What Dreams May Come

OMG, I was stuck in chick-flick hell for almost two hours watching this movie. I was excited to see the movie at first because it had Robin Williams and I love him, but once the movie cranked up, I was just in pain. I am not a girly girl and never respond well to movies designed to tug at my heart-strings.

In What Dreams May Come, we are introduced to Christy (Robin Williams) and Annie (Annabella Sciorra). They meet while vacationing abroad and fall madly, completely, immediately in love. It surprises no one when they marry and have a family. This family is perfect; he’s a doctor, she’s an artist, they have the older son, the younger daughter, an awesome house, etc. Then one day perfection is shattered when the children die in a car crash.

Christy stoically learns to live with the loss and move on, but Annie is fragile and needs to be handled carefully. She struggles with the issue and is admitted to a mental hospital. Christy loves her, but needs her t move on. Miraculously, she pulls herself together and they continue their marriage.

On the anniversary of the day they decide to stay together, Christy witnesses a car crash and rushes to help. While standing near the wreckage, another car careens out of control and hits Christy. He dies. He lingers on earth, trying to make contact with his beloved, Annie, then decides to move on. When he decides to love on, he wakes in the midst of one of Annie’s paintings.

Once in the painting he discovers a guide who helps him learn to navigate his way around heaven. He is obsessed with Annie and longs to find his children. His guide (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) tells him it will all come in time. Once he is finally feeling comfortable in heaven, he learns that Annie has killed herself and that suicides go directly to hell … and stay there.

Christy cannot accept that he will be forever separated from Annie so he trots off to hell to get her back. I know we ladies say we want a man who will go to hell and back, but the symbolism here really beats you over the head. Is Christy able to save Annie? Are they both reunited with the children? Watch and find out (why should I be the only one to suffer).

I give What Dreams May Come two stars. The acting is good and the scenery is remarkable, but the story is so sappy and predictable that it made my head hurt. If you love chick flicks (and I know many of you do) then I’m sure you will feel differently about this movie, but if you are a hard-hearted chick like me, you may want to pass on What Dreams May Come.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

What Dreams May Come

What Dreams May Come

This Vincent Ward directed film has a star studded cast featuring:  Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Annabella Sciorra.  The film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, which is certainly well deserved.  Ward takes his best artistic swipe at portraying heaven in this somewhat captivating movie.

The film begins with Chris (Williams) and Annie (Sciorra) meeting each other.  As is the case in film, we are jettisoned forward into time as we come to rest just before a major tragedy, which involves the couple’s two children.  The early demise of her kids sends Annie into an emotional tailspin, which Chris aides in pulling her through or so it would seem.

As Chris and Annie deal with the loss of their children, we are once again tossed into the future where we discover the love and compassion that Chris continues to shower on his emotionally fragile wife.  The two are soul mates and destined to spend the rest of their lives together, which happens to be cut short with yet another untimely car accident that claims Chris’ life.

Chris is transported to heaven after coming to the realization that he is actually deceased.  He is escorted into the afterlife by a mentoring angel named Albert (Gooding Jr.).  Chris wakes up in his own version of heaven, which is heavily influenced by paint.  According to Albert, the reason for the paint is because Chris finds it to be a comfort, which represents his wife’s passion in life.  Chris explores heaven and soon realizes that he may be able to meet up with his children who had preceded him in death.

As would be expected, Annie does not do well with Chris’ early demise and decides to end her life as well.  Chris is alerted to the tragedy and becomes overjoyed as he presumes she will be joining him shortly in heaven.  Unfortunately, Albert indicates that people who commit suicide do not join the others in paradise.  He states that they are forever trapped between worlds for the rest of eternity.  Irate with that explanation, Chris decides to search out and find his true love.  His journey is interesting and filled with self-discovery.  He eventually finds his kids and his wife, but will he be able to reunite them for eternity?

This movie was exquisitely filmed and the special effects were absolutely outstanding.  The theology behind the movie was weak; however, they were pandering to the viewing audience not the theologians preaching the Sunday morning service.  Overall, I enjoyed the movie and gave it 4 stars.  There are several very emotional parts to the film, so don’t forget to grab the tissue box.  What Dreams May Come was a pleasant surprise!

That’s How Matt Sees It!

The Book of Eli

The Book of Eli

The Hughes brothers attempt to bring a different edge to a post-apocalyptic America.  In doing so, they are going to have to rely heavily on their all-star cast:  Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman, and Jennifer Beals.  The idea is captivating, but can they pull it all together to make the movie work?

The film begins with Eli (Washington) traversing the arid countryside.  We come to quickly realize that he is no ordinary man.  His fighting skills are quickly called into action as he is ambushed by an unsavory group.  He dispatches of them in no time and does so in a most gruesome way.

He continues on his journey and ends up in a town that is run by Carnege (Oldman).  Carnege runs the town with an iron fist and no one dares to challenge his power or authority without the fear of reprisal.  The two will eventually become enemies over the book that Eli treasures above all else. 

The book is The Bible, which Carnege desires more than anything.  He believes that simply possessing the book will draw followers to him.  He is so immersed in the concept of the book that he will go to any length to get it.  He sends Claudia’s (Beals) daughter, Solara (Kunis), to Eli to try and seduce and earn his trust.  As fate would have it, the two become friends and eventually find themselves on the run with Carnege giving chase.

Does Carnege get the book or does Eli deliver it safely to its destination?  The answer is both, but you’ll have to see the end of the movie to find out how that is possible.  The question is, “Do you want to spend your time watching this movie?”

This film did not impress me much other than the occasional fight scene that seemed too scattered throughout the film.  This film gets 2.5 stars.  The cinematography was very good, the acting ok, but the writing wondered all over the place.  The pace of the movie never seemed to find a groove and felt disjointed.  The other issue I had was with all the whispering…what the heck…talk up so we can hear the dialogue.  Overall, I really didn’t care for the film and probably wouldn’t recommend it.  The Book of Eli should probably remain on the shelf!

That’s How Matt Sees It!

The Book of Eli

I heard lots of things about this movie before I saw it; most of them bad. I watched with an open mind because I love Denzel and Gary Oldman. I’m not sure what I was expecting from this movie, but I was surprised by it nonetheless.

In The Book of Eli, we notice immediately that we are in a post-apocalyptic world. Everything is brown, dry and dirty. We meet Eli (Denzel Washington) as he travels throughout the wastelands. He encounters a woman in distress and when he stops to help he realizes he has stepped into a trap. It becomes apparent that Eli is not your average traveler because he whips the asses of the thieves in short order.

Eli keeps moving on and discovers a village run by a strange and demented man, Carnegie (Gary Oldman). Eli hopes he can get some water and other supplies in the village, but is forced to fight and comes to the attention of Carnegie. Since Carnegie runs the town with an iron fist he is impressed with Eli’s fighting skills and looks to recruit him.

Additionally, Carnegie has spent years looking for a very valuable book and finds that his new guest is carrying a book. He sends a girl in the sleep with Eli, hoping she can find information on the book. Eli isn’t interested in sex, but he befriends the girl, Solara (Mila Kunis). Unfortunately, Carnegie learns Eli has the book and he sends some goons to grab it.

Eli and Solara take off and Carnegie and his gang chase them across the wastelands. What is the powerful book? It’s a Bible and it hasn’t been seen in years. Eli takes comfort from reading its pages and is willing to die to protect the book. Does he manage to keep the book from Carnegie? Watch the movie.

I give The Book of Eli three stars. I love post apocalyptic stuff, but there were too many holes in this plot to really satisfy me. Denzel was great and Mila Kunis was quite good, but I feel that Gary Oldman (one of my absolute favorites) falls into parody. The writing could have been MUCH better and the pacing was erratic. It’s not a horrible movie, but it’s certainly one I wouldn’t watch again.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

Life is Beautiful

I have to admit that I cheated a little when I watched this movie. I watched the dubbed version instead of reading the subtitles so at first I had that strange Saturday afternoon Godzilla move feeling because their mouths never matched the words. Once I got into the movie, that déjà vu feeling subsided.

Life Is Beautiful takes place during the years leading up to World War II through the end of the war. The movie takes place in Italy and chronicles the love affair between Guido (Roberto Benigni) and Dora (Nicoletta Braschi). Guido is a happy-go-lucky man who falls hard for a woman of wealth and privilege. He pursues her with vigor and determination and eventually she leaves her comfortable life to marry her humble prince.

The two establish a quiet and loving life with their son Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini) until one day the Nazis come to take Guido and Giosue away. When Dora finds them missing she tracks them to the rail yard where they are about to leave for the concentration camps. Dora is not Jewish so she is in no danger of being taken away, but she insists on joining her family and boards the train to the camps.

At the camps, Guido tried to keep Giosue calm by telling him they are playing a game and the person with the highest number of points will win a tank. The rules of the game require hiding from the guards, no complaining about hunger and staying calm. Guido engages in grueling work every day and sees horrors beyond compare, but stays upbeat when he comes back to his son.

In the end, the camp is liberated, but all of the family doesn’t make it out alive. I actually like that someone in the family dies at the end (I know it sounds bad), because it gives the film a sense of gravity that I felt it lacked. I understand Bignini’s attempt to show the Holocaust in a different light, but I just don’t feel all of the light hearted hijinks works in this movie.

I give Life Is Beautiful four stars. Even though I was bothered by some of the antics in the concentration camp, the movie is beautifully shot, acted and directed. I would definitely recommend Life Is Beautiful; grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

Life is Beautiful (la vita e bella)

Life Is Beautiful

La Vita e Bella

Actor-director, Robert Benigni, captivates a movie genre unlike anyone else I have ever witnessed.  He is not only charged with delivering a fresh cinematic take on WWII, but also has the added pressure of being the main character.  Benigni is joined in his quest to differentiate his film with such names as:  Giustino Durano, Nicoletta Braschi (Benigni’s real-life wife), Sergio Bini Bustric, and last but not least Giorgio Cantarini.  Benigni’s classic was nominated for seven Academy Awards and walked away with an astonishing three victories, which included:  Best Actor, Best Music Score, and Best Foreign Film.  As impressive as this was, the big screen success also got a nod from the Academy for Best Motion Picture.  For a foreign film to be nominated for Best Motion Picture is quite an amazing feet, unfortunately Benigni couldn’t quite get the Academy to award the top honor to his masterpiece.

This dramedy begins with a chance meeting between Guido (Benigni) and his soon to be love interest Dora (Braschi).  Instant infatuation results as Dora captivates our happy-go-lucky traveler, who decides to give her the nickname of princess.  As the film progresses, Guido has several more “chance” meetings with Dora and tries to win her heart.  Unfortunately, Dora is engaged and about ready to announce her marriage to another man.  Guido continues his uphill battle in order to win the heart of the woman he loves.  To say he does it the traditional way is a horse of a different color (quite literally…I believe it was green), he crashes the wedding announcement party and carries her off to live happily ever after! 

The two meet up with Guido’s Uncle (Durano), who happens to be Jewish, which is not a bad thing unless you are in Italy waiting for Hitler to invade your country.  With a jump ahead of about five years, we catch a glimpse of Giosue (pronounced Joshua – I believe) (Cantarini) running and playing with his mother and father.  Guido is always playing games with the boy and frequently takes him to work at the bookstore, which he owns.  For me, the movie transitions from comedy/romance to drama right at this time.  As Guido leaves his shop and closes the gate, a spray-painted message indicates it belongs to a Jewish business owner.  Obviously, this is not a business endorsement during a pre-World War II environment.  Even with the hateful message, Guido continues to show his son the brighter side of the world.  He always has a glass half full mentality, which makes the rest of the film so believable.

As history has reported, those with Jewish background were rounded up and taken away via trains, busses, trucks, etc.  In an apparent show of support, Dora shows up just before the train is to depart with her husband and son.  She demands to be let on the train and the officer-in-charge grants her request.  Our family travels for many hours and finally arrives at their destination, which is a concentration camp.  The primary objective at this point is merely to survive what is sure to be the most trying time of their lives.

Guido quickly tells his son that they are playing a game with a tank as the grand prize (his son loves tanks).  He lets Joshua know that if they play the best game possible then they will get to take the tank home.  However, in order to win the tank he must be able to score points every day by managing to stay hidden and not ask for food.  His son believes his father and does as he says; which in many cases turns into quite the comedy routine featuring the antics of Benigni.  Even the men in the barracks with Guido play along to keep the child safe and believing that he one day will win his tank.

The only part of the movie that renders any kind of war-like imagery is when Guido accidentally stumbles across a mass burial site littered with hundreds of bodies.  Even with this, the imagery is ghostly and not ghastly as all that can be seen are the outlines of the bodies and not the guts and gore that ultimately permeates our subconscious.  This was a moving scene without a body exploding or blood oozing from an open wound.  The message was clear and it was eerily painful to see as we witness the atrocity seemingly standing right beside the main character.

The time comes for the war to end and Guido kicks into high gear to make sure his family is able to get out alive.  Do they make it?  Well, let’s just say that Joshua gets his tank, but as with all prizes it comes with a cost.

This may be my all-time favorite movie.  I have to say that the subtitles are a little tough to follow as they fly by in a hurry.  However, as the movie goes along the pacing slows down.  I would highly suggest seeing this picture with the subtitles as opposed to the dubbed version because I don’t believe they would do justice to the outstanding acting that Benigni brings to his character.  This foreign film gets a solid 5 stars and is well worth your time to see.

The acting is sublime from each and every character.  It seems at times that Benigni is over the top, but that’s what makes his character and persona so lovable.  The cinematography, special effects, and music score simply add to the ambiance that is Life is Beautiful. The use of comedy and drama are wonderfully balanced and you begin your journey, with this film, laughing and end with an understandable sadness.  If you haven’t had a chance to see this movie and I’m guessing most of you haven’t, pick it up and I’m sure you won’t regret it!

 That’s How Matt Sees It!

127 Hours

127 Hours

James Franco stars in director Danny Boyle’s true to life movie, 127 Hours, about Aron Ralston.  As most of us can recall, Aron made national headlines when he went missing and was subsequently found after amputating his own arm while on a hiking expedition in the desert.  I remember thinking that I could not fathom how I could come to that decision or even if I would have been capable of completing the task.  After watching the movie, I certainly can see how the human spirit and the will to survive can drive a person to take extreme measures that would otherwise seem unimaginable.

Aron (Franco) begins by preparing for a day away to enjoy the beauty and wonder that only Mother Nature can provide.  Unfortunately for him, he does not answer his own mother’s call before rushing out the door in seek of his next greatest adventure.  With a great amount of enthusiasm, he drives deep into the desert canyon, hops on his mountain bike and begins the biggest journey of his life.

As our self-aloof thrill-seeker continues on, he runs across two young ladies who have apparently lost their way.  Being the outgoing and helpful guy that he is, not to mention that the ladies are easy on the eyes, Aron volunteers to help them regain their bearings and takes them on a semi-guided tour.  Once the fun has dissipated; Aron says au revoir to the dashing beauties and continues on his merry way.  Once again, he misses the opportunity to reveal his plans to another human being.  Unfazed by being alone, Aron presses on with thoughts of excitement and adrenaline rushes yet to come.

Aron moves nimbly along the earth, crevices, and boulders as though they have been life-long friends that knew each other’s inner-most thoughts.  Perhaps he should have been communicating a little more clearly, because in a split second his world came crashing down around him.  As he is maneuvering his way down a steep incline, a boulder rolls free and speeds up his descent.  As though right out of a Hollywood movie, he is stopped in mid-air almost as though suspended by some magical force.  To his chagrin, he realizes that his hand has become lodged between the canyon wall and the enormous boulder that would soon become his nemesis.

The next several days are nothing short of life altering as Aron deals with death, life, and hallucinations that seem all too real.   He entertains himself with a camcorder that he has with him, which also acted as his last will and testament.  During his entrapment, he reflects on his relationships and how they all seemed to fail because he was too busy worrying about his own happiness.  He comes to realize that life is not all about the things we want, but the relationships that we cultivate over time.  In a moment of weakness (perhaps it was strength), Aron has a premonition/hallucination of his first born son.  Upon this stark revelation that he was to be a father, Aron makes it his priority to get out of his precarious situation by any means possible.  He knew that there was only one way to escape and that would involve some of the most horrendous and excruciating pain known to man. 

Did I like this movie?  Yes, I did like the movie.  The cinematography alone was breathtaking, but the acting was so amazing it goes beyond words.  With all due respect to The King’s Speech, this film should have produced the Best Actor.  This film earns 4 ½ stars for attempting something so difficult yet delivering a solid work of art.  If you have not had a chance to see this movie, I highly recommend you put it on your must see list.  You won’t be disappointed!

That’s How Matt See’s It!