The Secret Life of Bees

Set in the 1960s, "The Secret Life of Bees" is a fairly faithful adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's novel of the same name. Growing up motherless and dominated by a harsh, cold father, 13-year-old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) has no one who cares for her except her black nanny, Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson.) When Rosaleen pours snuff juice on the shoes of a couple of racists who harass her, she is beaten and hospitalized, and Lily springs her out. They head for Tiberon, South Carolina, a town written on on of Lily's few mother's possessions. They hitch a ride there, and go to a house occupied by the Boatwrights, a group of beekeeping sisters Lily has reason to believe knew her mother.

Lily concocts a story about her father dying, afraid that the Boatwrights will contact him if she tells the truth. The eldest of the sisters, August (Queen Latifah,) welcomes the two with open arms into her and her sister's home. Lily does not ask April right away about her mother, but spends some time getting acquainted with her new surroundings. The Boatwrights are an eccentric trio.

May (Sophie Okonedo) the most unstable sister, is consumed in everyone else's suffering. She spends hours by her 'wailing wall,' writing things that depress her onto slides of paper and sticking them in between the stones. June (Alicia Keys,) who is the least accepting of Lily's arrival, refuses to marry her love interest Neil, but cannot seem to leave him either.

April teaches Lily the tricks of beekeeping, and she and Rosaleen fit comfortably in their new life. Lily even becomes secretly involved with Zach, a black boy her age. Slowly, and with the Boatwright's help, she begins to heal. One fateful night, however, her father tracks her down, and she must fight for everything she fought so hard to obtain.

Having read the book on which this film is based on, I will most likely compare the two. I try not to be a the-novel-was-so-much-better critic, as books and movies are vastly different. The film, actually, is very true to the original. I do, however, have some complaints to point out. First of all, it is not 'racist,' as Owen Gleiberman claimed, but August seems a bit unrealistically understanding. She is the least developed of the sisters. Although Queen Latifah does a good job portraying her, August is so incredibly kind and nurturing, and seems to have little thought for her interests, that she seems one-dimensional. I can, however, keep a suspension of disbelief, being that by caring for a mentally ill sister she could have learned to put her own feelings aside.

The other aspect I disliked actually compares it to the book, which I tried not to do. Lily's conversation with her father at the end of the movie has been changed, in a and in a way that I feel undermines much of the effectiveness. I will not spoil it for you, but I thought the scene in the book was one of the most moving, and during the movie I found myself wishing it had not been trifled with.

That aside, for the most part I liked it. The acting was very good and the screenplay remained true to the characters. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the novel. Although some aspects annoyed me, all in all I felt it was a fine film. (Rated PG-13)

Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amelie)

Don't be put off by the picture of the creepy-looking girl in pale makeup on the cover of "Amelie," or get the impression that it's a bizarre horror movie. It's actually a quirky French comedy/drama, with traces of magical realism to add to the tone.

It starts with the a random chain of events one of which results in the birth of a little girl named Amelie. She grows up lonely, living in a household with a cold father and neurotic mother. I will not list all the misfortunes that befall her, but suffice to say that she has enough heartbreak and misery to last her a lifetime. In the midst of her problems, she retreats into her imagination, and grows up into a good-hearted but shy young woman (played by Audrey Tatou) who has difficulty with social relationships, let alone a love life.

When she moves out of her father's house (her mother is dead,) she gets a small apartment and a job at a small cafe, surrounded by local eccentrics. Among these are a mentally unstable, bitter man stalking his ex-girlfriend, a hypochondriac who spends her time complaining about her ailments, and a mean-tempered grocer who verbally abuses and publicly humiliates his quiet employee, among others. There is one man, who spends his time in a train stations collecting photographs from under a photo booth, who Amelie has known since childhood and is secretly enamored with, but the doesn't get up the courage to talk to him.

The story really begins when Amelie discovers a small tin box hidden in her bathroom wall. Upon further inspection, she finds out in it is a collection of small items hidden by a little boy many years ago. That night, she decides that she will seek out the owner of the box, and if he is touched, she'll become a regular do-gooder. She proceeds to ask her neighbors if they know who the items belong to. They;don't, but from the stories they tell her; she realizes that she isn't the only lonely person around.

When she finally meets the owner of the box, it not only moves him greatly, it also makes him feel compelled to seek out his estranged daughter before he dies. Keeping with her promise, Amelie begins a journey to help the people around her using any means possible. Aiding her neighbors to find love and happiness, she also follows her own type of justice, punishing the nasty grocer with practical jokes. As the lives of others begin to improve, she comes to realize there is one person she isn't helping achieve her dreams- herself.

This film keeps you interested from the beginning, starting with a unique narration a Amelie's young life by an omnipotent narrator. It manages to get you involved with Amelie and her troubles. Although the narrator's voice disappears after a while, the interest in the story and characters prevails.

Unfortunately, it gets a bit confusing around the middle, and it took me three tries to get all the way through it. However, I continued to try to finish the movie, which is saying something. After it was done, I was pleased that I saw the whole thing, and I would recommend it to someone, especially one with a interest in foreign cinema. This is one of the best efforts to capture a character through filmmaking I have seen, and although it is along trip, it's well worth it. (Rated R)

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A Good As It Gets

Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is the kind of man most people wouldn't want to meet. A bigoted, obnoxious writer with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, he spends his life avoiding cracks in the sidewalk and verbally abusing everybody around him, including his soft-spoken gay neighbor, Simon (Greg Kinnear.) The only person he will tolerate is Carol (Helen Hunt,) a stressed-out waitress struggling to support a chronically sick son. Carol, unsurprisingly, despises Melvin.

One day, Simon is robbed and badly beaten by a couple of thugs, and is unable to care for Verdell, his beloved dog. His partner, Frank (Cuba Gooding Jr.) decides to coerce Melvin into caring for the animal, as payment for his relentless bullying of the couple. Simon is understandably worried for Verdell's safety (Melvin once threw him down a garbage disposal,) but goes along with the plan. Luckily, Frank is the only person who really intimidates Melvin, and Verdell remains in one piece.

As the film progresses, Melvin begins to become a better person. At first for selfish reasons, he starts helping Carol and Simon, but eventually he becomes less self-centered and cares somewhat for others. He even forms an attachment for Verdell, Simon's ugly-but-almost-cute dog, who has an almost uncanny resemblance to an ewok.

The problem is, I'm making this movie sound like a tacky tearjerker, and it's actually quite good. This isn't the kind of epiphany story where Melvin suddenly learns to love humanity and turns from horrible jerk to lovely person (a la' "Rain Man.") Nor is it a testament to the Christian faith, like the totally forgettable "The Ultimate Gift." It is a nicely constructed story that provides no easy answers, no escape routes to morality. Also, some of the lines, especially Melvin's ("People who speak in metaphors ought to shampoo my crotch") are very funny and great to quote.

This is a very good movie, despite it's overlength (running at 139 minutes.) For you movie buffs, Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt won best actor and actress at the 1997 Academy Awards.

The Savages

Wendy and Jon Savage grew up together, and both suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of their father, Lenny; but they're not exactly what you'd call close. Both are wrapped up in their own lives- Wendy (Laura Linney) is aspiring to publish her semi-autobiographical play, and is carrying on a dysfunctional relationship with a married man. Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman,) on the other hand, is working as an English professor and is coping with his girlfriend's impending move to Poland, her home country. They are forced to come together, however, when they are called by Lenny's girlfriend's parents. Not only has the elderly woman died, Lenny also has senile dementia. This was discovered when his caretaker found him writing an obscenity in his own excrement.

Wendy and Jon are told they have to decide on a nursing home to put Lenny in. Wendy hopes to find a home where her father can be more independent, but Jon thinks that it's hopeless to try and put a senile man in a 'rehabilitation center.' This film records the siblings attempt to come to terms with both their dad's illness and their own relationship.

This is a movie I didn't like much until the second time I watched it. It's very slow, and neither of the main characters are totally likable. During the first viewing, I was bored by it and found the leisurely pace exasperating. The second time, however, I thought it was quite interesting and thought the acting was excellent. I didn't think the humorous parts very funny, though. I suppose they would appeal more to older people.

I thought this was a good film, although it was sad and moved slowly. You could sympathize with the main characters' father, Lenny, even though you certainly didn't want him as a dad. I wished I could have learned more about Jon and Wendy's lives, but the information they provided was eloquently placed and sufficient. I recommend this to the kind of people who like serious films that take their time. (Rated R)

Running With Scissors

Bizarre adaptation of Augusten Burroughs' memoir of the same name, "Running With Scissors" records the life of a teenage boy growing up in two wildly dysfunctional families in the 70's. Augusten (skillfully portrayed by Joseph Cross) starts out as a a smart, unusual kid who lives with his self-absorbed, bipolar mother Deirdre (Annette Bening,) an unstable middle aged woman who is too busy trying to publish her poetry to care for her son. She keeps him home from school so he can fix her hair and insists on reading her lengthy poems to him. His father Norman (Alec Baldwin) is violent alcoholic, and Deirdre and his father argue often, leaving young Augusten in the middle. Despite this, he is close to his mom, and is happy to stay home and spend time with her.

Several years later, Augusten's a teenager and Deirdre and Norman's arguments have escalated into out-and-out physical abuse. Deirdre starts seeing a highly unorthodox psychiatrist, Dr. Finch (Brian Cox,) who tries to rekindle her 'creative spirit.' Eventually, Norman leaves, and Augusten is left with his mom. But things don't end there. Shortly afterward, Deirdre sends Augusten to live with Dr. Finch, and later relinquishes her parenting rights to him.

Once there, he realizes that calling Dr. Finch unorthodox is a great understatement. The doctor, who pops Valium nonstop and believes that bowel movements are a sign from God, leaves Augusten in the 'care' of his seriously deranged family. This includes Agnes, Dr. Finch's good-natured but unstable wife, who watches TV and eats dog food, Natalie, his rebellious teenage daughter, and Hope, his other child, a doting young woman who sincerely believes that 'Daddy's a genius.' Later, he meets Neil Bookman, Dr. Finch's 30-something year old schizophrenic foster son, who becomes Augusten's first lover.

Squeamish yet? If so, do not watch this film. If however, you enjoy Burroughs's books and don't mind watching something off-kilter, I think you might enjoy it. I know I'm in the minority here, but I actually liked both the book and the movie. It was too long, and some of the good details from the book were removed, but the acting was very good and it has a sort of voyeuristic fascination as you watch Augusten try to survive. Also, Augusten's brother (who is not included here,) John Elder Robison, wrote one of my favorite books, 'Look Me in the Eye- My Life with Asperger's.' I would only recommend this movie to certain people because I don't think it would appeal to general audiences (Rated R.)

Movie Recommendation- For another blackly comic (though not as outlandish) tale of family dysfunction told from the point of view of a teenage boy, watch Igby Goes Down

Snow Cake

One winter day Alex (Alan Rickman,) a troubled middle-aged man, reluctantly picks up a loquacious young hitchhiker named Vivenne, agreeing to drive her to Winnipeg, Canada. Although he is somewhat standoffish and doesn't much care for 'chatty people,' he starts to enjoy the company of the eccentric young woman. Unfortunately, they haven't gone far when they are hit by a truck driver. Alex gets out unhurt, but Vivienne is killed instantly.

Wracked with guilt, Alex goes to the house of Vivienne's mother, Linda (Sigourney Weaver,) and apologizes for what happened. As soon as he meets her, he can tell that Linda isn't quite normal. A socially challenged neat freak, she refuses to let him come in her kitchen and seems more interested in the "sparklies" Vivienne got her from a gas station then her death. He learns from a next-door neighbor that Linda has high-functioning autism.

Linda tries to convince Alex to stay until the funeral, hoping that he will take out the trash, Vivenne's old job. He agrees, mostly because he needs his clothes, which she insisted on washing. Alex soon meets Maggie (Carrie-Anne Moss,) a woman who lives nearby. She and him soon begin a relationship. It is Linda and Maggie who help him face his past and learn to move on.

This slow, well-acted movie has some flaws, chiefly the fact that the premise is unlikely. If you get past these, it's actually a good film. All the characters are very interesting (except Maggie, who seems to be there just to ease Alex's pain,) and it's quite moving at times. It's plot is not really mostly about Autism, so people who aren't interested in developmental disabilities might enjoy it. It's not perfect, but it's probably one of the better movies I've reviewed so far. (Rated NR)

Wild Tigers I Have Known

A very strange, nearly plotless film, 'Wild Tigers I Have Known" is the story of Logan, an introverted teenage boy who has hardly any friends and spends most of his time alone. His life changes when he starts spending time with Rodeo Walker, a more popular student.

Logan, who was enamored with Rodeo even before they became friends, is attracted to him, but Rodeo doesn't return his affections. Still obsessed with him, he creates a female alter ego, Leah, and calls Rodeo up. However, Logan gets in too deep when he agrees to meet Rodeo as Leah in a cave to have sex. Meanwhile, word is getting around at school that Logan is a 'fag' and he is harassed by his peers.

This movie as very nice cinematography, and Logan is an interesting protagonist. The problem is, it is terribly slow and at times rambles with confusing, unnecessary fantasy sequences. At some points it's just everyday, with Logan interacting with others, and all of a sudden weird music starts playing and a giant digital spider starts crawling on Rodeo's face!

Some of the symbolism (For instance the literal and figurative 'tigers' of the title) is understandable and provocative, but some imagery leaves you wondering if Cam Archer, the director, in fact put it there to fill up screen time.

I would not recommend this to a viewer unless they enjoy artsy, unusual films. It is not a good film for people who like fast-paced, mainstream type movies that actually have plots. I compared it to a less depressing "The Living and the Dead" with a gay teenage boy as the protagonist instead of a twitchy, overprotected schizophrenic man. It was definitely interesting, but I am unlikely to be in a rush to see it again. (Rated NR)