Catching Up On Films I've Missed

I try to see as many movies as I can in theaters, but I do not have enough time to see them all. I try to catch as many films as possible on DVD, but many films slip through the cracks. Fortunately, it is summer, and what better thing to do on warm summer evenings than watch movies in the confines of your own home. Here are some movies that I have finally got around to seeing in the past couple of weeks. Some are relatively recent; some are pretty old. I'm going to try to make this a recurring segment on this blog. With no further ado, here are my thoughts on films that I missed when they were in theaters:

"Last Chance Harvey": Unfortunately, this wonderful film got lost in the winter shuffle last year. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson have amazing chemistry in a movie that is genuinely moving and sublimely acted. I love "Last Chance Harvey".

"The Heartbreak Kid" (the 2007 remake): The same cannot be said of this horribly unfunny Farrelly Brothers' remake of a 1972 classic. This is simply a mean-spirited collection of ancient cliches. Ben Stiller gives a game effort, and the shots of San Francisco are gorgeous. But this is a disaster.

"Vanilla Sky": This 2001 movie got ripped by critics, and guess what, I loved it. Cameron Crowe crafted a haunting, trippy masterpiece, with outstanding performances from Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz. The plot is extremely convoluted, blurring fiction and reality, but the script by Crowe is thoroughly involving. One of the more underrated movies of the decade.

"Good Morning, Vietnam": I can't believe it has taken me this long to see Barry Levinson's 1987 classic, but it was more than worth the wait. Robin Williams gives one of the best performances of his career as an American radio D.J. whose irreverent broadcasts in the Vietnam War inspired the soldiers. Williams is at his improvisational best during the radio scenes, and strong supporting work comes from Forest Whitaker and Bruno Kirby. One of Levinson's best films, "Good Morning, Vietnam" examines the fascinating themes of escapism, non-conformity, and comedy, all set to the backdrop of the war.

"Nobel Son": One of the noisiest, most self-conscious movies I have ever seen. "Nobel Son" suffers from an identity crisis, shifting wildly between scenes of comedy and scenes of gory violence. Alan Rickman and Mary Steenburgen are both excellent, but it is hard to focus on the performances in a film that is this distractingly bad.

"Definitely, Maybe": What a refreshingly original and charming movie this is. Writer-director Adam Brooks makes a romantic comedy that is really, really good, and how rare is that! Every performance in this movie, from Ryan Reynolds to Isla Fisher to Elizabeth Banks to Abigail Breslin to Kevin Kline, is wonderful.

"I've Loved You So Long": Following "La Vie en Rose" and "Roman de Gare", "I've Loved You So Long" is yet another masterpiece from the world of French cinema. Kristin Scott Thomas is a revelation as a woman struggling to readjust to normalcy after spending fifteen years in prison. This film does not hit one false note. Even the surprise ending feels natural, free of manipulation. This is a truly great film.


So there you have it. I strongly recommend "I've Loved You So Long", "Good Morning, Vietnam", "Last Chance Harvey", "Vanilla Sky", and "Definitely, Maybe". But please, whatever you do, stay away from "The Heartbreak Kid" and "Nobel Son".