Flags of Our Fathers

2006. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Screenplay by William Broyles Jr. and Paul Haggis, based on the book by James Bradley and Ron Powers. Starring Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Barry Pepper, and Jaime Bell.

I just realized I forgot to write a review of Flags of Our Fathers, Clint Eastwood's inferior companion piece to the far-superior Letters From Iwa Jima. Flags is not a bad movie, but it is not all that exciting either. We follow three soldiers being led around the country to drum up support for the war by getting people to buy war bonds. These three were in the famous flag raising picture and that photograph is making a big difference at home. I never got very involved in any of the characters. Though the contrast between how important this photograph was and the fact that it was, withheld from the public whenever possible, a recreation of the flag raising that went unphotographed at the top of the hill was interesting. This one did feel like homework.

My grade: B-

Notes on a Scandal

2006. Directed by Richard Eyre. Written by Patrick Marber based on the novel by Zoe Heller. Starring Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Andrew Simpson, and Bill Nighy.

"Here come the local pubescent proles. The future plumbers, shop assistants, and doubtless the odd terrorist too. In the old days, we confiscated cigarettes and wank mags. Now it's knives and crack cocaine. And they call it progress."

Notes on a Scandal is an intensely intimate experience. We are let inside the minds of two women revealing feelings we would never learn otherwise, and those feelings get very personal. Barbara (Dench), an elderly and harsh school teacher, tells all to her diary in a very effective voice-over that drives the film. Sheba (Blanchett) reveals far too easily and in too much detail to her new friend and self-appointed mentor. Both women are unhappy and struggle. The script is terrific and the acting is superb. Dench and Blanchett are two of the best actresses working today and they are at the top of their game here - both spectacular and they work together marvelously. Notes on a Scandal is a fascinating journey into very intimate places. It is one of the best films of 2006.

My grade: A

The Last King of Scotland

2006. Directed by Kevin Macdonald. Screenplay by Peter Morgan and Jeremy Brock, based on the novel by Giles Foden. Starring Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Simon McBurney, and David Oyelowo.

"You are my advisor. You are the only one I can trust in here. You should have told me not to throw the Asians out, in the first place."
"I DID!"
"But you did not persuade me, Nicholas. You did not persuade me!"

My friend Thomas mentioned that he had yet to see The Last King of Scotland because it felt like homework. I know the feeling. You think you should see a movie but you are not sure it is going to be fun or exciting. You don't want to see as much as you feel you need to. I had some of the same reservations about this movie, but they were put aside after the first ten minutes. It was very engrossing and it became enthralling. The movie throws a fictional character (a Scotish doctor) into a historical context as Idi Amin's personal physician. Forest Whitaker won an Oscar for his portrayal of Amin and he deserved it. He is phenomenal. He glides so easily between warmth and charm and anger and horror. It is hard not to like him in his moments of charm but there is so much to be scared of. James McAvoy is also terrific as the doctor. The Last King of Scotland becomes very much a thriller, and an edge of your seat one at that. It is a smart, interesting, thrilling ride that feels nothing like homework by the time it ends.

My grade: A-

Sicko

2007. Non-fiction. Written and directed by Michael Moore.

"While it's journalism, it's also satire coupled with a large sprinkling of opinion to create a work of art." - Michael Moore on his work at the release of Sicko.

I did make an increasinly rare trip to the theatres to see Sicko. Like all Michael Moore films, Sicko is entertaining and also infuriatiting. Moore starts the movie with a quick but disturbing look at someone the film won't be about: people in desperation because they have no health insurance. This film is about those people who are supposed to be doing this right. They have jobs, they have health care. But they don't get the service they need. We see people fighting desperately to receive approval from their health care companies for things that seem obvious. The overall view of our current system is bleak. For profit companies are seeminly trying to keep every penny they can. Moore compares the U.S. system to those of other countries and it is a fun but again depressing experiment. You should enjoy Sicko but that doesn't mean you'll leave happy.

My grade: A