BETTER than Slumdog Millionaire

I liked SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, I did.  I liked THE WRESTLER a whole lot more, so I was in a small minority who was not rooting for Slumdog to win the Oscar for best picture last winter.  I did, however, love the kids, the music, and the whole Bollywood experience. 

I went to the Palm Springs International Film Festival last summer and just happened upon this great Bollywood film, which I really believe is way better than Slumdog.  TAARE ZAMEEN PAR: Every Child is Special (2007) is today’s recommendation. Aamir Khan lends his star power as well as his money to the film as producer/director.    This film was placed into consideration for nomination as best foreign film at the 2008 Oscars, and just missed the cut.  Shoot, I say.  

This is the story of eight year old Ishaan, who is having trouble learning at school.  His loving family members are all high achievers, so this is quite unacceptable.  They send Ishaan to a boarding school, hoping to help him, but he is a little boy who misses home.  He alternatively acts out and  shuts down.  Enter the art teacher.  Life changes dramatically for everyone–the family, the boarding school teachers, and Ishaan.  Ishaan is adorable.  All the kids at the school are adorable.   The music and the positive energy of the film will fill you up with happiness. Teachers will love this film, and figure out quickly what is causing his learning problems.  Everyone who loves children will be crazy about the film. 

The pairing for this film is for you to play a little “scavenger hunt” game.  The title of the game is  “Try to find a copy of this movie”.  I was lucky enough to snag one of the last copies that Amazon had to sell.  Disney has apparently bought the rights to distribute the film in this country.  I hope it will not be dubbed in English (NOT THE SAME).  It will be released under the title Like Stars on Earth, I think, but I can’t determine when this will happen.  Indian markets apparently have the film, but I have been warned that these are pirated copies and I do not like to support that.  If ANYONE finds a bonafide copy of the film, please post a comment here.  Help others to see this great film.

Away We Go

The DVD for this small, indie film is going to be released next week.  You probably didn’t see it because it was in the theaters for maybe two and a half minutes.  PLEASE treat yourself and see  AWAY WE GO (2009).  This is the story of Burt and Verona, played beautifully by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph.  Burt and Verona are thirty-somethings–happy, unmarried–and now Verona is pregnant.  This funny and intelligent film depicts their travels to find the perfect place to raise their new child-to-be.  Their road trip takes them to Arizona,  Wisconsin, Montreal and Miami as they connect with old bosses, old friends, and family.  You will wink at their horrified shared glances as they experience all this and will find many of the supporting players hilarious .  They ARE judgemental at what they see, but so was I!  As they search , I reflected on this:  Is there any perfect place? Is it not true that wherever you go, there you are?  I loved that the ending  is not  Hollywood spin, but beautiful and perfect.

I already am in love with John Krasinski from The Office.  I wasn’t as familiar with Maya Rudolph because I don’t stay up late enough to see Saturday Night Live (ok, that makes me a dork).  Now,  I absolutely adore them both.

Okay, here is my pairing recommendation for this movie.  Get the film soundtrack!  In a day or two, or month or two, put on the great tunes from this film  and fall in love with Alexi Murdoch music.  Gawd, is he talented!  Most of the music in the film with one or two exceptions are his songs. and you will LOVE them.  Open a bottle of 2007  friends.red  Sonoma County wine from the Pedroncelli winery.  Enjoy the music, the wine, and the memory of a great little movie.

San Diego Film Festival right now!

Things are hopping starting today in the Gaslamp.  Films, documentaries and short subjects are up on the screens today through Sunday.  Film festivals can be quite fun; I went to the Palm Springs festival  last summer and stood in line with filmlover soulmates gab, gab, gabbing about what we had seen or were about to see.  Richard Dreyfuss is a featured speaker on Saturday night.  Check the scheduled showings  if you like on the festival website at www.sdff.org.

Get Ready for Halloween!

Vampires are all the rage right now.  The Twilight books have introduced us to a kinder, gentler guy named Edward who is also handsomely perfect, and the movies are immensely popular.  We’ve have had a lot of interpretations of vampires over the years since Bram Stoker first wrote Dracula in 1897.   However, I have a vampire for you! This vampire is  perfect for Halloween;  just don’t watch my movie recommendation alone or you will be scared–really! 

Klaus Kinski in NOSFERATU as the vampire  is totally spooky.  This a German movie,  directed by Werner Herzog, that  was released in 1979.  This is not gory, but really moody and creepy (in a good way).   Klaus Kinski in real life is kinda scary looking anyway, and in this film  he is amazingly frightening.  Isabelle Adjani, a beautiful French actress, plays Lucy Harker perfectly.  This film has a gothic feel, and is uncompromising with  the chill factor. Brrrrrr.  When you rent or buy it, see the German version.  You will enjoy a critically acclaimed adaptation of the Dracula legend, and you will experience  a beautifully created cinematic masterpiece.  I guarantee you a scary Halloween!!

Here are some food pairings to create more fun for Halloween  night.   I suggest that you invite a few friends over and have a simple meal: pumpkin soup with croutons, and nice crusty bread.  For movie watching, have a Halloween-styled trail mix.  Drink a great amber ale; it goes well  with  Spiced Pumpkin Seed brittle from Williams-Sonoma as your dessert treat.

Respect

I think we all have our heroes.  As parents, or in our professional lives,  we look to role models and strive to emulate them.  We take the best of what we have experienced from them and make it our own.  I don’t think good actors are any different.  I want to share a living example of what I mean by suggesting a film pairing that will prompt a deep breath,  and a long, satisfying sigh.

Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal of Karl Childers in SLING BLADE is brilliant.  The film,  nominated for all the big awards in 1996, is treasure-packed with a great story, and great acting beyond Billy Bob.  I think I wanted to see it when it first came out largely because it also starred Robert Duvall, my favorite actor.  He and Dwight Yoakum and John Ritter definitely did not disappoint me, but I was mesmerized by the complex, nuanced creation of Karl, as were viewers and critics alike.

 Sometime quite a bit after the film release, I heard  an interesting Billy Bob Thornton conversation about the film; I wish I could remember where.   When asked about how he created this memorable character, he pointed to Duvall’s portrayal of Jackson Fentry in TOMORROW (1972) as his inspiration.  Gawd, I thought, a Duvall movie I haven’t seen? I couldn’t get on Amazon.com  fast enough to order the film.  It is an amazing film on its own, based on a Faulkner short story.  Jackson Fentry and Karl Childers are different guys, but you see the Billy Bob homage to Duvall’s crafting of character. 

In the process, you will see two great films.  Fix a great cup of  expresso,  get comfy  and relax.  They are both slow paced, and require your attention.  Sit back and have a very satisfying night at the movies.

Hello world!

Welcome to my blog.  I plan  to post twice a week or so to tell you about fine little films you may not have seen.   Or, I might talk about films you may have seen, but offer a fun pairing for a double feature that creates even more fun with film.  I think the pairings will create some interesting discussion. Since watching films is a social event, at least for me,  I have some ideas about creating time with friends that pairs a menu with the movie that sorta fits the experience.  You’ll see as I go.

What my blog ISN’T:  a full blown movie review.  There are terrific reviewers out there, with easily searchable reviews, who do a better job of that.  I like to just react and respond and feel, and say “huh” about the films I tell you about.  I LOVE FILMS, even if I hate some aspect of a film!! 

So, here is my first film to share with you.  I recently saw I LOVE YOU, MAN, but that is not the recommendation.  I sorta liked it, but didn’t find it really satisfying.  It reminded me of a quiet, conversation film that does a better job of  presenting meaningful male friendship .  SPRING FORWARD (2000) slowly rolls out the friendship between Ned Beatty and Liev Schreiber who work together for the Parks and Recreation Department. These characters give us gals insight into men’s minds, and shows men really talking thoughtfully.  Both men of different generations deal with real problems, and I grew to really like both of them.  My friend Dennis said this movie was shown and discussed at a men’s retreat, so I know guys will find it interesting too.

However,  I’m talking to the girls for this one.  Invite  your thoughtful girlfriends for lunch to see the movie.  Serve a really girl-y lunch with a nice Oregon pinot noir, a tuna nicoise salad  and  dark chocolate brownies for dessert.  I think they will love lunch and the movie. 

Coming soon:  Planning your Halloween party for adults? I have got a TERRIFIC recommendation for a really, really spooky, beautifully textured film for the night.