Movie #402 - Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

2004 - Rated PG - 1 hr 48 min
Director: Brad Silberling
Starring: Jim Carrey, Jude Law, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara, Billy Connolly, Meryl Streep, Luis Guzman, Jamie Harris, Craig Ferguson, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Adams

Hey, little Emily Browning... before you were that girl from Sucker Punch! As the eldest Beaudelaire child, she's quick-witted and self-assured here.  Also caring to her kinda-weird younger siblings.  The family unit formed here is believable, which makes the movie really work.

With a cast of big-named stars parading by, it would otherwise be very hard to focus on the point of this movie.  Carrey's Olaf is big, bold, and pretty eccentric. Over the top, as is his usual. Billy Connolly gives a nice, heartwarming Uncle Monty and Meryl Streep's worry-wort Aunt is a joy to watch as well.  But the focus stays nicely on the kids, who pass through this Series of Unfortunate Events with gusto. Poor things.

I did like this one -- although I haven't read the books -- and I had hoped the franchise would carry on, turning more of the books into movies.  It doesn't seem like that's going to happen (seven years later), so if I want all those questions answered -- what is the deal with the spyglass? -- I guess I'll have to read the books.  Maybe they'll make good bedtime stories for my kids some day.

Movie #298 - The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
2009 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 3 min
Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Heath Ledger, Andrew Garfield, Verne Troyer, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell

Admittedly, this movie's plot is kinda complicated and the style is fairly artsy and pretty fantastical.  But it's Terry Gilliam. And Christopher Plummer. And Heath Ledger's last movie.  And although the plot seems complicated, the theme is the simplest there is: good versus evil. 

The movie centers on a traveling stage act where immortal Christoper Plummer allows spectators to enter his Imaginarium.  Inside, they must face a temptation found in their own imagination and choose between the good and the evil choice.  A wager between Dr. Parnassus (Plummer) and Nick (aka the Devil) becomes the central plot, as Parnassus' daughter and friends face their own battles. 

If you hadn't heard about this one yet, Heath Ledger died before filming was complete.  Depp, Law, and Farrell stepped in to help finish the movie, free of charge, as friends of the late actor.  How does that work? Pretty ingeniusly, actually.  Ledger completed all the "real world" shots but not the scenes inside the imaginarium.  The three fill-in actors take turns playing his character inside the fantasy world, where your appearance can be changed by your imagination.  This minor obstacle is worked seamlessly into the fill and not overexplained or hidden.  Each fill-in actor is meant to look as close to Ledger as possible, but it's not a big deal that they're not exact.  Surprisingly, it's not as jarring as you might think.

For all its artisticness and its subbing in of other actors, I really do enjoy this movie a lot.  Although set in modern times, The Imaginarium transports you into another world where all these fantasy elements seem quite commonplace.  Really well done, all around.

Movie #290 - I (Heart) Huckabee's

I (Heart) Huckabee's
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 47 min
Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Jude Law, Jason Scwartzman, Naomi Watts, Mark Wahlberg, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin

What's the meaning of life? Why are we here? Are thing within the universe connected or arranged out of pure chaos? Does it matter what we do?

And can we achieve pure being by hitting ourselves in the face with a big red ball?

These are the questions that the characters of I Heart Huckabee's strive to answer.  The movie itself brings us web of characters who seem to be connected but may also be strewn hither and thither as a result of said chaos.  Can they really impact one another? Does it even matter if they do?

Yes, the movie's not great.  There are some funny bits here and there, plus the overall theme is one we can all relate to.  And Huckabee's style of business is a huge metaphor for the whys and hows explored in the movie.  It seems like a Hollywood attempt at philosophical thinking, if you choose to watch it that way.  Or you can just watch it as a weird movie filled with random actors who behave oddly.  I pick B.

Movie #191 - eXistenZ

eXistenZ
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 37 min
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Eccleston, Sarah Polley

Last of the E's and it's a good one too! It's been a good six or so years since I've sat down to watch this classic mind-twist movie. Then game-within-a-game-within-a-game that goes on to an Inception-level of intricacy.  Jennifer Jason Leigh is fantastic as Allegra Gellar, the "game designer" (or is she?) And Jude Law is so young, it's adorable.

I can't say too much without giving this plot away. But gaming has gone to an all-new level in this futuristic movie.  You "port in" through a "bio-port" directly into your spine. The concept makes me shiver just thinking about it.  But that's how you play the game, so everyone has a bio-port and people don't do any real activities anymore, since you can now simulate just about everything in your mind.  Cool concept. Possibly a real prediction of our future. I guess we'll have to see.

In the mean time, watch this one if you like twists, mind games, and intrigue.  Enjoy!

Movie #184 - Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates
2001 - Rated R - 2 hr 11 min
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Starring: Jude Law, Ed Harris, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins, Ron Perlman

Here's a twisted transition for you.... Enchanted to Enemy at the Gates. But here we are.  World War II. Snipers. Russian war camp.  Yippee!

Once I wrapped my brain around this non-musical, non-animated, non-happy-whatsoever movie, I remembered how much I enjoy it.  Joseph Fiennes has redeemed himself since Elizabeth (for me, anyway) with his character here, who really means well but gets a little too jealous for his own good.  In the end, he's a true friend though and makes the ultimate sacrifice.

This is one of my favorite roles for Jude Law as well, who doesn't get to be pretty in this movie and is not surrounded by flocks of women.  He really gets to act.  And watching his various stand-offs with one Ed Harris (scary, Nazi mo-fo in this, btw) is just delightful, in a very morbid way.  Thrilling? Compelling? We'll go with compelling.

Then there's poor Rachel Weisz, who just wants to help. Then just wants to love Jude Law like any other girl, okay? Leading us to the most awkward love scene in cinematic history. I'm serious. Most. Awkward. Scene. Ever.  But definitely well done.

And that's that. This movie makes me sad, but it's so powerful to watch.  I love it.

Movie #116 - Closer

Closer
Sony Pictures
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 44 min
Director: Mike Nichols
Starring: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman

Want to watch Natalie Portman do a very raunchy strip tease? Borrow this DVD.

But seriously, this adapted-from-the-play movie is fantastic.  I'm not usually a big fan of movies that celebrate adultery (call me old-fashioned) but this script handles the taboo topic really well.  These four are so entwined in one another's lives that you get sucked right into their tangled mess and the only way out is to watch the whole movie to the end.  Who gets who? Why do you care? Do any of them deserve each other?

Actually, yeah. The only one who gets out of this mess is probably the best of all of them. 

I won't give anything away, but I'll say that this fantastic cast does more than justice to this film.  As virtually the only people in the movie, they can't phone it in either.  If you watch for the strip show, fine.... but pay attention to the message.  It's real, in your face, not afraid to get a little rude.  And best of all, the movie is true to the stage play (which is also amazing, if you've never seen it) so it's like seeing the original right in your own living room.  Enjoy, just promise me you'll give this hot, lustful mess some thought when it's over.