Movies Galore!

The Black Dahlia: I don’t know why this movie hasn’t gotten more attention! It’s fantastic! And as you all know, I’m a sucker for anything with Scarlett Johansen in it. Her taste so far has been impeccable, with the maybe exception of ‘Lost in Translation’ which—although I know was adored by many—never really floated my boat. Anyhow, with Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank (whose film choices are also to be admired) how can you go wrong?! This story is intricate and delicious in its quest to solve ‘the most notorious murder case’ in Californian history; Go out and rent it today. Just remember: don’t take this movie too seriously. It is all conjecture and intrigue, but fashioned after 40s crime dramas which aren’t necessarily meant to be realistic or believable. Don’t over think or ask too many questions; just enjoy.

Kinky Boots: If you liked The Full Monty or Saving Grace, you are going to love Kinky Boots! Although terribly predictable, this is the perfect movie to watch when you are wickedly hung-over on a Sunday evening and you don’t have the mental capacity for a plot which is too maudlin or complicated. This movie is cute, endearing, funny and easy to watch. It is about a long line of family shoemakers who have spent lifetimes being the purveyors of sensible, durable, British shoes. When the father dies, Charlie Price is forced to move to the town he hates and take up his family’s business, only to discover that the company is not making any money and will soon go into receivership! What’s a guy to do? Well, how about making some hooker boots for the transvestite niche market?! There is love! There is betrayal! There is humour! But in the end, loyalty reigns and well…you get the picture. The film is worth it alone to watch the fantastic performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays Lola, a drag queen who I spent half the movie thinking was Ru Paul. Oh the outfits! Oh the shoes! Oh the high-jinx…

Babel: This movie is exquisite in its tragedy. Excellent. Terrifying. Engrossing. But sad. It’s about miscommunication and loneliness of the highest degree. And the importance of listening. It is a feast for the senses, with a set spanning the globe –Morocco, Mexico, Japan…it creates excellent insight into the beauty and tragedy of different cultures and the alienation which it sometimes causes. Also interesting and clever is the film’s title from the Bible, where men trying to build a tower to be closer to God spoke different languages and could not understand each other. This film deserves its nomination for best movie.

Notes on a Scandal: Superb! Performances both by Dame Judi and Cate Blanchett are a delight to watch, and Dench’s character is one of the most richly written and well-developed characters that I have seen on screen in ages! She is a perfectly wicked villain! A story you can really sink your teeth into. Less about the relationship between student and teacher, this explores the friendship of these two highly talented women. And the movie is surpisingly funny in parts as well, and at a refreshing hour and 25 minutes, it is well worth the price of admission!

So got out, or stay in. Either way, you can't go wrong with such a rich and varied choice of movies out these days! It's a cornucopia!