Gangs of New York
Gangs of New York, the latest cinematic endeavor from director Martin Scorsese, depicts the violent gang subculture of nineteenth century New York. The movie grew out of Scorsese’s childhood fascination with his old lower Manhattan neighborhood. The film opens with an epic gang battle in the lower Manhattan slum neighborhood know as The Five Points. The battle occurs between a band of immigrant gangs led by an Irishman know as The Priest (Liam Neason) and an equally formidable band of native gangs led by butcher William Cutting, played by Daniel Day Lewis. The climactic battle scene culminates in the slaying of The Priest in front of his young son, who is later sent to grow up in an orphanage. The film then resumes in the opening days of the Civil War with The Priest’s son (Leonardo DiCaprio) leaving the orphanage to seek revenge for the slaying of his father some 17 years earlier. Throughout the film Scorsese attempts to frame the events in the context of 19th century New York. The scenery was masterfully re-created in Rome where most of the movie was filmed. One of the difficulties in recreating historical New York was to duplicate the wooden frame architecture used at the time, of which there are virtually no examples existing. Beyond trying to capture the brutality of New York City the film also tries to capture a feel for the immigrant experience. While much of the focus on the film is on the Irish, the principle immigrant group of the time, it also acknowledges the impact of other European immigrants as well as free blacks living in the North. The film ultimately reaches its climax with the onset of the New York City draft riots where Irish and other immigrants as well as impoverished residents rioted to protest the Civil War draft. Overall, Gangs of New York is a very entertaining and captivating epic, with reverence toward the historical context of its time, though this marriage between history and Hollywood is at times a bit stylized. With convincing performances by DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis, the film is definitely worth seeing.
Maid in Manhattan
This quaint and updated Cinderella story of a poor girl working hard who meets her prince charming is capable of changing even the most doubful viewer’s opinion. The only spin is that this Cinderella, played by Jennifer Lopez, is divorced with one child, and doesn’t sweep the floors. Instead she makes the beds. The upside to our downtrodden princess is that she’s got a few surprises coming to her, and they don’t include the prince.
The character is well defined and certainly has a mind of her own as she sticks to her guns through it all. While prince charming, played by Ralph Fiennes, is supposed to come along and sweep her off her feet, he also has to work for her approval. The surprising twist is that he is a republican politician running for senator and is under extreme scrutiny.
This updated fairy tale brings in politics, fairness in the work place, and the trials of being a single mother. It brings a new message in place of the old–that love can happen to you no matter who you are or what your social position is. It’s an entertaining movie with plenty of laughs, and is definitely one to watch for relaxation.
About Schmidt
Jack Nicholson stars as Warren Schmidt in director Alexander Payne’s dark comedy, About Schmidt. Based on the novel by Louis Begley, the film chronicles the later years of Schmidt’s colorful life as he reluctantly retires from a lifetime of devoted service as an actuary for a large insurance company. Feeling empty and lost without work to fill his time, Schmidt faces further grievances as he must cope with his daughter Jeannie’s upcoming marriage to a dimwitted waterbed salesman and the anguish brought on by the sudden death of his loving wife after 42 years of marriage.
Lonely and feeling helpless, Schmidt sets out to bring meaning to his recently uprooted life. Leaving his hometown in a motor home, originally purchased to transport him and his late wife around the country, Warren Schmidt hits the road with nothing to lose. Eventually trying to make it to Denver to aid in his daughter’s wedding preparations, Schmidt encounters many individuals and events along the way that shine light on his current situation.
Despite a serious and rather depressing undertone, About Schmidt has many very comedic moments which brilliantly illustrate Nicholson’s versatility as an actor. The film is fresh and unique and presents an intriguing character in Warren Schmidt who has had everything taken away and must completely reevaluate his entire life. Watching this film unfold on screen is truly mesmerizing.
Talk to Her
Director and screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar presents Talk to Her, a Spanish film with English subtitles released on a limited scale in the United States.
The film begins at a dramatic dance performance where Almodóvar presents two patrons, Benigno and Marco, who are entranced by the performance on stage. The piece being performed is so moving that it brings Marco to tears. Benigno, also deeply moved by the routine, would like to tell his chance companion that he too finds the dance moving but doesn’t have the courage to speak up.
The two happen to meet again several months later when Marco’s girlfriend Lydia, a bullfighter, is brought into the medical clinic where Benigno works after Lydia falls into a coma following a freak accident during a bullfighting routine. Benigno is looking after another woman in a coma, Alicia, a talented young ballet student. Spending their days in the clinic, the two form an intense friendship. As the film goes back and forth in time, Almodóvar paints a brilliant picture wherein the relationship between all four characters—Benigno, Marco, Lydia and Alicia—changes and grows unpredictably.
Both Javier Cámara—Benigno—and Darío Grandinetti —Marco—are top notch in the film. They vividly portray the intricate psychological mindset of two characters distinctly affected by their surroundings. Additionally, Almodóvar’s directing and writing are stunning as he jumps back and forth in time to tell this unique and intriguing story.
Adaptation
This strange and original movie is definitely a work of art for Spike Jonze. The film starts out with a shy Charlie Kaufman, played by Nicholas Cage, discussing his adaptation of the book, The Orchid Thief, and asking for more time. While it begins slowly, it quickly speeds up and gets more confusing. We soon learn that he is adapting the book that Susan Orlean, played by Meryl Streep, wrote and is incorporating his fascination with her. The book is about the life of John, played by Chris Cooper. The only complication in Charlie’s life is his twin brother Donald, who has suddenly decided to take on his brother’s career as a screenwriter.
The movie takes on the role of having a story within a story within a story, and begins to give us a view into the lives of four people. These strangers are all connected in the tiniest way but it is enough to pull them all together and entwine their futures. It is a movie filled with sarcasm, comedy, and chaos.
As the mayhem continues dream sequences and hallucinations are added in that only add to this experience and brings the viewer to anticipate some culmination that sets the record straight. You will have to go find out on your own if this occurs. This movie is definitely a must see.
Catch Me if You Can
Following the true story of Frank Abagnale, Catch Me if You Can pits stars Tom Hanks (FBI Agent Carl Hanratty) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Abagnale) against one another. The movie, which is anything but the typical chase movie, shares some of the more intriguing qualities of The Thomas Crown Affair. It’s a movie with some brains.
The movie’s plot is based upon the con life of Frank Abagnale. Abagnale made the FBI’s most wanted list at the age of 19 for check forgery. At times the slant added by consulting Frank Abagnale becomes very apparent. The result is a spin which brings in more emotional motivation behind the various cons and check kiting that the plot revolves around. Abagnale is portrayed as boy wounded by his mother’s infidelity who just wants to find his place in society. There are moments when that particular slant seems to be played on a little too much, but it really does bring some human aspects into the story.
Catch Me if You Can, however, is not all intrigue and human interest. There are some very comical moments that creep in here and there, keeping things from getting too serious overall.
Catch Me if You Can is entertaining on many levels. There is no doubt that it’s worth the $9 it’ll cost to see it in theaters.
Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek: Nemesis isn’t a terrible movie. It’s just not great. It started out slow, but at least it didn’t stay there. There were some very tired plot points brought out that maybe just wanted to be left in bed that morning. But still, it wasn’t terrible.
If it just focused on the main plot point, the conflict between Picard and a clone of him made by the Romulans called Shinzon, the movie would be great. But then some very implausible side plots were developed that detracted from the basic story. Overall, the entire movie probably could have been condensed down into a great one-hour episode. And for that one hour found in chunks throughout the movie, it’s very enjoyable.
The best part of the film was that we finally get to see a full out starship battle on the big screen. The man to man fights, however, leave much to be desired. They are full of the typical “weapons sliding out of reach” shots that almost define cliche in action movies.
What could have been a fantastic farewell voyage by the Next Generation crew ends up being a hokey action movie— well acted, but poorly directed.
The Trekker contingent would probably enjoy the film, but the borderline fans will probably just want to sit this one out entirely. It just doesn’t have the universal appeal needed to attract those who don’t already love Star Trek.
Editor’s Note
