Rome - Season One

DVD review by The Movie Snob

Rome (Season One). I bought these DVDs a long time ago, probably back when I was reading biographies of Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus. I thoroughly enjoyed them, watching all twelve first-season episodes over four or five evenings. But be warned--for some reason the directors decided they couldn't tell the story of Julius Caesar without tons of nudity and sex. I've never had HBO, but I guess that's HBO for you. Anyway, just be aware (or beware) that this is NC17 stuff.

Anyway, the series is a saga that unfolds over about 8 years, from 52 B.C. when Caesar has wrapped up his conquest of Gaul (modern France) to roughly the middle of March in 44 B.C. The leading men and women of Rome are accounted for: Caesar, his niece Atia, his great-nephew Octavian, his wife Calpurnia, Mark Antony, Brutus, Cicero, Pompey, and Cato. (Cleopatra also makes an appearance.) Young Octavian, who would eventually become Caesar Augustus, is a particularly interesting character--intelligent and philosophical, but as ruthless as the rest when necessary. But what really draws you in is the focus on two ordinary Roman soldiers in Caesar's army, a grunt named Titus Pullo and an officer named Lucius Vorenus, who become friends and get drawn into the political intrigue around Caesar as he returns to Rome from Gaul. They are a great pair. Vorenus is intelligent, pious, and honorable, but short-tempered and perhaps a little naive. Pullo is a simpler fellow, generally amoral but loyal and likeable, and less prone than Vorenus to assume that aristocrats are automatically virtuous folk.

Although the story seems "soaped up," I think it is basically true to the basic facts of history. The series opens with the death of Julius Caesar's daughter Julia, who was married to his great rival Pompey. With that bond shattered, the two men were put on a collision course that led to years of civil war that raged across Italy, Greece, and Egypt. For Caesar, defeating his enemies militarily was child's play compared to the challenge of reforming Rome's corrupt aristocratic "Republic." It's all there on the screen--the battles, the intrigue, the filthy streets, elaborate temples and forums, and bloody religious rituals. I was engrossed.

A final note on how HBO generally did a good job of not transposing modern customs and mores onto the ancient Romans. The characters occasionally shock you when, for instance, they treat or refer to their slaves as nonhumans, or children as the property of their father. Compassion is almost an unknown concept, and to the extent it exists it is certainly not wasted on barbarians or even on other Romans of lower birth than oneself. Morality itself was different in many ways--but the same in others, especially as exemplified in the touching friendship between Vorenus and Pullo.

I look forward to watching the second season, although I don't see how it can be quite as exciting as the first. Well, the contest for control of Rome between Octavian and Mark Antony could be pretty good, but once Octavian became Caesar Augustus my recollection is that he did a very good job of maintaining control without triggering too many rebellions and without ever succumbing to intrigue. We'll see.

(500) Days of Summer

From the desk of The Movie Snob

(500) Days of Summer (B+). I enjoyed this independent romantic dramedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Stop-Loss) and the ever-quirky Zooey Deschanel (Yes Man). If you've seen any trailers or read any reviews, you can't be too surprised by how the plot unfolds, but I'll err on the side of caution and put a spoiler alert.

SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT

The story is not told in chronological order, so you learn really quite quickly that things are not going to work out between the ardent romantic Tom and the doesn't-believe-in-love Summer. The pleasure lies in watching how it doesn't work. The tale is told from Tom's point of view, and we know from the start that he is committed to the belief that happiness is attainable, but only if you find The One You Are Meant To Be With. When Summer takes a job at the greeting-card company Tom works for, it's easy to see why he decides she's The One. But she's honest with him: she's looking for something casual, nothing serious. He must proceed at his own risk, and he does. To me, the movie generally felt real--the first pangs of infatuation, the giddiness when the early going goes well, the pain of loss are all well handled by Gordon-Levitt. And you can't really hate Summer when things stop going well. She warned him. And she's just so darned cute.

The Girl From Monaco

New review by The Movie Snob

The Girl From Monaco (C). In this French import, Bertrand Beauvois is a highly successful criminal defense attorney on the far side of 50. He is a very thoughtful and articulate fellow of unremarkable appearance. He goes to Monaco to defend a woman accused of a lurid crime--the murder of her much younger lover, a Russian who may have had mob ties. Consequently, the woman's son hires a bodyguard for Bertrand, and this fellow, Christophe, is a big dangerous fellow who says little and thinks . . . well, it's hard to know what he thinks, but he does a good job of looking after Bertrand. Anyway, careful and prudent Bertrand meets Audrey, a sexy local TV weathergirl maybe half his age, and perhaps to his surprise they start to have a torrid affair. Audrey is not only outrageously attractive but also utterly unhampered by inhibitions, and Bertrand's ability to defend the murder case is soon in danger of being compromised. And did I mention that Christophe is one of Audrey's undoubtedly numerous ex-boyfriends? It's not really a comedy and not quite a thriller, and the ending didn't really do it for me. But it's interesting enough, I guess, and the lithe Audrey is certainly easy on the eyes.

Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said

Book review from The Movie Snob

Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said, by Philip K. Dick. This is the fourth novel in the Library of America collection Five Novels of the 1960s and 70s. And I remember reading it and liking it back in high school. In some alternative reality, the student protests of the 1960s became a full-fledged civil war, and now the students have gone underground while those living in society are subject to an oppressive police state of multiple I.D.'s and random checkpoints. Anybody without proper I.D. is nabbed and packed off to a forced-labor camp. Our protagonist is Jason Taverner, a world-famous vocalist with a globally popular TV show. He's also one of a small number of genetically enhanced human beings known as "sixes." After Taverner is attacked by a deranged woman, he wakes up alone in a seedy hotel room with no I.D. and a wad of money in his pocket. Things quickly get even more bizarre: no one in the world knows who he is, and the central databank has no record he ever existed. He'll need all of his genetically enhanced smarts to avoid arrest and figure out how he has been erased from reality. Nice premise for a paranoid sci-fi tale, and it's a pretty enjoyable ride, but I think the ending is a let-down.

Arrested Development (Season 3)

DVD review from The Movie Snob

Arrested Development (Season 3) (B). Although the abbreviated final season of Arrested Development doesn't hit the delirious highs of the earlier ones, it still packs quite a few laughs into just 13 episodes. The first half of the season is probably the funnier half, featuring a story arc in which Michael investigates George, Sr.'s claim that some sinister Brits set him up to take the fall for the Iraqi building project. Charlize Theron has a recurring guest role, and other notable guest stars include Scott Baio (who replaces Henry Winkler as the family's new lawyer Bob Loblaw), Judge Reinhold, and Justine Bateman in a memorable turn as someone who just might be Michael's (Jason Bateman) long-lost sister. I hear that there is a movie in the works, and I will definitely turn out for it. Well, if the reviews are good.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

From a shell-shocked Movie Snob

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (D). Maybe I was just confused because I didn't see the first installment of this franchise, but this very long movie seemed like the most ridiculous thing I have seen on a movie screen in a very long time. It is becoming a perennial complaint of mine that big battle scenes in these summer blockbusters are so fast and so poorly edited that you have no idea what in the world is actually going on. Every fight scene (and there are about nine of them) is a loud and deathly dull blur. I gather that there's a big war on between two camps of extraterrestrial robots (that can transform), and we are unlucky enough that Earth has become their battlefield. This dud probably deserves an "F," but there were a couple of decently humorous moments, and I appreciated the depiction of our men in uniform as exceptionally brave and (generally) extremely competent. Although they're also apparently suicidal, since our finest weaponry seems to have little effect on the diabolical decepticons. Okay, I've wasted too much of my effort and your time on this review. SKIP THIS MOVIE.

The Dallas Boat Show

From The Bleacher Bum

The Dallas Boat Show

On Friday, Pedro, Metro, Doug-O, and I went to the Dallas Boat Show. I went in 2005 and 2007. This year's show was not as impressive as years past. And I feel confident in saying that the current economy was the reason. There were about half the number of boats as in 2007. Also, there were only a few extravagant boats/yachts (i.e. price tags starting at $150,000 and up), whereas in years past there would be over thirty. The majority of boats were in the $30,000 - $90,000 range; dealers were offering them at 60%-80% of their sticker price. Lenders willing to provide on-the-spot financing were hard to find as well.

With that all said, it is still a nice event and good way to escape the heat of a hot Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The Dallas Boat Show continues on July 24-26, 2009. It is at Dallas Market Hall off of IH-35 and Market Hall. Admission is ten bucks for adults. They do serve beer and wine. for just five dollars. The one thing the economy didn't affect.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

From the desk of The Movie Snob

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (C+). I should stop reviewing these things because I am sure nobody in the vast throng of people that watch these movies agrees with me. Nevertheless, the critic must attend to his duty. I think I liked this installment a tiny bit better than some of the earlier ones because of the romantic subplots that are developing as the young wizards start to grow up. Those stories were entertaining enough. The heavy stuff about the terrifying evil wizard Voldemort and the effects-heavy battles that advance (?) that plot just leave me cold. Also, I was confused by the arc of this movie -- it seemed like the big question was whether Harry was going to be able to get some big secret out of Hogwarts' newest professor, but then it sort of sounded like Dumbledore had already guessed, or at least half-guessed, the facts that were being concealed. Oh well. I will add that Helena Bonham Carter seems perfect for her role as one of the evil henchmen.

Moon -- A Second Opinion

New review from The Movie Snob

Moon. (B+) I was planning to see this movie anyway, but Move Man Mike's review sealed the deal. There are loud echoes of 2001: A Space Odyssey in this tale of life on the Moon in the not-too-distant future--and that's a good thing. Earth has gotten hooked on good, clean fusion energy, but the catch is that the fuel has to be mined on the Moon. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell, Galaxy Quest) is the sole human inhabitant of a mining station on the far side of the Moon, with only a vocal computer named GERTY (voice by Kevin Spacey, The Usual Suspects) for company. His three-year contract is almost over, and he's looking forward to returning to his wife and daughter, but his mental and physical health are starting to break down. After an accident nearly kills him, rescue arrives from a most unexpected and mysterious source. Sure, there are some holes and implausibilities in the tale, but it is still an enjoyable and thought-provoking tale. If you like this movie, I urge you to try the novel Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Arrested Development (Season 2)

From the desk of The Movie Snob

Arrested Development (Season 2). (B+) I actually finished watching this season on DVD a few weeks ago, so I'm afraid my memory is already a little hazy. As I recall, I thought the first disc was a little slow -- good, but not great -- but then the other two discs were better and propelled the show back into the high quality of the first season. Most cast members got their opportunities to shine, although I did think that Lindsay and Maebe (played by Portia de Rossi and Alia Shawkat) got a little shortchanged. One of the most amusing storylines had to do with George Michael (Michael Cera) and his very plain girlfriend Ann Veal (Mae Whitman). At first George Michael's father Michael (Jason Bateman) can't remember that Ann exists, then he can't keep her name straight, and then he just doesn't like her. Lots of great guest stars, including repeats from the first season like Henry Winkler, Lisa Minelli, and Judy Greer, and new ones like Dick Van Patten, Ione Skye, Ben Stiller, and Zach Braff. We'll see if the truncated third season can measure up....

The Essays of Leonard Michaels

Book review from The Movie Snob

The Essays of Leonard Michaels, edited by Katharine Ogden Michaels (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2009). You know what's a dangerous combination? Going to my favorite McDonald's for breakfast on a weekend morning and reading book reviews in a magazine or newspaper. Know why? Because this particular McD's shares a parking lot with a Borders book store. So when I read a glowing review of this book, I somehow acquired a copy before I made it home again. I had never heard of Michaels (1933-2003), but the review sold me on the book. It had some interesting stuff in it, especially his story about writing a successful novel, then getting a contract to turn it into screenplay, and then actually getting the movie made. Interesting stuff. (The movie, The Men's Club, was not a success.) His autobiographical essays were also quite good. Still, I think I would have been wiser to just check it out of the library.

Desert Solitaire (book review)

Book review from The Movie Snob

Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness, by Edward Abbey (1968). I had never heard of this book until a recent vacation in Utah, and then I seemed to see it in every bookstore and read about it in every guidebook. If I remember right, Abbey was a ranger for the National Park Service in 1957 and 1958, and he spent those summers at Arches National Monument in southeastern Utah. This book is about his experience as a ranger in the summer of 1957, and I thought it was a very interesting read. Abbey was clearly a person of strong feelings; he loved the desert and hated what he called "industrial tourism." In this book he calls for much greater protection for our national parks, and specifically for rules banning all motor vehicles in those parks. If you want to go in, ride a bike or a horse, or walk. He waxes philosophical a lot, and he espouses something he refers to as hedonistic paganism. He has nothing good to say about Christianity in its mainstream or Mormon varieties, although he does admire the Mormons' pioneer spirit. It's an easy read, and a great accompaniment to a trip through Utah's vast wildernesses. I recommend it.

Moon

Yet another new review from Movie Man Mike!

Moon (A-). This film is a definite "must see" for Sci-fi fans. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) has a 3-year contract with a Helium mining company, and he's got two more weeks to go before his contract is up. He's the sole occupant of an outpost on the moon, and it's his job to keep the mining machines in operation. As the end of his contract term nears, he discovers that one of the mining machines has stopped operating, so he goes out in his lunar rover to investigate and discovers that another lunar rover has crashed into the mining machine. Upon further investigation, he discovers that the unconscious person inside the crashed rover is him. That's when things get really interesting. Rockwell is terrific as Sam Bell. There's an interactive computer on board and the voice is that of Kevin Spacey. While I thought the voice was a good one, it was a little distracting knowing that it was Kevin Spacey's voice. The computer was reminiscent of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The story here is entertaining and seemed somehow familiar to me but I can't place my finger on why. If you don't see this in the theater, you definitely should consider renting it.

Public Enemies

Movie Man Mike provides a new movie review

Public Enemies (B). For a two-and-a-half-hour film, I wouldn't expect to find myself wanting more when it was over, but I did want more. Maybe not more footage, but more story. Backstory, to be precise. This is the story of John Dillinger, who is played by Johnny Depp. The action in this film is solid. The film is loaded with big-name actors, but it's the background of the characters depicted that's missing. You don't get much of a sense of the characters' history, motivation, or personality from the portions of the stories told. Also, I didn't get a good feel for how much time the story occurred over, whether it was a matter of months or years. One weakness in my view was Christian Bale's character. Bale plays FBI Agent Melvin Purvis, whose job it is to hunt down Dillinger. Unfortunately, Bale seems to be stuck in "Batman" mode. He's still got that whispered growl he used as the caped crusader. I'm not sure what's up with that. Anyway, the film was entertaining, but one that I wished I had waited to see as a rental.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

DVD review from Movie Man Mike

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (B+). What a haunting story this was. Actor David Thewlis is a commandant of a Nazi concentration camp. He moves his family from the city to the country to be near the concentration camp. And then he tries to protect them from the horrors of what goes on at the concentration camp by keeping the information from them. His son, Bruno, is a curious and innocent child, who secretly befriends one of the inhabitants of the concentration camp, a Jewish boy. As Bruno's mother slowly learns details of what goes on at the concentration camp, her relationship to Bruno's father sours and she decides it's better to take the children and get away from it. But maybe she acts too late to save them. In the end, the story makes a powerful statement about the dangers and horrors of keeping secrets to ensure the innocence of those we love. I wanted to see this in the theaters, but didn't get to see it until it left. I am glad that I took the chance to see it as a rental.

State of Play

A new review from The Bleacher Bum

State of Play: Political thrillers are a huge genre with nonfiction books. However, there have not been many political thrillers as movies in recent years. State of Play is a big budget movie that focuses on Capitol Hill, mega-corporations, and the relationship between politicians and the press. The movie is based on the 6-part British television serial of the same name.

Russell Crowe is a superstar investigative reporter in D.C. working for a newspaper that is in the process of being bought. Ben Affleck is an up-and-coming congressman from Pennsylvania that is chairman of a military spending committee. Rachel McAdams works for the newspaper as the on-line gossip columnist. Robin Penn-Wright is Affleck's wife. Crowe's, Affleck's and Penn-Wright's characters were good friends in college. Helen Mirren is Crowe's and McAdams' editor. Mirren gives an award-winning performance as a boss that is being pulled in a thousand directions that wants to do the just thing and get the story right.

The good congressman is having an affair with one of his staffers, until she is murdered. Crowe and McAdams uncover the story and learn that many influential people and companies are involved. The story and dialogue are very good. The director did a very good job. The story covered a lot of angles, but was constantly moving, twisting and turning. Crowe and Penn-Wright were extraordinary in their roles. McAdams and Affleck were good, but they seemed a little outmatched when they shared the screen with Crowe and Penn-Wright.

Bleacher Bum Movie Scale: Homerun, Triple, Double, Single, Strikeout

State of Play: Triple that just beats the throw from right field

The Proposal and Tyson

That Guy Named David surfaces with two new reviews

The Proposal (C-)

I propose that no one go watch this movie. Plot: guy (Ryan Reynolds; most famous for marrying Scarlett Johansson) works for witch of a boss (Sandra Bullock; famous despite lack of acting ability and marriage to motorcycle repairman Jesse James), she finds out she is going to be deported to Canada, she makes him act like her fiance, they go to Alaska to see his family, they fall in love, Michael Jackson dies. Okay, the last part probably has nothing to do with the movie; although, I think there was a point where I was wishing I would come down with a serious illness so I could get out of the movie. Seriously though, there is nothing redeeming about the movie. Bullock plays the exact same role she plays in every other movie, Reynolds was more convincing (and more entertaining) as Van Wilder, and while I admit to getting a kick out of reruns of The Golden Girls, the inclusion of Betty White in the cast fell flat for everyone in the theatre under the age of 65. Save your money. Wait until it is picked up by TBS.

Tyson (A-)

In my humble opinion, there is little in cinema that outshines a good documentary. Unlike the originator of this website, who enjoys documentaries on birds, penguins and watching paint dry, I prefer my documentaries to be about cultural icons (Bob Dylan in No Direction Home; Muhammad Ali in We Were Kings), sports (Hoop Dreams, When It Was A Game), or other topics that do not put me to sleep. So, the documentary Tyson by James Toback was right up my wheelhouse. It did not disappoint. Tyson primarily consists of an interview with the former heavyweight champion with highlights (and many lowlights) from his career sprinkled throughout. The greatness of this particular documentary, however, is that it demonstrates just how entirely dysfunctional Mike Tyson was during his glory years and remains, although to somewhat a lesser degree, today. One second, Tyson will sound like a professor (with a strong lisp) outlining his thoughts and motivations as he dissected his opponents and worked his way from the streets of Brooklyn to the heavyweight championship while still just a kid. The next second, he will sound like the raving lunatic that beat his wife, was convicted of raping a pageant contestant and bit off half the ear of Evander Holyfield. He is a sociopath that you come close to feeling some sympathy for as the interview progresses. Makes for a good documentary.