The Triplets of Belleville

I believe Sylvain Chomet’s animated feature is a Belgian production, but it’s very French in tone and characterization.   The film has to do with a champion cyclist, his grandma and their dog.   When the cyclist is kidnapped by the French mafia, grandma and pup (both indomitable) must attempt his rescue with the aid of the titular triplets.   This film is visually thrilling, funny, weird and inventive.   I would recommend seeing it on a big screen if you can.

--Jan 5, 2004

In America

This is a quite well done, touching film about a young Irish family who immigrate to a dodgy New York neighborhood following the death of one of the kids.   Set in the early 1980s, it’s very well acted all around, especially Samantha Morton as the mother.   Recommended.  

--Dec 15, 2003

Bad Santa

This may be the perfect holiday film.   Billy Bob Thornton is a boozing, lecherous department store Santa who robs a different mall every Christmas.   Zwigoff previously gave us two great ones, ‘Crumb’ and ‘Ghost World’.   His first mainstream film is subversive, scatological, rude, and crude.   It had me laughing almost continuously.   From a story by the Coen Bros.

--Dec 8, 2003

21 Grams

Inarritu’s follow-up to the excellent 'Amores Perros' concerns three sets of characters whose lives are altered by a traffic accident.   Interesting non-chronological structure (Inarritu says the film is in emotional, rather than chronological, order).   A powerful emotional experience that I suppose will strike some as ‘depressing’.   It’s fast becoming a cliché to praise this movie’s acting, however Penn, Watts (in her best work since ‘Mulholland Drive’) and Del Toro are indeed very strong.

--Dec 1, 2003  

Elephant

Van Sant’s fictionalized film based on the Columbine shootings is artful, thoughtful and non-exploitive.   Critics have said that it gives us no insights into why Columbine happened, and I agree. ‘Bowling for Columbine’ has more ideas as to the “why”.   Van Sant has said that it wasn’t his intention to provide answers.   My understanding is that the teen actors are non-professionals, an approach that results in uncommonly natural performances.

--Nov 17, 2003