There were no Raisinettes, Milk Duds or (my favorite) Hot Tamales. But there was a candy section that contained scores of bulk candies. You could get either Hagen-Daasz or Ben and Jerry’s. here are some shots of the movie food.
French Movie Food
Going to the movies in France
I recently went to the movies in Paris, the world’s greatest movie town. I bypassed the most famous movie palaces and hit the multiplex – the 20 screen UGC at Les Halles.
The French show American movies in version originale (V.O.), which means in their original English with French subtitles. The multiplexes were showing Iron-Man 2, Kick-Ass, Green Zone, Greenberg, Alice in Wonderland and I Love You, New York. The metro was full of posters for Iron Man 2, Robin Hood and the latest Freddy horror movie. And Russell Crowe was shilling the upcoming Robin Hood on French infotainment TV shows.
Julie Delpy was directing and starring in La Comtesse, a period drama. And there were several new French comedies that look interesting. Unfortunately, my French is only workable enough to order excellent food and wine.
There was a ticket window with humans and also automatic ticket vending machines.
The large theater drew in about 75 viewers for a Monday 2 PM show of Iron Man 2. The audience sat silently before the film, and then fled the theater rapidly during the closing credits.
Iron Man 2 got lots of laughs from the French crowd, especially when Sam Rockwell was completely baffled by some questions in French and bumbled away cluelessly. However, the French speakers didn’t seem to get how funny Samuel L. Jackson is, because so much of his humor is in his inflection. “Cheerleaders” was subtitled as “les pompomgirls“.
This week's Movies To See
Click here for this week’s recommendations. Scroll down this blog to watch trailers. My top recommendations are The Secrets in their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos), Iron Man 2 and, of course, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
My top picks on DVD are still Crazy Heart and Broken Embraces (Abrazos Rotos).
Hail! The Conquering Hero, A Man Called Horse, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Marty are all on TV.
The Secrets in their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)
This is one of the year’s best.
I finally got to see The Secrets in their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos), this year’s Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Picture over A Prophet (which I admired). It is an outstanding film, and more accessible than A Prophet.
The Secrets in their Eyes is a police procedural set in Argentina with two breathtaking plot twists, original characters, a mature romance and one breathtaking, “how did they do it?” shot. The story centers on a murder in Argentina’s politically turbulent 1970s, but most of the story takes place twenty years later when a retired cop revisits the murder.
Veteran Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin shines once again in a Joe Mantegna-type role. Darin leads an excellent cast, including Guillermo Francella, who brings alive the character of Darin’s drunk assistant.
Director Juan Jose Campanella is receiving justifiable praise for the amazing shot of a police search in a filled and frenzied soccer stadium. It ranks as one of the great single shots, along with the kitchen entrance in Goodfellas and the battle scene in Children of Men.
Touching Home
Touching Home is a little movie with a big performance by Ed Harris The film was written and directed by and stars the Miller twins, Logan and Noah, who tell the story of their own alcoholic father. The authenticity of the writing and Harris’ performance make this an exceptionally realistic depiction of alcoholism.
Touching Home was also shot on location in the Miller’s home turf of western Marin County, California, around Lagunitas and Bodega. Those familiar with West Marin will recognize many locations.
Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 is a superhero movie for people (like me) with no interest in superhero movies. That’s because it is a roaring comedy clad in the superhero genre. It’s just very, very funny. There’s no one better than Robert Downey, Jr., to play a narcissistic brainiac. Mickey Rourke again proves that he can act by portraying a mad Russian physicist (the physicist part is the stretch). Director Jon Favreau, Scarlett Johansson, Gary Shandling and Samuel L. Jackson are all hilarious in smaller roles.
Funniest character of the decade
You just can’t top Fred Melamed as Sy Ableman in A Serious Man. Melamed creates a hilariously pompous and blatantly manipulative character. He is the guy who seduces the protagonist’s wife and then expects the hero to bend over backwards to make everything convenient for them. I’ve never seen such an earnestly self-entitled character.
And here is Fred Melamed discussing Sy Ableman:
Playing right now in Paris
I’m in Paris, and the multiplexes here are showing Iron-Man 2, Kick-Ass, Green Zone, Greenberg, Alice in Wonderland and I Love You, New York – all in version originale (v.o.), which means in their original English with French subtitles.
Julie Delpy is directing and starring in La Comtesse, a period drama. And there are several new French comedies that look interesting. Unfortunately, my French is only workable enough to order excellent food and wine.
And Russell Crowe is shilling the upcoming Robin Hood on French infotainment TV shows.
This week's Movies to See
Here are the updated recommended films – this week’s Movies to See Right Now (go to the page for descriptions).
Crazy Heart is out on DVD. Earth Days and Gran Torino are on TV. Death at a Funeral is in the theaters. If I were in town, I’d be going to Secrets of Their Eyes (which I have not yet seen).
DVD Pick of the Week: Broken Embraces (Los Abrazos Rotos)
This is Pedro Almodovar’s brilliant, operatic romantic drama. Penelope Cruz is once again Almodovar’s instrument, never more breathtaking. With movies within the movie, it’s also homage to filmmaking itself. And, it’s also a cinematic celebration of the color red – look for the color red in each scene. This was my #4 movie of 2009 and my choice for best foreign language film.