Weekly 5 - July 31-Aug. 5
Salmon Run Mall Regal renovation - Week 1
Here's what you should watch between July 31-Aug. 5
1. An American Crime (2007) - 5 stars - Drama based on real life
Summary: This overlooked drama starring Ellen Page (Juno) appeared only in film festivals in the United States. It's about two sisters whose parents work for a traveling carnival. The parents drop them off at a foster home where they are under strict and torturous rule.
Review: A disturbing piece of film that left me wondering how this could ever happen to a small girl, An American Crime features outstanding performances from Page and Catherine Keener as the terrifying mother. It's intense and dark, but sticks close to the facts of the case.
2. The Cooler (2003) - 5 stars - Drama
Summary: Many have probably heard of this gem of a film, but few actually went to see it. It stars William H. Macy as Bernie, the unluckiest guy in Vegas. He's so bad his presence at a table turns everyone else's luck, too. He's employed by a casino as a "cooler" and is instructed to place bets at tables where people are running hot. This is going well until he meets Natalie (Maria Bello). For the first time in his life, and to the ire of his employers, Bernie's luck turns around.
Review: Surprisingly, this film didn't find a cult following. It's a great Vegas crime drama with lots of emotion and powerful performances from usually character actors.
3. The Vicious Kind (2009) - 4 stars - Drama
Summary: Estranged son Caleb (Adam Scott) agrees to drive his brother, Peter (Alex Frost) and girlfriend Emma (Brittany Snow) to their father's home. Caleb hasn't slept for over week after his own girlfriend left him. He is disturbed by his attraction to Emma, which develops into a love for her. It all produces a tense, emotional drama that feels much more real than is comfortable.
Review: Scott and Snow carry this film from the start with perfect performances. The Vicious Kind is about heartache, grief and pain that all people handle differently. This will grab hold of you from the start and never let go.
4. Death at a Funeral (2007) - 4 stars - Comedy
Summary: The patriarch of a wealthy family dies and the ensuing funeral turns into a chaotic but hilarious event when a stranger shows up with dark secrets about the deceased. The immediate family tries to keep these secrets from the rest of the guests.
Review: Director Neil LaBute attempted to remake this British comedy for Americans just this year. His efforts were no doubt futile. Death at a Funeral is so preposterous, yet you find yourself believing what you're seeing. I laughed from start to finish and you will, too. A great, silly comedy that never relents.
5. Grizzly Man (2005) - 5 stars - Documentary
Summary: Werner Herzog again strikes gold with this telling documentary about Timothy Treadwell, who spent his life educating the world about wildlife. He spent each summer with the grizzly bears of Alaska, using a home camcorder to document his experiences. When Treadwell was killed by one of the bears, Herzog decided to celebrate and perhaps expose his eccentric and devoted pursuit to save the bears.
Review: This documentary is so engrossing and powerful that you won't notice it's a documentary. Herzog uses original footage taken from Treadwell's thousands of tapes to weave this emotional tale of a man who wanted to save the animals he loved. You'll laugh, cry, shake your head and sit back in awe while watching Grizzly Man.
