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07.29.2010
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LEBANON
You might think war would be easier inside a tank (rather than out in the open), but Lebanon will set you straight. The situation: Four Israeli soldiers (driver, gunner, loader, commander) are in a tank during Israel’s brief 1982 war with Lebanon. They are scared, inexperienced and crammed inside a small space for the entirety of the film. With them, we can only see outside through a gun-sight which quickly becomes a telescope of horrors, its every movement accompanied by the alarming whine of the turret. Despite being set inside a metal box, Lebanon is visually dynamic, and the story is excellently composed. Every minute is charged with immediate danger or crackles with a naked humanity that goes right to the heart. WORD OF MOUTh: The most convincing anti-war film in recent memory — though it doesn’t hit you over the head, its message is loud and clear. |
ENTER THE VOID
visionary writer/director Gaspar Noé explores the hallucinatory power of cinema with this story of American siblings Oscar and Linda, who were separated as children after their parents died in a horrible car crash. The film begins with Oscar being shot dead by police in Tokyo, where he (a club drug dealer) and Linda (a stripper) had reunited in the red light district. As Oscar dies, his drugged consciousness becomes the camera. Floating above the city, he looks down on Linda — witnessing their past and eventually a future in which he keeps his promise to never leave her again. Noé’s masterful and immersive filmmaking may make you feel as though you are actually on drugs: The visuals are bright and aggressive, and the sexual content is surprisingly explicit. WORD OF MOUTH: Odds are you’ll be enraptured by the experience, but you’ll want to bring along your patience for what is basically a 154-minute nonlinear trip. |
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GET LOW
Knowing that he’s going to die soon, old Tennessee hermit Felix Bush (Robert Duvall) goes into town to arrange his own funeral — to be held while he’s still alive. For decades the townspeople have been telling tall and demonizing tales about Felix, and now he plans to set the record straight. The owner of the local funeral home, Frank Quinn (Bill Murray) eagerly takes on the job. Duvall gives a predictably excellent performance in a role that seems written for him, and the incomparable Murray effortlessly delivers humor reminiscent of Mark Twain. Kudos to writers Chris Provenzano (Mad Men) and C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond). WORD OF MOUTh: While the story is original (and partially true) it doesn’t amount to a lot of bang in the end. Still, great performances (including Sissy Spacek’s), a convincing 1930’s period setting and strong writing make this film well worth seeing.
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THE EXTRA MAN
the second novel by author Jonathan Ames (of HBO’s Bored to Death) translates into a delightful, if not fully-rounded film. While much of its humor and characters carry over, the story and pace seem better suited to a book. That said, The Extra Man has plenty of charm, especially if you enjoy Ames’ thoughtful, awkward humor. Casting is the film’s real triumph: Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine) lends his gentle face to the role of Louis, a sensitive young man (and occasional cross-dresser) who’d be more comfortable in a Fitzgerald novel than 1990’s New York. New to the city, Louis rents a room from the eccentric Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline) who maintains his lifestyle as an “extra man” — a gentleman who courts wealthy widows. WORD OF MOUTH: Harrison is a marvelous character, and I can’t imagine any actor delivering his hilarity better than Kline. |
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