Vigils

Leighton: ***
Goodman Theatre

Funny, sweet, and sad. A woman whose fireman husband died in a fire two years ago still can't let go. Literally. She keeps his soul trapped in a trunk at the foot of her bed. When she goes on her first date in two years, she's torn between memories of the past and hopes for the future. I really enjoyed the production, and only wish Sabine could have come with. She went home sick and couldn't go.

United 93

Louis: ***1/2 Angela:****

I was originally hesitant to see this film thinking that I would be seriously disturbed by the scenes aboard United 93. In the end it seems that I already had a pretty accurate view of what happened, or at least what is thought to have happened on board.

I actually found what happened at all of the other locations (various FAA, civilian, and military flight control centers, etc.) more disturbing and ultimately even interesting from an educational perspective. It's sad that our government didn't have any sort of working plan to prevent this from happening.

I do think it's important for everyone to see this film.

The War Tapes

Leighton: ****

I just can't get enough of these documentaries, especially ones that expose the incompetence of the current administration.

This movie was actually shot by members of a New Hampshire National Guard unit deployed to Iraq. Four or five members were given digital video recorders and filmed their lives for the year they were in Iraq. The footage was then edited together to make this movie. It's about as close to the war as you can get. You get to see the troops dealing with the situation they're in both in good ways and bad. No word yet on when it will be released on DVD, but it's still playing across the country at various locations. The official web site has information on when and where. We are also attempting to arrange a screening of it at the PML.

The Lake House

Louis: *** Angela: ***

Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are back together again in this romantic fantasy. The two, while corresponding via letters, discover that they're both living at the same lake house only at two different times - one two years later than the other.

Prior to seeing it, I read a few reviews that criticized the film for some "temporal issues" (often associated with time travel stories) as well as the "dialogue-like" conversations between the two (which would be extremely difficult if they were actually corresponding via written letters). I wasn't bothered by this, in fact it seemed to bring a more abstract, theatrical quality to the film at times.

With the story set in Chicago and several of the characters being architects, I recognized many of the locations used in the film. Besides the more obvious ones (Daly Plaza, Millennium Park, etc.), the father's den was shot at the Prairie Avenue Book Store on Wabash. The office of one of the architects was shot in the office of one of my old clients in the Santa Fe Building on Michigan and Jackson - there's actually a picture of one of my projects on the wall in one scene.

Akeelah and the Bee

Louis: *** Angela: ***

What can we say, we're suckers for these "under dog" type movies (The Rookie, Rudy, etc.). This one is the story of Akeelah, a young girl from a poor area of south Los Angeles with a natural gift for spelling. She's gets involved in a local spelling bee and decides to see how far she can make it on the road to the national spelling bee. Laurence Fishburne plays her coach (ala Morpheous from The Matrix) and the two develop a sweet father-daughter relationship.

Dr. Strangelove

or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb



Louis: ** 1/2 Angela: **

This was the latest film from our "Ebert's four-star movie list". I was expecting it to be much more abstract, but it was actually fairly easy to watch and even amusing at times. We also didn't realize that Peter Sellers was in it - playing three different characters. No matter what the film, he's always fascinating to watch.

George C. Scott gave a suprisingly good comedic performance. James Earl Jones has a bit part in it. I also didn't realize Slim Pickens was who he was - guy from Blazing Saddles - he has pretty big role in it.

All in all, we don't agree that it was one of the best movie of all time. But it was pretty enjoyable for a movie from the 60's.

Torn Curtain (1966)

PoP *** Lee ***

We have begun to view some of the older films by Alfred Hitchcock. Torn Curtain is an okay Cold War suspenser with Paul Newman as a fake defector to East Germany in order to obtain Communist defense secrets. Julie Andrews is his femme partner. Alfred Hitchcock's direction emphasizes suspense and ironic comedy flair but some good plot ideas are marred by routine dialog, and (for Lou's benefit) a too relaxed pace contributes to a dull overlength.

With Hitchcock's heros and their ladies fair, it is interesting to try and guess the date of the film by the manner in which they kiss.

Mom and I couldn't figure out how we could have missed this Paul Newman movie, but then we realized we were building a "Rolla" most of that year.