DVD Review: "The Aura" (el aura)

I just finished watching my first Argentinean movie ever, "The Aura (el aura)." I watched it on DVD listened to the Spanish dialog and read English subtitles when necessary. Surprising to me since my Spanish is minimal at best, I was able to follow most of the dialog without using the subtitles. Instead of the quick-paced Spanish I normally find when I watch Spanish stations on TV, the dialog was slow and deliberate. I found I needed the subtitles only when the characters were using profanity. I guess this is an area I need to work on.

"The Aura" is the story of a man, Esteban Espinosa who has developed a mental plan that would all but guarantee a successful robbery of the local bank. The plan remains a mental exercise, but the main character, Espinosa (played by Ricardo Darin) finds himself in the middle of a real-life plot to rob an armored car.

During the execution Espinosa discovers an unaccounted for variable in the routine of the armored car company that leads to tragic results. Although he has time to warn his accomplices he suffers an epileptic seizure that prevents him from doing so.

The cinematography of "The Aura" is interesting. It is perhaps the best feature of the movie. The plot feels contrived and the acting lacks energy. Despite this, I encourage people to watch this film. The move takes some getting into. Only during the last thirty minutes or so when loose ends are tied does the movie become satisfying. I had never heard of Fabián Bielinsky, the directory before watching this movie, but soon after watching the DVD I added his first film "Nine Queens" to my queue at Blockbuster.

I give this movie a good solid B, leaning toward a B+, or an 88%.




Pop some popcorn and let's watch a double feature-tfedge

DVD: The Messenger

"The Messenger" is the 1999 movie version of the story of Jean d'Arc starring Milla Jovovich as Jean (Joan). Milla Jovovich portrays the main character well and comes across as someone who is either divinely inspired, crazy, or perhaps a bit of both. Rather than the noble, saint as has been portrayed before, it was nice to see her fully human.

Jon Malkovich played Charles VII and does a credible job of playing an immature youth far beneath his own age and sophistication. Faye Dunaway as the very beautiful, bright, and calculating Yolande D'Aragon. It's hard to believe she has been a star for forty years and is approaching sixty-seven. Dustin Hoffman played the Conscience of the adult (or at least as close to adult as she was allowed to advance to) Jean. I found the intensity with which he played the role a little overstated and found myself wondering if perhaps some scenes that would have made it more convincing hadn't been left on the editing room floor.

Young Jean was played by Jane Valentine with considerable intensity and believability. So much that I found myself wishing for a less abrupt transition from the young Jean to the nineteen-year-old eager to lead an army for France.

I enjoyed the movie. It featured a much more disturbed Jean than is often portrayed. Although she was devoted to her God at times she came to have doubts how much of her visions were from her and how much were heaven sent. I recommend watching this movie on the DVD, but I'd like to see it as a double feature with the 1948 version starring Ingrid Bergman.

Pop some popcorn and let's watch a double feature-tfedge

DVD: Flags of Our fathers

I was really disappointed in Clint Eastwood's movie "Flags of Our Fathers." I think I was more disappointed because of all the hype when the movie came out, but I didn't see much here.

I was familiar with the story of the restaging of the planting of the flag on Iwo Jima. I was familiar with Ira Hays thanks to the Johnny Cash song. Frankly, when I got don watching the moving, I found myself asking myself, "so what?" I didn't feel like any of the characters were developed well enough to interest me.

The most interesting thing was the need to sell ward bonds to pay for the ongoing World War II effort. This was particularly poignant given the recent funding struggles of the war in Iraq. Apparently FDR and Truman (both Democrats) weren't as comfortable with deficit spending as the current Republican regime.

I enjoyed Adam Beach as Ira Hays who seems to be the current choice to play young Native American men. I liked him in the Tony Hillerman shows on PBS where he played Jim Chee. I also liked him in "Windtalkers" where he appeared with Nicholas Cage. I was surprised to see that he has appeared in about fifty movies and televisions shows. Anyway, he did a good job as Ira Hays.

Overall I don't rate the movie as being particularly good. It certainly wasn't worth all the hype. Maybe a C+ or 79%.

"Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one." -Baltasar Gracian

Pop some popcorn and let's watch a double feature.

-tfedge