Movie Loner

In 1978, Aldo Moro – leader of the Italian Christian Democratic Party – was kidnapped and later assassinated by a militant Communist faction called the Red Brigades. Moro was a staunch supporter of the Compromesso storico or Historic Compromise, which was supposed to unite the Christian Democrats and the Communist Party. Moro believed in a unified Italy, a country together, rather than one divided by political or socioeconomic  differences. He fought tirelessly to make his vision a reality, but his tragic death put an end to his idea. Good Morning, Night documents the last days of Moro, from the point of view of the lone female kidnapper.

Four members of the Red Brigades kidnapped Moro and held him captive in a cramped apartment for 55 days. Chiara, a young, impressionable woman, and three men take up residence to keep watch on the political prisoner. While Mariano – the Brigades leader – conducts detailed interrogations with Moro, Chiara goes to her job as a librarian, where she befriends a radical screenwriter named Enzo, who doesn’t share Chiara’s Communist beliefs. When she returns to the apartment, Chiara spends her time peering through the peephole in Moro’s cell. Her fascination with the larger-than-life figure conflicts with her political ideology. The longer she watches the crestfallen man the more sympathy she gains for him. Despite knowing his inevitable fate, Chiara begins to question her comrades if killing the statesman is the right action to take. Her reservations, of course, are ignored, but Chiara’s dreams tell a different story. A story that ends with Moro’s freedom.

Director Marco Bellocchio does an excellent job of maintaining suspense, even though the audience is aware of the outcome. By embedding the narrative inside the life of Chiara, he is able to reveal her complex psyche as well as her vivid dreams. We are shown Moro through her naive, curious gaze. She is too young to fully comprehend her actions nor the political motives that precipitated them. Unlike her Brigade brethren, she sees Moro as a man, not just a figure-head or symbol. The tears Chiara cries over Moro’s final letter of appeal are not tears of happiness, but rather tears of sympathy and regret. As much as she’d like to change Moro’s fate, she lacks the courage and conviction to martyr herself.

Several techniques are employed to heighten the drama. Pink Floyd’s masterful “The Great Gig in the Sky” provides a foreboding, eerie aura to the inevitable events depicted. The ethereal song also enhances Chiara’s intricate reveries. Also significant to the narrative is the omnipresent television which constantly blares in the background; it acts as an unofficial narrator by providing periodic updates to the story’s timeline. There are very few moments in the film when it fails to be heard.

Performance wise, the film belongs to Roberto Herlitzka as Moro, and Maya Sansa as Chiara. Herlitzka – who bears a striking resemblance to the real Moro – brings an admirable toughness to the character. Although visibly frustrated, he never loses composure, and keeps hold of his dignity and honor. Sansa is asked to carry the film and she succeeds. Her soft inner emotions betray a cold, indifferent exterior. She carries respect and feels compassion for Moro, which makes her performance that much more compelling. Good Morning, Night is another fantastic film that eluded American viewers a few years back. Do yourself a service and see this fine docudrama.

No Comments »

This edition of great movie characters takes us to the East African hotbed of violence known as Somalia. Black Hawk Down, directed by Ridley Scott, earned well-deserved praise for its accurate depiction of 1993’s disastrous Army Ranger mission into the hostile city of Mogadishu. Several real-life soldiers are portrayed by a talented cast that includes Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner and Sam Shepard. However, one soldier stands out from the group – Hoot – a bad-ass special forces op played by Eric Bana.

Hoot is a seasoned vet with a calculated gaze and a smooth southern twang. A born soldier dedicated to his duty, Hoot doesn’t let emotion cloud his judgment. Bana brings a calm understanding to a character who kills for a living. Hoot operates without hesitation and without fear – traits that define a true warrior.

In the following scene, Hoot tells a beleaguered Sgt. Eversmann (Hartnett) why he’s willing to put himself in the line of fire. “It’s about the men next to you,” he says. Profound words from a man simply known as Hoot.

No Comments »

We take a trip to the west coast for this installment of great movie characters. Writer/Director Lisa Cholodenko’s Laurel Canyon takes aim at the music bizz and the many oddball free spirits who inhabit this bottom-line world. Her muse is Ian McKnight, a charming lothario who fronts a Brit rock-n-roll band.

McKnight’s singing ability is matched only by his skills of seduction. Both Frances McDormand and Kate Beckinsale fall under his spell. He possesses the voice, looks and confidence to make women – young and old – weak in their knees. McKnight defines the rocker persona with a “fuck you” attitude and even rides a cool motorcycle.

In the following scene, Ian – portrayed by Alessandro Nivola – and his lover/producer Jane (the brilliant McDormand) ponder the inclusion of a tender ballad on his latest album. Notice how he controls the scene, eventually flipping an irritated and stressed Jane. “No, I’m not fucking kidding,” he says. Carefree, yet persuasive words from the unflappable Ian McKnight.

No Comments »

Today’s post on great movie characters takes us into deep space aboard the ship Serenity, captained by ex soldier turned smuggler, Mal Reynolds. Mal possesses all the qualities you want in a Captain: he’s clever, charming, tough, relentless and has a biting sense of humor. Mal is on the run from the Alliance, a vindictive regime that rules the galaxy with an iron fist.

He carries a massive chip on his shoulder and leads his crew with a gunslinger’s mentality. He will back down to no one even it means putting his ship in harms way. For all his faults, Mal stands for what’s right and just and will defend these ideals to the death if he has to.

In the following scene Mal – played by Nathan Fillion – confronts his pursuer, a steely eyed government agent known only as the Operative. Mal has just found his friends slaughtered by Alliance forces. Below his blood-streaked face burns the rage of a man who has seen too much death: “You think I care?” he asks with indifference. But Mal does care. In fact, he cares too much, which makes him more dangerous than the Alliance ever imagined.

No Comments »

We flashback to 1976 for this installment of great movie characters – to the Lone Star State on the campus of Robert E. Lee High School (insert your own joke). There’s a slew of memorable roles in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, but one in particular stands out: David Wooderson.

Wooderson, played by Matthew McConaughey, likes hanging with his high school pals, despite the fact that he’s at least four or five years their senior. This uncouth super-cool pothead allegedly works for the city, but  his uncanny ability to throw an impromptu kegger are where his real skills lie. I was quite impressed with the young McConaughey and his natural acting style. However, after watching him for the last fifteen years it seems apparent that Matthew wasn’t really “acting.”

In the following scene, Wooderson stops by the local burger and fries joint to express his affinity for ladies with scarlet locks. Notice how he matter-of-factly insults the two bookworms: “Alright, alright, alright!” The mating cry of one David Wooderson.

No Comments »

Over the next couple months – in addition to my regular reviews – I’m going to examine some of my favorite film characters and heap much-deserved praise upon the actors responsible for bringing these fictional creations to life.

First up is Danny Archer, as portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in 2006’s Blood Diamond. Archer – a guileful soldier of fortune – works to smuggle conflict diamonds out of the war-torn nation of Sierra Leone. He finds himself in dogged pursuit of a diamond big enough to earn his ticket out of Africa for good. In the following scene, Archer and dedicated photo-journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) speak of his youth and his evolution from wide-eyed patriot to embittered gun-for-hire.

DiCaprio earned a worthy Best Actor nomination for his memorable performance. Watch his eyes: an obvious sadness conceals a lifetime of pain. “God left this place a long time ago,” he says. Haunting words born within the tortured soul of Danny Archer.

No Comments »

Often times the simplest of stories make the best movies. You don’t need layers of subtext or elaborate plot devices to construct a moving or memorable film. All it takes is a little humanity and some very sound acting to create an enjoyable experience. It’s sometimes easy to forget among all the special effects and big budgets, that movies – for the most part – have always been about people and the trials and tribulations they face on a daily basis. When it comes right down to it, the movies that have affected me are the ones that provoke me to think about myself, but more importantly, others. My Best Friend is a simple story about something we all have a tendency to take for granted: Friendship.

Francois Coste (Daniel Auteuil) is a successful antique dealer with zero friends. His selfish attitude and abrasive social skills aren’t very attractive qualities. Francois insists he has many friends but his business partner Catherine refuses to believe him, so she wagers Francois that he cannot produce a “best friend” in the next ten days. The stubborn Francois accepts the challenge and embarks on a mission to locate a companion, any companion. Helping him in his search is Bruno (Dany Boon), a good-natured taxi driver obsessed with trivia. Bruno attempts to instruct the oblivious Francois in the art of meeting people, but Francois fails to grasp the concept. As their time together increases, a friendship begins to form. But Francois’ determination to win his wager with Catherine threatens his budding relationship with Bruno. Francois soon learns that using someone for personal gain is no way to treat a friend.

The entire film has A Christmas Carol feel to it with Francois as Scrooge and Bruno playing the role of Bob Cratchit. Catherine could be considered a Jacob Marley type figure, warning Francois that he needs to change his ways or risk being alone. Unlike ol’ Ebenezer, Francois isn’t mean, he’s just indifferent. Material things are his real “friends,” but he seems painfully naive to this truth. Bruno shares not only his time but also his trust. However, the notion of giving something other than money to another person is lost on Francois. His stunted social graces make him both sad and comical. His own daughter’s refusal to acknowledge him as her father sounds an alarm, but he has no idea how to respond. In his journey to find another, he must also find himself. For Francois, redemption can only come from within.

Writer/Director Patrice Leconte hands the reigns of this endearing story over to his actors. Daniel Auteuil and Dany Boon both deliver strong performances. Auteuil, one of France’s best actors, continues to display an uncanny versatility: I’ve seen him play a ruthless con-artist, a paranoid family man and now a likable ass. He plays a perfect comic foil to Dany Boon’s straight man. Speaking of Boon, he shines in his portrayal of the lonely Bruno, a decent man with a melancholy past. My Best Friend is the exact type of movie that is easily overlooked by mainstream audiences. It doesn’t have big stars or a headline grabbing hook, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. Seek it out if you’re a fan of little films with big hearts.

The trailer for My Best Friend:

No Comments »

In my review of A Bittersweet Life last week, I mentioned how Korean cinema has really come on strong in the last decade. Well, count Memories of Murder as one of the best examples of Korea’s insurgence into the international film market. Set in 1986, the movie depicts the events surrounding Korea’s first known serial killer and the dedicated police detectives assigned to the case. Very similar to 2007’s Zodiac, the story contrasts the brutal killings against the detailed investigative procedures utilized to solve the crimes.

Someone is raping and murdering women in the rural province of Gyunggi. Detective Park Doo-Man is tapped as the lead investigator. Together with partner Cho Yong-koo the two men set about to find the killer. Their methods are sloppy and their interrogation techniques needlessly violent. Help soon arrives in the form of Seoul’s top cop Seo Tae-Yoon, a smart, driven detective who brings much-needed experience to the case. While Park Doo-man pegs a local retarded youth as the prime suspect, Seo Tae-Yoon searches for solid evidence. Meanwhile, the murders continue, leaving the detectives baffled. Suspects are hauled in only to be released due to insufficient evidence. Frustration builds inside the police department. A sudden break leads to the arrest of man whom Seo Tae-Yoon believes to be the murderer. Will DNA prove him guilty? Or is he innocent like the others? As the time for another killing nears, the detectives wait, hoping they have the right man.

Memories of Murder focuses on two central story threads. The first of which concentrates on the ineptitude and brutality displayed by the small-town cops. Park Doo-Man wastes much of the film chasing dead ends, while his partner Cho Yong-koo plays the role of enforcer, viciously beating suspects into false confessions. The accurate depiction of extreme interrogation methods caused quite an uproar among the Korean citizenry when the movie was released. Corruption and shoddy investigating have plagued South Korea’s police departments for years. Park Doo-Man’s ridiculous pursuit of hairless men and a visit to a shaman for clues are samples of the types of irresponsible conduct displayed.

A second recurrent theme deals with the transformations of detectives Park Doo-Man and Seo Tae-Yoon. At the beginning, Seo Tae-Yoon is under control and professional, while Park Doo-Man behaves like a petulant child. As the film progresses the two men undergo a role reversal. Seo Tae-Yoon’s growing discouragement turns to anger as the body count rises; his inability to solve the crimes wounds his ego and pride. Park Doo-Man sheds his flippant personality and becomes a steady, calming force who ultimately proves his worth as a cop. But the mounting pressure that comes with the job and its damaging effects prey on the sanity of both men. It’s easy to see how good men can be ruined by life’s pitfalls and failures.

Writer/Director Joon-ho Bong does not pull any punches. His refusal to turn his camera away from the inhumanity adds to the authenticity of a film based on true events. His decision to compare the actions of a killer to those of a police officer is bold but appropriate. Also worth noting is the inclusion of humor which serves as needed respite in an otherwise intense story. Kang-ho Song stands out in his portrayal of the careless detective Park Doo-Man. His character’s evolution is the most interesting to follow. Memories of Murder is a powerful exploration into the minds of men who live in a world consumed by cruelty. It’s difficult to watch but more than worth your time.

The trailer for Memories of Murder:

No Comments »