20 February 2005 - 17:44The Aviator - Million Dollar Baby - Sideways

“The Aviator” -
Staring Leonardo Di Caprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Alec Baldwin

Darn it, I am ready for a prequel and a sequel. I want to understand how he got this way. I know, I know you’ll say his Mother, but we don’t see enough to really get that. Wow! I had no idea that Howard Hughes was so brilliant, charming, and decadent, and yet also so incredibly lonely, afraid, and damaged. In today’s society, no doubt, medication could take care of a lot. It was astounding to see his enormous personal strength in overcoming all of his idiosyncrasies and abnormalities for brief periods only to wind up self destructing even deeper at the close. What a crime to have so much to offer, and be remembered only as a bizarre old billionaire. Flying would not be where it is today without Hughes and his genius and risk taking. Di Caprio is unforgettable; Blanchett appeared more as a caricature of Hepburn than anything else. Alec Baldwin was almost tame in this one. Do see it, historic and entertainment value galore.

“Million Dollar Baby” -
Staring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman

This gets my vote for best picture, director, and actress. What an amazing combination of talents: raw and finessed, old and young - this is a real treat. I don’t cry in movies ever, this one I did. Swank is Maggie, no acting, just a complete transformation. The lessons she has learned and how she works with dogged single-minded determination to a seemingly unreachable goal is overwhelming to see. Morgan Freeman is the much-needed warm fuzzy, a comfortable character that is always waiting to lend a hand, give a kind word, or just be there. Eastwood is at his directorial pinnacle. (Scary how much he reminds me of my own Dad, even down to the voice.) This is nothing shy of best picture, and it will be criminal if it doesn’t get it, despite the tough competition.

“Sideways” -
Staring Virginia Madsen, Thomas Haden Church, Sandra Oh, Paul Giamatti

Seems from what I have heard since seeing this that it depends entirely on what generation you are in as to your appreciation or lack thereof of this flick. I liked it, didn’t love it. Haden Church is wonderfully awful as a true cad and pond scum womanizer. But, rather than blame him, I look at the idiocy of the women he picks up. How can they be so stupid???? On the one hand he deserves the beating, on the other they do. Giamatti is somewhat tragic throughout, you can’t feel sorry for him, you just want to shake him hard and tell him to get a life (at least I did.) Madsen is sort of the saving grace of the film. She has a life, a rich one. She is pursuing her passions and not letting anyone else get in the way. This may be enough to jump-start her career again; it has languished badly in a lot of questionable film choices. See what you think!