"The Lunchbox" Movie Review

My review of the Indian film "The Lunchbox"

"The Lunchbox"

Posted on March 28, 2014 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

“The Lunchbox” (2013)

In India, it is not uncommon for housewife’s to send their husbands lunches by way of an elaborate delivery system called the Dabbawalas. The Dabbawalas, even though some of the delivery men are illiterate, have an almost perfect record for delivering these lunches to their proper destinations. The system is complicated and sometimes the lunches, packed in elaborate stacking metal bins, travel by train and bicycle, but it is so successful in its correct deliveries that Harvard University studied it’s methods.

Ila (Nimrat Kaur) is an unhappy housewife, who feels more and more alone each day. Her husband barely acknowledges her when he comes home from work, coming through the door more concerned about his phone than his wife and child. Besides her controlling mother (Lillete Dubey) and her husband, Ila’s only source of human contact is her young daughter and her Auntie (Sharati Achrekar) who lives upstairs. Auntie is a sounding board for Ila as they communicate through yelling through their kitchen windows. Her Auntie tells her that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and Ila decides to create lunch meals that her husband won’t soon forget.

Saajan (Irrfan Kahn) is a widower who after working for 35 years at a company is contemplating retirement. A solitary man who likes his routines, he spends his nights watching old VHS tapes of classic Indian television and movies. His life becomes slightly complicated when an eager young man (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) shows up at his desk ready to be trained by Saajan, a task that irritates him to no end.

The impossible happens and a lunch that was destined for Ila’s husband, instead finds its way to Saajan’s desk. Saajan, who has his lunches delivered from a local restaurant, is delighted in the improvement of his meal and even goes by the restaurant on his way home to compliment them. Meanwhile, Ila is delighted when the lunch containers come back, her husband has eaten every bite (something that he is not known for doing). But when her husband comes home and barely mentions the meal, complimenting her on an item she didn’t pack, she figures out that her meals are being delivered to the wrong place. Curious on who might be getting her lunches, she includes a note in the next meal, Saajan responds and a relationship through notes begins between the two strangers, one that may change their lives.

Much like the lunches that Ila makes, this movie slowly reveals itself to the viewers, as the containers of the lunches and the layers of the characters are revealed. It’s a film about loneliness; of a man who hasn’t been able to get over the death of his wife, and a housewife that feels neglected, taken for granted and maybe even cheated on. But it’s also about the human connection that we desperately need. The bonding and love between two people who express their feelings through notes and their actions.

Irrfan Kahn, as the sad and set in his ways Saajan, is perfect in this role. He has a screen presence that makes you take note of him, even though his character is very reserve and quiet. Nimrat Kaur, as the housewife Ila, is delightful, especially in her conversations she has through the window with her auntie. We instantly like Ila, wanting her to find happiness and the love she deserves.

The director, Ritesh Batra, is a first time feature director, who initially wanted to do a documentary about the delivery system, but we are rewarded with a much warmer and subtle film than a documentary could deliver. It’s a film with a love story between two lonely people that hits the mark without being conventional. Batra captures what it must be like to live in one of the busiest cities in the world, where it’s a miracle that people can not only find each other but can fall in love. Much like Ila’s lunches, it’s a film rich with colors, taste and subtle nuances that are deeply satisfying and rewarding.
My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

“The Lunchbox” is playing exclusively at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema.

“The Lunchbox” Website

"Bad Words" Movie Real

My review of "Bad Words" starring Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Allison Janney.

"Bad Words"

Published on March 21, 2014 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Focus Features 

“Bad Words” (2014)

We first meet Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman) as he enters a school auditorium that is getting ready for a spelling bee.  A nearby parent sees Guy and tries to start up a conversation with him, which Guy very quickly and with the use of profanity, shoots down. We learn very quickly that Guy isn’t here to watch his kid in the competition, he is here to compete in it. Guy has found and is exploiting a loophole in the spelling bee’s rules that say that a competitor cannot enter if he has passed the 8th grade. Apparently Guy dropout out of school before completing it; therefore, he meets all the requirements to compete. And compete he does as Guy as a photographic brain, having memorized every word in the competition. We also soon learn that he isn’t above using every trick in the book to psych out his competitors. When a rather large kid next to him asks him what he is doing up on stage, Guy tells the kid “Your chair called me for help.  Help me, he’s so heavy.”

And so begins our adventures into the world of the Golden Quill Spelling Bee competition with the 40 year old copy editor Guy who is determined to win the national competition and he doesn’t care who he steps on to get there. Guy isn’t a likable man, but he treats everyone he meets equally, with disdain and disinterest.  Even the reporter (Kathryn Hahn) that is sponsoring him so that he can get into the competition is treated by Guy with contempt. She and everyone else in the spelling bee have no idea why Guy is competing.

This is a raunchy, R rated film in the style of “Bad Santa” (2003) and “Bad Teacher” (2011), especially in the language department as the Bateman character continually spews out profanity laced putdowns, aimed at both the parents and their kids when they get in his way of winning. But Guy may have met his match in Chaitanya (Rohan Chand), an adorable 10 year old boy who is determined to make Guy his friend. No matter what Guy says or does, he can’t shake Chaitanya’s optimism and very soon, Guy starts hanging out with the kid. He becomes sort of a mentor to the kid, showing him how to eat chili cheese fries and play practical jokes. Guy sees a little of himself in Chaitanya and makes it his mission to show the kid that there is more to life than school work and spelling competitions.

First time director Bateman has done a great job casting this film filling it with actors who can make even the smallest scene memorable. Indie vet Rachel Harris is hysterical as a mom of one of the competitors who falls victim to Guy’s many schemes. Allison Janney plays the put upon director of the spelling bee who is determined to defeat Guy’s mission by any means she can.  Kathryn Hahn is perfect as the reporter who is determined to breakdown Guy’s resolve and get her story. She plays Kathryn as a woman, who has problems of her own and sees that there is something behind the facade that Guy is putting up to the world.

It’s the chemistry between Bateman and Chand, who plays Chaitanya that makes this film work. They play off each other so well, and Chand is incredibly likable in the role. We instantly see a connection between the two characters and its if they have been friends for years instead of days. Chand holds his own in the comedic scenes with Bateman, showing as good a comedy timing as the vet actor Bateman. Even though Bateman’s character isn’t a great guy, to his credit, he still makes us root for him

The script by Andrew Dodge moves at a quick pace, has some very funny dialogue and is never predictable. Bateman does an admirable job keeping the storyline moving, though I didn’t like how he framed a lot of the film with an overabundance of close ups. But Bateman gets great performances out his cast, especially from Chand. He’s brought us a film that, although it’s quite a down and dirty ride, it’s extremely fun one.    My Rating: Full Price

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

“Bad Words” Website

The film is playing in Atlanta at AMC Phipps Plaza 14 and Regal Atlantic Station 18

"Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me" Movie Review

My review of the documentary "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me"

"Elaine Strich: Shoot Me"

Published on March 14,2014 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Sundance Selects

“Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me” (2014)

Elaine Stritch is a Tony and Emmy winning actress who has appeared on Broadway since 1946. She has appeared in movies such as “A Farewell to Arms” (1957), Woody Allen’s “September (1987) and “Monster in Law” (2005). Stritch has also had a long career in television, winning 3 Emmy awards, most recently for her role as Colleen, the mother of Alec Baldwin’s character, Jack Dounaghy, on the NBC program “30 Rock.”

Chiemi Karasawa’s documentary is centered around her attempting to do a cabaret show called “Elaine Stritch Singin’ Sondheim…One Song at a Time” at age 87. We see her, warts and all as she struggles performing a demanding one woman show while dealing with old age, diabetes and alcoholism. As Stritch says in the film “Getting old is not for sissies.”

The is a fascinating look at a woman who is truly is a force of nature. Stritch has always been known as an outspoken woman who isn’t afraid to tell anyone just what she thinks of them. Her romances in the 40’s and 50’s were legendary, including encounters with John F. Kennedy, Marlon Brando, Gig Young and Ben Gazzara. In the film she talks about breaking up with Gazzara because Rock Hudson wanted to date her, “And we all know what a bum decision that turned out to be.” The late James Gandolfini, talks on screen that if she had been younger when he first met her, they would have had a torrid affair “that would have ended very badly.” She finally met her match in stage actor John Bay, whon she married in 1972. Bay’s family owned Bays English Muffins, and Stritch to this day, still gives muffins to family and friends during Christmas. Her husband died in 1982 due to cancer, and she never really fully recovered from his death.

The documentary will delight Broadway, and musical fans as the film gives us a glance at the talent of Stritch, showing appearances of hers both on TV and the stage, including many songs from her Tony award winning one-woman show “Elaine Stritch at Liberty.” Scenes are shown also from her appearances on the stage in “Bus Stop” (1956), “Sail Away” (1962), which was written for Stritch by the legendary Noel Coward, and her highly praised performance of Joanne in the Broadway musical “Company” (1971).

The movie gives us a look at a woman who while in rehearsal, struggles with remembering the lyrics to songs and gets frustrated when she can’t perform up to her high standards. We also get to see up close and personal her daily battles with diabetes, which rears up several times during the film, causing her to be hospitalized. Her struggles with alcoholism, something that she has battled most of her life is dealt with in the film. Stritch starting drinking at a very early age to help her deal with “stage fright.” When her husband died, she got even more dependent on alcohol, and it nearly killed her. At times, Stritch tries to justify her drinking by saying that it’s only one drink a day, but after a health setback, she attempts to get back on the wagon, even attending AA meetings. What makes this documentary so compelling is that we get to see her deal with these problems, giving us insight to what makes Stritch tick.

Photo courtesy of IFC

She is a woman that at times looks frail and close to death. At other times, especially when she is on stage, she is a performer that is determined and full of life. It’s remarkable how, in rehearsals, she is so full of doubt that you wonder why she thinks she can go up and perform. Then you see her enter from the wings and get up on that stage in front of an audience becoming transformed into someone who is full of confidence and bravado. She may not have the voice or the moves that she had 30 years ago, but she still knows how to work a room. Stritch is one of those performers who can almost instantly get the audience to love her.

The film allows you to see a person who is fully ready to admit to her flaws. Stritch is a someone who is at a time in her life that knows her days are numbered. She continues to deal with her fears, all the while saying “there’s something exciting about being afraid.” It’s a compelling look at a woman who lives to perform. As Stritch says in the film “What I needed was the people looking up at me,” and it’s a joy to do so.  My Rating: Full Price

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

The film is playing in Atlanta exclusively at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema

“Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me” Info

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" Movie Review

My review of "The Grand Budapest Hotel" starring   Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric.

"The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Posted on March 14, 2014 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures 

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014)

Writer/Director Wes Anderson is back with the rollicking film “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”  M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) is a concierge extraordinaire, running with aplomb the Grand Budapest Hotel. It’s a fancy hotel that is high up in the mountains of an Eastern European country that caters to a wealthy, high profile clientele who revel in the hotel’s old world charm in 1932.

M. Gustave is very popular with the guests of his hotel, especially older woman whom he showers with attention, going as far as to sleep with them. As M. Gustave says “I go to bed with all my friends.”  He rules over the hotel like it is his kingdom and all the employees are his serfs.  Every detail from the lint on a lobby boys hat to the menu are under the scrutiny and control of the master concierge.

M. Gustave life changes with two events. First, he hires Zero (Tony Revolori) to be a “Lobby Boy” for the hotel. Zero quickly becomes M. Gustave’s protégé, seemingly always right by the side of the quirky concierge. Secondly, a mainstay hotel quest and lover of M. Gustave, Madame D. (Tilda Swinton), leaves the hotel and soon after turns up dead.  Zero and M. Gustave travel to Madame D’s estate and quickly discover that she has bequeathed the concierge a priceless painting called “Boy with Apple.” Madame D’s wealthy family becomes upset over the loss of the painting and plot revenge. Soon after returning to the hotel, Capt. Albert Henckels (Edward Norton) shows up to arrest M. Gustave for the murder of Madame D..  It seems that M. Gustave has been set up by her family in order to recover the painting. Informed that he is being charged with murder, Gustave immediately flees, narrowly escaping, with the help of the trusty Zero, from the clutches of  the Captain and his men.

And so, off goes “The Grand Budapest Hotel,”  an adventure/murder mystery movie which can only be described as a Wes Anderson film inspired by the Marx Brothers. It’s probably the fastest moving Anderson film he has ever made, with multiple chases involving everything from skis to motorcycles, and a plot that moves with breakneck speed. There are a number of deaths in the film that occur in an almost cartoony way, where I almost expected the coyote and the roadrunner to show up at some point. The dialogue is fast and witty as absurd scene by absurd scene flies by.

It’s a Wes Anderson film and, therefore, there are a number of notable cast members, some that show up for only seconds on the screen, but deliver laughs none the less. Notables include Adrien Brody playing the slighted son, Dmitri, who plots revenge with his family. Willem Dafoe, who plays the menacing Jopling, a man who wears rings on both hands that effectively means he wears brass knuckles.  Jeff Goldbulm, a cat loving lawyer who is desperately trying to enforce Madame D.’s last will. And Saoirse Ronan, who plays a pastry maker of impressively baked creations. She becomes Zero’s love interest and eventually, his partner in crime.  All make this an impressive cast that look as though they are having the time of their lives making this film.

The core of the film is the relationship between M. Gustave and Zero.  Fiennes and Revolori  interact with each other that you instantly feel the rapport that their two characters have from almost the start.  Fiennes is picture perfect in the role of the stuck up M. Gustave, who though pompous, has a heart of gold.  Revolori, as the shy, subservient Zero, does a marvelous job of keeping up with the Fiennes.  You instantly like Zero and are willing to root for his character to succeed in his adventures with M. Gustave.

The film is beautifully shot full of vibrant colors that make the Grand Budapest a hotel filled with interesting scenery and costumes. This is a film that will delight with its fast paced delivery and fine performances.  After seeing this film you will wish that you too could stay at the Grand Budapest Hotel.    My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

The film is playing in Atlanta exclusively at the UA Tara Cinemas 4

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Website

"Better Living Through Chemistry" Movie Review

My review of "Better Living Through Chemistry"

"Better Living Through Chemistry"

Posted on March 7, 2014 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

“Better Living Through Chemistry”  (2014)

Douglas Varney (Sam Rockwell) is a mild mannered Pharmacist who is married to “Type A” personality Kara (Michelle Monaghan). Douglas doesn’t make any decisions in the family, whether is dealing with his son (Ethan), a juvenile delinquent in the making, or if the family is going on a bike ride, everything is decided by his very controlling wife. Douglas has just taken over his Father-in-law’s business but even there he doesn’t get to change the name of the pharmacy. His Father-in-law, Walter Bishop (Ken Howard) insists that it still be called Bishop’s. Even his employee’s run rampant over Douglas as his delivery guy (Ben Schwartz) delivers only when it’s convenient, and his cashier, Janet (Jenn Harris), would rather be anywhere else than work. Because it’s a small town, Douglas knows about everyone’s problems through their prescriptions, knowing who is depressed, sick and even if they are cheating on their spouses. Douglas lives by the code of the pharmacist that he won’t judge or tell on people. He thrives on being precise and following a routine.

Douglas’s life changes when he makes an after-hours delivery to a wealthy “trophy wife” named Elizabeth (Olivia Wilde). It seems Elizabeth is stuck at home, constantly waiting for her controlling husband to return from the big city. Douglas learns in that first meeting that Elizabeth is bored, lonely and has the taste for pills and booze. Douglas soon can’t resist the lure of Elizabeth, and they start an affair that will change both their lives. She talks him into trying some of the drugs that he dispenses, which, after much hesitation, he partakes wholeheartedly. He starts to loosening up, enjoying life and even starts to assert himself with both his kid and his wife. But trouble is just around the corner, and Douglas may have to pay for his sins.

This very funny film is written and directed by the team of Geoff Moore and David Posamentier. They perfectly capture the small town life, where everyone seems to be involved with controlling Douglas’s life. There is great chemistry between Wilde and Rockwell, their attraction to each other builds with every scene that they are in together. Wilde is perfect as the woman who sees the potential in Douglas. As she says in the film “as woman get older they look for the good guy, not the bad boy.” Wilde has come into her own playing these great character roles in the indie world, and she just gets better with every film. Michelle Monaghan isn’t asked to do too much as she plays the hard driven Kara without much range. Ken Howard is fine as the micro-managing Father-in-Law, and Ray Liotta plays Elizabeth’s husband, giving just the right amount of menace to the threaten Douglas.

The reason to watch this film is Sam Rockwell, who starts the film as a mild mannered, set in his ways, hen-pecked husband, but with Wilde’s help, discovers there is more to life than just distributing pills and learns to stand up for himself. Rockwell perfectly plays the everyman with great comic timing, showing a great flare for both physical and verbal comedy. Douglas gets to live the dream if just for a little while and Rockwell allows us to go along for the ride. With last year’s “The Way Way Back” and this film, Rockwell reminds me of a very early in his career Bill Murray. Like Murray in films such as “Meatballs” (1979) and “Stripes” (1981), Rockwell is the guy that is quick with the quip, a little goofy, but also someone that you would want to hang out with at a bar.

Overall this is quick witted and enjoyable film that had an ending that I didn’t quite see coming. It features two actors in Wilde and Rockwell that hit the comedic mark perfectly, making it a joy to watch.  My Rating: Full Price

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

The film is playing in Atlanta exclusively at Lefont Sandy Springs

“Better Living Through Chemistry” Info

"The Bag Man" Movie Review

My review of "The Bag Man" starring John Cusack, Rebecca Da Costa, Robert De Niro.

"The Bag Man"

Posted on March 7, 2014 on CWAtlanta.cbslocal.com

Wayback Machine Archive Post

Photo courtesy of Cinedigm Entertainment Group

“The Bag Man” (2014)

When we first meet Jack (John Cusack) it’s obvious that he is having a bad day.  Driving at night in the Louisiana backwoods, he has a hand that is bleeding and a dead man in his car’s trunk.  He has been sent by a man named Dragna (Robert De Niro) to pick up a black bag and go to a particular motel, check into room 13 and wait to get further instructions.  Dragna has one rule for Jack, don’t look into the bag.

Jack’s night gets worse when he finds the motel he has to stay at, a motel filled with dangerous characters.  Its run by a wheel chaired bound guy (Crispin Glover) who asks too many questions and follows every rule known to man.  Jack also meets an eye patch wearing pimp (Sticky Fingaz) named Lizard and his sidekick named Guano (Martin Klebba), a track suit wearing dwarf that hails from Serbia.  Added to the mix is a tall, long-legged, blue-haired hooker named Rivka (Rebecca Da Costa) who might have double crossed Lizard and wants Jack’s protection.  Include an overly zealous local police department and it’s going to be a very long night for the “bag man.”

The film is a modern day Film Noir set in the swamps of Louisiana.  It’s a very dark picture both in its visuals and in its theme.  Like most Film Noir movies, Jack is a lone man up against the odds, not knowing if he can trust anyone, including the man that hired him.  Cusack, while satisfying as the bag man that is having a bad night, isn’t asked to do too much, playing the part as though he hasn’t slept in a week.  He’s never really challenged in the role as the character doesn’t have a lot of layers to him.  I would have liked his character to have been a bit more complex. It just seemed that this character of the hit man was simply trying to survive while not looking in the bag, instead of making things happen.

Rebecca Da Costa, playing the stunning Rivka, has a hard time keeping up with the likes of Cusack and De Niro.  She isn’t bad in the part, but she never gives us the feeling that there might be more to her character than what’s on the surface.  Cusack and Da Costa do have good chemistry together, and in her performance, we see occasional glimmers to why Cusack would risk screwing up the job for this woman.

De Niro seems to be having the most fun in the film playing the crime boss Dragna.  He delights in suggesting what books Jack should read all the while questioning his loyalty.  It’s a part that De Niro rightfully underplays, letting his character flow from breaking a woman’s nose, then giving her information on the best plastic surgeon in the area.  It’s a part that most actors would have gone over the top with, but De Niro never lets that happen.

The rest of the cast is an interesting mix of good and bad.   Crispin Glover plays the motel manager as if he could be a direct descendant of everybody’s favorite killer, “Psycho” Norman Bates.  It’s a fun part that brings a bit of weird humor to the film.   Dominic Purcell plays the nosy Sheriff, but his performance is way too out of control as he almost salivates when given the opportunity to torture someone.  Sticky Fingaz and Martin Klebba, as the pimp and his sidekick, also have a tendency to overplay their parts.  It would have been interesting to see Klebba, tone down the act and make his character more restrained and menacing, instead of the almost comic relief character on the screen.

Cinematographer Steve Mason does an interesting take on the Film Noir genre, giving the film a much different look than your normal crime thriller.  The script, co-written by Paul Conway and the director David Grovic, is the weak link to this film.  The dialogue is clunky with characters have to spout lines that don’t quite match their actions.  And the film, while it has quite a few twists to the plot, never seems to get up to full speed.  It’s as if Grovic is taking his directions from his lead character, the laid back Jack.  The film is too predictable and doesn’t bring anything new to the world of Film Noir. The film feels like it’s as if the director, like the character Dragna in the film, doesn’t want us to look into the bag Jack is carrying either.   My Rating:  Cable

My movie rating system from Best to Worst:  1). I Would Pay to See it Again  2). Full Price  3). Bargain Matinee  4). Cable  5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again

My interview with “The Bag Man” director David Grovic

“The Bag Man” opens in Atlanta exclusively at AMC Barrett Commons 24

“The Bag Man” Website

"Tim's Vermeer" Movie Review

My review of the documentary "Tim's Vermeer" 

"Tim's Vermeer"

Posted on March 7, 2014