Well, the summer movie season of 2009 is now officially over. What have we learned?
- If the original director won’t return for a sequel to a popular franchise, it is probably a bad sign.
- Big, dumb robots are still big and dumb, and now racist too!
- Movies that clock in over 2 hours probably shouldn’t.
- When Johnny Depp ditches the weird wigs, makeup, and funny accents he is just, well, boring. Sorry Johnny.
- “Funny People” aren’t.
- Snape kills Dumbledore?!?! Oh wait, everyone knew that already. Never mind.
It isn’t all bad news though. There were a few diamonds in the crap pile. As it turns out August, which is traditionally a dumping ground for movies studios have little to no confidence in, held a few surprises. There’s a good chance you missed them, so let me bring them to your attention, because it may not be too late.
The first movie I want to talk about I actually mentioned earlier in the summer as one to watch for. “Julie and Julia” is the adorable and way-too-mouthwatering true story of culinary legend Julia Child (Meryl Steep) and her modern day admirer/emulator Julie Powell (Amy Adams). It is no surprise that the reason to see this movie is Streep, playing the American food icon to warbled pitch perfection from her infectious enthusiasm to her Big Bird-like physicality. Stanley Tucci, who plays Julia’s husband Paul, accents her beautifully. The love and mutual adoration the couple share is just delightful to watch, even when words aren’t exchanged.
The next movie I urge you to check out came out of nowhere. Well, more specifically South Africa. First time feature film director Neill Blomkamp created what has to be one of the most visually amazing and intelligent sci-fi movies I have seen in years with a budget far less than most of this summer’s romantic comedies. “District 9” is more of an experience than a movie actually. Ripe with social commentary, this movie documents the uncomfortably realistic plight of a growing group of alien refugees whose craft came to a stop over Johannesburg, South Africa twenty years ago. The aliens are forced into a slum, segregated from society, due to their seemingly primal ways and grotesque appearances. The resulting movie is brutal, smart, original, and unreal – everything a true sci-fi movie should be.
This last one is a real treat. “Ponyo” is the latest, and quite possibly last animated feature by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Not only is this 68-year-old animator one of the most original visual minds in the film industry today, but he also hand-animates nearly every frame of his movies himself. He is a true artist and his work is simply beautiful. “Ponyo” is basically his interpretation on Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid”. As opposed to a teenage mermaid, Miyazaki portrays the titular character as a goldfish that wills herself into a little girl in order to interact with the little boy she fell in love with. The result is a sweet and pure love story that is like a carnival for the eyes and soul. It is also rated ‘G’, which most Disney movies cannot even boast nowadays.
I hope this has been helpful. I strongly urge each and every one of you to check out any or all of the above movies as soon as possible – in the movie theater as they were meant to be experienced.
