Review of Vera Drake (2004) by Istina N — 18 Sep 2005

As promised, here are a few catch-up reviews plus "Million Dollar Baby.".

[b][u]Birth:[/u][/b] In a brilliant performance, Nicole Kidman portrays a widow, Anna, haunted by a 10 year-old boy (a very mature Cameron Bright) who claims to be her dead husband, Sean. As the boy slowly (and I mean slowly) breaks through Anna's emotional walls, the audience witnesses just how long and painful Anna's recovery of her loss has been. With the help of Anne Heche and Lauren Bacall in noteworthy roles, Kidman and Bright bring a believability to an intriguing conceptual film. Despite its originality, "Birth" seems to lag at times which in turn hinders the overall experience.

[b][u]Hero:[/u][/b] After experienceing the mesmerizing "House of Flying Daggers," I was excited to plop "Hero" into my DVD player. Quite a few people, having seen both films, suggested I would enjoy "Hero" more than "Daggers." Those people must not really know me! I found "Daggers" to be a much more beautiful and satisfying film. That is not to say, however, that "Hero" is without merit. With admiral performances and an interesting storyline, "Hero" achieves decency but never truly bests "House of Flying Daggers.".

[b][u]Vera Drake:[/u][/b] Now here is a film I can get behind! "Vera Drake" follows the story of a British woman in the 1930s with a heart of gold. She works several jobs as a servant to the wealthy, and in her spare time, she looks in on the sick, destitute and lonely. Vera's main goal in life seems to be making everyone's life a bit more pleasant if possible. Played impeccably by Imelda Staunton (in an Oscar-nominated turn), Vera Drake also performs illegal abortions to "help girls out" when they have no one else to turn to. Sadly, Vera gets caught when one of her girls becomes violently ill much to Vera's surprise and dismay. Heart-wrenching and poignant, "Vera Drake" is definitely worth a viewing.

[b][u]Million Dollar Baby:[/u][/b] Okay, okay. I decided to give Clint Eastwood another chance after the dismally disappointing "Mystic River," and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did 2004's Oscar-winning Best Picture [i]almost[/i] live up to its hype, but the movie restored my faith in the ability of the aging director and star. The story of boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) proved a touching one in which she became more than she ever dreamed she could under the harsh tutelage of Frankie Dunn. With masterful acting from Eastwood, Oscar-winners Swank and Morgan Freeman, "Million Dollar Baby" packed an undeniable emotional punch. (Sorry about the pun - I couldn't stop msyelf!) While Freeman deserved a Golden Statue for his supporting performance, Swank's Oscar should have gone to any of the other nominees, and the Best Picture Oscar would have fit better had the award gone to "Finding Neverland" or the deserving (but not nominated) "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.".

Still to come: "Troy," "Sex and the City," "Ocean's Twelve" and "Shaun of the Dead".