Blue Valentine – Tragic in its ( extra)ordinariness - playing at a cinema near you

The tale told in Blue Valentine is so common place, so every day that it breaks your heart. It is the story of ordinary people in a traditional marriage that falls apart in an ordinary way. It happens every day and the reality of this is what hurts so much. I wanted to scream at the characters “there’s nothing better out there than what you have.” He knows it; she doesn’t.

The acting from both Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams is so true to life it is heart wrenching. The dialogue is credible and the direction excellent.

Amazingly, I was so riveted by their story and their acting that I had no idea where it was taking place. Anywhere in the world this would have been true. I didn’t feel manipulated though, not moved to tears but mesmerized as the train wreck occurs. And if all of that isn’t enough for you, you have two hours of Ryan Gosling and/ or Michelle Williams to watch. Not only do I think that they are the two best young talents in film but Ryan Gosling is the HOTTEST guy around.

Yours in fantasy

Dame Veleeta Peron

The Assassins – Close to Home - playing at The Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto until January 23

Steven Sondheim’s musical, the Assassins, is a review of U.S. history’s most notorious assassins and why they did it. The musical is not special but the subject matter is compelling. It points out that since the assassination of Lincoln by the failed actor John Wilkes Booth, killing people seems to be a favourite sport of a certain type of nobody in the U.S. vying for their 15 minutes of fame. Since we have seen this repeatedly and very recently, it does bear consideration.

I noted that they all used guns. Hmm...I noted that there was a strong showing of men . Hmm...The musical doesn’t deal with these issues but they are irrefutable. Failed men with guns in the U.S.A. We can’t do much about any of these factors except the guns. Too bad no one wants to tackle that in a musical.

Nothwithstanding this, the musical is thought provoking, well acted and definitely worth a look on a cold Sunday afternoon.

Yours in fake fur ( I am from Scarborough after all )

Dame Velveeta Peron

Rabbit Hole

This is a gem of a movie. Small near perfect personal study of a couple who lose their son and are trying to cope with his death.  The dialogue and direction are excellent. The story is realistically told ,not manipulative, leaving you feeling like you are supposed to be crying for these people. Instead you are pulling for them, just as they are pulling themselves together as best they can.

The acting is wonderful- Aaron Eckhart is wonderful as the husband, Sandra Oh is great as the support groupleader, Dianne Wiest is marvellous as the mother of the wife, the young man who plays the driver of the car is incredible.

The problem with this movie is Nicole Kidman. Nicole Kidman used to be a great actress with courage in her roles, emotion, diversity. She still is. Unfortunately, in this film she does not appear to belong in this lower white middle class family she is from which she is supposed to come .

Worse, she has no ability to make facial expressions anymore. Her crying and anger and laughter are all just as well played as ever but she doesn’t have a face to match. She appears to be expressing everything from behind a mask. So sad to watch- in fact ,sadder than the story of this family. She is the real tragedy and a cautionary tale. A brilliant actress lost but still alive and making movies. The Heath Ledger story without the corpse.

Having said that, it is still on my top ten for 2010 for the beautiful script, lovely low key honest story and the other actors. See it, flaws and all. Oh yes, and did I mention that I would go to see Aaron Eckhart read for two hours out of the dictionary ? Any edition.

True Grit- A True Blue Western

True confession: I don't like Westerns and don't get the point of them. Unforgiven was a recent exception. So is True Grit. I loved this movie. It is like a crotchety old friend who has no filter for his words or deeds but you know he has a heart of gold. The casting was perfect. Jeff Bridges was ideal and Matt Damon was creditable and not too cute. The young girl Ashlee Steinfeld played Matty to a T. The dialogue was funny and fast paced and the direction flawless. If you feel like seeing a great Western, or evn , like me, if you don't you will be won over. Great work, Coen brothers.

Barney's Version- A version from an earlier generation

You either get Mordecai Richler's schtick or you don't. I do. I was a little girl in Montreal when guys like Duddy Kravitz and Barney Pernofsky were around. They were post-Holocaust Jews who faced terrible discrimination in Canada. They did whatever they had to do to make money and to feel secure. They had a passion for life too and played as hard as they worked.

Paul Giamatti, whom I have previously utterly detested, has finally been cast in a part in which I find him credible, an ugly, crass cigar chomping entrepreneur. Dustin Hoffman as his father is Dustin Hoffman as his father, if you know what I mean. I found this film funny and poignant but at the screening I attended with my housemate, we seemed to be the only people laughing. I suspect the other, older crowd was too busy looking down their noses at our shmuck Barney. Me, I'm a Montreal kid, turned Scarborough teen. He made lots of sense to me.But then so did Duddy Kravitz.

Happy New Year,

Dame Velveeta Peron

The King's Speech - Perfect film. Marvellous acting, totally believable script, humour, and a true story of royalty and common folk getting to know each other. Oh yes, and Colin Firth, Colin Firth, Colin Firth, Colin Firth.

The Secret in Their Eyes- Another gem. Wonderful casting, beautiful direction and the interweaving of stories about the many ways that we manifest and are afraid to manifest love.Told as a murder mystery so it has lots of action ans humour.

A Prophet- This is a film so dark, so intricate, so realistic that it cannot but be marvelled at.Amazing acting, great story that doesn't feel manipulative, terrific dialogue. Fast moving, certainly violent, but neer gratuitously so.

The Town - Ben Affleck clearly knows the underbelly of Boston and portrays it realistically and fascinatingly. The story is fast paced with good acting choices throughout and excellent directing. Oh yes, and Ben Affleck, Ben Affleck, Ben Affleck.

The Fighter- Another near perfect gem.This is an ensemble piece where no one hits a wrong note.The film is so realistically written and drawn. It is based on a true story which tends to be my favourite type of film these days. Oscar stuff here especially Christian Bale.

Waste Land- A beautiful documentary about a Brazilan artist who decides to give back to his people for the success he has achieved from his poverty. He portrays a handful of garbage pickers in Sao Paulo and their eprson growth as they work with him to develop atr from garbage. Lovely.

Marwencol- This is stunning documentary about one mentally handicapped man's journey to self-therapy through the creation of a tiny world of his own, where he is in control.It is amazing and heart rending, showing yet again a way in which a person can turn personal disaster into triumph.

White Ribbon- This is a chilling story about a small town in Germany before the First World war.There is not an ounce of warmth or humour portrayed throughout, even in private moments of family life. Everyone is rigid, obsessed by control and rules that create the framework for that control. It is frightening in the most subtle New Year.

Rabbit Hole- This is likely to be my most controversial pick.It does have the flawed- or rather unflawed -face of Nicole Kidman who could have been a great actress but for her obsession with plastic surgery. The pother actors are wonderful though and  the story rings true. I didn't feel manipulated by it. Oh yes, and did I mention Aaron Eckhart, Aaromn Eckhart, Aaron Eckhart

Movies for those who don’t want to go out except to the video store

Dear Readers,

I spent Christmas in Winterpeg- condolences happily received. To while away the time, my cousin and I rented two movies I had seen but wanted to share with her.

The first is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I’m sure most of you have seen it but it really deserves a  second look, especially if you have seen either or both of the second and third , The Girl who Plays with Fire and The Girl who  kicked the Hornet’s Nest. Noami Rapace is just fabulous and her journalist friend Blomquist is perfect. So traditionally unattractive and yet so appealing. The story stands up very well as a thriller on its own. Knowing what we do about the later stories we realize how many brilliant clues we are given.

I had also forgotten how close she gets to Blomquist and why she cannot let it go any farther. Therapists would make a fortune if our movie characters would just go to therapy with someone good. But then they would be us watching the movie instead of having all this sex and excitement. Never mind.

A definite must see for the first and even second time.

The second movie is The Secret in Their Eyes, the winner of the Best Foreign Film last year. I was sure The White Ribbon would win and it really is the creepiest movie I have ever seen but once I saw the Argentinian Winner, I was torn.

This is the story of the kinds of love we have in our lives and what our courage lets us do for them and our fear stops us from doing. For those who need action, I promise the premise is an unsolved murder story. You can focus on that while we gentler hearts reflect on the subtle and not so subtle ways that people in the film express their love for each other in  simple kindnesses and acts of bravery. If you can do both, you have hit the jackpot.

The acting is flawless. The main female lead is exactly what a rich Argentinian girl would be like and the male protagonist  broke my heart a hundred different ways. I wanted to shout-pick me, pick me. Strange, since like Blomquist in Dragon Tattoo, he is not traditionally good looking but so attractive in his sensitivity. His workmate sidekick is also amazing are the other ensemble cast members.

One odd thing happened to me in the second viewing of this movie. I had remembered the ending exactly the opposite to what actually happened. I think my mind put in the ending I think is realistic the first time but the second ending is much more to my liking.

A must see.

Happy Holidays,

Dame Veleveeta Peron

True confession: I hate boxing but I am addicted to boxing movies. It must be the Scarborough girl in me or maybe I just love underdog stories. I watched the Rocky movies long past their “Best Before”date and I loved De Niro in Raging Bull.  The Fighter is definitely in the top tier of boxing movies. Based on a true story, the acting is amazing, especially Christian Bale, as the champs crack cocaine addicted brother. The other supporting actors and actresses playing the rest of the Ward clan are sensational, not that I want to have any of them over for dinner any time soon. Mark Wahlberg gives a very solid performance as the boxer although I wish he had a wider range of emotions. Amy Adams also does a creditable job as his girlfriend. The direction is believable and the story riveting. Definite Oscar contenders here. Not quite as good as The King’s Speech, which is flawless, but a “must see” for the Holidays nonetheless.

Must go back to the egg nog now,

Happy Holidays,

Dame Velveeta Peron

This is a great movie on every count. Great acting, lovely true story, likeable characters, believable dialogue, interesting costumes and sets, and Colin Firth, the most beautiful man in the world. He can stutter for two hours- or more- at my house anytime. Do not walk, run, to see this film, unless you’re a bit unsteady on your high heels. A girl must protect her shoes at all costs.

Your in lust,

Dame Velveeta Peron