No Strings Attached
A frivolous rom-com of two friends agreeing to have a simple, sexual relationship, flounders when passionate emotions get in the way. In “No Strings Attached,” Emma Kurtzman (Natalie Portman) and Adam Franklin (Ashton Kutcher) meet after fifteen years’ separation when he’s a wannabe writer on a television show and she’s a commitment phobe medical resident. The predictable, contrived plot becomes more complicated when Adam falls for and desires more than casual sex. But Emma is not looking to settle down in this farcical romp.
Director Ivan Reitman incorporates some unfunny off-color dialogue and sights, allowing Natalie Portman to display her comedic chops. Ashton Kutcher fits into the role he’s accustomed to like a comfortable pair of hush puppies, doing his familiar shtick. And, Kevin Kline has a thankless part as Adam’s bombastic, lecherous dad currently involved with his son’s ex-girlfriend.
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True Grit
Most remakes don’t live up to the original, and the actors remain in the shadows of their predecessors. But the remaking of l969’s “True Grit” which starred the legendary John Wayne is a rare exception. Jeff Bridges has true grit stepping into the Duke’s boots and tackling the Rooster Cogburn role embodied by Wayne; for he makes it his own interpretation and successfully pulls it off. Set in the 1800’s Old West, the character driven storyline follows fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross (well-played by Hailee Steinfeld in the Kim Darby role), a plucky teenager on a grim mission: to catch the villain of the piece, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), who gunned down her father. Seeking out and enlisting the reluctant eye-patched, guzzling and blustery marshal, she convincingly talks her way into making him take her along. They’re joined by a resentful Texas Ranger, Le Beouf (Matt Damon in the Glen Campbell part). The anticipated showdown between the good and bad guys is well worth the wait.
Directors-screenwriters, Joel & Ethan Coen deliver the goods in this perfectly cast western tale. Striking cinematography complements the impressive performances. Jeff Bridges makes his mark in another diverse characterization, and young Hailee Steinfeld stands out as a feisty avenging daughter. Matt Damon adds gusto to the role originated by Campbell. Although on screen a short time, Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper make the most of their villainous roles.
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The Green Hornet
“The Green Hornet” is an inventive, pop action comedy about the popular TV/radio crime fighter. From childhood, Britt Reid was considered a loser by his newspaper publisher-magnate father James (Tom Wilkinson). With his sudden death, the adult Britt (Seth Rogen), a carefree, frivolous, man-about-town, inherits the empire and decides to take action as his alter ego, the Hornet. His nemesis is smarmy criminal Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz), a self-proclaimed underworld mastermind. To throw suspicion off himself, Britt portrays the Hornet as a bad guy, and partners up with the family’s Asian manservant, an inventor named Kato (Jay Chou, a Bruce Lee-Jackie Chan combo), the real heroic, butt kicking, martial arts master, as opposed to Rogen’s luckless, doofus character. The campy, popcorn flick’s storyline has Kato streamlining the family car into the Black Beauty, amongst other creative inventions, and he chauffeurs Britt around on their crime busting antics.
Co-written by Rogen, “The Green Hornet” is directed with gusto by French filmmaker Michel Gondry who has fashioned a hip actionfest in both 2D and 3D. Unfortunately, Edward James Olmos is mis-cast as the true editor of the Daily Sentinel and Cameron Diaz is colorless as Britt’s savvy secretary Lenore Case.
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Rabbit Hole
The unusually-titled “Rabbit Hole” is a domestic drama of grieving parents who have lost a child and the strain it has placed on their marriage. The screen adaptation of David Lindsay-Albaire’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play is unlike any similarly themed film in recent years. Quite surprisingly, the heartrending subject matter is movingly played with as much uplifting as deeply sad moments. Married couple Howie and Becca Corbett (devastatingly played by Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman) has drifted apart; eight months earlier their four-year-old son was killed in a car tragedy, and they are still mourning their loss. Grief counseling is inconsequential, especially when Howie attaches himself to a therapy group member played by Sandra Oh, a single woman abandoned by her spouse. And Becca secretly stays in touch with the teenager (Miles Teller) responsible for her child’s death. Dianne Wiest plays the well-intentioned but judgmental mother. A pregnant sister (Tammy Blanchard) also causes mixed emotions in this powerful and poignant look into the lives of a couple in the throes of anguish.
Without overly tugging at the heartstrings or milking the tear ducts, John Cameron Mitchell directs with tender loving care and Kidman and Eckhart deliver stunning performances, especially Kidman with her best role in years; an award worthy portrayal. “Rabbit Hole” is an affecting, thought-provoking narrative for the entire family.
