'Never Let Me Go' ***1/2stars

every year a few good films gets lost in the end of the year bombardment of oscar hopefuls. last year there were a few ('city lights', 'agora') including 'never let me go'. you have to accept the premise that cloning is infact a way of life. when you accept this then you can realize that children are cloned to be donors for humankind. if you do accept these facts then you can enter the debate of whether or not these cloned ones have a 'soul'. it's an amazing film with an amazing premise that takes place not in te future but in the immediate past.

the leads are the young new brits who have a future in film. keira knightley, andrew garfield and carey mulligan shine as 'donors'. these three live up to their past roles and even surpass all prior performances. 

this is the sort of film that does what a film should do. it takes us somewhere else and lets our minds explore a world beyond what we know. it may not be for everyone but for true lovers of film it is a must see.

 the wonderful keira knightley

trailer

available on blu ray and dvd

'City Island' Rates ***1/2stars

'city island' opened this past april with little or no fanfare and where it did open it disappeared quickly. unfortunately this is the fate of many films especially those labeled as 'art house' films. but thank the cinematic gods that they get a second life on home video.

'city island is a 'slice of life' film that begins and ends in a matter of days. at it's core is secrets. secrets kept and secrets exposed. at the center of it all is the brilliant performance of andy garcia in his best role to date. he is the dad in a secretive family. their secrets are non-malicious. they are kept out of love or just because the other characters think they are no big deal or because the owner of the secret thinks they are, simply put, silly.

this film is charming and delightful. that julianna margulies has her best film role to date makes it worth seeing even more. but have no doubt that this is andy garcia's movie. and he deserves an oscar nomination for it. in fact with the best picture field still at the ridiculous ten nominations the movie itself deserves a nom.

rent this film. you will hopefully be as pleasantly surprised as i was. i love finding these small gems. in an otherwise slim film year so far this small gem is a diamond.

trailer

 

'A Single Man' on Blu Ray and DVD: ***1/2 stars

one of the best films of 2009 finally gets it's dvd/blu ray release. tom ford's first directorial effort seems effortless. he is and wins 2009's best first directorial effort. we can only hope for more. he certainly gave each supporting player his due including the wonderful matthew goode and nicholas hoult. he gave julianne moore the best role of her career so far but oscar snubbed her. penelope cruz, whom i adore, in 'nine' over julianne in this? ... i think not!

but the major kudos go to colin firth. damn what a brilliant performance. the BEST LEADING MALE performance of 2009. he lost the oscar to the oft nominated jeff bridges for all the wrong reasons. but oscar is known for this. john wayne in 'true shit' anyone? (are they really remaking that piece of crap?)

anyway back to mr. firth. he plays george who is preparing for the last day of his life. in often few words but with glances and gestures and his eyes, damn those eyes, he says more than any words could say. just watch him in the scene where by a phone call he is told of his lover's death. not a word. not a single word. colin's face says it all. sometimes words just don't matter. this is one of those times.

his performance is classic. it raises him above most of his piers. finally the brilliant mr. firth gets his role of a lifetime, and oscar be damned.