Pan's Labyrinth

I was hesitant to watch this movie when it first came out. It wasn’t my usual avoidance to subtitles, but my general disdain for fantasy. For some reason, I’ve never been able to get into worlds filled with trolls, fairies and other assorted magical creatures. So, even though everyone raved about the film, I passed it up. Then Matt put it on our list for movies to review and I put it at the top of my Netflix queue. Man, I hate to admit this, but Matt was so right to choose it.

In Pan’s Labyrinth we meet a charming young girl named Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil). They are on their way to join Carmen’s new husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez). Carmen is pregnant and the pregnancy isn’t going well. The doctor had urged her not to travel, but her new husband is a tyrant and he wanted her to join him. Ofelia feels no love toward her cruel stepfather so she retreats into a world of books.

Upon arrival, we learn the extent of Vidal’s cruelties. The movie takes place in 1940’s Spain under the rule of fascism and there are rebel forces hiding in the mountains around Vidal’s home. It is his mission to eradicate every rebel. Vidal’s head servant, Mercedes (Maribel Verdu) is secretly aiding the rebels and she lives in constant fear of being discovered.

Mercedes has a soft spot for Ofeslia so she takes the young girl under her wing to protect her from her stepfather. Ofelia delves further into her fantasy world as her mother’s health deteriorates. She discovers Pan, who tells her she is the second coming of an immortal princess. If she passes several tests, she will be united with her father, the King. Ofelia embarks on these adventures in the hopes of leaving her dismal life with Captain Vidal behind.

When Carmen dies in childbirth, things get harder for Ofelia and she longs to finish her remaining quests and escape her circumstances. In the end Ofelia finds her father the King and the rebels prevail over the evil Captain Vidal. But there are steep prices to pay for these victories. This movie illustrates the extent of a child’s imagination and her determination to escape the evils of the world.

I give Pan’s Labyrinth the full five stars. This movie was excellent from start to finish. The acting was extraordinary, the cinematography was divine and the story was exquisitely written. This movie broke my heart, but it really made me FEEL and that’s always worth the heartbreak. I highly recommend Pan’s Labyrinth.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

Pan's Labyrinth

Pan’s Labyrinth

Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Torro pulls out all the stops in this allegorical tale of good versus evil.  Enlisting the aid of Doug Jones, Sergi Lopez, Ivana Baquero, and Maribel Verdu; Del Torro breathes life into this captivating and inspiring foreign fairytale.  In doing so, he creates a film that can only be described as Alice in Wonderland meets Valkyrie.

The film begins in earnest as mother and daughter are in route to their new home.  Carmen (Ariadna Gil) tries to convince her headstrong daughter, Ofelia (Baquero), that the new man in their lives will keep them safe during this time of civil unrest.  She requests that Ofelia calls him father; however, Ofelia refuses to obey her mother’s petition.

They soon arrive and are greeted by Ofelia’s new stepfather, Captain Vidal (Lopez), and a host of his underlings.  As greetings are exchanged, Ofelia acknowledges the familiar stranger via his rank in the military and not as the head of her family.  Vidal recognizes the intentional distinction and becomes incensed by the little interloper, which undoubtedly will not secure her wellbeing during this time of war.

As the film progresses, Vidal attempts to rid the surrounding area of rebels that are proving to be more than just a little elusive.  In addition, his wife, Carmen, becomes extremely ill due to her pregnancy and must be placed on bed rest until she is ready to deliver the baby.  Ofelia is forced to stay away from her mother during this time, per the Captain’s orders.  So, she begins to explore her surroundings and discovers some new friends, both human and mythical.

Upon a cursory search of the grounds, Ofelia discovers an old maze, which is described as a labyrinth by her new best friend Mercedes (Verdu).  She watches over Ofelia, but can’t help feeling that the child is in danger as long as her mother remains with the evil Captain.  In the process of dealing with her grief over her mother and in opposition to Mercedes instructions, Ofelia ventures into the labyrinth and discovers an underground world, which is guarded by an ancient faun named Pan (Jones).

The faun describes in detail how Ofelia is the reincarnated princess of this underworld.  He indicates that she must complete three tasks in order to reunite with her true father and reclaim her royal status.  Ofelia begins her double life attempting to care for her ailing mother, while secretly trying to complete each task successfully.

Just as Ofelia believes her mother is going to recover, she goes into labor and delivers a healthy baby boy.  However, during child birth, Ofelia’s mother passes away leaving only Mercedes and the faun to turn to in her time of need.  After Mercedes failed attempt at escaping with the child, Ofelia turns to Pan for direction.  Does he guide her down the correct path?  Does she complete her tasks or will she forever be a slave to a tyrannical stepfather?  I won’t ruin the ending for you, but you will need to watch the movie to uncover the mystery.

Even though this film had subtitles, I still found myself drawn into the story.  The acting was on a different level, the cinematography was breathtaking, and the musical score only solidified the greatness of this film.  I was always waiting to see what happened next and was surprised several different times as Del Torro managed to place a labyrinth of twists and turns into this film, which will keep you guessing right up until the end.  I give Pan’s Labyrinth 4.5 stars.  If you are interested in watching a war time movie with a bit of a twist, I would highly recommend winding your way through this one.

That’s How Matt Sees It!

Sorry, Wrong Number

Sorry, Wrong Number

So, this is not my normal movie selection; however, I have to thank Mitzi for this review request. I most likely would never have stumbled across this lost treasure, if it had not been brought to my attention. Everyone should dial this movie up at least once, I don’t think you will regret it!

This Anatole Litvak directed piece stars Barbara Stanwick and Burt Lancaster. These two superstars are called upon to carry the film with acting prowess seldom seen in feature films of today. In addition, the film is entirely in black and white, which seems to add to the creepiness of the picture.

The film begins with Leona (Stanwick) in bed and trying to contact her husband, Henry (Lancaster), who some how seems to be eerily missing. She is frantically attempting to contact her husband because he was supposed to arrive home before her nurse left for the day. As time continues to pass, Leona begins to make a series of phone calls in order to track down her long lost mate. In the process, she is accidentally connected to a call where she overhears two men planning the murder of an unknown woman.

As she hangs up on the call, Leona begins her whirlwind attempt to track down the phone call and find her husband in the process. She has multiple flashbacks, which gives us a deeper understanding of her and the relationship with Henry. The two are as different as oil and water, yet they attempt to mix and hope for the best.

He comes from humble beginnings and she is a daughter of privilege. The two marry and Henry accepts a position in her father’s company. They move into dear old dad’s home and all is well. Uhm, not really…how many of you have moved in with the In-laws and all went well? That’s what I thought! Immediately, the resentment began to grow as Henry starts to feel that he is a kept man unable to provide for his wife or even himself. He wants to be a free spirit and strike out on his own only to have his wife nix the idea each and every time.

Not only is Leona a self-centered spoiled brat, but she is the ultimate daddy’s girl. Whatever Leona wants, Leona will get! The problem is that Leona continues to fight an illness, which leads to yet more issues for our bedridden hypochondriac. She becomes completely dependent on others for help.

The film continues with Leona making more calls as she slowly pieces together the disturbing phone call and her husbands recent disappearance. She begins to think that the unknown woman may be her. Could she be right or does she just have an overactive imagination, which perhaps may explain her illness as well? You will have to watch the film to find out! But, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised by the ending…I was!

This film was wonderfully produced, filmed, acted and written. I give Sorry, Wrong Number 4.5 stars. The actors were outstanding and Stanwick gives an amazing performance. The film has a creepy factor, which is enhanced with both the music and cinematography. The use of shadow and music is unbelievable and allows our imaginations to run wild. If you haven’t had a chance to see this film, I would recommend it highly even if you are not a fan of black and white pictures. Sorry, Wrong Number is right on target!

That’s How Matt Sees It!

Sorry, Wrong Number

When I was younger I thought I didn’t like old movies. They just never seemed to appeal to me. But as I grow older, I have learned to appreciate older movies. The acting that once seemed wooden to me is now a study of another time and place. I’m always pleased to find an old black and white gem and Sorry, Wrong Number definitely qualifies as a gem.

In this movie we find Leona (Barbara Stanwyck) confined to her bed. She let her nurse have the evening off because her husband, Henry (Burt Lancaster) swore he would be home to care for her. Unfortunately, Henry did not come home and Leona is in need of assistance. She tries to call Henry and ends up overhearing a murder plot on the phone. Naturally, Leona is frightened by what she hears and calls the police. The police have no time to deal with her, so she uses the phone to follow clues about her husband and the murder plot.

As Leona digs deeper into the mysterious call, she discovers that a plot to murder a stranger, may actually be a plot to murder her. We learn in flashbacks that all is not well between Henry and Leona. Henry was dirt poor when he caught the eye of Leona, daughter of a wealthy businessman. Leona’s father gave Henry a job in the family business and the happy couple moved into Daddy’s mansion.

The confines of the marriage began to chafe Henry. He finds his wife annoying and comes to hate working for his father-in-law. He dreams of striking out on his own, but knows his wife will never support it. Does Henry decide to kill his wife? Is he having an affair with his old flame? Is Leona really an invalid? I would never ruin the suspense by telling you.

Sorry, Wrong Number earns four stars. The story is very well written and keeps you guessing until the very end. Barbara Stanwyck is riveting in this role and keeps you at the edge of your seat while she works to unravel the mysterious phone call. Sorry, Wrong Number may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy old movies, you are sure to be drawn into this movie.

Michelle D. Kieffaber