I’ve caught a few films lately that are worth a mention:
Brad Pitt may be a pretty boy, but he’s also a lot better actor than most people are willing to give him credit for being. Consider this film exhibit A. In a lot of films, he doesn’t exhibit a lot of range, but he’s still solid within the scope of the character in question (which isn’t a criticism: it’s actually a sign of good acting instead of showboating). So consider Seven exhibit B. But I’m not here to defend him; I like him. Hell, he’s from Springfield, Missouri and was actually born in Shawnee, Oklahoma. I like it when anyone from my neck of the woods makes it in the entertainment industry. It shows determination. They don’t exactly scout for acting talent in the flyover states. If you want that life, you have to go out and take it.
But to the movie. It’s a downer; it’s depressing. It’s also dramatic and emotionally convincing. It’s the sort of movie I have a hard time defending to myself, thematically, as the theme seems to be that cultural barriers and selfishness run so deep that real understanding and caring between people is incredibly rare. A second major theme is that small decisions can have big (and often negative) consequences. Then again, I believe both of those things to be true. So perhaps the film a good dose of reality for a feel-good culture. That real understanding and caring are rare only makes them more valuable when they do occur.
Both Maria Full of Grace and Donnie Darko were movies that I rented because Netflix told me I should. And I really have to hand it to the people behind the “Movies you’ll love” feature at Netflix: for the most part, they have me pegged. Whatever genius algorithm they have going, it works. That or I’m amazingly predictable, which is probably also true. I don’t know how I missed Donnie Darko, as it’s just the sort of off-beat, darkly funny flick I tend to really enjoy. To say anything about it would ruin it. If you’re a regular here, I think you’ll like it. In fact, if you’re a regular here, you’ve probably already seen it and are surprised that I hadn’t.
Maria Full of Grace, though it’s a painful story, is ultimately one of those films that makes you want to know more about a bad situation and do something about it. If Blood Diamond was enough to make you think twice about supporting the diamond industry, Maria Full of Grace will be enough to convince you–if you needed one more reason–not to support the cocaine industry, not out puritanical abstinence, but because of the collateral damage that it causes people whose desperation leads them to get caught up in the trade. But beyond its role as an “issue movie,” it’s also a good film.
BTW, I just did a little quick math and determined that, in the two months I’ve been using Netflix, I’m averaging $1.75/DVD. Not bad at all. The best part is, I haven’t had to darken the door of a video rental store in all that time, and I didn’t know how much I wouldn’t miss that. Netflix’s web site is so well done that I enjoy using it (when was the last time you said that about a web app not made by Google?). And I was once a member of Blockbuster’s online rental service, so I’ve seen what the two major competitors have to offer, and, for me, Netflix is the clear winner in speed, pricing options, and ease of use. I’m not part of an affiliate program or anything. Consider that an unsolicited bit of praise.