Jivemonkey's Perfect Lil' Wurld

"The Passion the Christ" was a very well made, emotional film. The gore wasn't as bad as most people made it out to be (Oh, it's BAD, but I was expecting much worse.) I would have liked to have seen more back story. It's mostly beatings for 90 minutes, and I was anticipating the end so it would stop! The flashbacks helped, but unless you are at least casually familiar with the biblical accounts, I could see a Non-Christian becoming confused as to who the characters were. Overall, a very good film, but it's not one I would want to watch many more times.

Who'd thunk it. An animated French film with nearly zero dialogue and oddly rendered nominated for best animated picture!? I saw "Triplets of Belleville" last night, and I must say "WOW!" This was an amazing film, full of detail, insight and commentary. It was as funny, heartfelt and satisfying as any film in recent memory, and I want to see it again! The details are so rich, I think you'd need to see it twice to catch most of it. While not for children, due to some violence and one comic boob shot, it's rife with humor, brains and makes a great statement about American life (I found Belleville to be a bizarre sort of America, where nearly everyone subservient was thin, and the majority of the population was grossly obese. There is even a picture of someone in front of the "HollyFood" sign, and check out the "Statue of Liberty!!") There is subtle irony in the main characters, in their desire to find happiness. The main song is infectious and delightful. I must change my vote to "The Triplets of Belleville" over "Finding Nemo"


ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
BROTHER BEAR
FINDING NEMO
THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE*

P.S. I need to research it, but I would venture to guess this is the same animation style used for "Aeon Flux."


P.S.S. I researched it, and I think I am wrong, but dang, it's close!!

Alright, I've done it. I have seen all the films nominated for a "Best Picture" Oscar. The most recent is "Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World." (MCTFSW) While it was a very good movie, once again, it was just not nearly BEST picture. I enjoyed the cinematography and the story, the acting was fine and I recommend seeing it. Here is the ranking order of Best Picture:
1) The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Hands down the Best Picture nominated.
2) Lost in Translation: |--------Tie. While I loved both these films, they won't win.
2) Seabiscuit:-----------/
4) Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World: Very good, but no way.
5) Mystic River: I didn't see the hype. Good film, but I thought Cold Mt was better.

Murray should win the Best Actor Oscar, but it'll probably go to Sean Penn.

Charlize Theron DESERVES the best actress nomination and She deserves to win for "Monster." Wow. I thought this was a fantastic film and she has never been better. Not just the physical transformation, but her emotional range & impact are showing! Such a long way from "2 days in the Valley!" If she doesn't win it's a shame.

Keisha Castle-Hughes - WHALE RIDER
Diane Keaton - SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
Samantha Morton - IN AMERICA
Charlize Theron - MONSTER*
Naomi Watts - 21 GRAMS

Mystic River. Hmm. I know people are going to freak out, but I just didn't see the "greatness." The cast was awesome, the direction was very good, but I didn't connect with the story. I thought Sean Penn & Tim Robbins were in especially good form, but I wasn't moved. The story was somewhat predictable, and I was usually a step ahead. I don't know what the problem is, but it just didn't do it for me. It's a fine film, but "Best Picture of 2003" good? Nope.
P.S. I am now also involved in a debate blog on gun control/right to arms called "the fabulous baker boys." C'mon over and check it out!

I saw two fantastic films with some interesting similarities. You might not notice it at first, but they have a connection. First, I bought the DVD "Lost In Translation" starring the wonderful Bill Murray & Scarlett Johanson. Having been a Bill Murray fan most of my life, I had high hopes for this film and Sophia Coppola didn't disappoint. She has crafted a nice "little" film that is simple and complex at once. It follows the lives of two people (Bob & Charlotte) who are lost, in the sense that they are searching for truth and purpose. One is just beginning and the other is farther along, but both still struggle. One is simple, the other complicated, but yet they manage to find solace in each other's company. They explore the Japanese culture together and discover they have found a bit of what they are searching for in each other's companionship. Both touching and funny, this is a big movie made up entirely of small moments. I loved it!

Next, I saw another great film, "The Last Samurai" featuring Tom Cruise. "What Similarities?!?" you may be wondering? "Well, aside from the fact that they both begin with "L" and take place in Japan," you might be saying " they couldn't be more different!" OH! How WRONG you would be!!! These films have a common thread in that the main character, a world renowned "Indian Fighter" (Nathan Algren) is also searching for something. It has evaded him his whole life. He sought answers in war, in his writings, and even in alcohol, but still feels out of place in the world. After being hired by the Japanese to train soldiers to fight the Samurai opposing the Emperor, he is captured in a premature battle and held prisoner. He lives among them through the winter and spring, where he discovers something he's been longing to find. His honor. Beautifully shot and edited, this is as dramatic and tense a film as I've seen in a long while. Although a tiny bit predictable, it was an incredibly powerful film rife with irony and action. "The Last Samurai" contains some of the most spectacular battle scenes, but at it's core it's a tender film about finding something more important than self. Enjoy Both!!

Thanks to Janet Jackson for giving the media something important to beat to death like an exposed nipple. Now we don't have to focus on the crippling deficit, increasing jobless rate or heroically perishing soldiers in the Middle East!!! Yea! Hooray for Boobies!!!!