anjanette comer biography

Reel Take Reviewers:
∑∑∑∑∑ - Fantastic
∑∑∑∑ - Pretty darn good
∑∑∑ - Has some good points
∑∑ - The previews lied
∑ - Only if you must
M- Forget entirely
Chip Kaufmann is a film historian who
also shares his love of classical music
as a program
host on WCQSFM radio.
Michelle
Keenan is
a long time
student
of film, a
believer in
the magic of
movies and a
fundraiser for
public radio.
For the latest reviews, theater info
and movie show times, visit
www.rapidrivermagazine.com
Illustration of Michelle
& Chip by Brent Brown.
Questions/Comments?
Brent Brown is a graphic
designer and illustrator.
View more of his work at
www.brentbrown.com.
Monthly Reel
W
Whether renting a DVD or looking
for new titles at the theatre, there’s
plenty from which to choose this
month. At the theatre you’ll notice the
race to the Oscar’s has already begun.
Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine has a
distinct l’eau d’Oscar, and Lee Daniels’
The Butler will definitely be an audience favorite.
The World’s End
The good Professor Kaufmann and
I didn’t get to everything we wanted
to review, but if you are a fan of the
nerdy, British comedy duo, Simon
Pegg and Nick Frost (and even if
you’re not), we implore you to see
The World’s End. It’s not Oscar bait,
but it’s far more enjoyable than most
titles that are. The Kings of Summer,
currently playing at The Carolina Cinema, is another overlooked title that is
worth your time.
You’ll see plenty more releases on
the road to Oscar in the coming weeks.
Titles to look for include:
• 12 Years a Slave
• Aint Them Bodies Saints
• All is Lost
• Captain Phillips
• The Counselor
• Gravity
• Inside Llewyn Davis
• The Monuments Men
• The Wolf of Wall Street
Until next month, enjoy what you
watch and watch what you enjoy.
You can email Chip or Michelle at
reeltakes@hotmail.com
2 Guns ∑∑∑1/2
end. Edward James Olmos’s Mexican drug
lord seems like a character out of a Robert
Rodriguez movie and he plays it accordingly.
While 2 Guns offers nothing new, it
does offer a pretty good time at the local
cinema. Simple, well crafted movies which
have nothing more on their mind than entertaining an audience for a couple of hours
deserve their place in the movie pantheon
alongside the big budget extravaganzas and
the art house/indie flicks. In fact the older I
get, the better these movies look.
Short Take: Old school buddy movie
benefits from above average plotting,
crisp action scenes, and winning
performances from Denzel Washington
and Mark Wahlberg.
Reel Take: August seems to be the month
of retreads as opposed to remakes as far as
my movie going is concerned. All three of
the films I review in this month’s issue are
reworkings of basic ideas and/or movies that
have been made before. Of course “borrowing” ideas has been a staple of filmmaking
since the earliest days of movies. How creative the borrowing is determines how good
or bad the movie turns out to be.
Case in point…the new Denzel
Washington-Mark Wahlberg opus 2 Guns.
There’s nothing in this movie that hasn’t
been done before especially in Walter Hill’s
Beverly Hills Cop movies with Eddie
Murphy. However the complex plot full of
double & triple crosses along with ingratiating performances from Mark & Denzel (they
Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg
are an oddly matched pair of undercover
investigators in 2 Guns.
have great chemistry together) help to raise 2
Guns to the level of a little something extra.
Even if it doesn’t stick with you once the
movie is over, you won’t feel cheated by it.
Icelandic director Baltasar Komakur,
who had previously collaborated with Mark
Wahlberg on last year’s Contraband, once
again weaves a complicated story of a heist
that goes wrong with serious consequences.
This time he borrows a critical plot detail
from Don Siegel’s Charley Varrick (1973)
in which undercover agents Wahlberg &
Washington rob a bank which has far more
cash in it then it’s supposed to have. Turns
out that the money is a slush fund for the
CIA and a ruthless agent (Bill Paxton) will
break every law to get it back.
Then there’s drug lord Papi (Edward
James Olmos) who also wants a piece of the
action since there’s a huge payoff involved.
Throw in Washington’s girlfriend (Paula
Patton) whose drug enforcement boss may
be on the take and things start to get real
complicated, real fast. There’s a brutal death
on the horns of a bull awaiting our heroes if
they don’t return the money and that’s just
what the drug lord has in mind.
Unlike Contraband which was done
with a completely straight face, there’s a lot
of humor here thanks to the two leads’ playing off each other. There is also some serious
violence when things go awry that comes
as something of a shock after the amusing
opening set in a diner which is known for
its killer doughnuts. Bill Paxton’s CIA agent
Earl is a thoroughly nasty piece of work
although you know he’s going to get it in the
Rated R for violence throughout, language, and
brief nudity.
Review by Chip Kaufmann
Blue Jasmine ∑∑∑∑1/2
Short Take: A former socialite teeters on
the brink of insanity in the wake of her
husband’s Bernie Madoff-like fall from
grace.
Cate Blanchette is arrogant, pitiful and just
plain bat shit crazy in Woody Allen’s very
nearly perfect Blue Jasmine.
REEL TAKE: Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine
gives off the distinct odor of Oscar bait.
While it doesn’t have the warmth and general appeal of Midnight in Paris, Allen scores
big in this story of former socialite on the
brink of insanity. Based ever so abstractly on
Tennessee Williams’ Streetcar Named Desire, Woody Allen breaks new ground even
for him [with a track record of 40 some-odd
films to his credit].
Jasmine, played by Oscar winner Cate
Blanchett, is our Blanche Dubois. Ginger
(Sally Hawkins), Jasmine’s sister, serves as
the Stella character and her blue collar boy‘Movies’ continued on page 24
Vol. 17, No. 1 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — September 2013 23
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‘Movies’ continued from page 23
friend Chili (James Carnavalle) is a Stanley
of sorts.
As the film opens Jasmine is flying to
San Francisco to stay with her estranged
sister Ginger. Jasmine is a [now] former socialite fleeing NYC in the wake of a BernieMadoff-like scandal that brought down her
fabulously wealthy financier husband Hal
(Alec Baldwin) and the posh life she knew.
As she balances ever so precariously on the
edge of reason, often sticking more than just
her right foot on the bus to crazy town, she
reveals the gradual undoing of her previous life. Allen brilliantly choreographs the
scenes, masterfully dancing back and forth
between the past and present.
In the past Hal swindled the lottery
winnings belonging to Ginger and her then
husband, Augie (Andrew Dice Clay). It
crushed their hopes and dreams and eventually ruined their marriage, while Jasmine
and Hal moved on like a hit and run; hence
the estrangement between the two sisters. In
the present, Ginger, a wonderfully goodhearted gal, takes pity on her sister and
offers to put her up until she can get back
on her feet. Jasmine is contemptuous of
Ginger’s low brow digs and aspirations and
Theatre Directory
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company
Movieline (828) 254-1281
www.ashevillepizza.com
Beaucatcher Cinemas (Asheville)
Movieline (828) 298-1234
Biltmore Grande
1-800-FANDANGO #4010
www.REGmovies.com
Carmike 10 (Asheville)
Movieline (828) 298-4452
www.carmike.com
Carolina Cinemas
(828) 274-9500
www.carolinacinemas.com
Cinebarre (Asheville)
www.cinebarre.com
The Falls Theatre (Brevard)
Movieline (828) 883-2200
Fine Arts Theatre (Asheville)
Movieline (828) 232-1536
www.fineartstheatre.com
Flat Rock Theatre (Flat Rock)
Movieline (828) 697-2463
www.flatrockcinema.com
Four Seasons (Hendersonville)
Movieline (828) 693-8989
Smoky Mountain Cinema (Waynesville)
Movieline (828) 452-9091
even more so of her boyfriend, Chili, an apparent clone of Augie.
Possessing no skill set for the 21st
century job market, she draws from what
little skills her former lifestyle afforded her
and decides to become an interior designer.
She wants to go to school for it online,
after she learns how to use a computer. Yep
– she’s in denial, she’s stalling and she’s
pickled in vodka and psychotropic pharmaceuticals most of the time. Jasmine is incredibly self absorbed, arrogant and unlikable.
Yet Blanchett pulls off the amazing feat of
making us care, actually making us empathize with this God awful woman.
The picture belongs entirely to Blanchett, but that’s not to say she’s in shabby company, everyone in the ensemble turns out
terrific performances. Sally Hawkins is marvelous, Baldwin is a smooth and smarmy,
and Carnavalle is big old lug with a heart of
gold. But perhaps the biggest revelation in
the cast is Andrew Dice Clay. It’s not a large
part, but his performance as Augie is pitch
perfect and is a far cry from The Adventures
of Ford Fairlane.
From behind the camera Allen delivers
a five star performance too. His talent for
dialogue and jazzy soundtracks are a given.
But what he achieves here is something on a
whole new level. Blue Jasmine is not a comedy or even a dramedy, but only Allen could
infuse such a story with marvelous comedic
moments and deliver the punch. Allen’s
touch and Blanchett’s performance turn an
otherwise unpalatable story into a strangely
compelling, gem of a film.
Chip Kaufmann’s Pick:
“Charley Varrick”
September DVD Picks
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material,
language and sexual content.
Review by Michelle Keenan
Charley Varrick (1973)
Since I have referenced director
Don Siegel in two of my reviews this
month (2 Guns, Paranoia), it seems only
fitting that my DVD pick be one of his
films. After some deliberation, I chose
his 1973 crime caper film Charley Varrick. Siegel is best known for the 1956
Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the
Clint Eastwood pictures Dirty Harry and
The Beguiled but he made a number of
other high quality movies and Charley
Varrick is one of his best.
The plot is very similar to 2 Guns
though not nearly as complex. Walter
Matthau stars as a stunt pilot down on
his luck. Needing money, he and three
others knock over a bank in a small New
Mexico town which results in the deaths
of two of the robbers. Instead of the
several thousand they were expecting,
they wind up with several HUNDRED
thousand. Charley then realizes that they
have inadvertently stolen Mafia money.
Before they can give it back, the
mob sends a brutal enforcer ironically
named Molly (Joe Don Baker) who proceeds to muscle in by killing one of the
gang members. In order to save himself,
Charley devises a plan involving his stunt
plane but will it work?
As the title character Matthau is his
usual, dependable self but he’s aided by
top flight performances from Baker, Andy
Robinson, and John Vernon. Don Siegel’s
usual taut direction doesn’t hurt either.
If you admire the movies of Quentin
Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez then
you’ll enjoy Charley Varrick. Its influence
can be seen in a number of their movies
24 September 2013 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 17, No. 1
(Resevoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Once Upon a
Time in Mexico) and, in an odd aside, Ray
Davies of The Kinks says in his autobiography that it’s his favorite movie.
To the Wonder (2013)
Writer / Director Terrence Malick is a
profound if not prolific filmmaker. While he
doesn’t make many movies, when he does
you generally hear about them. I was caught
off guard when I came across a title the
other day, To the Wonder written and directed by Terrence Malick. My first thought
was, “So soon after Tree of Life? That seems
odd [for Malick].” My second thought was,
“How did I not know about this?”
While I don’t always like Malick’s
films I am usually fascinated by them. His
eye for photography trumps his sometimes
esoteric pretentiousness. Inevitably they are
beautiful, poetic spectacles to behold. To
the Wonder is Malick’s sixth film and it’s
no different in this regard. It does however
seem to challenge some of Malick’s own
conventions in filmmaking. The result is a
heart wrenching essay on emotions and relationships. It doesn’t work perfectly, but for a
Elysium ∑∑∑1/2
Short Take: With Earth an over-crowded
wasteland and Elysium a sparkling
space station in the sky that knows no
sickness, a man suffering from radiation
poisoning endeavours to get to Elysium
to cure himself and maybe save the
planet.
REEL TAKE: Neil Blomkamp’s Elysium is
good film that could have been – and should
have been a great film. In the time that has
passed since seeing the film, the detracting
elements that kept it from greatness annoy
me even more. That said, it is good and the
concept is fairly fascinating.
Like great science fiction books, it
makes a statement on the issue facing the
world, but speculating on what the world
‘Movies’ continued on page 25
Michelle Keenan’s Pick:
“To the Wonder”
film geek, it is certainly worth watching.
Neil (Ben Affleck) is an American in
France who has an affair with divorced
single mother, Marina (Olga Kurylenko).
Their affair is beautiful, the kind that
moves your soul. After Marina and her
daughter move from France to Oklahoma to be with Neil, cracks begin to form
in their relationship. They love each
other, but they don’t communicate well.
Marina seems a bit manic and Neil a bit
closed down. Marina’s daughter is not
happy and that doesn’t help matters.
The footage of the relationship in
France, complete with a trek through
Mont Saint Michel, is gorgeous and
everything a romantic affair should be.
In stark contrast, once in America, more
specifically, Oklahoma, the footage is
desolate, cold and unsettling; vulnerability and insecurity set in.
As their relationship begins to
crumble we are introduced to a priest
(Javier Bardem). A committed and
dedicated shepherd to his flock, but a
desperately sad lonely, he is a man suffering a spiritual crisis. As distance between
Neil and Marina grows, Neil reconnects
with an old friend from childhood, Jane
(Rachel McAdams). While Jane seems
happier than the other three, all four are
lonely; something is missing in the lives
of all four.
Dialogue is minimal to say the least.
It’s a stark work in so many ways, but it’s
emotional impact is massive. Apparently
To the Wonder was minimally received
and distributed too, but I found it fascinating, as usual.
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Set in the 22nd century, Matt Damon saves
the second class citizen of Earth in Elysium.
may be like in the future because of its
current actions. In this case, suffering from
pollution and pillaging, Earth is a shadow of
its former self.
The haves [versus the have nots] have
built Elysium, a space station of sorts where
everything is perfect, the manicured people,
manicured lawns and opulent homes. Best
of all, there is no illness; disease, wounds
and any health issues can be fixed in these
special beds.
However, rather than share this
technology with the rest of Earth’s citizens
it is saved only for the 1%, er, I mean the
citizen’s of Elysium. Blomkamp claims the
film is not an allegory for the issues of today,
but there’s no denying he’s certainly touching upon some hot buttons – immigration,
economy, depletion of Earth’s resources, and
so on. However, much is subject of interpretation as he offers no back story, no explanation of what exactly happened. We also only
see the decimated and over-crowded L.A. of
2154 and Elysium.
The only back story we are given is a
brief glimpse to into our hero’s past. Max is
an orphan who dreams of doing something
important some day and of going to Elysium.
His best friend is a little girl named Frey;
Max loves Frey. Fast forward thirty-some
years – Max is a factory worker and Frey is a
doctor and single mother of a dying child.
When Max receives a fatal dose radiation at work (Earth apparently provides the
labor force for Elysium’s economy), his
only chance of survival is to get to Elysium,
which of course will be easier said than
done. With nothing left to lose, a band
of revolutionaries, upfit Damon with an
exoskeleton of a droid and an implanted
data chip that allows him to find out what’s
happening on Elysium. Their hope is that
not only will he be cured, he will be able to
secure the benefits of Elysium (i.e. healthcare) for the 2nd class citizens of Earth.
What’s happening on Elysium is an
intended coup by Elysium’s head of security (Jodie Foster). She enlists the service of
a unscrupulous agent/mercenary (Sharlto
Copley) and eventually both storylines collide. Ridiculously long fight sequences ensue
and at three quarters of the way through the
film, Copley’s character becomes the main
villain, not Foster’s. It’s not that this plot
shift can’t work, it’s just that its implementation seems slightly awry.
Damon delivers spot on as usual. Copley delivers a despicably good performance.
Foster’s performance seem to drown in
her Praetorian-esque accent. Blomkamp’s
District 9 was a tremendous movie. Like
Distrct 9, Elysium is smart and brutal, but
compassionate. Unlike District 9, Elysium
gets caught between Blomkamp’s style and
Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster.
Blonde (2001). In addition to captivating but
not overly confusing visuals, Luketic edits
the film in a manner that exhilarates rather
than exhausts. The screenplay by Jason
Dean Hall and Barry Levy is Espionage
Thriller 101 but it moves the story along and
keeps us engaged. The contemporary music
score by Junkie XL uses a number of recent
hits to engage a younger audience.
The performances were the most
enjoyable part of Paranoia for me. Hemsworth is a likeable and engaging protagonist
while Amber Heard manages to register
as the co-worker and later love interest
despite her limited screen time. However
Rated R for strong, bloody violence and language
the film belongs to Gary Oldman (in a role
throughout.
intended for Kevin Spacey) and especially
Review by Michelle Keenan
Harrison Ford who,
at 70, shows that he
Paranoia ∑∑∑1/2
still has a magnetic
Short Take: A paint-byscreen presence. He
numbers urban thriller
has also become an
about financial chicanery
actor of stature in his
and corporate espionage
later years. Check
that manages to be very
out his final screen
entertaining thanks a top
appearance here and
flight cast and solid noyou’ll see what I
nonsense direction.
mean.
Reel Take: I have had it
So don’t let
up to here (place either hand
an online review
Harrison Ford is the unscrupulous
as far above your head as you
decide whether or
head of a global software corporation
can) with important critics
not you see a movie.
in the unfairly maligned Paranoia.
who trip over themselves to
The best gauge
come up with snarky phrases
still remains word
for telling us what’s wrong with a movie
of mouth from people you know whose
without bothering to tell us what might be
judgment you trust. I went to see Paranoia
right with it. Paranoia is a case in point. The
because of the corporate espionage theme
day after it opened it received a 2% approval
and to see the performers. I was very pleased
rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 2%!?! Even the
with the results and so was the audience
biggest box office disaster of all time, last
with me. Unfortunately it opened poorly
year’s The Oogieloves rates better than that.
and may not be around for long.
At last check it was up to 5%.
Rated PG-13 for some sexuality, violence, and
Yes, Paranoia offers nothing new and
language.
yes, it’s predictable and disposable entertainReview by Chip Kaufmann
ment but, like The Tourist, there’s nothing
wrong with that when it’s well done. While
Lee Daniels’ The Butler ∑∑∑∑
watching this I was reminded of the efShort Take: A compelling and
ficiency of Don Siegel (Invasion of the Body
emotionally rewarding story of hate
Snatchers, Dirty Harry), one of my favorite
and humanity and the Civil Rights
second tier directors whose nuts and bolts
movement as told through the eyes of
approach came as a relief from the excesses
the black butler who served eight U.S.
of 1970s filmmaking. No doubt it’s my age
Presidents.
showing but that approach would be a welcome sight today in mainstream filmmaking
REEL TAKE: In 2008, The Washington
not just in art house or indie movies.
Post ran an article, “A Butler Well Served by
The story is basic. Young hotshot comThis Election.” The feature told the story
puter whiz (Liam Hemsworth) goes to work
of Eugene Allen, a butler who served eight
for software magnate (Gary Oldman) who
presidents at the white house. Danny Strong
enlists him to steal company secrets from his
(who received accolades earlier this year for
rival and one time mentor (Harrison Ford).
writing and producing Game Change, the
Naturally more is involved than first meets
HBO movie about Sarah Palin and the 2008
the eye. Complicating matters are a young
election) adapted the story for big screen,
Oldman employee (Amber Heard) that
fictionalizing the name of the main character
Hemsworth must use without her knowland playing loosely with Allen’s personal
edge to get at Ford.
story for cinematic and emotional impact.
Australian Robert Luketic directs the
Directing the emotionally manipulative but
film with a stylish flair more reminiscent
‘Movies’ continued on page 26
of 21(2008) than his breakout hit Legally
Hendersonville
Film Society
If you think they don’t make them like
they used to, you’ll enjoy these great classic films. Coffee and wonderful flicks are
served up on Sundays at 2 p.m. at Lake
Pointe Landing in Hendersonville. For
more information call (828) 697-7310.
HFS features a classic film with a young
Maggie Smith, a French Costume epic,
the 1933 Oscar winner for Best Picture,
an adaptation of a Philip Roth novel, and
the 1950’s biography of Harry Houdini.
September 1:
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
(1969) Maggie Smith won an Oscar for
her portrayal of an outspoken teacher in
a girl’s school in 1932 Edinburgh. Stars:
Maggie Smith, Robert Stephens, Pamela
Franklin and Gordon Jackson. Directed
by Ronald Neame.
September 8:
The Horseman on the Roof
(1995) Set in 1832, this French film
relates the story of a young Italian nobleman in France raising money for the Italian revolution against Austria. In French
with English subtitles. Stars Olivier
Martinez and Juliette Binoche. Directed
by: Jean-Paul Rappeneau.
September 15:
Calvacade
(1933) Noel Coward’s
epic play about the
lives of an upper class
British family and
their head servants
over a 30 year period
bears more than a
passing resemblance
to Upstairs, Downstairs. It won Oscars
for Best Picture and Best Director. Stars
Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook and Una
O’Connor. Directed by Frank Lloyd.
September 22 –
The Human Stain
(2003) A solid adaptation of the Philip
Roth novel about a college professor and
the shameful secret he has kept hidden for half a century. Stars Anthony
Hopkins, Nicole Kidman and Ed Harris.
Directed by Robert Benton.
September 29:
Houdini
(1953) Fanciful biography of the famed
magician was made to
showcase the talents of
then husband and wife
Tony Curtis and Janet
Leigh. Entertaining
hokum in the old Hollywood tradition.
Stars Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Torin
Thatcher. Directed by George Marshall.
Vol. 17, No. 1 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — September 2013 25
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Asheville Film Society
The Asheville Film Society will show
the following films on Tuesday nights at
8 in the Cinema Lounge at the Carolina
Cinema on Hendersonville Road. Tuesday
night screenings are free, but membership
dues for the society are only $10. Membership gets you into any special membersonly events and screenings.
September 3:
Be Kind Rewind
(2008) Two bumbling store clerks inadvertently erase the footage from all of
the tapes in their video rental store. In
order to keep the business running, they
re-shoot every film in the store with their
own camera, with a budget of zero dollars.
Stars Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover.
Directed by Michel Gondry.
September 10:
Gangs of New York
(2002) In 1863, Amsterdam Vallon returns
to the Five Points area of New York City
seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher,
his father’s killer. Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis.
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
September 17:
The Loved One
(1965) Satire on the funeral business, in
which a young British poet goes to work
at a Hollywood cemetery. Stars Robert Morse, Jonathan Winters, Anjanette
Comer. Directed by Tony Richardson.
September 24:
Darjeeling Limited
(2007) A year after
their father’s funeral,
three brothers travel
across India by train
in an attempt to bond
with each other. Stars Owen Wilson,
Adrian Brody and Jason Schwartzman.
Directed by Wes Anderson.
Big Screen Budget Film
$5 for members, $7 general. Show time is
7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 18:
Wings
(1927) Two young
men, one rich, one
middle class, who
are in love with the
same woman, become
fighter pilots in World
War I. Stars Clara
Bow, Charles ‘Buddy’
Rodgers, Richard
Arlen. Directed by
William. A. Wellman
Carolina Cinemas,
1640 Hendersonville Rd.
(828) 274-9500.
For more information go to www.
facebook.com/ashevillefilmsociety
What doesn’t play out quite so well is
the all-star and somewhat bizarre
casting of the occupants of 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, in particular
Robin Williams as Dwight D. Eisenhower and John Cusack as Tricky
Dick. However, Whitaker’s graceful
and utterly believable performance
pretty much trumps any missteps.
Oprah Winfrey is slightly distracting at first, only because she’s
‘Oprah,’ but as she settles into the
role, she shines. Cuba Gooding, Jr.
and Lenny Kravitz as fellow butlers
and witnesses to history are both excellent. British born David Oyelowo
Forest Whitaker gives a graceful and nuanced
turns in a very strong performance
performance in Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
as Cecil’s son, and I fully expect that
both he and Whitaker will be nomieffective proceedings is Lee Daniels.
nated come award season.
Before we go any further I should
Lee Daniels’ The Butler succeeds on
clarify that the film is titled Lee Daniels’
many levels. It’s far more mainstream and
The Butler for legal reasons, not egocentric
approachable than Daniels’ Oscar-nomigratification. Daniels takes us on a Forest
nated Precious and, in this case, I think its
Gump-like, encyclopedic look at the civil
universal appeal makes it the more powerful
rights movement through the journey of
film. Daniels is unsparing in his depiction
one man. For creative license, Allen has
of the inequality for African Americans in
been re-dubbed Cecil Gaines, and the film
the 20th century. To balance atrocities born
recounts his story from pivotal moment in
of hate with grace and the unifying bonds
his childhood in 1926 through the election
of humanity (and to make it entertaining to
of President Obama. The narrative voice is
boot), is quite an accomplishment.
Cecil (Forest Whitaker), now an elderly man
At a time when we’ve made great strides
looking back on his life.
but have such a long way to go in the fight
To the filmmaker’s credit, there’s a lot
for equality, Lee Daniels’ The Butler is a
of ground to cover, but the story never feels
must for everyone.
hurried or ill-paced. The film unfolds like
Rated PG-13 for some violence and disturbing
chapters in a good book without ever seemimages, language, sexual material, thematic
ing episodic.
elements and smoking.
Cecil is the son of a share cropper.
Review by Michelle Keenan
Though it’s technically 1926, one would
think Lincoln never issued the EmanciUnfinished Song ∑∑∑∑1/2
pation Proclamation. Trained as a house
Short Take: This story of a misanthropic
servant after the death of his father, Cecil
elderly man dealing with the death
learns to anticipate the white man’s every
of his wife by joining her unorthodox
need, but to act like he doesn’t exist. This
choir is elevated by the remarkable
training serves him well. As a young man he
performances of Terence Stamp and
comes up through the ranks in fine hotels
Vanessa Redgrave.
until he is ‘discovered’ at The Excelsior
Hotel in Washington D.C. and recruited as
Reel Take: Unfinished Song (Song for
a White House Butler. It’s 1957. Eisenhower
Marion in the U.K. and Europe) is another
is President. (The real life butler, Mr. Alexample of a film that covers no new ground
len, started under Truman, but the movie
but is taken to a higher level thanks to a
doesn’t suffer for the liberty.)
number of fine performances spearheaded
Cecil’s job at the White House serves
by Terence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave.
as the framework for the movie and it is
Writer-Director Paul Andrew Williams,
interesting, but it’s not where the film’s
whose previous efforts include two shorts,
strength lies. Strong and Daniels raise the
some TV shows, and a couple of horror
bar, making an otherwise straightforward
films, is aiming for a wider audience with
narrative truly dynamic by interweaving
this film and he has succeeded. The subject
Cecil’s experience throughout the Civil
material is tailor made for the over 40 set
Rights movement and that of his son Louis
who, until recently, have generally been
(David Oyelowo). When Louis goes off to
ignored by mainstream moviemakers.
college, he becomes deeply immersed in
Arthur Harris (Terence Stamp) is a
the movement, becoming a Freedom Rider
grumpy retiree with a critically ill but upbeat
and activist. The deeper his involvement,
wife (Vanessa Redgrave) who sings with a lothe more fractious the relationship becomes
cal elderly choir. This choir is led by a much
between father and son. The arc of this
younger teacher (Gemma Arterton) whose
plotline plays out brilliantly.
personal life is a shambles. Her choice of ma‘Movies’ continued from page 25
26 September 2013 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 17, No. 1
terial for the choir is decidedly unorthodox
as she has them singing pop standards with
a little rap music thrown in for good measure. Arthur wants nothing to do with them
or anyone else for that matter including his
hardworking son (Christopher Eccleston).
We know from the very beginning that
Marion is not long for this world but the 76
year old Vanessa Redgrave makes her tried
& true (some critics have suggested “trite
& true”) material seem fresh and powerful
thanks to her dynamic presence. The movie,
however, belongs to Terence Stamp who
at 75 has been transformed from a beautiful young man into a beautiful old man. He
takes his standard material and infuses it
with a depth and believability that makes the
actor disappear and the character come alive.
Choir director Gemma Arterton hugs retiree
Terence Stamp after his moving rendition of
a Billy Joel song in Unfinished Song.
Youngsters Gemma Arterton and
Christopher Eccleston hold their own with
the old pros which gives this movie an appeal to those under 40 as well. Arterton’s
choir director remains relentlessly upbeat
in spite of her personal problems and is the
key to getting the oldsters to try new things
and to believe in themselves. Her scene of
self revelation with Stamp is one of many
emotional highlights that give the film a
lasting resonance. Christopher Eccleston as
the neglected and rejected son also gets the
chance to shine in two key scenes leading up
to the heartwarming and uplifting finale.
While all of this is familiar territory and
shamelessly manipulative, director Williams
takes a simple, straight forward approach
that draws us in and allows writer Williams’
material to seem better than it is. The movie
builds to a predictable push button emotional finale but thanks to Stamp it transcends
its limitations and becomes something truly
special. His rendition of Billy Joel’s “Goodbye My Angel” will stay with you always.
If you enjoyed Quartet or Best Exotic
Marigold Hotel, then you’ll love Unfinished
Song. Don’t be ashamed if you have a strong
emotional response during this movie. That,
after all, is what Unfinished Song is all about.
Rated PG-13 for some sexual references and rude
gestures.
Review by Chip Kaufmann