My sincere apologies for the delay - things have been a bit (more) chaotic than usual around here and suffice it to say, I haven't made it to the theatre recently... that is, until last night!

AND I am very happy to say, the return was a good one. My husband just returned from a stressful weekend in Richmond so we decided to treat ourselves to the University Mall Theatre in Fairfax, VA. University Mall is one of those cozy independent "Mom and Pop" cinemas that show only slightly out-dated flicks at a very inexpensive ticket price (just 3 dollars each!).

Last night's pick: the Leonardo DiCaprio- helmed sci/fi-fantasy, Inception. This one had been on my list for some time and was worth the wait! Much to our surprise, the theatre was packed (I'd say a very good sign for the longevity of the film.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Marion Cotillard, and Tom Beringer, Inception is the story of a team of theives who steel information, secret information, sometimes information the subject is unaware they even know, from the subject's dreams. Sounds relatively simple right? All you have to do is hook yourself up to a machine, take a sedative, and poof! you are sharing in the unconcious dream of another. Of course, as with all good stories there is always a complication: enter, Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Cobb, and his homocidal wife, Mal (played by Marion Cotillard)- or is it just a projection of his wife?

Although I rarely comment on a film's director (well, aside from the Coen Brothers and Quentin Tarantino), I think in this case it is worth mentioning. Inception was directed by Christopher Nolan, the genious behind the revised adaptations of Batman (Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) and such mind-bending films as Memento, and therefore, it stands to reason, this film embodies top-notch direction. Nolan may be on the fast-track to becoming one of my favorite directors.

The other day I picked up my husband's copy of Forbes magazine and came across a quote which really sums it up:

"I have a foolproof device for judging whether a picture is good or bad. If my fanny squirms, it's bad. If my fanny doesn't squirm, it's good."

- Harry Cohn, former American president and production director of Columbia Pictures.

I can say, for the entirety of the film my fanny did not squirm, not once. I felt glued to my seat, eyes squarely focused on the sites and sounds of the screen, and my mind completing a series of gymanastics in an attempt to follow the incredibly detailed and well, almost entirely original idea.

It should be noted, however, that some similarities (intentional or unintentional) do exist. Off the top of my head, as I was watching Cobb and his dream-altering team navigate various levels in the unconcious mind of their target, the films Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and What Dreams May Come came to my mind. (Insert shameless plug here, if you liked Inception, might recommend the former two).

Inception is recommended for fans of Christopher Nolan and those interested in the exploring the possibilities that exist in the human mind. Strap yourself in for one mind-expanding journey!

The Bee Charmer Review: A

The BC Review: Machete

So for those of you who wouldn't categorize yourselves as Quentin Tarentino fans, I will start this review by stating it's probably best that you leave this one alone. Of course, on the other hand, if you are Tarantino fans, then have at it!

Robert Rodriguez's Mexican-vigilant flick, Machete, does not disappoint!

To understand Machete, you really need to look back to 2007's Grindhouse Presents films: Robert Rodrigquez's Planet Terror and Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. Though, not original Grindhouse flicks, the 70's-inspired horror films gave us our first glance at the now feature film, Machete (as it originally appeared as a fictitious trailer in the former).

As the story goes, an ex-Federale seeks revenge against a notorious Mexican drug lord, only to become unwitting involved in an on-going battle between the money-grubbing, power-seeking (and really, for all intents and purposes) morally bankrupt Texan politicians, red-neck border vigilantes, and "the Network," an off-the-grid, underground railroad of sorts, for those seeking to cross the border illegally. Machete give us a taste for revenge (with the added bonus of Cheech Marin as a gun-toting Catholic priest!). And of course, as the title predicts, machetes are everywhere.

Now, I know there's been a bit of discussion over the supposed political messages presented here, but for this review, I will say this, Machete is what it is, a totally over-the-top bloodbath complete with ridiculous images (to include naked women) and copious amounts of gore. Let's not read too much into the so-called "political message" (leave that for another discussion) and just sit back and enjoy.

But, what else could we expect from Rodriguez? Machete gives us what we asked for - a full-length, completely crazy feature to fill the void left from Planet Terror.

Machete stars a litany of Hollywood who's who to include:

- Danny Trejo (quite possibly the ugliest man on film these days) as the title character "Machete"

- Robert De Niro, as the morally reprehensible Senator McLaughlin

- Jessica Alba, as the sexy Latina ICE officer

- Michelle Rodriquez (aka Lost's Anna Lucia) as "She"

- Stephen Seagal, as the notorious Mexican drug lord

...and even, Lindsay Lohan, as (no surprise here) the slutty daughter of a prominent Texan. The only thing I think that could have added to this film is the addition of my new favorite "bad guy" - Mickey Rourke.

Machete comes recommended for fans of Tarantino and Rodriguez. This, I cannot emphasize enough. Strap yourselves in for one wild, machete-wielding, ride!

The Bee Charmer Review Rating: C

New Feature:Watch the Trailer