This week's DVD pick: Crazy Heart

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Crazy Heart: This is a very good movie with a great, Oscar-winning performance by Jeff Bridges and a great score.  It’s also a realistic depiction of alcoholism and its consequences.  Maggie Gyllenhaal shines as always.  Colin Farrell is shockingly believable as a contemporary country music star.

To the Last Drop – A Movie in Waiting

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Occasionally I read a book and immediately visualize the movie.  That’s the way it was with To the Last Drop, the smart and bitingly funny story of Texas invading New Mexico for its water.   I’m sure that someone is going to pick up this screenplay and deliver a film like Wag the Dog – although the novel has more of the tone of Dr. Strangelove (etc.).

Here’s Wice describing his tale of Lone Star liebestraum – you don’t need to listen to the whole hour to pique your interest

Why I'm Pushing The Girl with Dragon Tattoo

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Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander

 

This is the third straight week that I’ve been recommending The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.   I’ve gotten some initial resistance, primarily from women who have read the Stieg Larsson novel; one of those women went to the movie anyway and loved it.  Here’s why you should see it before it leaves the theaters.

First, the movie is centered on Lisbeth Salander, the best new crime drama character since Helen Mirren’s Inspector Jane Tennyson.  And Noomi Rapace creates a Lisbeth Salander who is a lethal mix of damage and drive.  Noomi Rapace’s Lisbeth, as a tiny fury of a Goth hacker, is only 90 pounds, so she will lose a fistfight with a man; but she prevails with her smarts, resourcefulness and machine-like  relentlessness.  Lisbeth is always mad AND always gets even.

Second, the Scandinavians have already made all three movies for the Stieg Larsson trilogy.  They’re all in the can with the same stars.  Movie #2 is The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, which has already been released in Scandinavia and is in wider European release now.  Movie #3 is The Girl Who Played With Fire, to be released in Scandinavia in September.  American Stieg Larsson fans  will be will be able to see all three movies soon, in theaters or on Netflix.

Third, Hollywood is going to remake this movie.  I doubt that Hollywood is going to remake the whole trilogy, so this may be your only chance to see the trilogy.   There are rumors about casting George Clooney or Brad Pitt, so male lead will likely be enhanced at the expense of the story.   The movie will likely be dumbed down to make Lisbeth more of a stylized action hero .  And, of course, Hollywood is not going to cast Noomi Rapace in the lead, so you would miss the film’s essential performance.

Movies to see right now

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I’ve updated of the Movies To See Right Now page.   La Mission is now in theaters (see post below).  Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is new on DVD  Gran Torino, Strangers on a Train, Pan’s Labyrinth, Bob LeFlambeur and Airplane! are on TV.

My top recommendation is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in theaters.  Now is the time to catch Broken Embraces (Abrazos Rotos) and Stranded: I’ve Come from a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains on DVD.

Movies to See Right Now is Updated

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Just like every Thursday, I have updated the Movies To See Right Now page.   The Secret of Kells is now in theaters.  Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is new on DVD  Gran Torino, Monterey Pop and Bob LeFlambeur are on TV.  

My top recommendations remain The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in theaters and The Hurt Locker, Precious and Up in the Air on DVD.

Movies to See Right Now – in Theaters, On DVD, On TV

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In Theaters:

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Rock-em, sock-em feminist suspense thriller built around the very original character of damaged, angry, master hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace).  Lisbeth makes Dirty Harry look like Bishop Tutu.  The Swedish title was Men Who Hate Woman, and there’s lots of violence against women in this film, satisfyingly avenged.  This is a whodunit with layers of romance, suspense, and sex, with even some Nazis thrown in.

A Prophet Probably the year’s best film so far – about a young French-Arab from his first terrifying day in prison to his release.  It evokes the Deniro scenes in Godfather II, except set with gritty realism in contemporary France.

The Ghost Writer First class paranoid political thriller by Roman Polanski.

On DVD: 

The Hurt Locker, Precious and Up in the Air.  If you haven’t caught up with last year’s best, there’s no better time than now.

On TV:

Mon Oncle Perhaps the most deeply funny movie of all time, this is Jacques Tati’s masterful satire of modernist consumerism.  The spare soundtrack might be the best ever.  TCM 3/28/10

Shotgun Stories Character driven, gripping tale of three damaged brothers in the Bayou.  Sundance Channel in late March and early April.

Layer Cake Contemporary British noir crime thriller with Daniel Craig. IFC 3/28/10

Outrage Documentary that convincingly exposes secretly gay politicians who vote against gay rights.  This is not Florida Governor Charlie Christ’s favorite movie.  HBO 3/3/0/10, 4/1/10.

Also in Theaters:

Alice in Wonderland in 3-D: Eye candy from Tim Burton.

The Runaways:  Very well-executed Behind the Music arc.  Good performances by Kristin Stewart and Dakota Fanning.

Best Films of 2009 and Ten Recommended

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I’ve posted my annual list of best movies of the year (see “Best Films of 2009” link above).

I’ll also be filling in my list of ten recommended films from the year – the ten movies that I am pushing on everyone I know:

The Hurt Locker

Stranded: I’ve Come From a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains

Precious

Broken Embraces (Abrazos Rotos)

Goodbye Solo

Up in the Air

Gomorrah

Sin Nombre

(500) Days of Summer

The Last Lullaby