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Iris
with Judi Dench,
Jim Broad bent, and Kate Winslet and Hugh Bonneville as the younger versions
of Dench and Broadbent is a mixed bag. The acting is excellent and I wonder if
Dench can do no wrong. Her somewhat befuddled hubby also gets top honors.
Pitched as a love story that is woven with tragic occurrences-Alzheimer's-it's
different. Viewers are told that Iris Murdoch is a brilliant writer and spouse
John Bayley a renowned literary critic-I felt cheated, I wanted to know more
about her novels and his work.
What I learned is that she enjoyed and loved men and women alike, that she was
considered one of the most brilliant women in England. When Alzheimer's rears
its nasty head (and this is one rotten disease to have for the patient and
family)-it's crushing for Iris and John, who live with and through words that
are now lost.
Who Should See It?
-This is for adults, there is nudity and sexuality. One of the important
elements that surfaces is the immense amount of work placed on the primary
caregiver of an Alzheimer patient. They need help, the sooner the better.
2 Golden Eggs.
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Hart's War
with
Bruce Willis (Col. McNamara), Marcel Iures (SS Major Visser) and Colin Farrell
(Lt. Hart) is about sacrifices made by soldiers at war, honor and incredible
courage. Willis is the ranking American officer in a brutal German POW camp
(forget the campy Stalag 17 and Hogan's Heroes humor). He attempts to keep a
sense of honor among the prisoners within the compound, planning all the time
to strike back at the enemy and SS Major Visser. A murder in the camp sets the
stage for a massive distraction set in play by Willis and Farrell.
Who Should See It?
-Mature kids (post 11) and up. It's not a pretty movie but is gripping,
extremely well done. Too many times, all you see in a war movie is the blood
and guts part with a general somewhere away from harm masterminding the next
movie. Hart is there. 4 ½ Golden Eggs.
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Italian for Beginners
--is set in Denmark (English subtitles) and is part comedy, part relationships
when six men and women find themselves in an introductory Italian class. As
the six stumble, they get to know each other (and themselves)-the widowed
minister, the woman who cares for her curmudgeonly father, a young man with a
crush on an Italian cook, a restaurant manager who loves Italian football, a
hairdresser and her future beau begin to share experiences as they all fumble
through an Italian class for beginners that becomes the glue for budding
relationships in futures glowing. Their family obligations, miscommunications,
and mix-ups all adds to the simmering brew.
Who
Should See It? -Adults, it's fun. 4
Golden Eggs.
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Beijing Bicycle
is
set in the capital of China and tells a story of a young man seeking his
fortune (meaning that he gets to own the bicycle that he delivers messages and
parcels on). As an outside observer, you follow the teen cliques and gangs, as
well as common families claiming whatever turf they can. Geui (played by Cui
Lin) proudly looks forward to the day when the bike will be his. On a routine
deliver, it is stolen, ending up in the hands of Jian (Li Bin) a teen who
lives in what would most likely be considered the middle class. Jian and Geui
are linked in their equal goal of owning a bike; Geui attempts to earn his-Jian
steals money from his father (who has promised for years to get him one) and
ends up buying the stolen bike. Geui's pursuit of his bike weaves the two
together with some interesting solutions to their joint problem-the yen and
the yang of survival and acceptance. English subtitles.
Who Should See It?
--Adults, kids won't have the patience for it.
3 Golden Eggs.
© Dr. Judith Briles 2002, All Rights Reserved
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