In Theatre
Once again, I barely left my apartment
In Home
Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987) Malle - A story about students at an all-boys Catholic school in France during WW2/Holocaust action. The head of the school is "hiding" a number of young Jewish boys amongst the students to protect them from French collaborators and Nazis. The film is also just a story about adolescent friendship as a French boy befriends a Jewish boy, even after he discovers the Jewish boy's secret. 4/5
the Double Life of Veronique (1991) Kieslowski - A lushly gorgeous movie of reds, greens, and golds that tells the story of Weronika and Veronique. Weronika is a singer and Veronique is a music teacher, but both are played by the same actress and essentially represent two paths that could have been taken by the protagonist (like a more artsy Sliding Doors or something). However, each character seems to "feel" the presence of the other or the loss of that presence. 5/5
Freeway (1996) Bright - On one hand, this film is a trashy modern update of "Little Red Riding Hood" where the wolf is a serial killer and Little Red Riding Hood is a white trash teenager. On the other hand, it's an extremely snarky take on the criminal justice system, social services, and Southern California. All of which sounds like a decent premise for a film, but I just could not get over the style and sense of humor...basically I thought it was irritating. 2/5
Persepolis (2007) Paronnaud - Marjane grows up in Iran while the country undergoes huge changes towards a more religious and repressive society. Her family is firmly against this new direction for the country, and for her safety, sends Marjane away to Austria at age 13. It's a coming-of-age story, and one of feeling like a misfit (her passion for punk rock, Iron Maiden, and secularness alienates her in Iran, her "Iranness" prevents her from ever fully fitting in while in Austria). The felt-pen animation is pretty incredible to watch and I really enjoyed a scene that involves "The Eye of the Tiger." 4.5/5
the Signal (2006) Gentry - The first installment of "movie club" happening at my work. This movie seems to take place in the near future when, for some reason, TVs, cell phones, and radios all start emitting a signal that drives people to kill other people for little to no reason. It's like a culty zombie film in some ways, but can't decide whether to be completely outrageous or not. 3/5
the Vanishing (1988) Sluizer - A youngish couple go on a roadtrip vacation and while at a rest stop, the woman goes missing. For three years the boyfriend searches for her, puts up posters, goes on television, all in an effort to try and figure out what happened to her. His obsession to know the truth overwhelms anything else that may be going on with him, and then her kidnapper offers to reveal that truth. 4/5
In News
* Saxon pointed out, and it's worth mentioning that David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls) has directed the new Apatow (Knocked Up, Superbad, "Freaks and Geeks) extravaganza called Pineapple Express. Mostly all I've heard about it is that it's a stoner-related film (some dude has to go on a run with his dealer...) but I am curious to see how the Green/Apatow pairing works out, especially since Green seems to usually deal in more serious fare. Should be released in theatres very soon this summer.
