Skyfall

2 Paws

Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

Aren't all James Bond movies the same?

It doesn't seem to matter which one I'm watching - I'm just not that interested in keeping up with the action. I finally started paying attention when the characters in this version reach Skyfall, the brooding Scottish estate that once served as the boyhood home of James Bond (it's near the tail end of the movie, mind you).

I will give Eve (Naomie Harris) big points for style and killer hair, and there are worse things to look at on screen than Daniel Craig, although I think I could pick him up and carry him around in my pocket. There's also a nice Bondian twist at the end, but my tent will be forever pitched in Sean Connery's camp.

Oh, and someone ought to let the British Secret Service know that Voldemort has infiltrated its ranks.

Bonus Bones: 2

One for each hunting dog on the Skyfall estate.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

Too much Orc, not enough charm.

I'm not obsessed with J.R.R. Tolkien's tales of fantasy, but I did manage to read The Hobbit and rather enjoyed it. Peter Jackson's take on the classic - at least the first installment of it - is a bit of a yawner. I've never been a fan of slimy, brutish creatures with bad teeth and even worse manners, and their antics dominated the action.

Martin Freeman makes a charming Bilbo Baggins, and there's a searing fierceness in Richard Armitage's Thorin Oakenshield, the exiled Dwarf king. But neither gets much of a chance to endear themselves to the audience, which is the best part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I also prefer Gandalf the White to Gandalf the Grey, at least in terms of his fashion sense. Maybe the second one will be better.

Bonus Bones: 0
I guess there were no dogs in Middle-earth.

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel

2 Paws

Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, still awaiting its makeover)

I'm mad about Diana Vreeland - at least from a distance. She was able to turn her eccentricity into an asset, and her confidence and sense of adventure gave her a power not often associated with women of her day.

Up close, Vreeland comes across as a frosty and somewhat terrifying human being, as evidenced by the interviews with her former employees (among them Vera Wang and the fabulous Ali MacGraw) and her two sons. I hold out hope that you can be wildly creative and genuinely nice at the same time.

If you're a fashionista, you'll appreciate the archival footage and stills - they made me think we're falling a little short of the mark today. If you're not, you should skip this one. A great documentary transcends the subject matter, which doesn't happen here.

Bonus Bones: 2.5

You see a few dogs via photo and film clip, but the best part is the Ali MacGraw interview - she's shushing something off camera that's obviously her dog.

The Imposter

3 Paws
Seen recently at Film Streams

Oooooooh - this is one creepy documentary that's incredibly well executed.

Pretend for a moment that you live on the wrong side of the tracks in a Texas town. You're trying to raise your somewhat troubled son - a light-haired, blue-eyed boy - as a single parent. Then, one day, that son - who's now 13 - goes missing. Three years later, you get a call from the authorities telling you your son has been located - overseas, mind you. You're not fit to travel, so you send your daughter to pick him up and bring him home. She brings someone home, all right, but it's a dark-eyed dude with a French accent. You welcome him back, telling those who will listen that three years living in unspeakable conditions can change a person.

I made up my mind about halfway through as to what I think happened to the real Nicholas Barclay, and that's the beauty of the film's structure - it allows you to draw your own conclusions. It also highlights the shortcomings of the juvenile justice system - if society considers you "poor white trash" and you don't have an advocate, you're completely disposable.

Bonus Bones: 1
There's a quick shot of a boxer in a backyard, but that's it.

The Sessions

2.5 Paws
Seen recently at 20 Grand Cinema

The 85th Academy Award nominations will be announced Jan. 10, but the race for the best actor Oscar is already over. John Hawkes (Teardrop from Winter's Bone, y'all) turns in the most compelling performance I've seen on screen since Daniel Day Lewis's 1989 triumph as Christy Brown in My Left Foot. You'd swear Hawkes is as dependent on an iron lung as is the character he plays, Mark O'Brien - how else could he get it so right?

The supporting cast is pitch perfect - if there were most priests like William H. Macy, the world would probably be a more Catholic place. O'Brien's attendants are also noteworthy, especially Nebraska-born Moon Lovegood.

And then there's Helen Hunt. I know she's an Academy Award winning actress, but I remember her from her after school special days (I loved it when she got all hopped up and dove out the window at school). Why does she insist on tackling East Coast accents she just can't pull off?

Bonus Bones: 0
The real Mark O'Brien, it appears, was a cat guy, although I could have done without the last scene - a bit too manipulative for my taste.

Lincoln

2.5 Paws

Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

It's a little like watching the History Channel, but I didn't mind learning.

If you're a fan of Daniel Day-Lewis, you won't be surprised at how he loses himself completely in the character, bringing to life a revered figure by showing people the man he might have been - the scheming politician, the storyteller with a great sense of timing, the frustrated husband and father.

You will be surprised at how funny the film is - thanks, in great part, to the trio of fixers - led by a well-fed James Spader - who are hired to procure enough votes to end slavery via constitutional amendment.

I could have done with a little less speechifying, though. It made me think about period dramas that handle dialogue incredibly well - Downton Abbey immediately springs to mind. I also would have ended the film with the quiet but powerful scene in which Lincoln heads out for the theater - everyone knows what happens next, so there's no need for a recap (you're welcome, Steven Spielberg).

Bonus Bones: 0

No Civil War love for the four-legged other than horses.

The Big Picture

2 Paws
Seen recently at Film Streams

I'd been waiting to see this one for months because the trailer promised so much - suspense, glamorous types, all around Frenchiness.

The storyline delivers (spoiler alert) - a jealous husband (Romain Duras as Paul Exben) accidentally kills his wife's lover and disposes of the body, then fakes his own death and assumes the identity of the dead lover, who happens to be a photographer - his passion.

The pace, unfortunately, does not, and neither does the ending. The best things about the film are Romain's expressive face and his wild mane of hair, which gets more and more out of control as his circumstances grow more desperate. My notes to the director - if you're going to cast the fabulous Catherine Deneuve in your movie, give her a part that's worth her time.

The moral of the story, which I think has some merit - if you're not happy at work, you're screwed.

Bonus Bones: 3
I counted three, and one of them ends up as the subject of one of Exben's photos.

Flight

2 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

No matter the decade, a lot of actors worth their salt feel compelled to mine the depths of the abyss that is alcoholism - Jack Lemon in Days of Wine and Roses, Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart, to name just a few.

The trouble with this one, perhaps unique to me, is that it's not the Denzel Washington I want to see on screen. I want the Denzel with the swagger, the one who chases a runaway train before it takes out a town in its path and who relieves Gene Hackman of his command on a nuclear missile sub before a war is started and who swears vengeance on the bad guys who kidnap the little girl he's been hired to protect.

I want the Denzel who's in control, because the world can be a pretty scary place, and it's good to know there are people out there - people you don't even know - who will come to your rescue if the situation warrants it. I should have left after the crash sequence.

Bonus Bones: 0
No dogs on this flight crew.

Farewell, My Queen

2 Paws
Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, still waiting for a makeover)

I think the history teachers at Kuemper Catholic High School forgot to tell me that Marie Antoinette was a lesbian.

That was my main takeaway from this period piece, which is beautiful to look at but incredibly unsatisfying to process. It's the eve of the French Revolution and the Bastille has just been stormed, for crying out loud - you'd think that setting would be naturally compelling. It's not.

Marie's relationship with Sidonie (watch for more from Lea Seydoux), one of her readers, just doesn't hold up as the engine behind 100 minutes of cinematic exploration. If you want to watch something that deftly examines class differences, track down 2001's Gosford Park or wait for the upcoming season of Downton Abby.

The wigs are pretty awesome, though.

Bonus Bones: 2
You get a quick glimpse of two royal dogs, one of which is in two scenes.

How to Survive a Plague

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

The ticket seller and the concessions guy both told us to enjoy the show. I'm not sure it's possible, given the subject matter. It might also be why there were only five of us in the audience.

This documentary is more like a searing history lesson for those who were oblivious to the AIDS epidemic or simply dismissed it as not relevant to their lives. It contains one of the most disturbing and heartbreaking moments I've ever seen anywhere - the march on the White House and the dumping of the ashes of loved ones on its immaculate lawn.

It also reaffirmed a few things for me - smart, committed people can make a difference if they have a plan; I love scientists who enter their labs each day with the determination to tackle the seemingly insurmountable; and it's sometimes okay to speak ill of the dead (I'm talking about you, Jesse Helms).

Bonus Bones: 5
Look for the cute white poodle during the condom tenting of Jesse's house.

Argo

3 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

I was too self-absorbed during the early eighties to pay more than scant attention to the Iran hostage crisis. Director Ben Affleck has given me a chance to redeem myself (well, kind of) with Argo, and I hung on every word and image.

I take back every snarky thing I ever said about the taller, darker half of the Good Will Hunting duo. He approaches this little piece of once-classified information with humor, a great sense of pacing and a keen eye for period detail (remember when everyone smoked?). It's just plain old great movie making. The cast of relatively unknown actors who play the six Americans makes you feel as though you're trapped inside the Canadian embassy with them, and the Hollywood connection (John Goodman and Alan Arkin) gives the film its warmth and somehow makes you proud to be an American.

Make sure you stay through the credits - the photo pairings and accompanying audio are well worth it.

Bonus Bones: 5
Look for the chained up guy who's howling like mad - he made the most of his short but incredibly focused screen time.

Searching for Sugar Man

1.5 Paws
Seen recently at Film Streams

The story is an incredible one, and it's true - a soft-spoken guy with a great look from Detroit makes a couple of records in the 1970s that go absolutely nowhere in the United States, but, unbeknownst to him (and apparently anyone else), he becomes a rock god in South Africa. Then, after years of living in obscurity while toiling away at tough manual labor jobs, two of his biggest fans track him down and bring him to their country for a series of concerts that parallel the hype surrounding the first U.S. visit of the Beatles.

It's too bad the documentary doesn't live up to its subject matter. Sixto Rodriguez is one of the most charming, unassuming artists I've ever seen on screen, but you don't get to meet him until you're almost halfway through the film's 86-minute running time. I dozed off prior to our introduction to the now 70-year-old poet/musician/day laborer who once threw his hat in the Detroit city council race, and I was left with a ton of questions. Why didn't he make it? (His sound is similar to James Taylor and the late great Jim Croce.) Can he recoup any of the money (not that he cares to) from record sales that should have gone into his pocket? What happened to the mother (or mothers) of his three daughters? Does he really live through Detroit winters with only a wood-burning stove to heat his home?

The film's saving grace is that it's introduced Rodriguez to an American audience, and he's experiencing a resurgence of sorts. I hope he books a gig in Omaha soon - maybe then I'll get some answers.

Bonus Bones: 0
No dogs, unless one made an appearance while I was dozing.

Looper

1 Paw

Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

My brain is not wired for science fiction.

I spent the first part of the movie trying to figure out what they did to Joseph Gordon-Levitt's face. Then I was distracted by the soft-boiled egg hair (bald on top, shell around the sides) of Bruce Willis, who plays the older version of JGL's character "in the future." At this point, I felt like I was watching a foreign film minus the English subtitles.

Then the demon child (whom I at first thought was a CGI character) enters the picture. Ooooie - let's hope the kid (Pierce Gagnon) doesn't need therapy later in life. If it weren't for the calming presence of a blonde, shotgun-toting, American accented Emily Blunt, I would have headed straight for the exit. 

Thinking back, I can only recall one time travel movie I really liked - 1980's Somewhere in Time. You just can't beat Superman and Jane Seymour falling in love at the historic Grand Hotel on Michigan's Mackinac Island despite the different eras they live in.

Bonus Bones: 0

Thank God there is no dog in this one - either Bruce Willis would have shot it or that disturbing child would have blown it up.

End of Watch

2 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

This one's a bit of a gorefest, so be forewarned.

There's something sincere about Jake Gyllenhaal's performances, and his turn as a cruiser cop on the mean streets of L.A. is exactly that. I liked watching the daily grind of his relationship with fellow officer and partner Michael Pena - it makes you realize that cops are people as well as badges. I also liked seeing Ugly Betty (America Ferrera) in blues instead of braces, even though her role is a small one and her partner couldn't act her way out of a wet paper bag.

I didn't like the storyline at first - is coordination between different law enforcement agencies (as to who's going after who) really that bad in 2012? Then, the very next day, I heard a story on NPR about a Mexican drug cartel - creepy. I don't think I want to know any more.

Bonus Bones: 5
I couldn't count all the junkyard dogs that crop up during the pivotal scene - it's too dark - but you sure can hear them.

Sleepwalk With Me

2.5 Paws
Seen recently at Film Streams

I admire standup comics, but I don't like watching them perform. It's too much pressure - on the comedian to be funny and on the audience to laugh. What if it's not funny? Life is already too full of awkward moments to purposefully set yourself up for more.

That being said, Mike Birbiglia (Matt Pandamiglio), the want-to-be-comedian, is kind of funny. His parents are kind of entertaining, and the visual depiction of his sleepwalking problem is kind of clever. It's also kind of nice to see Lauren Ambrose (Abby, Matt's girlfriend/fiance) on the big screen - her Claire was the best part of Six Feet Under before it got kind of boring in its later years.

Is this one going to pummel you into comedic submission like a Lewis Black performance? Nope. But kind of is okay.

Bonus Bones: 0
Matt can barely take care of himself, let alone a dog.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry

3 Paws
Seen recently at Film Streams

He's a hulking man with an ego to match who apparently cheats on his wife - not exactly hero material in my book.

But there's something about his conviction that immediately puts you in his corner and makes you wish you had the guts to fight for your beliefs as he does, despite the consequences (imagine being whacked in the head so hard by the police that it requires brain surgery to alleviate the damage or being detained by the authorities for 81 days while no one - not even your family - knows what's become of you).

I first heard about Ai Weiwei on Bravo's Work of Art (the Project Runway-style show that's looking for the next great artist). In one episode, one of the "contestants" cited the Chinese artist/activist as his inspiration for a particular project. He's become an inspiration outside art circles as well, as thousands the world over follow him on Twitter (if you're interested, make sure you choose the English version). If you ever doubted that art is important, you need to see this documentary - wowwow.

Bonus Bones: 20
I counted at least four dogs in Ai Weiwei's compound, but I've also got to give it up for the cat who can open doors with his paws.

Arbitrage

2 Paws
Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, still waiting for the rehab to start)

There's no denying that Richard Gere, at 63, still has his swagger (I became somewhat obsessed with it after Breathless). But despite it and a cast full of big-time acting talent, this one's a bit of a disappointment.

I don't for a minute pretend to understand the lifestyles of the uber rich, although I do admire the wardrobe (I want that grey coat Susan Sarandon is wearing when she gets into her car after her conversation with Tim Roth). But if this is how they live and how they conduct their relationships, I could care less about learning more. That's the problem with this one - there's really no one to root for, other than Nate Parker (Jimmy Grant), the kid who does Gere's dirty work.

It was over for me after the car accident, when Gere turns into Zack Mayo from An Officer and a Gentleman. You remember the scene - Louis Gossett Jr. is busting his ass as punishment while everyone else is on leave and, while doing sit-ups at the end of a long, physically punishing day, he screws up his face and yowls, "I've got nowhere else to go - I ain't got nothing else." Maybe that's the only way he can do agony.

Bonus Bones: 1
Susan Sarandon is holding a fluffy white cutie when we first see her on screen, but that's it.

Ruby Sparks

3 Paws

Seen recently at AMC Oakview Plaza 24

I love movies about writers. They don't spend energy trying to cover up their frailties, and watching them worry their way through scene after scene somehow soothes my entire being - like Xanex in celluloid form.

Paul Dano's Calvin is one of these writers. He's troubled and self-absorbed and way too smart for his own good. It's a good thing he's got one of the cutest dogs I've ever seen to help shore up his shortcomings. The supporting cast (Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Elliott Gould and Steve Coogan) is used sparingly and beautifully. But the film's real gem is Ruby herself, played by Zoe Kazan, Dano's real-life girlfriend and the granddaughter of Elia Kazan.

I didn't recognize Kazan, so I googled her as soon as I got home. Her IMDb profile shows that she's been pretty busy with small film and television roles the past few years. She also wrote the script, which is warm, funny and unexpected. I think everyone is going to recognize her soon.

Bonus Bones: 10
Oscar, who plays Scotty, definitely needs his own Twitter account.

Maria Abramovic: The Artist Is Present

2.5 Paws
Seen recently at Film Streams

I have a confession to make - I don't get performance art. It makes me self-conscious and uncomfortable, which makes me feel like I'm lacking the intellect to appreciate it, which makes me avoid it if I have a choice...a vicious circle.

That being said, I think there's a lot of good and a lot of schlocky art out there, no matter the method of delivery. Maria Abramovic, the Serbian performance artist, is part of the good camp, it seems. Everything about her is compelling - the way she moves, the way she speaks, the way she commits to her work.

It's fascinating looking over her shoulder as she prepares for a 2010 retrospective of her work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. I'm not sure I would have camped out for the chance to sit across from her as part of the new work she debuted during its three-month run. But I wouldn't have automatically ruled it out, either. I like her, even if I don't get her.

Bonus Bones: 0
She doesn't seem like the type of human who has time for a dog.

The Intouchables

3 Paws

Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, but not for long)

Bad title, best movie I've seen this year to date.

It starts with a car chase, but as soon as Driss (Omar Sy) cranks up a little Earth, Wind and Fire, I know everything's going to be okay. The subject matter is tough - an incredibly wealthy French aristocrat (Francois Cluzet) hires a burly street tough to be his round-the-clock caretaker after an accident renders him a paraplegic.

Directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano somehow manage to avoid manipulating the viewer's emotions with an almost clinical treatment of the situation, coupled with wit, restraint and a keen eye for editing - every scene says a lot, oftentimes with little dialogue. 

Cluzet (Philippe), who looks a little like a French Dustin Hoffman, turns in an Oscar worthy performance - if he doesn't get his half of this buddy movie right, the whole thing heads straight for sappy town. 

Bonus Bones: 0

I was so into this one that I almost forgot to keep track, but I came to my senses in time - no dogs.

Your Sister's Sister

3 Paws
Seen recently at Film Streams

Mark Duplass is having quite the summer. He was sweet and sad and genuinely appealing in Safety Not Guaranteed, and he's managed to do it all again as Jack, one-third of the unintended love triangle that forms in a cabin on a dark, wet, beautiful island off the northwest coast. I'm not sure if he's acting or if he's just being himself, but it's working.

The sisters (same dad, different moms) also work. Any girl with a sister will instantly recognize the admiration the younger (Emily Blunt as Iris) has for the elder (Rosemarie DeWitt as Hannah), the teasing and torment the elder unleashes on the younger, and the habits formed in childhood (telling secrets to each other in the dark when you're supposed to be sleeping) that never seem to break.

It's a good one - see it on a rainy day, if you can. And take your sister.

Bonus Bones: 0
No dogs on the island.

The Dark Knight Rises

3 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

What do you do when it's 106 degrees outside on a Sunday afternoon if you're not a scorpion? You go to the movies.

Christian Bale is the best Batman ever, and director Christopher Nolan sends him out in exquisite style, even though The Dark Knight Rises is too long and too loud and his Gotham populace gives up too easily. My only other quibble - Tom Hardy's Bane. I found him uber creepy in the trailers, but the more I heard him blather on and on in the film, the more he reminded me of the Cookie Monster with an expanded vocabulary.

But, back to the good stuff. The well-known cast members (Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are good. Two unknown cast members - a pair of older prisoners who counsel a beat up and broken Bruce Wayne while he's in the hole - as well as the film's score, are better. And the ending - which neatly ties together a series of clues we've been given but don't recognize as clues at the time - is the best.

An addendum:
Movie houses are my refuge from the world. Watching a security guard patrol through them is supposed to make you feel better, but it doesn't. It only makes you think about the awful thing that happened to an innocent group of people who just wanted to see a film. Don't let guns keep you out of the theater. Keep guns out of the theater.

Bonus Bones: 2
Look for a pair of police dogs during one of the mass hysteria scenes (there are many).

To Rome with Love

2.5 Paws

Seen recently at the Marcus 20 Grand Cinema

I think Woody is over his creepy period - his film wives are getting older.

This one reminds me of a Bob and Bing "Road" picture - it's full of winks to the audience, slapstick moments and musical numbers. It's also full of Woody - Woody doing Woody (which makes sense), Jesse Eisenberg doing Woody, Ellen Page doing Woody - enough, already. How much neurosis does one film need?

The all-star cast has its hits (Judy Davis as Phyllis, Alec Baldwin as John, Penelope Cruz as Anna) and one big miss - Roberto Benigni as Leopoldo. Hey, I appreciated Life Is Beautiful. Then he had to go and ruin it all by acting like a complete nutter during his best actor acceptance speech (it was more like a gaudy parade) at the 1999 Academy Awards. If he'd just tone his volume down a bit, I could take him in very small doses.

If you're not traveling this summer, it's a good armchair vacation.

Bonus Bones: 0

I don't think Woody's a dog person.

The Amazing Spider-Man

2.5 Paws

Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

It's a little like cheating on Tobey Maguire with his younger, skinnier brother.

Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker is a bit too cool and too mean for my liking. He lacks that endearing quality that made Maguire so appealing in his multiple turns as the comic book icon. The rest of the cast makes up for it, though.

Heavyweights Martin Sheen and Sally Field (Uncle Ben and Aunt May) add credibility to this tale we know so well, Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy is as gosh darn perfect as you'd expect her to be, and The Lizard (Rhys Ifans) has just enough vulnerability at his core to make him a pretty good villain. A quick plea to the underrated Denis Leary, who plays Gwen's dad - make more serious movies, please.

The action is easy to follow and fun to watch, but it might not be enough for those who like to leave the theatre with their ears ringing.

Bonus Bones: 0

No dogs, but lots of lizards.

Moonrise Kingdom

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

My favorite Wes Anderson film is The Royal Tenenbaums. It's a masterpiece of storytelling, style and heart, and it's on my top 10 list of movies ever made. I wanted to love this one almost as much, so I entered the crowded theatre with high hopes, not unlike those lucky Brits with tickets to today's Wimbleton men's singles final to see countryman Andy Murray take on the legendary Roger Federer.

In case you're not a tennis fan, Murray lost. There was a lot to like about his approach to the match, though, and his runner-up acceptance speech will no doubt make him one of the most cheered-for players on the tour. Moonrise Kingdom turned in a similar performance for me. The child leads (Kara Hayward as Suzy and Jared Gilman as Sam), despite their best efforts, can't support the heft of Anderson's thoughts.

If you were alive in 1965, though, you'll marvel at Anderson's attention to detail, from Suzy's white knee-high socks to the braided oval rugs in the Bishop house. (My two oldest brothers were Boy Scouts in Troop 66, so all the neckerchiefs and merit badges and jamborees in the film are part of my collective family memory.) You'll want to book a vacation on this magical island, where you can swim and read overdue library books and listen to vinyl on a battery-operated record player. At least I do.

Bonus Bones: 5

Alas, poor Snoopy. I thought Scouts were supposed to be trustworthy.

Safety Not Guaranteed

3 Paws

Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, but not for long)

Summer is all about the blockbuster, but every once in a while, you come across a little gem that deserves to be seen by the masses.

This film is a must see for anyone who's ever felt like a weirdo, either because of what you look like or what's going on inside your head that others can't see. Writer Derek Connolly's script seems to have avoided the Hollywood cleansing process, so its quirky charm, honesty and ending all made the final cut.

The relatively unknown cast really sold the story, which is - well - out there. My favorite is Jake M. Johnson's Jeff, a veteran magazine writer who's tired of his own charades. His fist pump during the final scene is exactly how I felt. I just don't think it would have worked with a bunch of A-listers.

Bonus Bones: 0

Maybe they're cat people in the Pacific Northwest, but I didn't see any of those, either.

First Position

3 Paws

Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, but not for long)

I'm a sucker for a dance movie, particularly if it involves tights and tutus. Grace, power and discipline have always eluded me, so I'm fascinated by those who can harness all three to create something magical for others to experience.

This documentary, which follows six dancers from around the world who compete in the Youth America Grand Prix, is fast-paced, honest and insightful. I have no idea how kids that age deal with that amount of pressure, where five minutes on stage can impact the direction your life will take from there on out. And although the actual dance sequences are fun to watch, the family relationships behind each dancer - some wonderful, some cringeworthy - take center stage.

The best part? Things turn out pretty well for the one I was rooting for the most.

Bonus Bones: 4

I think I counted four dogs among the families of the six dancers, but they didn't get a lot of screen time.

Prometheus

2.5 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

For me, the best thing about 1979's Alien is Sigourney Weaver. Ellen Ripley is about as good as it gets for a female character - smart, driven, heroic and one serious bad ass when screwed with.

I wanted to find a Ripley-like character to root for in Ridley Scott's much-anticipated prequel. My likely target - Noomi Rapace's Elizabeth Shaw. As much as I have to give her credit (spoiler alert) for performing surgery on herself, she comes up a bit short - just not enough Ripley mojo.

So - what to do? I ended up settling for the stunning visuals supplied by cinematographer Dariusz Wolski and Michael Fassbender's creepy yet charming David, the android with a robot crush on Lawrence of Arabia's Peter O'Toole. Fassbender, whom I loved as Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, made me keep my eyes open through all the gore and slime for fear of missing something, and that's quite an accomplishment.

Bonus Bones: 1
Look for Guy Pierce's holographic cutie before the mission begins.

Bernie

2 Paws
Seen recently at AMC Oakview 24

I love Jack Black, and I love Shirley MacLaine, but that doesn't mean that I love them together.

This film is an uncomfortable mix of comedy and drama. Funeral homes and murders and small towns are all great topics to explore cinematically, but the creepiest thing about this one is that it's based on a true story. Parts of it are hysterical - Matthew McConaughey is perfect as Texas lawman Danny Buck, Sonny Carl Davis is a scene stealer as one of the redneck townies, and MacLaine's best moment on screen is her chewing scene with Black in the restaurant.

I wish someone would give Mr. School of Rock a great dramatic role to tackle.

Bonus Bones: 0
No dogs, one armadillo.

Monsieur Lazhar

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

Thank goodness for the Oscars. Otherwise, this 2012 best foreign language film of the year nominee (Canada) probably wouldn't have made it to a theatre screen in the Big O.

I want to take Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Fellag) to dinner. I want to ask him how he had the courage to show up at the school that day and apply for the teaching position. I want to ask him how he could be so generous of spirit with others while so immersed in his own unthinkable circumstances. 

I want to ask director Philippe Farlardeau where he found his child actors. I want him to tell me that when he yelled 'cut,' they ran around like crazy and threw spitballs and annoyed all the adults on set. I want to ask him if Montreal is as multicultural as it appears in his film.

I want to learn more about Algeria. I want today's educational system to loosen some of its form and politics so teachers can care about their students (in an appropriate manner, of course) without fear of recourse. I want to see more films with this one's heart.

Bonus Bones: 0

No dogs, neither Canadian nor Algerian.

The Avengers

3 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

The line was long, and our trio had to split up to find seats once we entered the theater. I ended up sitting next to a man and his daughter, and the little one couldn't have been more than four or five. "How is she going to sit through 142 minutes of this without being annoying?" I asked myself (not out loud, of course).

She was nothing short of charming, and her occasional cheers - along with those from the rest of the audience - really added to the experience. So did the guy in the ripped plaid shirt and purple sweats we saw milling around before the line started to move, although it took me a moment to realize his outfit was an homage to The Hulk.

Speaking of the green guy, he was clearly the audience favorite. Mark Ruffalo, whom I've loved ever since You Can Count on Me, has that kind of quiet humility that made Bill Bixby's Bruce Banner such an endearing character. I'd have to say my favorite in this outing, though, is Chris Evans as Captain America. If I were ever in a jam, I'd want his intelligence, bravery and loyalty in my corner (he's very dog like).

Although I prefer the story lines in the individual superhero films (Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor were reviewed on this blog in 2011), this group effort is a pretty good way to kick off the summer viewing season.

Bonus Bones: 0
No super dogs, villainous or heroic.

Undefeated

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

I'm a sucker for a good sports movie (Hoosiers is on my Top 10 list of films), and this one delivers. It's got everything you could possibly want - compelling characters, a momentum-building storyline and an ending that's better than anything you could write yourself. The best thing about it - it's all real.

Coach Bill Courtney is not perfect - he yells, he gets exasperated, and he neglects his family during football season. But wow, what a difference he makes in the lives of his players and the school where he volunteers his time. It's pretty inspirational.

I think there are a lot of Bill Courtneys out there, busting their butts in the shadows because it's the right thing to do and because they end up getting as much as they give. It's too bad directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin can't make a documentary about each and every one of them.

Bonus Bones: 1
Coach Courtney has a dog, but he doesn't get much attention, either.

Bully

2.5 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

If Ty Smalley's parents don't break your heart, then you don't have one. It's difficult to watch the couple as they arrive at the church to attend the funeral of their boy, an 11-year-old who committed suicide. "It's okay," Kirk whispers to his wife as he propels her along the sidewalk toward the entrance. "We're just going to tuck him in one more time."

Have kids always been this mean? How can a parent tell his son to 'get his act together' before his sister starts attending his school so she won't get bullied as well? How can a bus driver DO NOTHING while one of her riders gets wailed on en route to school?

Director Lee Hirsch, himself a victim of bullying, is masterful with shock and awe but does little to examine the reasons behind the phenomenon. Perhaps he'll tackle that in Bully II. In the mean time, he's encouraging all who will listen to take a stand against bullying. I did it for Alex Libby.

Bonus Bones: 6
I think I counted six dogs, most of whom were the family pets of those victimized. 

The Forgiveness of Blood

2 Paws
Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, still open)

The Albanian countryside is hauntingly beautiful, but this depiction of life within it is bleak and unforgiving. The old ways still rule, even though they make no sense to the outside observer in 2012.

In its best moments (and there aren't a whole lot of them), the film conjures up images of The Godfather - old men with guns sitting around smoking and drinking while plotting the appropriate course of action after someone's been offed. In its worst moments, it's a bit of a yawner. I'm guessing the brooding monotony is purposeful to reflect the family's isolation, but it doesn't make for good movie watching. The only characters I connected with were the resourceful Rudina (Sindi Lacej), the sister who has to quit school to pilot her family's rickety bread wagon around town, and Klinsman, the sturdy old horse who makes the wagon go.

Bonus Bones: 2
Two Albanian dogs get a few moments of screen time - the guard dog outside the house and the barker riding around on top of a vehicle in the street scene where Rudina is in search of cigarettes (to sell, not smoke).

Jeff, Who Lives at Home

2.5 Paws
Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, still open)

What did they do to Ed's eyebrows? Coupled with his neatly manicured moustache/goatee combo, Helms (Pat) - the mean/sad half of the brother duo - looks like a cartoon version of the devil. It was a bit distracting.

So was the film's rocky start. It teeters on the brink of self-important crapdom before it starts to click about a third of the way through. If you can wait that long (Snowcaps or Junior Mints help), you'll be rewarded. The entire cast, helped immensely by the ageless Susan Sarandon (Sharon), is somehow able to transcend the material, and the ending is kind of fantastic in an every man sort of way.

There's just something warm and cuddly about 6'4" Jason Segel (Jeff), the sweet/sad half of the brother duo, even though he appears to be a pot-smoking loser who lives in his mother's basement. I believe what he's selling. I even had a little lump in my throat as we left the theatre.

Bonus Bones: 0 
No dogs, no cat, no gerbil - not even a goldfish. What kind of a suburban household is this?

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

3 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

Don't let the strange title keep you out of the theatre. This charming 'little engine that could' story is directed by Lasse Hallstrom, who knows how to make good movies with heart (The Cider House Rules, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Chocolat).

Ewan McGregor rings true in every role I've seen him tackle, and he's wonderfully sweet as the bookish fisheries expert (Dr. Albert Jones) forced into trying to make an uber-rich sheikh's vanity project a reality. I've loved Emily Blunt (Harriet) ever since her breakout performance in The Devil Wears Prada, and she's so appealing in this role that even I want to marry her. But it's Amr Waked (Sheikh Muhammed) who gives the film its soul and makes the audience believe that something as simple as fly fishing can begin to change the world, at least his part of it.

You don't have to be an angler to get it.

Bonus Bones: 0
No dogs, but plenty of fish.

Pariah

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

I thought part of having kids meant loving them for who they are and encouraging them to achieve their dreams, not yours. Apparently, this view is not shared by all.

Kim Wayans, known for her comedic timing, waited until age 50 to tackle her first dramatic role. Her performance is raw, honest and unflinching as the mother of the conflicted teen (Adepero Oduye) - I'm sure her agent's office is piling up with serious scripts. I have no idea where writer/director Dee Rees found the rest of the cast, but they all deliver in their respective roles. Charles Parnell, an All My Children alum - of all things, is nothing short of mesmerizing as the supportive parent.

Despite the highly charged subject matter, the film manages to avoid being heavy-handed or preachy - it's a collection of small, seemingly real moments that add up to a powerful story about the family dynamic. It also subtly recognizes those rare teachers who equip their students with the courage to transcend incomprehensible circumstances.

See this one and talk about it with your kids.

Bonus Bones: 0

No dogs in this one, which isn't surprising, given the temperament of Audrey (Kim Wayans).

The Secret World of Arrietty

2 Paws

Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

It's beautiful to watch, I'll give you that much. But the bleak undertones of the storyline gave me the creeps. I couldn't help thinking about Speed Racer as I watched poor Shawn, convinced he's going to die, poke around the country estate where his recently divorced mother stashed him with an aunt to await his impending surgery. As if that isn't enough, he's 'looked after' by one of the most dispicable characters - human or animated - to hit the screen in some time. Yikes. It's no wonder he was looking for little people under the floorboards to befriend.

Lighten up, Disney.

Bonus Bones: 1

Look for someone walking a dog in the film's opening sequence - but that's it. The featured cat acts like a dog, if that does anything for you.

And The Sammie Goes To...

Billy was back, Christopher Plummer finally took home a golden idol and Uggie looked cute in a bow tie. The Oscars are over (although people will be talking about Angelina Jolie's disturbing leg pose for weeks), which means it's time to announce the inaugural winner of the annual Sam on Cinema award. As a reminder, all films nominated for a Sammie were reviewed by this blog (well, sort of) in 2011 and featured a performance by a dog or dogs. The nominees:

• Hugo
• 50/50
• Super 8
• Jane Eyre
• Beginners

And the winner is:

• Beginners

It was a no brainer. I still can't believe the Academy managed to nominate nine movies in the best film category without this one getting a nod. Here's what I said after viewing this quiet gem in July at the Dundee Theatre, my neighborhood one screen (still musty, still open). Director/writer Mike Mills - your Sammie is in the mail (unless you want to swing by Omaha and pick it up).

2012 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live Action

2.2 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

Watching the Oscar-nominated live action short films has become an annual tradition in our household, right before the big show itself. This year's offerings were a mixed bag - I loved two, two were "eh" and one I detested (this accounts for the odd Paw rating).

The Shore (31 minutes, English/Gaelic)

Aye, The Troubles. Perhaps I was unduly influenced by the Irish part of my heritage, but this one got me right in the heart. It skillfully mixes pain with comedy, and the haunting beauty of northern Ireland that tourists are told to avoid is on full display.

Raju (24 minutes, English/German)

Oooooh, this one grabs you at the very beginning and holds on tight until the very end. German actor Wotan Wilke Mohring mesmerizes as the newly minted father who is faced with an unthinkable decision. I'd like to see more of him, Hollywood.

Time Freak (11 minutes, English)

If you're the neurotic type (as I am), you will probably relate to this kind-of-funny time machine saga, but it reminded me of something you might see on an old episode of "The Electric Company."

Pentecost (11 minutes, English)

The Catholics in the audience roared at the antics of the main character, a football-obsessed altar boy with the face of an angel. It's too bad this type of behavior isn't the church's biggest problem.

Tuba Atlantic (25 minutes, Norwegian)

Remind me never to visit Norway - I just don't get the humor. I hope a flock of seagulls hunts director Hallvar Witzo down and showers him with a special gift.

Bonus Bones: 1

A street dog makes a brief appearance in Raju - that's it.

Haywire

2 Paws

Seen recently at Great Escape Omaha Stadium 16

About the film:

It's kind of fun to watch, the soundtrack is '70s groovy, and it's packed with a lineup of famous faces you wouldn't normally associate with thriller fare. The action is hard to follow, though, so try and pay attention from the get go - we headed to the Internet when we got home to read about what we just saw. It also has one of the best last lines in recent memory.

About the girl:

I've got a new role model. When I grow up, I want to be Gina Carano (Mallory), even though I've got two decades on her. At a sleek yet muscular 5'8", she's calm in the face of chaos and can kick the stuffing out of just about anyone who crosses her path. A word of advice to all the female youngins out there - put down the Barbie and tell your mom you want to start taking Muay Thai lessons.

Bonus Bones: 0

About the dogs:

No black ops pups here.

The Artist

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

Every once in a while, something magical happens on screen that defies the odds. Why - in this country, anyway - would anyone give a whit about a new black-and-white silent film whose best known cast members are Roseanne's husband and the "that'll do, pig" guy from Babe?

Jean Dujardin is nothing short of mesmerizing as George Valentin. He's part Gene Kelly in look and movement and part Jimmy Stewart in heart. His climactic scene reminded me of George Bailey's desperate moments in Giuseppe Martini's bar (I found tissues necessary). I'd love to see what he could do with dialogue.

Maybe I'm just a romantic. Maybe I was seduced by the costuming and set design. Maybe I needed a stunningly beautiful reminder about the potential of humans (and canines) to change the direction of a life. Does any of that matter? Go see it.

Bonus Bones: 25
Uggie's tricks are awesome, but his best moments are the quiet ones when he's just doing his companion thing (the recovery scene with George Valentin in Peppy Miller's home is incredibly sweet). Here's to a happy and healthy retirement.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

2.5 Paws

Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

I was warned going in that I had to concentrate to keep up with this cerebral thriller. That was a little like icing the kicker. I found myself distracted by the set design (I want a dumbwaiter, even though I have no secret files to transport) and the retro costuming (that's my kind of office Christmas party).

Now that I know how it ends, I'd like to watch it from the beginning again to see which clues I missed that pointed at the outcome. Although Gary Oldman got the Oscar nomination for his lead role, I was most impressed by three of the lesser-known actors in the all-star cast - Tom Hardy as Ricky Tarr, Benedict Cumberbatch (I'm not making this up) as Peter Guillam and Mark Strong (the bad guy in the 2009 version of Sherlock Holmes) as Jim Prideaux.

The moral of the story? It's never who they want you to think it is.

Bonus Bones: 4
Two for the two street dogs we see in the street scenes, and two for the black yapper who lives in the house where the traitor does his trading.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

2 Paws
Seen recently at Marcus Midtown Cinema

It confirmed my fear of heights.

Other than that, there's not much to say about this "I'm still relevant" vehicle for Tom Cruise. Director Brad Bird tries infusing humor into this MI version, and Simon Pegg does deliver as the nerd who finally gets his chance to be an operative. I'm not sure it works overall in this genre, though. I remember watching the television series with my family as a grade schooler. While I was never quite sure what was happening, I loved the intrigue and the pace of the action - it was where my love of suspense was born.

One particularly bright spot is Anil Kapoor's tiny role as an Indian tycoon with a thing for the ladies - he needs more screen time in this country, Hollywood.

Bonus Bones: 0
No dogs in this desert.

The Sammies

Oscar, meet Sammie.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominees this morning, and while this venerable group got some things right (a supporting actor nomination for Christopher Plummer in Beginners), it missed the boat in some cases.

In an effort to recognize the contributions of our four-legged friends to the film industry, below is the inaugural list of nominees for the annual Sam on Cinema award. All films nominated for a Sammie were reviewed by this blog in 2011 and feature a performance by a dog or dogs. (I'm still waiting to see Uggie do his thing in The Artist.) They are:

• Hugo
• 50/50
• Super 8
• Jane Eyre
• Beginners

The winner of the first Sammie will be announced following the Feb. 26 Oscar telecast.