Review of Paper Moon (1973) by Diana S — 28 Mar 2008

[b]Shame[/b] was downright action packed compared to the last couple of Bergman ("Saraband") films I've watched. Max Von Sydow ("Rush Hour 3") and Liv Ullmann ("Saraband") are a very unhappily married couple whose house seems to be in the middle of a war zone. Neither half of the couple are very cool. They both do some pretty despicable things. This wasn't my favorite of his films.

[b]I am Legend [/b]pretty much rocked. Set in the future where a virus has wiped out much of the human race, leaving behind scary vampire/zombie like creatures, Will Smith ("The Pursuit of Happyness") has been living alone for three years in NYC. The first part of the film really takes its time establishing Smith's lifestyle and complete loneliness. Then it gets tense. My only real complaint is that the monsters were way too fake. When are people going to learn that CG will never be as cool as makeup?

Michel Gondry ("Be Kind Rewind")'s [b]The Science of Sleep[/b] is both glorious and frustrating. Gael Garcia Bernal ("El Pasado")stars as a daydreaming artist who has trouble separating dream from reality. He falls for his neighbor and then it's a while will they/won't they thing. I loved the imagery, especially when Bernal is running the office in his dreams. But, after awhile, I just wanted to shake everyone in the story and tell them to get a grip.

[b]Paper Moon[/b] was really, really good. Ten-year-old Tatum O'Neal ("My Brother") deserved her Oscar for playing an orphaned child who gives a con man what for. They hit the road together, he's supposed to be delivering her to some relatives, but then it turns out that she has quite a gift for the con. And is often smarter than her mentor. Hilarious and moving. One of my new favorites.

What to say about [b]Southland Tales[/b]? I enjoyed the spectacle. Writer/director Richard Kelly's follow up to Donnie Darko is a bit like a Spanish soap opera. I have no idea what's happening, but I find it fascinating to watch. The plot is way too complex, but still interesting. The acting is strange, especially all the SNL people and Sarah Michelle Gellar ("Suburban Girl"), but not necessarily bad. I think it's just too much. It's sci-fi, but Kelly's obviously trying to make a political statement, in a very heavy-handed way. I guess I think if he was going to go this far, he should have just gotten even crazier.