Crash

Like Canyon with a triple shot of espresso, Crash pulls together the lives of over a dozen people from about ten different races, economic and social backgrounds and ties them all together against the backdrop of Los Angeles.

When you think you know where Crash is headed, it turns around 360 degrees. As one character says "we don't ever touch each other in this city. Sometimes I think we just crash into each other just so we can touch."

Matt Dillon's character die this with perfection. You initially think of him as a racist LA cop, but come to see it isn't that simple. Nor is the "good cop" quite so perfect. Luda Chris complaining about the stereotypes of black men, even as he emulates every last one of them.


Unlike most race relation movies it doesn't just look at black and white, and it doesn't make all black people poor, nor all whites rich. It shows an Iranian family dealing with violence and vandalism, a latino father comforting his five year old daughter, and a television director wondering if he is an an Uncle Tom.

I give it a thumbs up, but think it probably won't translate well outside the white cappucino drinking crowd that surrounded me as I watched this movie.

Mulan

THis is one good movie. I love the animation which includes a sequence of Hun Horseman that remains one of the best animated sequences of all time. THe story, based on an old Chinese legend, survives disnification and is still pretty compelling. The characters are so well animated that I tended to think of them as actors doing a good job. Their faces convey subtle emotions, like a Chinese Captain learning his father is dead, and charging into a hopeless battle.

Mulan is full of simple laughs, and is a good story for any age.

American Me

Starring and directed by one of my favorite actors, Edward James Olmos, this film is not for the faint hearted. It is about the Mexican Mafia operating in and out of the California prison system. Olmos plays the leader of a band that runs the entire prison through terror and violence.

However, this is not some gore filled meaningless prison horror story because of an odd twist. You see the movie through Olmos's eyes and you kind of understand why he is so brutal. You see him get worse and worse, but for the world he lives in this is the right thing to do. He protects his people, and he does that by ensuring people in his gang are respected.

Towards the middle of the movie his views of himself are challenged, and he is forced to live in the world he helped create, but no longer believes.

THis is a very disturbing movie with a lot of violent scenes, but worthwhile nonetheless.

Sex Lies and Videotape

Much more interesting title than plot. BORING! Very 80's.

Star Wars III - Revenge of the Sith

It started out as the sorriest of all Star Wars. I was watching it and thinking that we need a break from these movies. Like Episodes I and II the first part relied on big special effects budgets to overcome no story and no acting. But, by the end of the film I had to say it was one of the best. Definitely better than I and II.

What changed was that the plot evolved, and particularly the fall of young Anikan Skywalker. Also watching Democracy fall, and the Empire rise had scary overtones in post September 11 USA. Suddenly friends become enemies, and the bad guys use the symbols of freedom to take over. Kind of like quoting the founding fathers while you restrict civil liberties?

Watching the big showdown between Obi Wan and Lord Vader was classic Star Wars, but rather tame compared to the battles with the Lord Sidius...especially against Yoda.

Sin City

Very creative, but sickeningly violent. I watch films like this and think of the creative talent that designed it. Using filming techniques that closely emulate black and white ink drawings was a work of genius. I read a couple of the Sin City illustrated novels, and the movie does a good job of following the story, but more remarkable, it follows the layout, the atmosphere, even the "feeling" of these works of art.

I have been a big fan of Frank Miller every since I read The Dark Night Returns. This is one of the best (maybe THE BEST) comic books of all time.

Yet the story of Sin City, for all of it's talent, is sick. What a waste of talent to dwell on cheap used plots of gore and violence, mass murderers and violence against women. There is no real point to the movie, just a well done piece of entertainment for people who get their thrills watching violence and mayham. Quiet frankly I think we have too many of these movies.

Kung Fu Hustle

Unbelievably Good! I cannot tell you how original this movie is. Every shot is like an experiment in creative filmaking. It is also the funniest Chinese movie I have ever seen. In fact, I laughed so hard that my ribs hurt.