By Robin E. Simmons
PRINCE AVALANCHE
Alvin (Paul Rudd) and Lance (Emile Hirsch) are like a modern Vladimir and Estragon from Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot.” In a literally burned out district of rural Texas, Alvin and Lance slowly paint the broken yellow stripe down the middle of a little used back road all the while ruminating on the vicissitudes of their own rather sad lives. Rudd and Hirsch are skilled performers and they totally get their characters off-putting self-absorbed dimwittedness.
Writer director David Gordon Green’s loose adaptation of the Icelandic film EITHER WAY is beautiful to look at, thanks to the precise eye of cinematographer and frequent Green collaborator Tim Orr.
The title is never mentioned in the movie and is a puzzle. It came to Green in a dream. Maybe the ambiguity allows for an open interpretation that has no intentional connection.
On the surface, this is a simple and slight film with potentially deeper meaning. But it’s up the audience to interpret what shimmers on the screen as visual metaphor.
Like the characters in Beckett’s play, Alvin and Lance are wandering a wasteland engaged in perhaps pointless, comic banter. Are they in fact dead? And are the few people they meet ghosts? I don’t know, but I really liked this odd and unexpected, subtle comedy that’s fun to watch and think about. Now playing at Cinemas Palme d’Or.
I GIVE IT A YEAR
I laughed out loud at much of the forced but wild permutations of this romantic comedy that mixes bawdy humor, abrasive characters and unabashed sentiment. I was reminded of DEATH AT A FUNERAL in tone. The physical comedy saves the day and the central foursome is very attractive as they work out the kinks of lasting relationships. Anne Faris is extremely empathetic and vulnerable as the newly married Josh’s ex love. Co-stars Rose Byrne, Stephen Merchant, Rafe Spell, Simon Baker and Minnie Driver perfectly understand the genre they’re in and deliver sharp performances. It may be obvious where the story is heading. After all, this is template movie making at its slickest (no spoilers here), but you will have a great time watching it unfold. Now playing at Cinemas Palme d’Or.
WEST OF MEMPHIS
There have been at least two strong documentaries based on this explosive case of the triple murder of young boys and the three young men wrongfully accused, convicted and imprisoned. Director Amy Berg and filmmakers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh’s scathing and harrowing examination of the catastrophic fiasco of justice in Arkansas is not for the faint of heart. This mesmerizing documentary exposes the unknown and desperate fight to bring the truth into the open.
With the cooperation of some of those who lived the nightmare (mainly the victims families) and with Berg’s inside look at the investigation, research and appeals as well as the strategies of the defense brings the audience into the case as never before. But most disturbing of all is the film’s shocking revelation of the most likely perpetrator. Don’t miss the real life American horror story that is guaranteed to transfix. It’s not just about the banality of evil, but an eloquent and unflinching look at prosecutorial misconduct. Doing evil under the guise of justice. These bastards knew they had the wrong guys. A great film. Highest recommendation. Sony. Blu-ray.
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