Apart from seeing family, relaxing and getting sick of said family, many students use winter break to catch up on movies. Let's examine some of the high and low points of the recent silver screen productions.
"Slumdog Millionaire"
If you have not heard of this flick yet, perhaps the countless Golden Globe Awards will catch your attention. "Slumdog Millionaire" is an amazingly colorful, rich and emotional story. It centers on Jamal, a young boy in Mumbai, India, who, against all odds, is doing extremely well on India's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" What ensues is an engrossing tale of determination and love, backed up by stunning visuals from a director (Danny Boyle) whose love for India is readily apparent in every scene of this film. Dev Patel, who portrays Jamal, throws in a fiercely emotional performance that really defines what "Slumdog Millionaire" is all about.
"Milk"
It is likely the world will never find another movie where Sean Penn smiles this much. "Milk" tells the story of the first openly gay public official in the United States and how he came to power. Not only is this historical drama well crafted but it is also perfectly acted, not just by Penn, but by all his supporting cast including James Franco and Emile Hirsch.
"The Wrestler"
Anyone remember the name Mickey Rourke? He used to be a pretty big deal in Hollywood. During the '90s, he disappeared from the scene as he hit hard times in his personal life. But with this recent film, Rourke makes the mother of all comebacks. "The Wrestler" is gut-wrenching in every way. The story is about an over-the-hill wrestler dealing with a heart condition, financial troubles and his estranged daughter. Rourke hits all the right notes as "The Ram" on his road to redemption. Director Darren Aronofsky crafted a classic here.
"The Spirit"
This has to be the absolute worst movie of winter break. Frank Miller should stick to living in the past, in the days of his best comic books, because film is not his thing. At first glance, the movie just looks like a rip off of "Sin City," but at least that would have been somewhat entertaining. The only good thing about this movie is the ridiculousness of it all. It is almost fun to watch a movie that is as confused about itself as the viewer may be. Regardless, the film is a feast for the eyes, though not the mind.
"Valkyrie"
Tom Cruise plays German colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in this historical drama about an inside plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The movie is a neatly constructed thriller that is expertly paced and backed by a few stellar performances (especially Tom Wilkinson in a turn as General Friedrich Fromm). The only downside may possibly be Cruise. Now while this is a movie about the Germans done in English, many of the actors at least chose to keep a European accent of sorts. Cruise, however still speaks like Cruise and it unfortunately takes the viewer out of the moment sometimes. Apart from that, "Valkyrie" remains entertaining.
"Frost/Nixon"
Audiences may never enjoy a movie without action as much as they will enjoy "Frost/Nixon." The film, inspired by the stage play of the same name, is about a series of interviews done after the Watergate crisis by talk show host David Frost. It is in these interviews that Frost attempts to force a confession from Richard Nixon for the crimes he committed. Ron Howard directs in this perfectly designed and acted film.
"Revolutionary Road"
Those yearning for a Titanic-like reunion may be surprised with what they find in "Revolutionary Road." The movie, based on the Richard Yates novel of the same name, is a disjointed affair. The fact of the matter is that some films are made primarily with the performances in mind. This happens to be the case in "Revolutionary Road." Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet give powerhouse performances as they depict an extremely dysfunctional married couple trying to cope with their mundane suburban 1950s lifestyle.
Be the first to comment on this article!