Sometimes it surprises me how my Blockbuster rental history lists side-by-side true masterpieces and the movies that shouldn’t have ever been made. I don’t really think it reflects on my varied movie interests, I just order whatever looks good that day. Bad movies are there for a reason, they set the zero on my movie reviewing scale which is an accomplishment in itself.
The Counterfeiters - easily the best movie I’ve seen this year, it won the Oscar for The Best Foreign Language Film in 2007. Watching Holocaust and concentration camps movies is one of a few things that make me feel the connection with my Jewish heritage, so I may be biased reviewing this movie. My own father and grandmother lived in the ghetto, and only once or twice my Dad ever mentioned it in a conversation, it was too hard to recount his childhood memories. Movies like Schindler’s List, The Pianist, Life is Beautiful have a special meaning for me. It’s always the ending that brings the realization that the characters in the movie were actually real people, that’s why the most dramatic scene in Schindler’s List for me was the documentary footage in the end when real Schindler’s Jews who survived were shown passing by Schindler’s grave. The Counterfeiters is based on the true story of a group of counterfeiters working in the concentration camp to forge the British and American currency as a part of the operation Bernhard. The Best specialist in that area is a Russian Jew from Odessa (where else), who lived in Germany before the WWII. The other Jews in the group don’t trust him on the account of his previous criminal record. The group is kept in the “luxury” conditions by camp standards, away from the horror and torture, given real clothes, real beds with sheets, showers and normal food. The conflict of the movie in the constant struggle between their will to survive and their desire not to help the Germans achieve their goals, while trying to isolate themselves from the surrounding horror and retain sanity. If you watch one subtitled movie this year, make it this one.
The rest:
Charlie Bartlett - a kid spoiled with money but not with attention, uses his gift of gab and multiple pills to become somewhat of his school’s Dr. Phil. There are some funny moments. I didn’t go to school here and I don’t remember it being so bad. We never had it split between geeks, schmucks and jocks and I never felt a need to confess to some Dr.Phil. Now that I think about it, we didn’t have any counselors, grievance counselors, special teachers, behavior-correcting drugs and other such crap. Watching this movie I didn’t get the feeling that any of this helps anyway . The movie is OK.
Super High Me - a comedian decides to see if 30 days of constant pot smoking would have any effect on him. This is actually a documentary based on the same idea as Super Size Me. I guess it proves that weed is not bad for you, especially if you are already a comedian and your job is to giggle for no reason. This movie is probably funny if you are super high, I wasn’t and it wasn’t. There is also some footage about California’s conflicts with the Feds concerning marijuana laws passed by the referendum. Not horrible.
Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay - I was surprised when this movie actually turned out to be funny. The scenes from the airport and the plane where Harold and Kumar interact with the TSA ring true and that’s what makes them so funny. If we can’t laugh at the airport we can at least enjoy someone else do it. Rob Corddry of the Daily Show fame is excellent in his role of the undersecretary of the Homeland Security. Although some reviewers thought that the sequel wasn’t as good as the original, I disagree, this one was funny and highly satirical at the same time, and good satire is hard to do. There is some nudity and even male nudity (ewww), may not be good on the first date. Otherwise recommended.
Witless Protection -Larry the Cable Guy cranks these out pretty regularly. I like him, but I can’t recall seeing his previous movies. This one is not bad, not the funniest ever but certainly better than I expected. There is always a place for lighthearted physical and fart comedies. Again, I especially liked the scene at the airport where TSA employees give Larry full cavity search. Together with all the other restrictions and idiots one encounters during the air travel, TSA makes people consider trains for their transportation needs. If you like Larry the Cable Guy and like slapstick comedy, this one is not too bad.
Superhero Movie -Again I started out with low expectations. I don’t really like superhero movies and usually catch up with the latest issue after it comes out on DVD. I found myself liking this comedy because it reminded me of old Airplane and Naked Gun movies, shot by David Zucker with his signature style and with Leslie Nielsen playing one of the characters to make the connection complete. Some shots of Kansas City skyline can be seen throughout the movie. Not bad at all.
The Kentucky Fried Movie is more of a collection of skits written by Dave and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams who went on to the Airplane and Naked Gun movies and later to the Superhero Movie above. I thought some parts of it were funnier than others but overall it was OK. If I remember correctly, some nudity and sexual innuendo are prominent in this movie, so if it offends you skip it on your next trip to rent some DVDs and especially skip my review of H.O.T.S.
Meet Bill - Bill is being totally whipped by his wife’s family. He meets a high school kid (Hello, Charlie Bartlett!) who helps him to realize that life doesn’t have to suck. Somewhat of a romantic comedy, nod bad while you are watching it but forgettable soon after. May be therapeutic if your in-laws are pricks. Just OK.
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Mad Money - three unlikely co-conspirators rob the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (out of all places). I like heist and bank robbery movies and it seems like one or two are coming out every year. Somehow this one reminds me of the First Wives Club -three women, one of them Diane Keaton, but the movie is actually pretty good, sometimes funny, although it follows mostly predictable storyline. Not too bad.
A State of Mind - is a documentary shot in the North Korea. Usually in the totalitarian countries with strict government control of information an outside journalist cannot gain access to the citizens without someone constantly watching over their shoulder and trying to censor everything deemed anti-government. This documentary somehow escapes the watchful eye and proceeds to tell the story about the everyday life in the North Korea. I thought it was very eye-opening and revealing, I recognized a lot of propaganda from my childhood with the exception that these people actually sincerely believe in it. Recommended if you like documentaries and can read subtitles.
The Great Debaters - based on a true story about the debate team from a black college in segregated Texas who was able to overcome all the obstacles to beat the famous Harvard team. Starring and directed by Denzel Washington it’s actually not a bad drama. I guess I am a sucker for true life, but you should know that by now.
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H.O.T.S - I know, I know, but I warned you I watch whatever comes out of my mailbox. There is no review for this movie but am I alone thinking that women looked more natural in the 70’s, should I say “less altered”, prettier and bouncier in all the right places? And Farrah Fawcett hairstyle, damn that looked good. That’s all I have to say about this movie. That and “Danny Bonaduce”.
Lastly, I should mention “Getting It” - this movie just sucked. No amount of nudity could make it better. They should have made coasters out of that DVD.
Some of my previous reviews are here, here, here, or just look them up by the tag.
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