because you can't have too much entertainment... September 2003

Brief commentary on:
Casa De Los Babys, Freaky Friday, and Lost in Translation
because I suck and never write reviews anymore.

Casa De Los Babys
This lyrical and brief study of well to do American women waiting out the adoption process in South America is a difficult lullaby. It's beautifully simplistic and clear but troubling all the same. As the fish-out-of-water would be mothers, the actresses gathered each have but a short time to cast their individual spells. The results range from very fine (Daryl Hannah is splendid and subtle) to unfortunately forced (the usually able Marcia Gay Harden is saddled with the most difficult caricature---er, I mean character.) But the famous ensemble notwithstanding, this adoption drama is Sayles show. He continues to be an inimitable chronicler of the socioeconomics of places and people. Casa De Los Babys is a step above the recent intriguing yet awkwardly sprawling Sunshine State because, despite the large cast, the net cast is much narrower, allowing the themes to arrive with clarity and memorably emotional imagery. One particular scene, a long monologue duet of sorts between the film's two most sympathetic characters is a marvel. With scenes like that, Casa De Los Babys overcomes Sayles occasional overplayed hand and proves itself to be a sad and delicately wrought gem. B

Freaky Friday
I had such a good time watching Freaky Friday that I forgot...
a) it was a remake.
b) I don't generally like happy mainstream family comedies.
c) I still hold a grudge against Lindsey Lohan for daring to play Hayley Mills's role in the blasphemous* remake of Parent Trap

If I can forget all those things and laugh and smile and be really glad that I came to the theater than this must be miles above other films of this sort. Praise goes out to the zip and wit of the production. The direction, screenplay, and editing all keep it humming along. Lindsey Lohan also deserves props for pulling off a difficult dual role. And, above all else, raise your glasses to the superb Jamie Lee Curtis. Approximately once a decade Hollywood decides to let her play an interesting game and she always returns the favor by making the film way more fun than it could possibly have been without her. (See also: True Lies, A Fish Called Wanda). B

*(Hey, it's a sacred cow of my childhood -what can I say?)

Lost in Translation
So many critics have already paid their respects to Sofia Coppola's well realized sophomore effort that I don't particularly feel the need to add anything. Yes, it's true that Bill Murray is superb and Scarlet Johansson continues to be a young actress to watch. It's also true that the production values are gorgeous -particularly the cinematography by Lance Acord (he also lensed Sofia's husband's films Being John Malkovich and Adaptation) that I swear had me looking at my own disorienting metropolis differently when I exited the theater. I figure that's high praise since the DP works as our eyes in a picture. But after adding me to the list of fans, I also need to step back as I do have a few minor complaints.

Perhaps this is my own tiny way of lowering your expectations which will do a small service to the movie. After all, the great and filling heapings of critical hosannas may actually do damage to the movie since it is a deceptively "small" story. Moviegoers believing all the hype and expecting some sort of epic or huge experience will no doubt be like "huh?" at its quiet and soulful charms. So, let me just come right out and say that the movie is not perfect.

Despite the film's overall sophistication it still appears to wear a bit of immaturity on its pretty sleeves. Some of the humor (particularly of the linguistic variety) struck me as cheap and tasteless considering the overall wit and invention found in the rest of the movie. Even more bothersome is the faint whiff of "superiority" toward all of the film's peripheral characters. I realize this may have been a directorial choice as it's something of a love story. Love does have a way of lifting one particular person (or groups of people) high above the unwashed masses, so perhaps I'll cave on this complaint. But nevertheless, it felt a little meaner than I wish it had been.

Still, minor caveats and all, Lost in Translation is easily one of the strongest films of the year. B+

-Nathaniel

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