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MANAGEMENT

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson, Fred Ward and Margo Martindale

Directed by: Stephen Belber

Rated R for language

By John Delia

There is a very quirky romantic comedy on the screen called Management and I liked it a lot. The characters are charming, interesting and real (even a little crazy and pathetic). The film treats with a sense of imagination that we sometimes forget that exists.

The movie centers on Mike Cranshaw (Zahn) and Sue Claussen (Aniston) who have a chance meeting when Sue on a sales trip to Arizona takes a room at a hotel owned by Mike’s parents. On a lark or complete desperation to meet someone, Mike brings a bottle of wine to Sue’s room. A little frightened at first, Sue feels Mike means well and the two strike up a conversation brining out their enigmatic desires they did not realize existed. When Mike takes a trip to Maryland where Sue works, his stalking charm puts a damper on their relationship and Mikes dream. But that only triggers Mike’s determination to conquer love.

I love the acting by Aniston and Zahn and the chemistry between them, even though their characters are questionable at times. You just have to let your imagination prevail on this one so you can enjoy the strange romantic relationship between the two. Zahn takes Cranshaw and shows how oppressed the man is by parents that never let him see the world. Having no notion of how to find a true love and then grasping at straws to make it happen is moving yet bizarre. In return we get a great performance from Aniston as a woman who has been stripped of her sense of purpose and we find Claussen falling for this weird and wonderful man.

The direction by Belber makes the film work by taking the bizarre story and making his two stars provide us with this couple that becomes entwined on a chance meeting. He makes his camera work for him with angles that give us a closer look into the sole of the couple. Although there are some abrupt scene changes, the damage that they do is not enough to dispel the believability of the storyline.

The film has been rated R for language, but also has brief sexuality so take this into consideration when deciding to take immature youngsters to see the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A good date flick that should create a lot of dinner talk following it. (3.5 of 5 stars)

ANGELS & DEMONS

Starring Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard, Armin Mueller-Stahl

Directed by: Ron Howard

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.

By John Delia

If you are going to see Angels & Demons and have read the book, maybe you will have some trepidation, but the film is so good you may never feel being cheated. The production can be considered a stand-alone thriller, not a prequel, as I needn’t have seen The Da Vinci Code to enjoy this film. I liked the film very much for it’s acting, directing, cinematography, intrigue and twists.

Following the death of his holiness the Pope of the Catholic Church, the cardinals are in a quandary as to who will be their next leader. More so, a shroud of darkness falls upon the group when they discover that it may be murder and involve the ancient order of the Illuminati the most powerful underground organization in history and the most despised enemy of the church. When four cardinals who are in contention for the throne get kidnapped by the illuminati, Dr.Robert Langdon (Hanks) a symbologist and religious expert is called in to aid Vittoria Vetra (Zurer), an Italian scientist, to follow clues that may lead them to the perpetrators.

The film has a thriller base that leads the audience on a scamper around Vatican City to several churches and the inter-sanctum of the holy city itself. I love the way Howard sucked me into the intrigue as he moves each crime scene from one end of the city to the other with each location being a key to the final stand off. His keen ability of exciting storyline delivery makes the film captivating and hypnotic.

Angels & Demons was taken from Dan Brown’s first book that introduced Robert Langdon, but in this film it becomes the sequel as the production company saw fit to go with The Da Vinci Code first. To tell you the truth, Angels & Demons stands alone as a movie in it’s own right and is more exciting and challenging than the producers first try. Keeping the action within the confines of Rome rather than taking it around the world in what seamed days (The Da Vinci Code) Demons makes for a more credible story.

The acting and cinematography are equally good and I especially liked Zurer in the role of the Italian scientist who helps Langdon. Her screen presence really shines and producers around the world should notice her acting ability.

Just as a note, the character of Robert Langdon may be loosely based on John Langdon a professor of typography at Drexel University who has been creating ambigrams (words that can be read from left to right, upside down or from multiple viewpoints) since the 1970’s. He is also the author of Wordplay. He met Dan Brown, author of the book Angels & Demons; prior to Brown publishing it and his illuminati ambigram was placed on the cover. John is the guy who created the illuminati, earth, wind, fire and water ambigrams that are used in the film.

The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material, but I believe the MPAA may have missed on this one. Please be extremely cautious in letting immature teens or pre-teens for that matter view this film particularly due to the gore and extreme violence in the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film that should make thrill seekers hungry for more. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchette, Jason Flemyng, Tilda Swinton, Taraji P. Henson, Elle Fanning and Julia Ormond

Directed by: David Fincher

PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking

By John Delia

Nominated for best picture of 2008 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button now on DVD has stellar acting, amazing make-up and CGI, superb directing and remarkable cinematography. I loved the odd yet touching romantic drama that held my interest throughout the nearly three-hour length. If you like films with wonderment at every turn, then The Curious Case of Benjamin Button should fill your fantasy.

The film, based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, centers on the birth of a child who is so hideous that his mother is forced by her husband to abandon it at a retirement home. A worker at the home takes the child in as her own and raises him. Aging backward, from his eighties the boy starts to grow in mind much like normal children, but still in the shell of an old man. As his life progresses we get to rummage though his loves, a stint in the war, his travels and the wonders of change all seen from the odd perspective of reverse ageing.

I found the film very fascinating as it played out showing the reverse aging process while the other characters aged normally. The film is brilliant in capturing the life of Benjamin as he catches up to his childhood with stopovers along the way.

Pitt does a terrific job of keeping in character throughout the film even under the most difficult circumstances of portraying Benjamin at challenging age levels. His ability to project to me the believability of the character’s age progression shows genuine talent.

In support Blanchette as older Daisy who tells the story, and Swinton as a forlorn Elizabeth Abbott who falls in love with Benjamin are excellent. The two pull the story together and make it romantic and interesting. I also enjoyed the acting of Elle Fanning as the younger Daisy who befriends Benjamin while others shun the boy.

Topping the cast however, is Henson as Queenie the housekeeper who takes Benjamin in and raises him. With an endearing performance, Queenie’s devotion in keeping the odd looking boy is moving and admirable.

Special features on the 2-Disc special edition include a four-part documentary. I really liked The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button that shows how the filmmakers were able work with small people to bring young Benjamin to life on the screen.

The film is rated PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking, so be sure to take this into consideration when deciding watch the DVD with immature children.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The amazing and enjoyable film is a must see. (5 of 5 Palm Trees)

DISNEY JOINS FORCES WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

TO PLANT 2.7 MILLION TREES IN CONJUNCTION

WITH FIRST WEEK TICKET SALES FOR

DISNEYNATURE’S DEBUT FEATURE, “EARTH”

Burbank, Calif. – April 29, 2009 -- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures has arranged with The Nature Conservancy to plant 2.7 million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, one of the planet’s most endangered rainforests, it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. In keeping with the Disneynature Earth’s themes of protecting the planet and its wildlife, Walt Disney Studios volunteered to plant a tree in honor of every moviegoer who saw the film during its first week of release. The motion picture grossed an impressive $16.1 million at the box office during week one and broke an opening day record as well as an opening weekend record for a nature documentary. The film also garnered the highest praise from critics and moviegoers alike.

Where the Atlantic Forest survives, it presents some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth. The region is home to more than 200 bird species and 60 percent of all Brazil’s endangered species. And, on fewer than two and a half acres, scientists have identified more than 450 tree species – more species than are found on the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. The forest also is important because it is the source of clean drinking water for 120 million people. Today, however, only 7 percent of the original Atlantic Forest remains in well preserved but isolated fragments. The Nature Conservancy’s initiative in the Atlantic Forest contributes to the global effort by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to plant at least one billion trees worldwide each year, with a cumulative goal for 2009 of planting 7 billion trees worldwide.

Narrated by James Earl Jones, Earth tells the remarkable story of three animal families and their amazing journeys across the planet we call home. Earth combines rare action, unimaginable scale and impossible locations by capturing the most intimate moments of our planet’s wildest and most elusive creatures. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the acclaimed creative team behind the Emmy Award®-winning Planet Earth, combine forces again to bring this epic adventure to the big screen.

GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Emma Stone, Michael Douglas, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert and Robert Forster

Directed by: Mark Waters

Rated PG-13 for sexual content throughout, some language and a drug reference

By John Delia

Having seen the trailer for this chick flick I was expecting another bomb by McConaughey, but was pleasantly surprised by the storyline, acting and direction of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. The film is fun, sexy and entertaining.

The film centers on Connor Mead (McConaughey) a celebrity photographer who’s on top of the world when it comes to his job and love life. All his models fall at his feet and in bed. His brother Paul (Meyer), who he had to raise since childhood when their parents were killed, is just the opposite. Paul is getting married to his dream girl and much to her chagrin has invited the wild bachelor Connor to their wedding.

From the moment of his arrival on the night before the wedding Connor starts putting a damper on the festivities. His bachelor persona has taken him over and he tries to make a mockery of marriage. There is only one thing standing in his path to destroying his brothers wedding however, his childhood sweetheart, Jenny (Garner).

If you can get past the course the script takes which draws off the likes of Scrooge or The Christmas Story, then this very funny film becomes very enjoyable to watch. The story involves three ghosts, a ghost from Connor’s past, present and future. But what save the trite idea are the ghosts themselves. The Past is played by a hilarious Emma Stone who was Connor’s first coming of age experience. Stone pulls off a great performance taking Connor through some scary times when he was a nerd and reminding him that there was a time that he loved. The other two ghosts are fun as well and present Connor’s over zealous present and his possible depressing future.

Michael Douglas proves to be the right choice for Uncle Wayne the model for which Connor crafted his girl attracting skills. Uncle Wayne adds the right touch to the script with his dashing and debonair charm and wit.

There are some downsides to the film, one being some silliness involving the wedding cake, so it’s not the best comedy of the year thus far. But direction by Waters saves the film from going over the brink.

Although the film is rated PG-13 please note that it has sexual content throughout, some language and a drug reference so be cautious to this fact if you are bringing rug rats along.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A good flick for the chicks and some good fun for the guys. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Will.i.am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, and Daniel Henney

Directed by: Gavin Hood

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity

By John Delia

With a resounding YES! Wolverine slashes his way into theatres and I loved the film for the storyline, non-stop action, excellent direction, seamless CGI and cinematography mix, exceptional acting and much more. If you love action adventure films that pull no punches, then X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a must see. Guys, get ready for pumped up adrenaline levels. For the girls who are not afraid of a lot of carnage, there’s a cool love story.

The film opens with a sequence of Wolverine as a youngster, the death of his parents, and his participation along with his brother Victor (Schreiber) in wars from the Civil War to Desert Storm. Do not come late to the film or you will miss an amazing opening. I was like watching clips from The Patriot, Saving Private Ryan and Platoon to name a few.

This chapter of X-Men deals with Wolverine (Jackman) and how he got involved with the diabolical William Stryker (Huston) who is putting together an unbeatable fighting team to safeguard America. Wolverine resists the killing he is ordered to do and flees the fearsome team of super-combatants. We find Wolverine on a mountaintop sharing a cabin with Kayla (Collins) with whom he falls in love. But, the storm is brewing between a US General and Stryker because of the abundant deaths by the team causing a falling out. Taking matters in his own hands, Stryker makes a move to consolidate all the mutants, including Wolverine. When he attempts to bring in Wolverine against his will using his brother, a battle for supremacy begins.

The use of amazing cinematography combined with seamless CGI takes the X-Men to new heights in bringing comic book characters to life on the big screen. Very realistic, powerful and seemingly indestructible the mutants put on a great show. Direction by Gavin Hood, who although doesn’t have a big track record, is incredible bringing the stellar cast together and controlling their creativity in order to make the film brilliant. His ability to see how computer graphics mix just right to create the mutant powers realistically, shines in this film.

To tell you more about the film may hurt the experience, but I will add that the film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity so be aware of this when allowing immature pre-teens to see the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The most explosive, enjoyable and entertaining action flick of the year. (5 of 5 Palm Trees)