Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Movies For Smart People
Rachel Getting Married is the first Oscar worthy film of 2008. Jonathan Demme's effort as director is so fresh and unique that you will be left thinking about this film for a couple days after leaving the theater.
The film is shot in a psuedo-documentary format that leaves you feeling as if you are actually there as Kim (Anne Hathaway) leaves rehab. You will feel like you have a seat at the table of the rehearsal dinner as well as an aisle seat at the ceremony itself. I can't remember a more interactive film.
The film is Oscar worthy on a few fronts. Anne Hathaway's performance is virtually certain to garner her a nomination for best actress. Debra Winger, while far more subtle is no less impressive as Kim's emotionally disconnected mother.
Rich, sentimental, tragic, emotional and profoundly excellent.
Religulous is Bill Maher at his finest. What will surprise you most is how the really funny parts didn't even make it into the trailer.
Maher manages to poke holes in and lampoon all of the world's major religions by simply asking the questions that anyone honest about what they believe and not routinely asks.
Most impressive about this film is how it manages to be so funny without being offensive. Instead of snarky and rude, Maher is informed and well-read on the theology he exposes. Time after time, the true believers are tripped up by what they don't actually understand as it is explained by the agnostic asking the questions.
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