Winter's Tale (2014)

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a great movie. I decided to see Winter's Tale. This was an unexpectedly deep story, and I was not prepared for it. And the cast was one surprise after another. I believe the best reviews come from a completely open mind. I didn't research the film or sneak a peek at the cast list beforehand. I wanted to experience it as the rest of the audience does at my local movie theatre. I have to say, this is the first time I went to a movie at the local theatre, and the crowd was quiet. We were all hanging onto the plot, desperate to know if this love story has a happy ending. It does, and it doesn't depending on your perspective.

The film is based on the book by Mark Helprin. Knowing this now, could prove to be problematic. Some reviews have said the film doesn't do the book justice. I hope to read it soon, and then add more to this post. 

The film takes place in New York in the early 1900's. Peter Lake (Colin Farrell) is a thief working to escape his "boss" Pearly Soames (Russell Crowe). We learn quickly that Pearly knows something about Peter Lake's destiny that we don't. For some reason, he needs to stop it. Peter comes across a white horse that seems to want to help him escape, and is led to the house of Beverly Penn. Peter meets her while attempting to burglarize the house. Peter falls in the love with her, and eventually wins over her family as well. When his destiny begins to fall into place, Beverly dies. Peter lives the next 90 years, lost his memory, and time has not aged him. Peter's memory is beginning to come back when he runs into Virginia (Jennifer Connelly) and her daughter Abby. Virginia helps Peter find and remember his past. Broken hearted, remembering his loss, he tries understand why he is still alive after all this time. He will learn, there is more to his destiny. 

This is a story about love stronger than time and dimension. It's about the miracle true love is. It's a beautiful story, very original, romantic, with great depth. The script is well written and intelligent. When Peter and Beverly fall in love, you will fall in love as well. 

My favorite moment in the film, was when Beverly and Peter are having tea after she caught him burglarizing her family home. With a smile she asks him, "What is the best thing you've ever stolen?" He replies, "I'm beginning to think I haven't stolen it yet."

Colin Farrell is great with the younger cast. In Saving Mr. Banks he had great chemistry with his on-screen daughter in that film. He is really great to watch when paired with kids. 

There were a few surprises in the cast, aside from the surprises in the plot. Will Smith has a very interesting part, that I thought he played very well! The whole theatre erupted when he was suddenly introduced. He was perfect for the part, and I'm sure he challenged himself with this one. William Hurt plays Beverly's Father. Graham Greene plays a confidant to Peter, Matt Bomer of White Collar fame plays Peter's Father. And the great Eva Marie Saint, known best for On The Waterfront (1954) and North By Northwest (1959), plays Beverly's little sister, grown up. 

Russell Crowe is the villain in this film, and plays it well. I can't tell you too much about his character because there is some magic to the world in the film. The only problem I had with his role, was the accent. He was playing Irish, but in many moments the accent was almost mumbled and I couldn't understand what he was saying. Then there was a fight in the snow towards the end of the film, and the dust was kicking up in the scene from the fake snow. In the slow-motion sequence is became painfully obvious it was fake snow. Finally, I wish the ending was more romantic. The story ends  unexpectedly, and with no romance. I felt the story deflated when the plot changed. The first 3/4 is what makes the film wonderful. 

The makeup and special effects were dynamite! The effects particularly enhanced the cinematography of the film. The landscapes were beautiful, the snow around the early 20th century architecture was majestic and mysterious. The performances were perfect, and at moments heartbreakingly honest. It becomes apparent that the director wants you to feel the depth of emotion and passion the characters feel. Bring tissues.

Overall, a brilliant film. The story is about believing in miracles and having hope. It is a timeless love story. A great contrast to the film Valentine's Day (2010).

Diana (2013)

Growing up, I always watched the royal family on tv. I grew up right along with William and Harry. But no one captured my attention more than Princess Diana. I always considered her to be the most beautiful person, inside and out. Her humanitarian efforts is what I remember most. I once saw a newspaper comic with her standing next to Mother Teresa, holding hands in heaven. Princess Diana always had a big heart, which the royal family and the paparazzi filled with heartbreak. Her desperation for privacy led to her death in Paris, August 31, 1997. I remember my mother was devastated with the news. The whole world cried for Diana that night. The film Diana, was an intimate look inside her personal life post royal family. This is the story of the press wanting too much from her, ruining the one relationship that meant the most, and leading to her death.

In the opening of the film, we are already hit with Diana's apparent loneliness and her attempt at coping with her failed marriage to the royal family, and the media coverage of her heartbreak. We also see that the circumstances didn't deter her from being the caring, loving, and thoughtful Diana we would expect. Living in comfortable surroundings in Kensington Palace, she was always kind and respectful towards her staff, never requiring too much from them. A frantic call from a friend led to Diana arriving alone at a hospital without any security. Here is where she met Hasnat Khan, in 1995.

After living like a Princess for so long, Hasnat was able to remind her what "normal" felt like. Having dinner one night in her Palace, he was seemingly uncomfortable. Diana sent out for Burger King to give him the much less formal dinner he prefers. After this we learn of their two different worlds. I'm surprised there wasn't more controversy surrounding his Islamic background and her interest in it.

The film had quirky, fun, normal relationship moments, yet others I found to be very awkward. I think the awkwardness is intentional, that way the audience could feel what Diana must have been in an effort to have the normal life she desired. She would even wear wigs and disguises in order to go out on dates with Hasnat. It was in the early development of their romantic relationship that she did the famous interview with Martin Bashir from Panorama BBC. The personal backlash wasn't what she expected. She knew the public would be buzzing with all of the new juicy information, but she didn't expect it to have any effect on Hasnat. He very much wanted to maintain his private life. She would take great care to give Hasnat what he wanted, so they could be together, which proved not to be enough.

This film, based on Kate Snell's book Diana: Her Last Love, shows us Diana's last bit of happiness before the end of her life. The problem I had with the film was that we didn't see her be a Mom. There is one moment with her kids, very briefly towards the end of the film, that was all. I really think they should've expanded the scene. I know the purpose of the film wasn't her role in motherhood, but the film drops the image and creates a different identity for her. Instead we see her vulnerability in place of strength. Perhaps this is necessary. We are not used to thinking of Princess Diana as a sensitive or vulnerable person. Publicly, she always exuded strength, kindness, and love.

After going through great lengths to keep the man she loved, the media made a spectacle of their relationship that Hasnat, nor his family, wanted to compete with. Not long after their relationship ended, Diana met Dodi Fayed. She never stopped loving Hasnat, however she made a point to let the media see her enjoying herself. Only a month later, in 1997, Diana and Dodi in an effort to escape the swarming paparazzi outside a Parisian hotel, they would die in a collision in a tunnel.

The film focuses on the media constantly violating her privacy. Dining in restaurants on vacation and hearing a camera shutter at a neighboring table would prove an unsettling sound that would make anyone feel violated. Truly a heartbreaking story about the most loved public figure in the world.

The cast in the film was impressive. Naveen Andrews played Hasnat Khan. I appreciate his charisma on screen. Naomi Watts played our beloved Princess. She was good, and brought the raw emotion and substance needed to give the character depth. She brought out the human side of Diana we are not used to seeing. However, I felt she played it too vulnerable. During the reenacted Bashir interview, Naomi played her deep breaths with sadness that seemed awkward. After comparing the film to Princess Diana's actual interview, I noticed she had sad eyes, but had stronger, more comfortable body language conversing with Bashir.

Overall a beautiful story, with humor and dignity. Bring tissues folks!

Behind The Candelabra HBO (2013)

We all remember the great showman as a very talented pianist and entertainer. When I was growing up, I'd see rerun specials about his show, the sparkly wardrobe, and showing off his million dollar smile. My generation also learned about AIDS, and how some of our leading men of old had fallen to the virus. Liberace didn't want to be famous, or remembered for his lifestyle and choices, but for his talent. I'm not sure that legacy has been altered too much, but our perspectives may change in the way we appreciate him now. 

Behind The Candelabra: My Life with Liberace was an expose written by Liberace's former boyfriend, Scott Thorson. The book inspired the film, starring Micheal Douglas as Liberace, Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, Debbie Reynolds as Liberace's mother, Rob Lowe, Paul Riser, Dan Akroyd, and Scott Bakula. The film is the story of how Scott met Liberace in 1977, and how the showman became fond of him in return. They began a mostly physical relationship that later turned into a marriage-like arrangement in the 80's. There is no doubt these two loved each other, regardless of lifestyle, drugs, fame and fortune. Since marriage wasn't an option, due to the risk surrounding Liberace's career and reputation, Liberace wanted to adopt Scott. He even had his plastic surgeon redesign Scott's face to have a similar liking to that of Liberace. In this way, they would become "family." 

Personally, this film was extremely difficult to watch. I did not know Liberace well, nor knew much about his life and career. The film exposes many personal details within their relationship, Scott's drug addiction, and Liberace's obsession with himself. We also learn about Liberace's hair piece, plastic surgery to look younger, and how candid he was with his live-in boyfriend around the staff in his home. Michael Douglas and Matt Damon make for a convincing couple. The perfect portrayal of imperfect men. 

Steven Soderbergh was the perfect director for a film like this. However, it felt that he wanted us to feel close to the characters. At moments too close during love making scenes, or tender moments lying in bed talking. Some moments for me were too invasive. I don't necessarily want the voyeuristic perspective into the personal details of their affair. Some scenes I also felt the cinematography was out of sync with the rest of the film. It created an inconsistent perspective during stressful events. 

Michael Douglas didn't change anything about himself for the role. Many scenes with him shirtless, or even near naked, and he let it all hang out. The obvious older physique next to Matt Damon's youthful muscles. Rob Lowe playing the surgeon, was almost unrecognizable with his very stretched face. The makeup for him, and technique to maintain the same expression throughout the film were amazing! Dan Akroyd made an impression as well, with a great set of glasses and a fluffy hair piece, acting as Seymour, Liberace's manager. Debbie Reynolds was graceful and memorable. Paul Reiser played Scott Thorson's attorney during the couples "separation."

The makeup team had their work cut out for them. After the surgery on Scott's face to make him look like Liberace, Matt Damon had to wear latex pieces for his nose to be longer with a tip, a cleft chin, and higher cheekbones. Michael Douglas had a realistic bald cap for Liberace's hair loss under the wig. Debbie Reynolds looked great in her prosthetic pieces, but her eyes gave her away. I don't know what they did to Rob Lowe, but it looked amazing!

The actors were perfect in their performance, going all in. Matt Damon really surprised me. I've never seen him play a character filled with so much aggression and rage. When Scott was tested to his limits, he made sure to let Liberace know how he felt. I suppose when you are playing passionate characters, you can't hold back any emotion. You just go for it!

Liberace made many promises to Scott, and almost always broke them. Before he died, he made Scott promise to keep a few secrets as well. I guess we could assume Scott gave his promises as much validity as Liberace did. 

Behind the Candelabra is worth watching at least once. You'll witness the masters portraying the most raw and honest material we've seen in years.

Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014)

I know Philip Seymour Hoffman from The Big Lebowski, Twister, Patch Adams, Capote, Doubt, Charlie Wilson's War, and The Hunger Games. In every role he plays he always delivered beyond expectation. His capacity to perform and understand life's complexities is what all actors hope to achieve. 

It's amazing when we listen to the circumstances surrounding his death, we dismiss the tragic end and are quick to celebrate his life. We don't think poorly of him for his choices, we instead mourn what would have been. 

He is a beloved actor, who demonstrated a higher standard of quality film and performance we hope to see again in the entertainment community. 

Rest in peace old boy.

Read the Twitter posts, via PEOPLE Magazine, from friends and fellow actors here.