The Filmcake

February 22nd – February 28th

Hunger – The Troubles in Northern Ireland are a fascinating period of (ongoing) history that I admittedly have a very limited grasp over. It suggests the sometimes vague differences between activist and terrorist. It’s about religion–and then again it’s not. It’s on one hand so foreign and on the other hand so familiar. Director Steve McQueen depicts the 1981 hunger strike with Bobby Sands in way that is both violently brutal and fecally artful.

Invention of Lying – A good idea that was ultimately poorly executed. The premise is an interesting one, and an inspired Gervais-as-Moses scene almost makes the flawed movie worth watching, but it just finally falls flat. Jennifer Garner’s character is so flatly written that she comes of as a stereotype and the film comes of as a bit sexist. Ricky Gervais is certainly better than this.

Precious – You know, I actually ended up liking this one a lot more than I thought I would. I was expecting nothing but poverty porn, but I felt like I got something more than that. I admit that it was a bit of a struggle at first. But once I sort of gave in to the melodrama and the familiar Inspirational Teacher tropes, I felt myself going along with it more comfortably. But even that qualification seems qualified. I think there is probably a wide-spread tendency to view this film, and the monster that is Mo’Nique’s Mary Jones, and think of them as overly brutal and exaggerated. But after living with the movie for a little while, I am quite convinced that there are both Mary Jones’ and Precious’ out in the world everywhere.

A Single Man — The smell of a dog. A stiff drink. The beauty of another human being. Booker T’s “Green Onions.” Life is an island hop on the unpleasant ocean of existence. Tom Ford beautifully captures this sentiment. We’re bombarded every day with the notion that melancholy and depression are character flaws. Life is a big smile. But it just ain’t the truth. We live in a miserable world (see Precious). But it is a life worth living. The roses need smelling.

Colin Firth’s excellent performance is but another of those things that make life worth living. I may not be a fan of those movies in which his character is named Darcy and/or he sports a wet shirt, but I do love him here. That he is the one that transfixes me in a scene with Juliane Moore is a tribute to the charisma he brings to the role.

Groundhog Day, Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion, 10 Things I Hate About You — After Hunger, Precious, and A Single Man we just really needed something especially light and fun. These were three picks that fit the bill and would also allow us to test out our Roku player and Netflix Instant Viewing from the comfort of our bed. None of the three are great, but they’re all certainly re-watchable. Bill Murray alone makes Groundhog Day an instant classic and easily the best of the trio. And watching Murray only shows how much Ricky Gervais lacks.