Movie I Liked #30: Moulin Rouge

2001

The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return…

–Nat King Cole, performed in the Moulin Rouge

This is one of those love stories with love songs sung. Hats off to Baz Luhrmann and his unique way of seeing the world…and love…and music. Moulin Rouge takes some of our favorite love songs from past few decades and gives them  a modern spin and real life context in which o be sung. You thought you knew these songs…

Plot

A creative re-telling of a familiar story. Penniless hero falls hopelessly in love withoff-limits-princess. Hero in this case is a writer, princess in this case is a dancer/escort. She falls in love with him by mistake being assigned to seduce an evil duke. For a while they carry on their romance in secret, but then the duke finds out and makes everything screwy.

Characters

Familiar types. Penniless writer naively believes in true love. Beautiful prostitute woman wants to be a real performer on a real stage but finds that she’s most impacted by someone who truly loves her. Evil Duke just wants more and more and more. The entourage of performers that just wants the two lovers to get together.

Acting

Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman make a stunning pair of lovers. And who knew McGregor could sing! Jim Broadbent and John Leguizamo Richard Roxburgh round out a cast of all shapes and sizes, voice tones and hair styles. Acting is a bit extreme seeing as the characters and story itself are a bit extreme and whimsical themselves.

Scenery

Set in an old French stage from last century. Nothing in the film matches, but all of it belongs together. Clever use of lighting and shadow, an elephant and lots of colorful clothes mean you never get tired of looking at the screen, but you might get overwhelmed.

Music

Incredible and creative. You either love it or hate it depending on how you feel about songs being re-sung. I personally love seeing how a piece of musical art can be developed and re-interpreted so I loved it. Songs by the Beatles, Whitney Houston, The Police, Nat King Cole and many others find a new incarnation in a way that is disjointed but oddly sensible. You should check out the soundtrack. I certainly did!

Memories

First time I saw the film was as a sheltered homeschool kid who’d never heard of Baz Luhrmann. At that time, the movie was too much for me. In successive years and viewings, I became quite a bit more comfortable with myself which allowed me to be quite a bit more comfortable with everyone else being who they were. I came to appreciate how much talent went into filming this movie, acting these parts, singing these songs, and I came to adore every part of it.

Then one time, I sang one of the songs in an acting workshop performance. That was cool, if not a bit ridiculous.

 

Movie I Liked #33: Interview with a Vampire

1994

To this day, Interview with the Vampire remains my favorite Vampire movie. Unlike the Underworld Saga, this is not a story about war. Unlike the Twlight phenomenon, this is not a romance or teen angst story. Interview takes a raw look at the Vampire experience and asks the question, Can I be what I am and be anything but a monster?

Plot

Based on the novel by Anne Rice, the story follows Louis i his journey from human to reluctant vampire to a vampire more or less resigned to his fate. Plot structure is simple and linear; the story is all about the character interactions.

Characters

Some of the most gripping and varied of any story. Louis is the reluctant, still-wants-to-be-good vampire. Lestat is the hedonist vampire endeavoring to seduce Louis into embracing the decadent vampire lifestyle. Claudia is the little girl turned vampire woman who captures and breaks Louis’ heart. Armand is the austere vampire lord. Each character takes a different approach to being a vampire and takes it out on all the others.

Acting

This one was made back in the day when actors had to be skilled. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas and Kirsten Dunst take on really complex roles and outlandish fantasy characters and make them really believable. Besides that, their chemistry is impeccable. And besides that, they all look great as vampires.

Scenery

New Orleans 200 years ago, various European cities in the same era. It’s a period film and the costumes and scenery are really striking.

Soundtrack

By Elliot Goldenthall. This is another one that I own and frequently come back to. It’s not particularly happy music, but then it’s not a particularly happy movie. But when I’m feeling melancholy, it’s perfect.

Memories

Road-tripping from Oregon to San Francisco with dear friends, then staying up late our first night to entertain ourselves with a vampire story…

 

Movie I Liked #34: Fiddler on the Roof

1971
I would be remiss and should be considered uncultured if this one had not made the list. For skill and passion and heartbreak and humor all woven together into one seamless tapestry, this is one you don’t want to miss…or forget.
Plot

On a microcosm, this is the story of a traditional Jewish father who must adjust to an every changing world as he watches his three daughters fall in love and marry. His story reflects the larger story of the Jewish people who are, yet again, forced to watch their world be uprooted. Even in all the change, their spirit will not be broken.
Characters
Classic types, typical of Broadway in the 70’s. Tevya, the gruff and lovable father, Golde his wife. Their three daughters and their suitors. Their village. Characters in opposition to each other, but always drawn back together.
Acting
Brilliant all around, if not a bit overdone as befits a Broadway writing style. Topal, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey and a host of others create a masterful ensemble.
Scenery
Depicted is a poor Russian village in winter. Colors are dismal and brown and grey until you get inside the people’s homes, then there is an abundance of color. Beautiful.
Music
Who hasn’t at some point started singing, “Traditions,” or “If I were a Rich Man” and not  the Gwen Stefani knock-off? These songs are some of the most memorable and poignant of that age of movies. Beyond that, Isaac Stern as a composer is one not to be forgotten. And if you love violins, you must  hear this soundtrack!
Memories
First time I saw the movie box was at my lola’s house. First time I saw the movie, I think, was with my wife, back when we were still just friends…

 

Movie I Liked # 36: The Sound of Music

1965
I debated quite a while where to enter this one on the countdown. There’s so much about this film that is brilliant and fabulous and so incredibly talented! But because it’s older, it’s very unlike most other movies made in the last decade. For a classic, though, I figure Top 40 is good.
Plot
Would-be nun becomes governess of the year when she takes the job of caring for the seven children of the widowed Captain Von Trapp. Along the way she teaches the kids to sing, the captain how to love and her own heart how to make a masterpiece out of any situation
Characters
Classic types. Captain Von Trapp, aloof, Spartan, gruff, deep down lonely. Maria, vibrant, jubilant, thinks she’s insecure, but actually will stand up for her beliefs and not take no crap from no one. The seven kids, as characters, are on the flat side because the story’s not really about them. They are lovable and adorable all the way through.
Acting.
Julie Andrews. Christopher Plummer. To say too much would be to detract from the greatness. Vocals soar, dialogue is appropriately proper for the era and all infused with a very authentic personality.
Scenery
Vienna, Austria is quite nice. There is also the classic mountain hilltop that is very majestic and awe inspiring. Very not-America which is a nice change of pace.
Music
One of the finest by Rogers and Hammerstein. Songs that are very singable and memorable. They just don’t write ‘em like that anymore…
Memories
Definitely watching the movie with my parents as a young young home schooled child. Watching the movie as a progressively older kid, and appreciating different things as I got older. First the tunes, then the lyrics, then the scenery, then the funny parts, then the dialogue, then the writing and the character depth. There’s so many good layers!
There was a time too when my dad had a collection of Sound of Music collector’s item plates displaying on our wall…

Besides all that…you gotta love the really old trailers…

 

Movie I Liked # 37 The Kite Runner

2007
“There is a way to be good again.”
Plot

Based on the novel by  Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner explores redemption and healing and where we find our self-worth. The story follows Amir, his childhood in Afghanistan, his growing up in American, and his return to Afghanistan to rescue the son of his childhood friend Hassan. Redemption themes never get old, which is perhaps why this type of story loves to be retold and re-read many many times. In the novel, the words read like a this-could-be-me story. When watching the movie, you never want to take your eyes away.
Characters
Again, rich and very true to life. Amir as a child is sweet but selfish. Grown-up Amir is more humble and works very hard to overcome guilt and cowardice. You see yourself in his inner journey.
Hassan is the character you love. He avoids being the flat character for all the crap that happens to him.
Sohrab is the character that most breaks your heart. So young and so aware of the world and so many burdens. He’s the one you want to love, but won’t let you int.
Acting
Khalida Abdalla, Atossa Leoni, and the one and only Shaun Toub. I love that I’d never heard of any of the actors in this film(except Mr. Toub) because in that way, I feel I was able to see the characters more clearly. Performances were subtle and authentic.
Scenery.
Kabul, Afghanistan and Fremont, CA. All beautiful.
Music
I bought the soundtrack. Michael Nowak and the Hollywood Studio Symphony create an ambience that is, again, subtle and potent.
Memories
I watched the movie with my partner who said they couldn’t tell the movie was based on a book, so good it was. More of my memories are with the novel, which I loved and highly recommend.

Movie I Liked #40: Swing Kids

1993

This is the tale of the Swing resistance to the Nazi regime in Germany back in that day. I have not researched the historical validity of the tale, but it’s a good tale, sweet and inspiring nonetheless.

Plot

The premise of the “Swing” bit is that, in that day and place, Swing music from America represented something un-German, un-Nazi and thus, depending on your view, represented freedom. To be caught swing dancing, in the movie, was a treasonous act of sorts.

Our tale follows two friends as they make choices that take their lives in different directions. Their choice is to support the Nazis, be respected by some, have power, be safe and sorta comfortable. Or resist the Nazis, stick with the swing movement, be true to honor and morals and possibly be arrested and sent to one of the camps. The values of family and friendship and deep down beliefs are tested, like they always are.

Characters

Peter Muller is the character that chooses to not join the Nazi army. His friend Thomas Berger makes the different choice. Characters are interesting and face a sizable inner conflict. Very well done.

Acting

Christian Bale before Batman and Robert Sean Leonard before House. Also Noah Wyle. They’re young and fresh and they sure can dance. The acting creates characters that wrench your heart around.

Scenery

Set in Germany. Beautiful, with just enough foreign-ness to make it interesting.

Music

The soundtrack is a selection of the best Swing dance tunes of the century. Quite enjoyable. Sure to lift the spirits on any day.

Memories

I think I watched this one at camp. Great times.

Movie I Liked #41: The Bourne Trilogy

I write here about all the Bourne movies together because they really are a connected story. Not Legacy as much, though I did enjoy watching that one with my Filipino father. But Identity, Supremacy, and  Ultimatum together are an excellent adventure story.
Plot
As a broader story arc, the plot is simple and sensible. Man with amnesia regains memory and realizes he has abilities bordering on super-powers, realizes he’s been genetically enhanced to be a super-weapon/assassin. He goes rogue, runs away from the organization that made him, turns against said organization, unearths conspiracies, secrets from his history, takes down a corrupt system, gets a girl, loses a girl, gets another girl. In the end he swims to safety.
In each individual installment, the stories are more nuanced. Lots of detail, technical speak and you have to pay close attention to what city you’re in. The story itself could be told in about an hour of footage, but there’s just so many good fight and car chase scenes!
Characters
Jason Bourne is a perfect rogue hero. Silent, sullen, deep thinker, driven by inner angst and an unwritten moral code. I like my characters to show more emotion than he does, but then again, he’s a good fighter.
His antagonists are some of the best as well. They are thoughtful, realistic, smart and just as talented as he is. You know it’s a realistic fight scene when the good guy gets beat up before getting the other guy in a fatal strangle hold.
Acting
Matt Damon makes a great sullen rogue hero, great fighter, great angry soldier. Again, I like more emotion, but still, his portrayal is very authentic.
Franka Potente brings a sweet sort of resilient innocence to the first one as Bourne’s love and hope.
Chris Cooper makes a great hidden supporter hero person until his character gets killed off.
Brian Cox in the first and second makes a perfect villain in that his character brings such corruption to the story while fully believing he’s justified in doing so. Very thoughtful and passionate character. Great performance.
Joan Allen is Bourne’s hidden ally in the second two films. She is steel under velvet and very bad ass, if not presenting a moderately flat affect.
Julia Stiles has bit parts in the first two than in Ultimatum we find that she was Bourne’s GF way back when and has been pulling for him this whole time. Interesting spin on the pretty-face character.
Scenery
One of the best. Germany, Morocco, Virginia, cities all over Europe, and in Legacy, the Philippines. The world traveler in me loves the scenery.
Music
Composed by John Powell with great contributions from Moby. Not a lot of difference between the soundtracks from individual movies, but all of them together create a delightful ambience. They still come up on my shuffle nearly every day. You can listen to this soundtrack to be energized or relaxed, depending on your mood.
Memories
I had “Extreme Ways” as a ringtone for a while. Sooo much fun.

Movie I Liked #44: Terminator Salvation

2009
One summer I watched the whole show Terminater: The Sarah Connor Chronicles over the course of about three weeks. That was when I was working swingshift and could stay up late and sleep in. Ah, days gone by…
Terminator is a fun variation of the Boy meets Robot phenomenon.
Robot tries to kill boy’s mom. Mom’s boyfriend kills robot, then dies.(Terminator)
Robot protects boy from other robot. Good robot dies.(Terminator II)
Robot protects boy and girl from girl robot. Robots die, world ends. (Terminator III)
Robots hunt down boy and mother, girl robot protects boy, boy falls in love with girl robot.(Sarah Connor Chronicles)
And in the miracle of time travel, Terminator Salvation is where grown-up boy sends robot to protect his father before his father goes back in time to meet his mom…
You gotta love time travel stories.
As a sci-fi epic, James Cameron’s Terminator is very cool, lacking no good thing, with a healthy dose of corny dialogue.
As a movie, I very much appreciated the latest movie. Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin and Bryce Dallas Howard make it into something more than a sci-fi gun flick. You meet a robot who wants to be human. That’s always pulling. You meet a boy who wants to be a hero man. You meet a man charged with saving the world. No pressure.
Music was great. Action was solid and believable. Story was interesting and logical if not a bit familiar. Acting was natural and convincing. Cinematography was fun. When making a post-apocalyptic world, everything must always be over exposed with tinges of grey and green in everything.
Sci-fi movies like this have a funny way of challenging our concepts of humanity. What really does make a person a person? Flesh and blood? Free will? Capacity to love? Feel pain? In some ways, sci-fi writers are the most brilliant because they are the most free to ask the difficult questions and explore every possible answer to the furthest reaches of imagination.

Movie I Liked # 46: Romeo and Juliet

1996
So I actually grew up watching the 1968 version with Leanord Whiting and Olivia Hussey…home schoolers…they grow up watching that kind of thing…
…but then when I left childhood I discovered Baz Luhrmnan, and everything was different. Quite a bit more…color.
Am I really nerdy because I’ve also seen the play? That was a fine summer evening at the Ashland, OR Shakespearean Festival…
…honestly, I don’t love the story that much, in truth the tale is rather ridiculous.
I suppose, though, that since the tale of tragic love is told so often it’s really easy to use as an artistic platform.
Which is why I loved the 1996 film version.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Clare Daines, John Leguizamo and Harold Perrineau, and Pete Postlethwaite among others bring color and passion to a story of passion gone awry.
Setting the story written in the Elizabethan era in modern day Verona, CA was clever, if not a touch awkward. Replacing swords with guns was only sensible. Taking out Juliet’s awful last line, “Oh happy dagger…” and having her just shoot herself was nice and clean.
Oh yeah, they die in the end. Sorry for the spoiler.
Music was fitting, but forgettable. Acting was, as is the fashion for Shakespeare, very acted. People were pretty, costumes were clever, emotions were high and the overall cinematography was interesting. Lots of colors, shapes, flashing lights, blurry things. Baz Luhrmann.
Altogether, a hyper love tragedy movie experience.

Movie I Liked #47: Ocean’s Eleven

2001

 

My goodness, was this really twelve years ago? Wow…

This one is pure fun. Another story about robbers and thieves who are really good at what they do. This time set in Vegas, robbing the biggest and the baddest casinos. Simple task.

Then you throw in a probation officer.

And an old rival.

And an ex-wife.

And you have a story!

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and other friends at their finest. Altogether, the chemistry is lively, the humor is authentic and the awkward tension is perfect!

Soundtrack is by David Holmes and is an enduring favorite. Not particularly dynamic and lacking memorable melodies, but the music has a nice easy beat and rhythm. Makes a nice ambience that could either be energizing or relaxing, depending on what you want.

In speaking of Ocean’s, I am mostly speaking of the first one. The second one was hyper and a little goofy, and by the third one, I felt like the characters were melding into a sitcom drama.

But the first one was brilliant!!!