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THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, John Cleese, John Hamm and Jaden Christopher Smith

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi disaster images and violence

By John Delia

I wanted The Day the Earth Stood Still to be good so much that I could taste it, but unfortunately it didn’t make the grade. I guess if you’re between the ages of 7 and 16 and a sci-fi nut however, then check it out. Even science fiction lovers should have a hard time liking the film that not only stumbles on the remake a classic, but also makes it an environmental issue. The only thing missing in the film is Al Gore. If you liked the remake of War of the Worlds, then this one should suck you in too.
The only redeemer here is that the film is packed with some great special visual effects that makes the simple storyline pop off the screen. This is a plus, especially if you can find the movie showing in the IMAX format.
In THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, a contemporary reinvention of the 1951 science fiction classic, renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson (Connelly) finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu (Reeves), who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global crisis. When forces beyond Helen’s control, lead by the US Secretary of Defense (Bates) treat the extraterrestrial as a hostile and deny his request to address the world’s leaders, Benson and her estranged stepson Jacob (Smith) quickly discover the deadly ramifications of Klaatu’s claim that he is a friend to the Earth. Now Helen must find a way to convince the alien who was sent to destroy us that mankind is worth saving – but it may be too late as the process has begun.
 The only winners in this film are the special effects and CGI people who designed the huge globe that transports Klaatu to Earth, the robot Gort and hordes of nanobots. Mesmerizing, the sphere looks like it would shatter if touched, but not in the world of science fiction. The design of Gort, the giant robot, is very much like the one in the 50’s production, but instead of a man in a rubber suit, this computer generated entity looks more menacing and real. At one point in the film millions of nanobots (Think Michael Crichton’s novel Prey) are sent via Gort to destroy the earthlings. The bots resemble locusts and swarm over anything in its path raising them to the ground. Football stadiums are turned into dust, 16 wheelers are pulverized and buildings are shredded.
Most of the acting in the film suffers from lack of good dialogue, faulty direction, and type casting, even though it doesn’t take a super performance to bring a character to life in a science fiction movie. Connelly plays her scientist role very nonchalant and robotic. Looking more amazed than clever, her role as the connecting tool between the alien and the Earthlings seems to be no more than a tour guide. There are moments however where she shines especially during her interaction with Smith who plays her son Bobby. The two are at odds with helping Klaatu and Smith does a very admiral job with portraying a young man with an attitude opposite Connelly.
Performances that were not a good fit included Bates as Secretary of Defense. Kathy is doing Kathy here adding nothing but a familiar face rather than a forceful character that has to deal with a very disturbing situation. Her staunch roles as Delores Claiborne (in Delores Claiborne) and Annie Wilkes in Misery always seem to come to mind when I see her in a film and in The Day the Earth Stood Still, she remains no different.
The film is rated PG-13 and contains some sci-fi disaster images and violence so take this into consideration before allowing the very young to see the movie.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The Day the Earth Stood Still has a lot of problems and unless you need a dose of sci-fi CGI, you may want to avoid the film. (2 of 5 stars)

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THE READER

Starring: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, and Lena Olin

Directed by: Stephen Daldry

Rated R for some scenes of sexuality and nudity

By John Delia

An amazing little film that tugged at my heartstrings, tested my mercy and then challenged my mind has hit the big screen. The movie is called The Reader and with outstanding performances by Kate Winslet and David Kross, an intriguing script, and impeccable direction by Stephen Daldry, it’s a huge winner. If you like dramas that draw you into the lives of others, touch on the evils of war and the consequences thereof, then The Reader measures up.
The film opens in post WWII Germany as teenager Michael Berg (Koss) falls ill on a trolley and is helped by Hanna (Winslet), a stranger twice his age. After resting in her apartment and collecting his composure, Hanna guides the boy home. After several months recovering from scarlet fever, Michael visits Hanna with flowers for her random act of kindness. The two are hastily drawn into a passionate love affair that lasts for months. During that time, Michael reads several romantic novels to Hanna adding to their bond of lust and love. Despite their growing physical relationship, Hanna mysteriously disappears and leaves Michael broken hearted. After 8 years of separation Michael encounters Hanna under the most abhorrent circumstances, which lead him to make a heart-rending decision.
The direction in this film by Daldry bests his previous intriguing film The Hours where he dealt with similar issues like freedom, responsibility and identity. Here he takes us on an odyssey with a young boy as the central figure trying to cope with his first affair with the coming of age. His life becomes a quest for the truth and when he comes face to face with it, he doesn’t seem to know how to handle it. Daldry keeps the storyline moving as he develops his characters and leads you though their ill-fated lives.
Winslet gives the performance of the life as Hanna the shameless woman that feeds the mind and body of Michael with love and lust. Her depiction of the absorbing yet callous lover who has a secret that haunts her is engrossing and realistic. She opens her soul to the role much like Charlize Theron did in the film Monster, never flinching during the awkward moments and rising to the occasion in scenes calling for a sexual or depressing vision.
In his first major lead role Kross stands out as the young man who becomes in lust then in love with a much older women for his first sexual encounter. His performance showing a naive boy who changes into a man is convincing. I especially liked his reactions when Hanna makes her first move on him and later on in the film when a waitress comments that he has a beautiful mother. The astonishing look on his face when he finds out that Hanna has left him and later when he discovers her secret is priceless.
The film is rated R because it contains a lot of graphic nudity and scenes of sexuality so be cautioned if you are deciding to take youngsters to see the film.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The Reader is an excellent compelling film for drama lovers and film buffs. (4.5 of 5 stars)

DOUBT

Starring: Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis and Alice Drummond

Directed by: John Parker Shanley

Rated PG-13 for thematic material

By John Delia

Excellent acting, good direction and a provocative plot make Doubt a deserving film for those that like their drama dark and disturbing. Special acting kudos to Amy Adams and Viola Davis for their superb performances that should garner them Golden Globe or Oscar attention.
The film takes place in the early 60’s at a parochial school in New York. Recently appointed to the school, Father Flynn (Hoffman) has been getting a lot of admiration from his students because of his gentle hand toward discipline. In the meantime, principal Sister Beauvier (Streep), a staunch disciplinarian has become peeved by the priest’s actions. In the meantime Donald Miller (, the first and only black student in the school has become charmed by Father Flynn’s flamboyant ways. Sister Beauvier makes note that she feels Father Flynn is getting to close to Miller and a suspicion develops. When Sister James (Adams) tells Principal Beauvier’s that she has seen something strange going on involving Miller, Beauvier starts searching for the truth. Thus starts a battle of wits between the Father and Principal that could have devastating results.
The smart direction by Shanley of keeping the actors confined in the school makes the film very suspenseful. Every encounter with students in the hallway by Father Flynn gets the camera’s close attention allowing his actions to exude suspicion. The close-ups in the scene where Sister Beauvier and Flynn go toe to toe are gripping. At one point you do not know who to side with, as both sides of the story seem pertinent to innocence and guilty to the accusations.
Outstanding performances by Adams and Davis help the film work. In a tearful moment Davis as Mrs. Miller the black student’s mother brings out a clear prospective of the situation from her point of view. Her performance is masterful and convincing enough to earn her a supporting nomination for a Golden Globe or Oscar. I have never seen such a wonderful performance for Adams. Usually she is this goofy yet charming person in films like Enchanted and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, but not here. With a stunningly serious performance, Adams’ portrayal of the frail nun makes the movie a success. Not wanting to disappoint Beauvier in her quest to take Flynn down, Sister James timidly becomes her spy.
The film does contain some adult content involving a sexual inference and has been rated PG-13.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Doubt is a very good drama for those that like strong confrontational films. (4 of 5 stars)