Ed's Review Dot Com

Gran Via Productions, Greyshack Films, Water’s End Productions,

Patricia Clarkson, Zachary Booth, Jayma Mays, Joseph Cross, Rutina Wesley, Fran Kranz, Devon Graye, Alexia Rasmussen, Julie Carmen, Judith Light, Chris Mulkey

Celia Green (Patricia Clarkson) has a dream to spend the last weekend of the summer at a cabin on the water with her grown sons and their friends. They set out to have the perfect weekend, which is what she’s looking for, but family dramas, problems, and issues make things worse and worse as the weekend goes on driving them further apart from each other. As she’s looking to sell the home after this summer since they hardly use it anymore, the troubles make her doubt her role in the family anymore.

This is another indie Sundance film about a dysfunctional family on a weekend outing. This one isn’t really dramatic, and it really, really isn’t comedy, so what is it? I’m not sure. There have been some great stories like this in the past, but this one sputtered out of the gate, and never got going, and sank into the sea by 1/3 way through the film. I couldn’t really like any of the characters, and could never get into the story. There’s no point to what’s going on, and I’m afraid I’ve seen too many screwed up family movies that just don’t go anywhere. If there’s humor, or a decent point to all of it, but by the middle of this weekend, I was just hoping it would be over and I could move on. This is not Patricia Clarkson’s fault, except maybe that she accepted the role, but rather the fault of a weak pointless script. I would not watch this if were on TV, and it’s even boring for a Lifetime Channel drama. I really didn’t like it, and I don’t recommend this one. Truly a waste.

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Why Not Productions, Worldview Entertainment, Orange Studio,

Benicio Del Toro, Mathieu Amalric, Gina McKee, Larry Pine, Joseph Cross, Gary Farmer, Michelle Thrush, Misty Upham

Jimmy Picard is a Native American former soldier who received a severe battle injury which fractured his skull. He is now suffering from numerous problems including terrible headaches, forgetfulness and a lack of focus and concentration. The V.A. is trying to find a cause, but cannot determine any physical problem, so the only thing they can figure out is that it must be a mental problem. In an unconventional move, they pull in Dr. Georges Devereux (Mathieu Amalric) who is a psychoanalist, not a doctor nor licensed, because of his knowledge of Native American culture as a therapist for Jimmy. As time passes the bond between these two unlikely friends grows as they work through to find out Jimmy’s problem and perhaps set the groundwork for future Post Traumatic Shock cases for which a definition did not exist yet at the time.

This is an independent film, so is sometimes plodding with lots of character development, but it’s a uniquely wonderful story. Benicio Del Toro, who is Puerto Rican, is perhaps a rather strange choice to play a Blackfoot character, but he does his best. The accent is somewhat off it seems, but who am I to know. The story is really beautifully told and is really gripping. Jimmy has many dreams, most of the recurring, and this is a study of dream analysis as well. It’s based on a book by Georges, this is based on a true story. Though not the primary focus, there is look at whether Jimmy’s experiences and treatment were affected by his heritage and the general treatment of Native Americans, but it doesn’t take away from the story of Jimmy and how his experiences affect him and his entire family. A very good character study and a deeply moving story. The friendship between the two is very touching, and as strange as the situation, it proves a lot that people are basically the same no matter where they come from. I really enjoyed this film, and found it well worth watching and I recommend this one as something quite out of the mainstream. It’s definitely not ordinary in any way.

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DreamWorks Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Reliance Entertainment,

Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones, Jackie Earle Haley, John Hawkes, Jared Harris, Joseph Cross, Tim Blake Nelson, David Oyelowo, Bruce McGill

Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day Lewis) was our 16th President, and presided over the United States during the darkest days of the nation. This film looks at the last months of the life of Abraham Lincoln. The war has been raging on, and he had released the Emancipation Proclamation declaring slavery had been abolished, but that was done as a time of war. It didn’t stop slavery truly, but rather stated that any slaves captured in battles would be free. But it was highly questionable to Lincoln whether he had the power to do this, especially if the war was over. So Lincoln was faces with a major dilemma. He must push for the 13th Amendment to the constitution in the house, to pass with a 2/3 majority, with not near enough votes to do it. He also had to do it before the war was over, because if the south rejoined the Union, they would certainly have enough power to block it. So Lincoln calls in all his favors, and even recruits his enemies, to attempt to pull off this coup. Lincoln may be able to stop slavery, or stop the war, but likely not both. This stunning documentary tells the story of a great American hero.

The similarities of the badly polarized congress to the situation the country is in today is so strikingly similar that it’s uncanny. This is one of the best films I have ever seen. The story is so gripping, and the performance of Daniel Day Lewis is certainly Oscar worthy. Sally Fields also shines as the trouble First Lady who has seen so much tragedy in her life that many deemed her insane. She was definitely a burden to the President, but also his strength. The performances here are certainly superior, and this film will be showered with honors this year, I am certain. There are so many wonderful actors in this movie that turn in amazing performances. Not the least of these is Tommy Lee Jones who is fabulous as the ornery representative from Pennsylvania. Spielberg has a sure hit here. This is a film that must NOT be missed!

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Warner Brothers Pictures, Azoff Entertainment, The Canton Company

Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Joseph Cross, Mark Addy, Andrew Lawrence, Eli Marienthal, Will Rothhaar, Mika Boorem, Benjamin Brock, Taylor Handley

Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) is a musician in the Jack Frost Band.  They are on the verge of getting signed and he’s not around much when the family needs him.  Especially his son Charlie (Joseph Cross) misses him.  Wife Gabby (Kelly Preston) tries to make it up as much as possible.  They plan a little Christmas vacation at their cabin in the mountains, but an opportunity for a record deal comes up, so Jack sets off for Aspen.  After thinking it over, he turns around half way and heads back in a borrowed car, but as the storm gets worse, he is killed in an auto accident.   One year later, he returns in the form of a snowman with a fresh chance to make it up to Charlie and set things right.

This movie was a box office bomb.  With a budget of 50 million, it took in about half of that domestically.  I can’t figure out why.  I guess a lot of people must not have liked it.  Or maybe it was what it came up against.  But at any rate, I loved it, and saw it in the theater twice that year.  Then I bought it, and I still watch it when it’s on TV.   I don’t know why this film resonates with me, but it does.  Jack wants to be a loving Dad, and he loves his family, but his dream is to be a rock star.  He lets the family down and never had a chance to make it right.  So showing up as a snowman for a few days a year later gives everyone closure and helps Charlie down the right road.  It’s also got a lot of funny parts too.  Having a snowman as a snowball fight partner is a great benefit!   This was one I really loved, and I still love to watch it when I can.  I still have to wipe a tear or two away as well when Jack has to leave.   It’s a great holiday film to me.

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