Polanski Once Again Demonstrates Mastery of the Art of Film

The Ghost Writer

The film adaptation of Robert Harris' novel, The Ghost, is a tense political thriller that races from one unsettling event to the next leaving viewers wrapped in the clutches of intrigue, suspicion and corruption. It is the story of a successful British ghostwriter (Ewan Mc Gregor) who leaves England for the States to rework the memoirs of the former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) as the British publisher deems the book unsuitable for publication in its present form.

Mr. McGregor arrives at a cold contemporary fortress-like mansion on the east coast (think Martha's Vineyard) to work on the book and upon arrival he meets a parade of characters adding mystery and distrust to the circumstances in which he finds himself.

Only when he begins to ask questions about the previous ghost does he learn that his predecessor boarded the ferry from the mainland to the island in his car and upon arrival his car remained but he was not found until his body washed ashore the next morning.

Shortly after learning of this disturbing state of affairs, a former British cabinet minister appears on television accusing Lang of authorizing the illegal seizure of suspected terrorists and handing them over for torture by the CIA--a war crime. This controversy brings reporters and protesters swarming to the island camping outside the mansion complex where Lang is staying with his wife, Ruth (Olivia Williams,) and his personal assistant/ mistress, Amelia.( Kim Cantrell.)

Mr. McGregor begins to uncover clues suggesting the previous ghost may have found clues linking Lang to the CIA--and this information is hidden in the manuscript he left behind. Then he wonders if the first ghost writer was murdered because of the ghastly truth he uncovered?

As the film is loosely based on the career of Tony Blair, Mr. Brosnan was emphatic with director Roman Polanski that he was not going to re-create Tony Blair. He decided to fill the character with his own interpretation of Adam Lang and not attach any of Mr. Blair's transgression to the character. In a recent interview Mr. Brosnan stated he viewed Adam Lang's life as sham. He saw him as a great pretender with no clue how to run a country and lacking leadership capabilities.

The cold wintry setting of the island is key in creating the lonely

and desperate mood of the film. Polanski has done a magnificent job

establishing this piece with the essence of evil that lurks in every frame.

Kudos go to Kim Cantrell who does a superb job as the tightly knit assistant without all the bling and glitz she uses in the Sex and the City franchise. Watch Olivia Williams as she maneuvers to steer the hapless Prime Minister in acceptable poses. The Ghost Writer retains the pace and essence of the book because Robert Harris had his hand on the tiller as the screenwriter.

Don't miss reading "Pompeii" - Mr. Harris' finest piece. It appears to be in a muddle regarding film production, but hopefully it will be resolved so that

The public can watch the retelling of the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius from the perspective of an ancient aqueduct engineer. It is set in August A.D. 79 in Campania, where Pompeii is located.

Saint John of Las Vegas

In St. John of Las Vegas Steve Buscemi engages his homely persona as John Alegheri, a reformed compulsive gambler living a mundane life working for an insurance company. One day, he asks his boss, Mr. Townsend (Peter Dinklage) for a raise and suddenly becomes the company’s newest insurance fraud investigator. Forced to work with Virgil (Romany Malco,) denying this claim, he begins a journey that turns into a peculiar sort of madness similar to the adventures of another Alegheri who descended into The Inferno in the first part of Dante Alighieri's epic poem “ The Divine Comedy.” If this recollection seems fuzzy, check with any senior English major for confirmation.

Before he departed on this quest, John has a brief fling with his cubicle mate Jill (Sarah Silverman) who is addicted to the smiley face creature wishing everyone to Have a Good Day. She even paints this image on her fingernails and calls John frequently during his trek proclaiming her love. Oh well.

They find the claimant, Tasty D. Lite, a stripper in a wheelchair, who claims a loss of nearly $200,000 in income since she no longer can do lap dances. John quickly disproves this claim. While searching for the damaged car, they approach a ranch with an entry surrounded by flames and guarded by gun-toting nudist survivalists. Entry is only by disrobing, so Virgil and John decline that option and sleep in the car. Sent by the sheriff to talk to the tow-truck driver that hauled the strippers’ car away, they find him in his part-time job as a circus performer sitting in his flame-retardant suit that frequently erupts in flames wishing for a cigarette. Directed to the next stop, a junk yard, John is attacked and barely escape with his life.

Meanwhile, John continues his gambling habit, betting on scratch tickets. A final scene finds him abstaining from that addiction. Or does he? And what happened with Virgil as the final resolution winds down in this frolic?

This quirky bizarre tale is a great satirical trip with Buscemi at his geekiest best in this epic adventure.

Valentine's Day -

Valentine’s Day

With a title like Valentine’s Day, you know you are not in for anything heavy. In fact you might balk at the thought of a sugary, sweet confection of a story wrapped up in roses and love. Well, it is a love story and it’s also a not-in-love story that has sharp twists and turns and isn’t too predictable. Well maybe yes it is.

It’s great to watch as the overall impression of the work may reminds you of the “look” of “Pretty Woman.” That would be an accurate comparison as Gary Marshall directed both.

There is an A-List of stars that includes Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizando, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher ,Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine. Then there are Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, and Taylor Swift. It’s a good thing the aforementioned can sing as in this piece she has no clue how to act.

Among this crowd there are numerous love lines with Kutcher and Garner playing in the center of this circle of love that delivers, disappointment, frustration, demands, secrets, unmet expectations, emotional reversals and in some corner love swirling around. The players experience some, a lot and even all of the above emotions during the course of Valentines’ Day.

One interesting ecological tip: the production was one of the first in the industry to become a “green set” during the filming. That meant whenever they could eliminate unnecessary waste, they did so. To cut down from swimming in a cloud of water bottles, crew and cast members received their own stainless steel water bottle. Solar powered lighting was employed when possible and hybrid or clean diesel vehicles were used as well as biodegradable plates and utensils were placed with craft services.

The Valentine holiday can be wonderful, miserable, exciting or disappointing, but its seldom ordinary. Often there is a surprise during those important hours. And yes a huge disappointment may be lurking somewhere.

Enjoy the LA locations and if your Valentine’s plans are still in limbo, head for the theater before, during and even after this celebration. There’s something in this mix for almost everyone.

P.S. Ladies: It’ not too difficult to watch Ashton Kutcher whirl around in his bright pink shirt.

A 21st Century Sherlock Homes

Bah Humbug! and a pox upon your houses, Guy Ritchie. You have messed with The Man and he didn't need 'messin with. Haven't you ever heard of the quote, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Evidently not, as you have tarnished and trashed the cherished image so many of us carry in our hearts and minds about Sherlock Holmes. There are plenty of stories out there that are available for you to jazz up for 21st Century film fans. Why did you have to twiddle with Sherlock?

Conan Doyle's first novel, "A Study in Scarlet" was published in 1887 and his work earned a respected place in history with numerous actors reflecting his talents. In Conan Doyle’s books, Sherlock Holmes gained a place in the hearts of Londoners and the rest of the world and stands as one of literature’s most vivid and fascinating creations.

The Holmes image has met with enthusiastic acceptance when played by Basil Rathbone, 1939; Jeremy Brett, 1984-94; John Cleese, 1973 and Michael Caine, 1988. In these films our hero has put forth his talents with careful deductions and unusual manipulations of people and places. And in this careful representation it was comforting to see him use whatever Victorian applications were available and suited him. We didn’t need mixed metaphors having Sherlock operate in that era then suddenly be surrounded by wildly imaginative 21^st century computer graphics.

To give the “Devil his Due”, Robert Downey, Jr. as this 2010 Sherlock and Jude Law as Dr. Watson deliver interesting performances that the 18 to 54 demographics finds appealing. Speculations can be made that this population segment probably never knew much about Sherlock Holmes or Conan Doyle until they showed up to pick up this late Christmas gift to this year’s holiday film goers.

To hard core Holmes fans, there is a universe of folk dedicated to keeping the flame alive. The Sherlock Holmes Society of London has more than 1,000 fans that hang out at London’s Langham Hotel where according to their publicist, “ the worlds of Sherlock Homes and Conan Doyle come together.” Dallas has a dedicated group of fans called the Diogenes Club of Dallas. They meet the first Sunday of every month according to the Web site: DiogenesClubDallas@earthlink.net. To find out more about the group across the Pond you can link to them at http://www.sherlock-holmes.org.uk/.

Bullock Is Dazzling in Blind Side

The Blind Side

While screening The Blind Side, recollections of Paul Bunyan, the larger-than-life folk hero who was a symbol of might with a willingness to work hard and overcome obstacles kept drifting through the memory bank.

Although at first unwilling to work at much of anything that didn't involve a ball, the film's central character Michael Oher, played by Quinton Aaron, sweeps viewers into this intriguing story with a level of anxiety that doesn't subside until the final resolution. Like Paul Bunyan he has a massive size that inhibits socialization for a while, but becomes the keystone for his future success.

The Blind Side, based on the book by Michael Lewis, is about a reclusive son of a drug-addled single mom who suddenly becomes one of the most valued college football prospects in America. One of thirteen children, he has no formal education, no social skills and no athletic experience. However, when spotted by Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) wandering down a road on a freezing cold night in Memphis, Tennessee, he becomes part of her family and a new world opens up. Married to successful entrepreneur Sean Tuoy, (Tim Mc Graw), she places Michael in the private school her children attend. He struggles to adapt.

His teachers are dismayed with Michael's lack of education, but that eventually improves enough that the giant figure that is Michael becomes eligible to go out for the school's football team. He stumbles through practice while both Touhy's watch on the sideline. Frustrated with the coach's inadequate method of communicating, Leigh Anne stomps out on the playing field and with a few essential maneuvers and comments explains to Michael how to play as a defensive tackle.

Diagnosed with a lack of agility, the coach sets Michael up with exercises to improve his condition. His younger brother S. J. (Joe Head) becomes his trainer and these scenes are remarkable and entertaining. Soon his poor grade point average is discovered and Leigh Anne is faced with hiring a tutor to get Michael into college and a hoped for football scholarship.

Enter Kathy Bates, who is ideal as Michael's tutor, Miss Sue. She announces to Leigh Anne and her hugely Republican family that they need to know one important thing about her before she's hired. She is a Democrat! She is successful and soon football coaches from across Dixie come to call on Michael attempting to recruit him to their school. The three finalists are Ole Miss, LSU and Tennessee. To learn Michael's choice, show up at the box office and buy a ticket.

Another Possible Award Winner

Invictus

Even if you don't enjoy watching any sort of organized sport, you will not want to miss Invictus, the latest work of Clint Eastwood, that brings to light, the early days of Nelson Mandela's presidency and the huge issues he faced. After he took office, this long-time rugby fan realized the need to unite the disparate South African populations, many who had suffered hideous indignities during the dreadful Apartheid regimes preceding him.

He chose rugby as the path to unity and harmony and felt the nation could support their national team, the Sprinboks, in spite of the fact that their ranking was in the basement.

To accomplish this endeavor President Mandela ( Morgan Freeman) reaches out to the captain of the Springboks, Francois Peinaar ( Matt Damon,) and with gentle urging gives the captain the charge to accomplish this goal. The captain begins intense workouts, drills, and the team is sent to black neighborhoods to teach young rugby wanna be's how to play the game. A final coup, right before the international teams assembled in Johannesburg in 1995, Mandela sends the Sprinkboks to Robin Island, the terrible prison where he spent 27 years as a prisoner. They see for themselves the indignity and desperation he endured and that is possible to overcome incredible odds, misfortunes and forgive.

Huge bouquets go to Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon for the purity and intensity they put into their roles. Freeman had wide access to Mandela to study his speech, his movements and his manner. Matt Damon has really bulked up for this part and an early scene showing him eating something while wearing a tee shirt reveals massive muscle development in his arms. Plus he played many of the scenes of the Springbok team on the field.. Eastwood neatly edited parts of original footage of the 1995 World Cup and inserted his actors, leaving the audience panting as we watched player romp up and down the field.

Rugby has to be one of the most intense physical games on the planet. The players wear really short shorts, run all the time while on the field, become adept kickers and wear no protective gear. It's a wonder they don't knock out teeth and break bones after emerging from every scrum. A player must do tough physical conditioning way beyond what football players do in order to play and survive this game.

This is a quality feel-good film and should receive several nominations. Producer Clint Eastwood has done it again...earned a five star rating!

Why the title, Invictus? Mandela sends the poem to the Springbok captain. This famous sonnet by William Ernest Henley is a powerful work describing how to overcome terrible hardship and ends with the famous line, "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."

This Was My Oscar Pick Last Summer

The Hurt Locker

It is impossible to sit through The Hurt Locker, without a knot in your stomach and your teeth on edge. This gritty fictional portrayal of a U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team on duty in Iraq in 2004 appears at first to be a documentary thanks to the imagery and violent action in this intense war film.

Shot in Jordan on the Iraq border in forty-four days from July to September 2007, the film was written by Mark Boal, a first time screenwriter. Embedded with a bomb squad during the height of the Iraq war surge, that experience was the source for the story. All Iraqi roles were played by displaced Iraqi war refugees forced to leave their country.

The camera rides along with the bomb squad members and never lets the viewer escape the chaotic circumstances facing the squad. Your eyes never leave the target or Jeremy Renner as Staff Sergeant William James goes about defusing bombs in wild abandonment of ordinary safety procedures. Every step he takes is a matter of life and death and it suits him as war is an addiction and he needs that adrenalin rush.

Anxiety and the tension of battle are in every frame. Anthony Mackie as Sergeant JT Sanborn, and Brian Geraghty, as Specialist Owen Eldridge, struggle with James’ indifference to danger and death. His fascination with the mechanics of bomb mechanisms and the challenge of unscrambling them is vital to his persona and maddening to others.

There are hideous death scenes and outrage is palpable when James discovers a young Iraqi boy he’s befriended is killed and his body is wired to be used as a body bomb.

Seeking revenge for this tragedy, James lurches out after dark to an area where no one can be trusted and insurgents stay ready to reek destruction and death for their causes.

Ralph Fiennes, a contractor team leader is discovered by the team in time for a firefight in the desert. Guy Pearce as sergeant Matt Thompson, has a short role before a stray bullet gets him. David Morse as Colonel Reed has a brief cameo.

This American war thriller has been acclaimed the best film yet about the Iraq war. It is so real viewers can feel the heat, the sweat dripping off their bodies, smell the garbage and excrement and then decompress after killing people in a wild drunken physical encounter with the squad.

The film has captured four five nominations, three premieres and festival screenings, plus the AFI Dallas 2009 Film Festival gave an award to director Kathryn Bigelow. Don’t look for your date to accompany you to the film, as it is a sobering view of how and where many of our more than 4,000 men and women gave their lives. And the questions about why continue.