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Reviews
Open Range (2003)
A classic - the best western since Unforgiven
Open Range is a classic western. In the best sense. Every bit as good as I hoped it would be, and then some. Duvall is great as always - this is the kind of role he really does best (although he does just about anything well, doesn't he?) ... in a way it's a spin off of his Gus McCrae character from Lonesome Dove (which Duvall considers his finest work), but of course Duvall brings Boss, his character here, to life as a unique individual. I'm usually ambivalent about Costner, but again, he really does this kind of role well. He's absolutely terrific here - Duvall tends to bring out the best in his fellow actors. Annette Benning is also fine as the good woman who may be Costner's salvation. And Michael Gambon makes a real despicable villain. A very personal western, firmly grounded in its characters, with beautiful panoramic Montana scenery (sure looks like Montana, anyway, probably Canada ...)
Some people might feel that the film is too leisurely in its buildup to the full confrontation between the range rovers and the bad guys in town, but I loved the pace - it lets the characters breathe and establish themselves in time and place (and what a beautiful place). The gunfight scenes are filmed with a directness that works very well - Costner plays his shootouts as a physical attack, stalking his opponents and blasting them like a lion attacking a gazelle. Some of the best old west gunfights ever filmed. Great stuff ... a classic - the best western since Unforgiven.
Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)
Meet The Funk Brothers!
Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a terrific documentary that gives us a wonderful introduction to The Funk Brothers, the musicians behind the hits at Motown. This is their story, therefore little time is devoted to Barry Gordy or the label's stars. The Brothers emerge as engaging personalities in their own right - it's a pleasure to listen to them tell their tales of life in "the Snake Pit" (the studio) at Motown.
Even more a pleasure is listening to them play and hearing new interpretations of some of the great old tunes. Especially, for me, Bootsy Collins on "Cool Jerk" (Bootsy puts the "fun" in "funk") and Joan Osborne on "Heat Wave" (the Brothers really groove on this one) and "What becomes of the Broken Hearted" - a stirring rendition that raises the roof and brings down the house! Great stuff. A few of the other new performances are not quite as strong as this, but overall the music is just great. The old guys have still got it. I really loved hearing little bits of their jazz playing sprinkled throughout the movie - in fact I'd like to have heard more of this, but of course there are time constraints in any film. It was also great to hear some of the arrangements broken down to (or built up from) individual parts. It brings home the fact that these guys are really creative players (try to imagine "My Girl" without the "dum da da da da da" guitar lick, for example).
I already knew a bit about James Jamerson, the genius bass player for Motown, before watching this movie, but meeitng the rest of these great players and hearing their stories was just a pure pleasure straight through. Good to see these guys getting their props - they are The Funk Brothers!
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)
Stand By Me meets Calvin and Hobbes
I think the Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys is a great movie, the best I've seen so far this year. The performances are all just right, especially the three young leads. Kieren Culkin, Emile Hirsch, and Jenna Malone are all actors to keep an eye on... in fact I'd nominate all three for Oscars if I could. The film is a coming of age story that reminds me a lot of Rob Reiner's highly regarded "Stand By Me" in the way it evokes an era (the 70's) and the feeling of adolescent bonding. I like this film even more, and that's saying a lot. The kicker with this movie is the animated sequences which are interspersed with the live action. Much like the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes", the animated fantasy sequences serve to illuminate the main character's real life dreams and dilemnas, and the animation is very lively and well done. By the way, the title has nothing to do with the current problems being experienced by the Catholic church, but rather refers to the characters' own sense of adventure. This film may not be for everyone - it's a bit raw in places - but the visual poetry and great performances all hang together to make it (for me anyway) one of the year's best films.