GREENLIGHT #101: Apocalypto (with "The Naked Prey" and "What Women Want")

Ann and Les certainly had a gut reaction to Apocalypto (2006.) In fact, they reacted to everybody's guts in this film. It's the story of how one man escaped the fate of the rest of his tribe of becoming a human sacrfice for the Mayans. It's really gory. Both think that Mel Gibson is strangely drawn to such bloody scenes but he does them very well. For that, Les was willing to give the movie a green light. Ann, on the hand, just couldn't stomach seeing the insides of so many stomachs even if done well so she gives it a yellow. Amazingly, most of the people weren't actors. Watch for the performances of the star Rudy Youngblood and his on-screen wife Dalia Hernandez which are riveting. For their GREENLIGHT Rentals, Les recommends another film about a man on the run in the jungle called The Naked Prey (1966.) It's about a tour-guide leader who gets a chance to save himself from being part of a massacre when the marauding tribe gives him a ten-minute start into the jungle because of an earlier kindness he showed to them. Cornel Wilde is both director and star. Ann recommends a film that features the Mel Gibson the way she prefers him - handsome and wiley. Director Nancy Myers has Mr. Gibson play a snake of a man who gets passed over for the job he wants by a female colleague played by Helen Hunt. Through the magic of movies, Gibson's character has an accident which leaves him able to read women's minds. First he uses it to trip up Hunt's character so he can get her job after all. But this is a romantic comedy so that's not how things end, of course, in What Women Want (2000.)
RUNNING TIME: 14:59

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GREENLIGHT #100: The Pursuit of Happyness ("Glengarry Glenross" and "Kramer v. Kramer")

Ann and Les very much enjoyed The Pursuit of Happyness (2006.) They don't think anyone can watch Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith play father and son and not be touched. Basically, Chris Gardner's (Smith) wife, played by Thandie Newton, leaves him and his son after he fails to sell any of his bone density measuring machines. Gardner goes on to try to tackle Wall Street while scraping by a life for him and his son. There's a lot more to the story but that's what will really get you. For their GREENLIGHT Rentals, Les recommends another film about desperate salesmen, Glengary Glen Ross (1992) but it's the opposite of heartwarming. The films stars Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris, andAlan Arkin, among many others and includes a chillingly good five minutes from Alec Baldwin. Ann recommends a film that also celebrates the joys (after much struggles) of father love. Director Robert Benton won many Oscars telling the tale of a painful custody battle between a mother, played by Meryl Streep, who leaves her husband and son to "find herself." Her hapless-at-first husband, played by Dustin Hoffman, learns to care for and really love his son played by Justin Henry. And though they don't mention it, this is the movie in which JoBeth Williams turns fried chicken into a late night treat. It's called Kramer vs. Kramer (1979.)
RUNNING TIME: 15:00

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GREENLIGHT #99: Blood Diamond (with "Glory" and "In America")

Ann and Les reacted differently to the extreme violence of Blood Diamond (2006.) For Ann, the violence was an integral part of this important story written by Charles Leavitt. For Les, it was just too much. Perhaps at another time of year he may have been more open to it but not during the festive holidays. Both agree, however, that this movie solidifies the acting talents of Leonardo DiCaprio. There wasn't much to like about him and that's why they were so impressed with his ability to engage rather than repel. And they also loved the dramatic moves of Djimon Hounsou whose range in the movie is astounding. They don't say much about Jennifer Connolly's performance but they do say she had great chemistry with Mr. DiCaprio's character even though they appreciate that director Edward Zwicke didn't try to fit a love story into this already packed movie. For their GREENLIGHT Rentals, Les recommends a film he prefers by Mr. Zwicke called Glory (1989.) The films stars Matthew Broderick as the lead and narrator Col. Shaw, a white man who is leading the first all-black volunteer regiment in the Union army during the Civil War. Denzel Washington plays an eager recruit who doesn't understand why he's not being welcomed with open arms. It also features a stellar performance by veteran Morgan Freeman. Ann eagerly recommends the first film in which she saw Mr. Hounsou. It's the adapted but true tale of writer & director Jim Sheridan who moved his family to America from Ireland to recover from the death of their infant child and to pursue his dream of being an actor. Sheridan is played by Paddy Considine and his wife is played by Samantha Morton. The two daughters are played by real-life sisters, Emma Bolger and Sarah Bolger. Hounsou played "the scary stranger neighbor who befriends the whole family in In America (2002.)
RUNNING TIME: 14:59

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GREENLIGHT #98: The Holiday (with "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "My Best Friend's Wedding")

Ann and Les were delighted by time with The Holiday (2006.) As Les says "it stars four of cutest holiday decorations you ever saw," and they would be: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. It's a romantic comedy about two lovelorn career girls who swap house for a change of scenery and what-do-you-know cupid strikes both of them. If you're looking for sweet charm, Ann and Les say you'll find it here. You'll also find a wonderfully lovely performance by venerated actor Eli Wallach which is like the star on top of the tree. For their GREENLIGHT Rentals, Les recommends The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) the film that introduced Mr. Law to the moviegoing world. It also starred Matt Damon as the title character who manipulates his way throught the film wreaking havoc on the lives of the Law character and his girlfriend played by the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow. Ann sticks with romantic comedies and recommends the movie that introduced her to Ms. Diaz when she was paired against a character played by Julia Robertseven though Ms. Diaz's character never knew there was a contest - and there really wasn't. Ms. Roberts thinks she suddenly must marry her longtime friend played by Dermot Mulroney who's just announced he's getting married to the Diaz character. Roberts even goes as far as to enlist another one of her very best friends, played by Rupert Everett, as a new flame meant to open the eyes of her old flame. No dice. Iinstead she finds herself the maid of honor inMy Best Friend's Wedding (1997.)
RUNNING TIME: 15:01

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GREENLIGHT #97: Bobby (with "A Few Good Men" and "Disclosure")

Ann and Les are both fans of the man but split on the movie Bobby (2006.) The movie, written and directed by Emilio Estevez, tells the story of life at The Ambassador Hotel on the last day of Robert F. Kennedy's life. Les liked seeing all the cast of thousands in their vignettes and how they reacted to RFK's death. He particularly liked watching Laurence Fishburne play a cook with a thoughtful mind. Ann felt cheated that this movie named after such a distinctive man was not really about him. But both of them loved seeing the actual clips from RFK's speeches. And both agree thatChristian Slater and Demi Moore were worth watching. For their GREENLIGHT Rentals, Les recommends his favorite film with Ms. Moore who plays an attorney in the navy in the Rob Reiner directed film called A Few Good Men (1992.) Her underling but lead attorney is played by Tom Cruise and their key witness, who challenges their ability to "handle the truth" is played, of course, by Jack Nicholson. And Ann reminded Les not to forget the quiet but grand performance of Kevin Bacon as the prosecutor. Ann also recommends a film featuring the talents of Ms. Moore playing a corporate mogul who wants her way every way with her underling Michael Douglas. Her boss, played by Donald Sutherland, is happy to oblige her until he is forced to handle the truth. This spellbinding work of corporate intrigue was directed by Barry Levinson and based on Michael Crighton's book of the same name called Disclosure (1994.)
RUNNING TIME: 14:55

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GREENLIGHT #96: The Nativity Story (with "Whale Rider" and "The Ten Commandments")

Ann and Les were not awed by The Nativity Story (2006.) It's a story we all know and the director Catherine Hardwicke was eager to tell it as plainly as possible. Well, it was too plain for Ann and Les. In fact, it was downright boring to them. Keisha Castle-Hughes as Mary just doesn't have any cinematic apeal. The most interesting charcter, Elizabeth, is played by Shoreh Agdashloo. But beware of the birthing scenes from both women. They'll have you begging for an epidural. For their GREENLIGHT Rentals, Les recommends the first film by Ms. Castle-Hughes who played a captivating girl determined to prove herself in Whale Rider (2002.) Her grandfather, played by Rawrie Paratene, has the most expressive of faces. Ann recommends a truly entertaining biblical story with a cast of thousands directed by Cecil B. Demille with Moses played flamboyantly by Charlton Heston and his early nemesis, Rameses, played grandly by Yul Brynner. Both are after the delights of Nefretiri played by the enchanting Anne Baxter. The film is The Ten Commandments (1956.)
RUNNING TIME: 14:57

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GREENLIGHT #95: Deja Vu (with "Crimson Tide" and "Total Recall")

Ann and Les can't say they're ready to see Deja Vu (2006) all over again because it was only OK the first time. Everyone agrees, even the characters in the movie, that this is a confusing story. Les thought it was so confusing that even though he enjoyed Denzel Washington's performance he just stopped caring about the whole thing halfway through. Ann was headed down that road but found herself hooked by the convoluted story about 30 minutes in. Turns out the government has come up with a time machine to help the police investigate crimes before they're committed even though they don't find out about them until after. See why it could be confusing? They also really enjoyed watching Paula Patton work but look forward to another film with her where she gets to be more than just a beautiful face. Director Tony Scott put a lot of thought into this movie, they just wish he gave the non-eggheads in the audience a better shot at keeping up. For their GREENLIGHT Rentals, Les recommends another film directed by Mr. Scott and starring Mr. Washington called Crimson Tide (1995.) Washington plays a young naval office pitted against a grizzled veteran played by the ever-intriguing Gene Hackman. It's a tour-de-force but beware if you're claustrophobic - the whole movie is filmed in a submarine. Ann recommends another movie that plays with time and with the muscles of Arnold Schwarzenegger who somehow manages to get beat-up my his lovely and petite wife played by a relatively unknown Sharon Stone inTotal Recall (1990.)
RUNNING TIME: 14:57

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GREENLIGHT #94: For Your Consideration (with "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Bad and the Beautiful")

Ann and Les offer slightly split reviews For Your Consideration (2006.) While both are big fans of (not to mention friends with) director, writer, and star Christopher Guest they don't think this is his best movie. Les thinks it's funny but too inside for the average moviegoer. Ann also thinks it's funny but the subject matter, Hollywood, is a bit tired. Everybody already knows things are "different' out there so there's no surprise element to the film. That said, they both laughed and are hoping for an Oscar nomination for Catherine O'Hara who plays the actress who thinks she deserves an Oscar nomination. For their GREENLIGHT Rentals, Les recommends his all-time favorite movie about movies. It makes him smile, (and probably you too,) just thinking about Singin' in the Rain (1952.) The movie features stop-whatever-you're-doing-even-if-you've-seen-it-50-times dance numbers with the greats: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, and Cyd Charisse, along with a fantastically funny performance from the under-appreciated Jean Hagen . Ann recommends another movie about movies made in the same year as "Singin' in the Rain" but it goes decidely in the other direction. It features a very-good performance from Kirk Douglas playing a very bad man who does nothing good for anyone even when it looks like something good and that includes being wonderfully mean to Lana Turner. This glorious movie about an ignoble world was directed by Vincente Minnelli called The Bad and the Beautiful (1952.)
RUNNING TIME: 14:59

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