Change Your Image
Nick-Lento
Reviews
Stop-Loss (2008)
A Gutless Movie About Courage
Stop Loss went through at least 60 rewrites by different people; and it shows.
All the political rough edges were removed so that what remains is a movie that tries so hard to come down on both sides of the issues that it fails as a story.
The trailer was fantastic; if only the actual movie had lived up to that promise.
The very real "Stop Loss" policy is indeed absolutely insane and destructive.....the movie makes that case clearly enough, and that's why it gets a six.
If you need to be convinced that the policy is an atrocity; then do go see the movie asap........Otherwise; save your money.
Body of War (2007)
A Feature Documentary That's as Compelling as Any Fictional Drama!!!
Body of War runs a bit less than 90 minutes; but the experience of seeing it makes the time fly by so that one is surprised to see the closing credits.
This fine film is so much more than the conventional "war documentary". The story of Tomas Young and his family is masterfully interwoven with scorching snippets from the Senatorial voting process that authorized Bush's invasion of Iraq in such a way as to make the personal and the political mesh to the point of implosion.
Body of War is an extraordinary document that focuses on the experiences of Tomas Young in such a way that one can begin to imagine how many tens of thousands of severely wounded American veterans (and their families) must be going through similar trials. This is a movie that is projected as much on your heart as on the screen.
I put it to you that unless you, (or someone in your immediate family) has been there, and come back with major lifelong damage, you can't fully appreciate the human costs of this war.
Seeing "The Body of War" is about as close as you can get to beginning to feel what the wounded vets and their families feel.
This review doesn't say much about the existential content of the film, and that's intentional. The twists and turns are all the more telling if they are surprises.
The editing is sharp and potent. The music, especially the two new songs by Eddie Vedder, works in profound harmony with the powerful images on the screen. There is no doubt that Body of War will be in contention for an Oscar next year. It's that strong.
Whether one is for or against this war, I put it to you that you must go see this movie. This is what our tax dollars are paying for and where America's blood and guts are being spent lavishly. The least we can do is bear witness to this heart wrenching/eye opening story.
I was privileged to see Body of War at a preview that Phil Donahue recently presented in Washington DC. He spoke briefly before the movie and graciously took audience questions and comments afterwards.
This important movie was clearly a labor of love for him and for co director and film maker Ellen Spiro. Donahue made clear that he would not be taking any profits from this film.
I urge you all to go to the website http://www.bodyofwar.com/ and see if this will be any where near you in the coming months; and if it isn't...contact your local theater owner and request that it be screened. Once you've seen it; you'll want others to see it too.
The Brave One (2007)
A Stunning Masterwork of Transcendent Quality
Jodie Foster delivers an Oscar worthy performance in this astoundingly fresh/novel treatment of what, to some, may seem like old themes.
"The Brave One" is a far cry from the hackneyed "revenge fantasy" flicks that Charles Bronson made (in)famous.
On the surface, some of the elements are similar; but once we get past the surface (which Ms Foster and an excellent supporting cast make easy for the viewer) we are transported into the mind, body and soul of Foster's character to a depth that none of the old "Death Wish" movies ever aspired to, let alone achieved.
Yes, powerful emotions are evoked and complex, often contradictory thoughts/ideas are provoked; yet somehow, it is all done with a minimum of coarse manipulation. (If there had been none at all I would have rated this a ten).
"The Brave One" manages to pull off that most rare of cinematic achievements/challenges; it works as high art, profound social/political/psychological/ethical commentary AND delivers an exciting/riveting "can't take your eyes off the screen" theater/drama that elevates the experience of "entertainment" to a level far beyond mere diversion.
As someone who is anti death penalty and pro gun control I was surprised, and even uncomfortable, finding myself (along with others) applauding at the end of this marvelous movie.
Part of me is tempted to write a long commentary discussing the movie in depth; but that would spoil it for anyone who hasn't already seen it. So, at the risk of sounding like a pitchman, I leave you with......
Don't take my word for it, go see this transcendent masterpiece for yourself.
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
What Bourne Ultimatum is Really All About
It's joyfully obvious to everyone that this is a great and entertaining movie. You don't need to read another gushing rave review; there's no shortage of those here.
What makes "The Bourne Ultimatum" more than just another action/adventure/spy movie with elements of comic book super-heroism; is that "Bourne" is actually quite effective as cutting edge political satire.
The way it subversively/viscerally exposes the morally, ethically and spiritually compromised hypocritical nature of policies like the global invasion of privacy, rendition, torture, dehumanizing/identity raping conditioning (a la The Manchurian Candidate ;-), state sanctioned murder/assassination (and all manner of just plain old evil) speaks volumes about what has been happening for a long time and is still happening now. The denials of involvement from high level officials remain as implausible as ever.
It really should be common sense/ethics 101 that two wrongs don't make a right, that the ends don't justify the means, that the cover up ends up being worse than the crime, that being more evil/ruthless than your evil/ruthless enemies actually means you've already lost your soul, that power corrupts etc etc etc.
This masterpiece works on the mundane level of Hollywood blockbuster entertainment, yet (mostly) avoids the trite cotton candy realms of cliché.
The Bourne Ultimatum is as good as Hollywood gets. Food for the thrill seeking child in all of us as it also feeds a quest for the meaning/manifestation of human Spirit!
My prediction: Three Oscars...at least!!!
As to the question of a sequel; I say yes.
Without giving anything away I can say that the movie leaves lots of room for a Re-Bourne. I would certainly pay to see the series continue much as the Bond franchise has......only *IF* they can maintain this quality.
So what are ya waiting for? Get thee to the theater! :-)