Porgy & Bess - Rapid River Magazine

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R A P I D R I V E R A R T S & C U L T U R E M A G A Z I N E film reviews ‘Movies’ continued from page 25 Spain's The Lady and the Reaper, one of 10 short films nominated for an Oscar. extremely clever short takes place in a world where everything is derived from a corporate logo. The Lady & the Reaper, from Spain, tells the story of how Death is foiled by a seriously ill old woman and her doctors. A Matter of Loaf and Death features our old friends Wallace and Gromit who now operate a bakery. French Roast features the not very exciting adventures of characters in a coffee shop. Kavi and The Door are serious portraits of serious issues done realistically and efficiently. Miracle Fish mixes childhood innocence with the harsh reality of the real world while The New Tenants is a miniature movie with developed characters and a truly bizarre ending. Instead of Abracadabra is sweet but inconsequential. And the Oscar goes to…The New Tenants. As for the Animated Shorts, Granny O’Grimm and The Lady and the Reaper resemble outtakes from The Corpse Bride. French Roast came and went without any real impact while Wallace and Gromit are Wallace and Gromit, solid but unspectacular. For me there was no real contest in this category. And the Oscar goes to… Logorama. After Sunday March 7, we’ll have the official results. None of the shorts were submitted for a rating. REVIEWS BY CHIP KAUFMANN The Wolfman ∑∑1/2 Short Take: Unfortunate remake of the 1941 The Wolf Man has little to recommend it and winds up being a classic example of wasted potential. REEL TAKE: About two-thirds of the way through this unfortunate and unnecessary remake, I was reminded of a 1971 British film that I saw at the Augusta Road Drive-In in Greenville, S.C. It was called Bloodsuckers and dealt with a male Oxford University student caught up in a cult of vampirism in present day (1970) Greece. It was originally called Incense for the Damned, starred Peter Cushing and Patrick Macnee, and suffered from so much post-production tampering that the director, without even bothering to use a pseudonym, had his name removed from the credits. Joe Johnston (October Sky), the director of The Wolfman, should do the same. There is a good movie hiding somewhere in The Wolfman but neither the director nor the screenwriters were able to find it. Originally previewed at 2 hours plus, the film was cut down to 102 minutes for this release. It should have been cut even more and then reassembled. It’s a remake of the classic 1941 The Wolf Man with Lon Chaney and it retains a number of elements from that film. For some reason, the scriptwriters decided to move the film from its original contemporary setting back to Victorian Eng- land making the film a cross between classic Chip Kaufmann’s Pick: “Wings” Wings (1927) In addition to providing reviews for Rapid River, one of my primary func- tions is that of film historian. Now that the 82nd Academy Awards will soon be behind us, it’s time to salute the film that started it all, the very first Best Picture Winner from 1927-28, Wings. It contains everything that we have come to expect from a Hollywood blockbuster: comedy, drama, romance, epic scope, lots of action, and a happy ending (but not without cost to the principal players). It also features one of the biggest stars of the silent era in Clara Bow and one of early Hollywood’s major directors in William Wellman (The Public Enemy, The Ox Bow Incident). The movie is an early example of the coming of age/loss of innocence storyline not only for the characters but for small town America which would be forever changed by the soldiers returning from World War I. By the time the film is over you are already nostalgic for the beginning, a simpler, gentler time that as we get older, we all wish for. The two principal male leads are played by Charles (Buddy) Rogers and Richard Arlen, silent screen stars that are forgotten today even though they made the transition to sound films. The story is similar to that of other war films. Small town friends Rogers and Arlen are both in love with the same girl (Jobyna Ralston). Girl next door Clara Bow loves Rogers, but he sees her only as a pal that he grew up with. When they go off to WWI, she follows as a nurse and in a key scene, determines her fate as well as theirs. Paramount Pictures has yet to officially release a restored version of Wings. There is a DVD available which is taken Benicio Del Toro plays The Wolfman. Universal horror and England’s Hammer Films without the storytelling ability of the former or the visual style of the latter. Anthony Hopkins does his damndest to inject life into the tired proceedings (and succeeds) but Benicio Del Toro, made up to resemble Lon Chaney, doesn’t seem to know what to make of the material, but that may not be his fault. Emily Blunt brings what she can to an underwritten role which may have been larger but Geraldine Chaplin as the Gypsy Maleva is utterly wasted, although that March DVD Picks from the old VHS from 1988 which looks pretty good for a film of this vintage and it has a newly recorded organ score. Rosebud Video has a copy of it but I’m not sure about the other local video stores (forget Blockbuster or Netflix). Check it out and see not only how the Best Picture ball got rolling but experience a historical moment that still resonates today. Some Like it Hot (1959) When Chip and I decided to pick Oscar-related DVD picks this month, we both combed the previous 81 years’ worth of nominees and winners. With so many magnificent and some largely forgotten films, I thought I’d end up picking something more obscure, something that should still be watched, but probably isn’t. However, in keeping with my love of slapstick comedy, rapid-fire witty dialogue (and in need of a bit of levity), I decided to go with a comedy — something you don’t see often in the list of Oscar gold. When you do see the lighter side of film on the Oscar nominee and winner’s list, there are two names that stand out more than any others, Frank Capra and Billy Wilder. Whether you’re looking for a date night film or just something fun may be the result of the post-production tampering. Beautifully atmospheric in places, the movie bogs down into the excessive and totally unnecessary wholesale slaughter of whoever’s around when the werewolf appears. Add to this the fragmented zoom tech- nique, which is meant to represent style, and you have an unqualified disaster that should have remained on the shelf. To be fair, the original 1941 film wasn’t all that good either. Rent Universal’s 1935 Werewolf of London or Hammer’s 1960 Curse of the Werewolf (with Oliver Reed) to see how classic cases of lycanthropy should be handled. Rated R for bloody horror violence and gore. REVIEW BY CHIP KAUFMANN Michelle Keenan’s Pick: “Some Like it Hot” for yourself, you can’t go wrong with Billy Wilder’s Some Like it Hot — yes the one with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in drag. Though nominated for a slew of Oscars, it didn’t take home as many as some of Wilder’s other films, but it is as funny now as it was in 1959. Lemmon and Curtis play two struggling musicians who witness the St. Valentine’s Day massacre. On the run, they take cover in a girls’ band, posing as ‘Daphne’ and ‘Josephine’, a bow fiddle and saxophone player respectively. They quickly befriend the gorgeous, flask toting and often tipsy singer of the band, Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Marilyn Monroe), “I could quit any time if I wanted to, only I don’t want to.” As they settle into a three-week gig in Miami our heroes (or heroines) think they’ve escaped the grip of Spats Colombo and the Chicago mob and settle in for sun, sand, a relentless suitor and relentless suiting … now if they were only the right sex. Billy Wilder’s direction is pitch perfect and his screenplay sparkles; some of the funniest lines are pure throw aways, so you really have to listen. Marilyn Monroe shines in this film despite the fact that Wilder was less than enchanted with his sexy chanteuse. On the other hand, one of Wilder’s favorite collaborators — Jack Lemmon — clearly has the time of his life during the film. Together, he and Curtis outshine every sequin in Monroe’s wardrobe, but then again, it is such a nice wardrobe. Whether it’s been a while since you’ve seen this classic comedy or whether it’s entirely new to you, Some Like it Hot transcends time and generations and is worthy of Oscar gold. 26 March 2010 — RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — Vol. 13, No. 7
R A P I D R I V E R A R T S & C U L T U R E M A G A Z I N E film reviews You’ve Never Seen Oscar Like This Before Tune in March 7 at 8 p.m. on ABC for all the red carpet excitement and Hollywood’s biggest night. scar is back for his 82nd year and, according to the producers of this year’s show, “you’ve never seen Oscar like this before.” We’ll have to wait to see what exactly that means, but one thing is for sure, co-hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will certainly entertain. If you’re planning an Oscar party or if you are simply an armchair score keeper, use Oour handy dandy Reel Takes Oscar Ballot to help you keep track. Actor in a Leading Role • Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” • George Clooney in “Up in the Air” • Colin Firth in “A Single Man” • Morgan Freeman in “Invictus” • Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker” My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Actor in a Supporting Role • Matt Damon in “Invictus” • Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger” • Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station” • Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones” • Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Actress in a Leading Role • Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” • Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” • Carey Mulligan in “An Education” • Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” • Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Actress in a Supporting Role • Penélope Cruz in “Nine” • Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air” • Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart” • Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air” • Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Animated Feature Film • “Coraline” Henry Selick • “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson • “The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements • “The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore • “Up” Pete Docter My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Cinematography • “Avatar” Mauro Fiore • “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel • “The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd • “Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson • “The White Ribbon” Christian Berger My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Costume Design • “Bright Star” Janet Patterson • “Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier • “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme • “Nine” Colleen Atwood • “The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Writing (Adapted Screenplay) • “District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell • “An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby • “In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche • “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher • “Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Writing (Original Screenplay) • “The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal • “Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino • “The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman • “A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen • “Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Music (Original Score) • “Avatar” James Horner • “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat • “The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders • “Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer • “Up” Michael Giacchino My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Music (Original Song) • “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” music and lyrics by Randy Newman • “Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” music and lyrics by Randy Newman • “Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” music by Reinhardt Wagner, lyrics by Frank Thomas • “Take It All” from “Nine” music and lyrics by Maury Yeston • “The Weary Kind” from “Crazy Heart” music and lyrics by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Directing • “Avatar” James Cameron • “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow • “Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino • “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels • “Up in the Air” Jason Reitman My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Best Picture • “Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers • “The Blind Side” Gil Netter, Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson, Producers • “District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers • “An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers • “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro, Producers • “Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer • “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers • “A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers • “Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer • “Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers My money is on: ________________________ And the winner is: _______________________ Co-hosts Alec Baldwin Co-hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Up In the Air, nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actresses. Inglourious Basterds, nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Julie & Julia, nominated for Best Actress. The Hurt Locker, nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Up, nominated for Best Picture and Best Animated Feature. Vol. 13, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2010 27
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